WATERCOLOURING MY CRAFTING

I have recently joined a craft group, called Southport Stitchers.  They meet once a month.  I am not really a crafter, hate sewing and anything domestic.  SO ... I decided that when I had put my heart and soul into attempting each craft, I would paint it in my beloved watercolours and put in a book, for future reference and to say, I can't believe I made that!!!

First week was beading.  A dragonfly.  Used W & N Iridescent Liquid on the shimmering wings.

The second session was dry felting with a needle (sharp - it had barbs on the end, ouch).  did a lot of frowning trying to make this look like felt.  In fact, still got the frown lines!!!

Now I look forward to the next session of watercolour inspiration and craft combined.



Sorry, I haven't been looking at your blogs as much lately, hopefully I will have more time soon.

Meanwhile, have a great week.

BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS!!

Bad news I was rushed into hospital last weekend. Good news was that Annie Arkwright from Accrington, my friend, was in the bed opposite.  Her pal, Willie Eckerslyke had told her that there was a superfood, blueberries, so she ate them morning, noon and night.  Ended up with a very bad tummy.  Silly billy Annie, she never gets it right!  Heaven help her if she starts eating raspberries or kale!   Anyway I am home but she is still in, now a delicate wash of ultramarine blue.  Get well soon Annie .................

Fortunately I took in my sketchbook so that I could record this sad sight.

Have a great Sunday and next week, and take good care of yourselves.

BLEEDING POPPY

Not many words today, out of respect for the upcoming Armistace Day.  Here is a painting of the poppies we are wearing if you don't do this where you are.  We give donations to the British Legion (who make them) .

l00 years from the beginning of World War 1 this year.

My version of the poppy

Wouldn't it be lovely if there was peace in this sad old world.

ANNIE ARKWRIGHTS FAUX PAS

Eeeh well my friend, Annie Arkwright,from Accrington, came round for afternoon tea. She brought this photo of herself. She bought this huge pumpkin and cut it out, but, oh my lord, when she put it on the right way round the holes were in very dodgy places. Yes you can guess the eyes where her boobs were, and the nose her belly button. Can't tell you where the mouth came. So she turned it round. Not to be daunted. She said - ' Eeeh by gum our Polly, I always gets things wrong. I'll afta gerranother, and take more care with th'knife By 'eck I will'. So off she pops ta her local farm shop. 

Annie hasn't got a blog, or on facebook, so she had to email the photo that she took when she had been to the farm shop (Annie says she is a technofrobelick - hates gadgets)  All they had left were these small ones ...............

They look like a big pair to me Annie lass!!!

Sorry I haven't been looking at your blogs lately, l have been busy.  I will have a look at as many as I can but probably won't comment on many today.

Happy Halloween from Me and from Annie Arkwright too.

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

AUTUMN & NIGHT TIME W/C

One of these paintings was a battle and the other a pleasure.  The agony and the ecstacy (well that is a slight exaggeration!).

Last week at the Art Club I belong to, a member brought in a pile, and yes I mean a big pile, of autumn things that she found in the park very near the club.  So here is the composition I came up with.  Did a quick pen sketch (so no rubbing out which speeds the process up) and then in with my trust big brush and some loose washes and salt.  Such fun.  Nothing planned, no pressure!

Last New Year we were in Amsterdam.  I took a night scene picture that I just knew I wanted to paint.  Now you know painting doesn't work out that way,  So this is the nightmare painting. I did the under painting a while ago and knew it wasn't working, I couldn't put my finger on why. Stuffed it in a box and left it, as you do!

I found it this week, was going to paint on the back but persisted in my endeavours.  Still don't like it, but when I sloshed on the sky (technical term) I just had to finish it.  Now I have got it out of my system and have a nice fresh piece of watercolour paper on the back to start something new. A positive out of a negative.  However, I do like the lady in the foreground.

Happy Sunday to one and all.  Keep smiling through.

THIS IS NOT A ZENTANGLE!

This Zentangle is not a zentangle!

I have seen zentangles and been intrigued by them.  You know me, if I seen something I haven't tried I NEED to have a go.

Officially, for those of you who don't know, and in brief, a zentangle is 3.5 inch square, in black pen on white paper, no right way up, abstract (nothing recognisable) and unplanned.  You can buy books about zentangles and some of the shapes have very exotic names.

So, these are inspired by zentangles.  I always was a rebel and never liked following rules.  True to form I went my own sweet way.  Found it very theraputic and easy to do whilst watching The Ryder Cup with my hubby.  Also feeling delicate after a bout of the horrible noro virus, so this was a perfect way to mess about being busy doing nothing.

This is a Happy Polly, not a proper Zentangle - all the shapes are smileys.

This is probably nearest to a true Zentangle

I would class this as a doodle.

Have a wonderful weekend doodling and doing your thing.

BLACKPOOL ZOO PART 2

I was so inspired after my visit to this smallish but really excellent zoo, that I have painted some more studies.

I so wanted to paint the silverback but kept putting it off (lateral displacement reared it's ugly head). Then I went in with Quin, Gold and thought, you dip stick, he is a silver back, not a cowardly yellow back!  I put dark colours next to his back which pushed the yellow away.

Then I used colours that Beverley Wells used in her flowers, as she got really dramatic darks with them.  Winsor Violet and Winsor Green Blue, with a touch of transparent red brown (which is like light red but transparent).

I am not happy about his arm area which I should have faded out, as it isn't clear on the photograph.The colours are too blue on this pic.  I am blowed if I can get accurate colours when I take a photograh!

Quick study of an elephant, nothing much to say about this.

Painted in 3 colours that you can wash out if required. Burnt Sienna, Ultra and Raw Sienna.

This, whatever it is, was a bit muted, so I washed over the top with W&N new colour transparent orange, which added a bit of zing!

I've been busy, busy, busy so time for a rest for a while. I'm going to investigate zentangles for something completely different.

Hope you have a stress free week :)

HUMAN FIGURE WORKSHOP

You may have heard of Port Sunlight Village.  Well there is a gallery there of some repute!  To top it all they have had free workshops there this summer.  I have just been to the latest.  They have just had an exhibition concerning Rossetti's Obsession: Images of Jane Morris (his muse).  Beautiful drawings there were too.  Mostly pastel.

Hence the pastel workshop of the Human Form.  

We covered classical Greek and Roman dimensions, stick men, cylindrical men, shaded figures and finally a pastel painting of the tutor.  All in 3 hours.

Here are some of the working papers.

This is my sketch of Chris, a friend who went with me. 10 mins sketch

I love this, it is my frriend Martine's, drawing of me.

The classical dimensions and basic shapes.

My pastel drawing of the tutor.  His legs are faded out and not 5ft long!!  20 min sketch

I learnt such a lot in 3 hrs.  Steve Hersey was a very good teacher, and I thank him.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.