FELT PICTURE AND A SORE FINGER!

A while ago I had a go at a felt picture. It's made with lovely soft wool tops (I think that's what the wool is called) a piece of blanket and a barbed needle, and you repeatedly stab the wool into the blanket with the needle.  Occasionally you may catch your finger with the barbs, on doing this you say "####++******" in other words - oh dear me!  It does take longer than my watercolours, but was nice to do for a change. It is silver birches reflected in water (thought I had better let you know what it is supposed to be).

Has anyone else tried this?

Have a lovely week and take care each and every one of you. xx

BLACKPOOL ZOO, FINITO, FIN, END

I have so enjoyed painting from the photographs I took at this delightful zoo.  I just knew I wouldn't rest until I had the ideas out of my system.  I don't paint many animals, so it was also a challenge. And most of you know I loooove a challenge.  Here are the final ones.

This one speaks for itself and it is frightening how so many species are in crisis.  Using mixed media like this was inspired by Lorraine Brown - do check out her work which is brilliant and innovative

Monkey Puzzle!  What shall I eat first?

Final flourish - Pretty Polly Parrot in Brusho.


Problem is, what on earth is going to inspire me next?  Nothing in the pipeline.  Perhaps I may read a book, tidy the garden, go for walks, do some baking  ...................   Well, whatever you are doing have a lovely autumnal weekend.

POLLY PARROT & FRIENDS

What a variety this week, both painting and in 'real life'.  Ending with a few days reading a scary Thriller!!  Well they say variety is the spice of life, and that is me all over.  Jumping from one subject or action to another.  Strange in our household as hubby likes routine. He could live to a timetable. Not me, when I finished work I never wanted to live to the clock again. Opposites attract (well most of the time) ha ha.

Polly Parrot & Friends

Did this at the art club I belong to.  Many distractions and chats.  So, obviously, if you want to paint loose, talk away and you may have a happy unexpected fun painting.

Yes, this Lemur's tail did wrap around like I have painted.  I did an under painting of ultra first to establish the shadows then used a restricted palette to paint this lovely chap.

Blinking blogger - got another pic but can't download it where I want it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will have to leave it for another day.

  

Most of my pics from Blackpool Zoo are now done, but not quite.  Really been fun painting animals for a change. Got to think what to do when I have finished.  What a wonderful hobby, so much variety to feed my eager arty brain.

Have a great week and take care..

Luv' from Polly xx

PESKY FLYING ANTS

Firstly,  thank you all for following my blog and to those who comment a big thank you.  Please, if you follow me on facebook, don't feel you have to respond on both posts. I am trying not to spend so much time on the internet, but find looking at other blogs is inspirational and I hate to miss anyone, and really do try and catch up with them all.  Though I am sorry I don't always have time to comment.

This blog is annoying me, one minute I'm signed in then I am not!  What is going on?  Fingers crossed I can post this without any trouble.

Well it's hot here and muggy, so out come the pesky flying ants. Loads of them all at once.  Birds diving to catch this delicios bounty.  So I thought, perhaps they are not so horrible after all and proceeded to find a little picture of one in a 'spot that insect' type of book, and armed with a magnifying glass looked at one trapped in a spiders web. Here he is.

I decided to zuzz him up a bit, so he didn't look so creepy.

EASTER CHALLENGE - THE END

Here are the last paintings (bar one which I cannot publish yet) of my Easter Challenge, where I asked you bloggers and fb friends to give me subjects to paint over the Easter Holiday.

Anenome - Ruth H Harris (nervous doing this as she is a beautiful flower painter)

A neighbour asked me to paint her house Carol Hodge, this picture was taken when we had such a long cold white winter

Albert Dock, Liverpooo - Val Downie - She suggested somewhere locally.  I took this picture in the summer. It is right near the Beatles Story exhibition, and the band were singing Beatles songs.  I cropped the painting so the conentration was on the father and son Liverpool Football Club supporters

Lupins - Judith Farnworth - very kind of her seeing as I don't like painting flowers!

Neglected corner - Joanne Boon Thomas - Brush and bleach.  Spot the Easter interlopers

Self Portrait - Laura Moore - rather flattering I think!

Sloth - actually two and the picture is from PMP Clare Smith.  Found this looks rather stripey, perhaps a new rare species of lesser striped sloth.

Thank you all for commenting and following my Challenge.

Now then, have a wonderful weekend (early wishes) but won't be posting for a while as I am burned out painting.

PUFFIN WITH PRIDE

This lovely little fella is this month's challenge from Sharon Whitley at http://sharonwhitleytheramblingartist.blogspot.co.uk (go to her site or look on facebook, Sharon's Art, if you want to paint this lovely puffin)

There are some really brilliant ones that have been done of him. I hope you like my version.  I so enjoyed painting him. Better than painting flowers any day.

Apparently they are very small, I have never seen any, but would love to one day.

(Photograph by Gary Jones)

SHARON'S CHALLENGE

Sharon Whitley's Challenge this month is of Cwm Idwal and the photo was taken by Gary Jones.  What a spectacular view, it fer takes yer breath away!  Although it is so awesome I felt that it wouldn't make a good painting.   However, when I got stuck in (very technical artistic term) I really enjoyed it.   I decided to use a limited palette of french ultramarine, burnt sienna and raw sienna, and, unusual for me, is painted small only 29cm x 20 cm.

I couldn't resist putting the real photograph taken by Gary.  How lucky to be able to walk so high and capture such breathtaking beauty. I thank Sharon for using this pic and for Gary for sharing this beautiful view.  Brings back memories  walks that I did way back that took my breath away.

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 !

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.