OX GALL

I saw on facebook someone using ox gall when for an effect when painting a beautiful red cardinal bird. So, what did I have to do, go and buy some!!!  Here are my exercises and comments, for anyone who hasn't come across it.  Don't ask me what it's made of I've no idea.

The above were dropped into mainly dry washes, staining colours and non staining.  I found different speeds and reactions with different colours.

Getting more adventurous here.  These were all wet washes.  The best reactions were the bottom two, where a softer line is shown using ox gall on a brush directly into the mixed colour wash, and the second a mixture of ox gall and water wash, where I put in lines of fairly neat paint or pen.

I painted this black bird then painted  neat ox gall on his back and head for highlights.  

This was playing with brush strokes into a wash of  water and ox gall.  All the lines are soft and haven't dispersed very much.

As far as I am concerned most of what I tried could be done with water.  Probably there is less risk of a run back. But sometimes I love those cauliflowers that you get.

 Conclusion: Possibly a waste of money.  Would be pleased if anyone has something more to add.

PIGMENT SHOP VENICE

Just look at this delicious shop window!  Isn't it scrumptious.  Found it down a side street in Venice.  Was devastated cos it was our last day and and it was Closed!!!  These pure pigments took my breath away.  Had to take the photograph, but it's taken me over 18 months to pluck up the courage to tackle it.  Took me longer than my usual paintings, had to concentrate and be fairly accurate with the drawing.  But oh I have enjoyed painting it.    In fact, I didn't use as many colours as you might think.  It's 16 x 10.  I think it may be finished!

Don't know if the background is OK

I've been spending far too much time on  facebook, and decided today was the day to start my withdrawal from the addiction!  I have put this on facebook to prove that I have done some painting.  

If you are going to Venice you must at least look in the window of this wonderful shop.  It is near the Rialto Bridge

MY DIDDY STUDIO

What a difference a few weeks make.  This is our conservatory now rebuilt and showing my own little corner.  I overlook bird feeders and used to overlook the dreaded Leylandi trees that for years have depressed me, just a few feet from the window and so high as to block out our light. Unexpectedly the neighbour has chopped them down, for his own reason and not because we asked him (I had in the past).  Whatever the reason I am over the moon.  I can't explain to you what a difference it will make.

I can see the sky .......... we will have the sun in our garden all afternoon and into the evening.  For 2 days thick white smoke has been blowing our way, and I have been burning candles to mask the smell of the burning in the house.  But I don't care about the burning, the trees are gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   WOW

ELEGANT WRITER PENS

Hi Mike and Barbara Roth, I hope you see this post.  Yesterday I received my Elegant Writer Calligraphy pens from Amazon UK via Jeffersen USA, with no delivery charge!  Have done these quick sketches in a small A6 sketchbook and I definitely love these pens already.

They are lovely to use, with thick and thin edges, each stroke of the pen releases lots of colour and the colours are soft blue with hints of pink, less harsh than the grey of the stabilo pens I use now.  The pack had 2 fine, 1 med and 1 broad, so they will last me a while. £7.98 is a bargain.  I will put them in my little sketch pack for when I travel near and far.  I am ever so chuffed with them.

Thank you so much for bring them to my attention, and also for the offer of help to obtain them.

SHARON'S GEESE

A good old challenge for me as I don't like painting animals really, because if you have say the eye in the wrong place you ruin the whole thing.  Well Sharon Whitley has a monthly challenge (check her blog great animal artist)  This month it is these geese.

Because I struggled with the drawing I used trace down paper.  I painted in some of the markings of the feathers and others I washed out (I think this worked better).  You can see I tried a small picture without drawing, just for the fun of it.

I splattered snow, which you can't really see.  Too late as the sun has now melted the snow !

BABY HARRIET

Today I went to see my latest Great Niece Harriet, and my hubby and I are smitten.  This little bundle sleeping in my arms, a little miracle.

As soon as she was born I made two cards, one for the brand new Mum & Dad, and one for the new Grandparents (my sister and her hubs)

For the New Mum and Dad

Grandparents

I enjoyed painting every brushstroke

EXPERIMENT

This was an experiment we did in our art class.  I did two of these one was a pair of sunglasses with coloured reflections in the lens, this was the other.  I used a piece of watercolour paper and printed a black and white picture on it and then used watercolour to add the people and the odd hint of colour here and there.   I wouldnt try it again, but thought someone out there in the cyber world might like to give it a try

Oh, and by the way, good news.  Someone contacted me with the name of someone to do prints for my friend for Nuggleton By the Sea and we have been today to discuss her requirements.  She is bursting with excitement. There's some lovely people out there in blogland.  Thank you Sue!

SKETCHES W/S PENS

I thought I would show you how I sketch 'en plein air' quickly.  This is the Wayferers Arcade in Southport, a Victorian building with a glass roof, and it was a nightmare looking at the roof so I left it out. Yep, if there is an easy way to do something I will find it.  I sketched first using a stabilo water soluble pen and then with a brush pen containing water, I softened the darker areas.

The same here, using a brown stabilo (two sized nibs). It was a lovely apron shop in Pienza in Tuscany painted at the end of the day. I was on a course with my favourite artist Hazel Soan, yep I'm a groupie!

I am appealing for help on behalf of a friend of mine who excitingly has had work accepted for a really good gallery, and will need prints.  She is fairly new to art and selling her work.  I wondered if anyone reading this in the UK can give her any addresses where she can make enquiries.  She really needs something nice to happen to her at this time.  You can leave information in my comments and I will pass them on to her. Check out her lovely quirky town paintings on http://nuggletonbythesea.blogspot.co.uk

GRASMERE IN THE SNOW

We've recently popped up to Grasmere in the Lake District.  This is a view of Sam Read's Bookshop (yes it is called Read's)  This was painted after a previous visit.

It is one of those places that feels like a second home.  We are lucky to live nearby to either pop up for the day or a short break.  Grasmere is famous for Dove Cottage (Wordsworths quaint old home) and there is a really well stocked art shop (I always go in there) who sell prints of a well known lake district painter William Heaton Cooper, they are brilliant do check them out.  Apparently he would sit hours waiting for the right light to sketch from.

Oh, and by the way, I found my old school folder, going back .......... years!!!  If you want to take a peek I am putting some on my other blog http://pollyluvspaintingetc.blogspot.com  and comparing them to my work now.  I thought I'd mention it because although the schoolwork is in poster paint, the other work will be watercolour.

You may have your old school work or memories of painting when you were young.  I'd love to hear your stories.

FLUTTERBY

Yes, I did call them flutterby when I was a likkle girl.  I was looking through other blogs when I noticed that Laura Moore (check out her new website and blog, brilliant) was doing a butterfly at her art society, so I decided to semi join it for one night only!  Here is my try  ................ having a nightmare, my laptop is down, this pc is like going back to dial up.  I have downloaded some paintings from my camera and now cannot find them.  Will continue this post at a later date (I am not happy)

Got there in the end.

I have not been able to check out all your blogs and now have lots of delicious art to look at.  I love this blogging.