BONJOUR!!!

Lucky me.  Just come back from a visit to Paris and Normandy.  Highlight was a visit to Monet's Garden.  It has been a dream of mine to visit there.  I wasn't disappointed. We picked a really good time of year to go.  And, of course, I just had to do a quick sketch while there.

Drawn in green water soluble pen.  Quick sketch but the memory will last forever!

Me in action.  Very small notebook in hand and soaking up the atmosphere while sketching.

OH DEAR!

Oh dear another blip in the health of yours truly.  But all is well.  Now to get back to some normality. Sorry if I have ignored my blogging mates, I haven't even been on facebook either!!

Now then, here is what I have been faced with at my U3A group (University of the Third Age), Drawing and Painting group.  Really they draw, and they are really good,  but me, can't not splosh on the colour!  The organiser sets up these utterly boring still lifes of anything he can find in the building.  I don't have to paint them, but you know me, I like a challenge. They are on quarter imperial.

Not your usual subjects!  Anyone else faced with these kind of ideas?

Have a lovely week wherever you may be.

ANNIE ARKWRIGHT EDITED OUT OF BIG PAINTING CHALLENGE FINAL !!!

Have you read the headlines ' Annie Arkwright edited out of BBC's Big Painting Challenge'

Annie Arkwright from Accrington, is devasted. She thought she had done her best work ever on this new BBC programme.

Subjects were
1. To paint something relating to Dartmouth Royal Naval College, so she painted a submarine.
2. To paint a still life that she saw at the Naval College
3. To paint something beautiful that was in the harbour at Dartmouth.

She know the judges like something different, so she racked her brains and painted in ernest.

She used special waterproof paint

This is Ivor Tickle the cameraman.  A handsome hunk if ever she saw one!

She thought she was the beautiful thing in the harbour, until the Judges upset her.

I think she should have won, don't you?

Have a great weekend.

EASTER CHALLENGE FINAL PART

Well over the Easter Weekend I asked for people to challenge me to paint anything.  So here are the final ones.  I did 16 in the end, and enjoyed every one.  Good to be taken out of your comfort zone.

Annie Arkwright couldn't stop Humpty Dumpty from falling off the wall, but she sure could put him together again. -  Valerie McNeill

Cat - Joan Violet Stretch.  Well he scared me when I was painting him!  He wasn't supposed to look like this. Spooky or what.

Annie Arkwright in a basket of Easter Eggs - Phil W Cawthan and Christine Owen.  Boy was she sick that night!!

Local View and Miniature for a doll's house - Capt Elaine Magliacane and Stephanie Guy.  The people are way too big, this is a large bridge, so will have to guache them out.

Woodland Scene -Sue Caton (looks like a forest fire is about to start, but just wanted to use transparent orange, my new 'in' colour.

So I thank each and every one for their participation and for stretching me and giving me confidence.;

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Luv from Polly xx

EASTER CHALLENGE PART 2

Over Easter I asked people to challenge me, any subject they liked.  Here's the next batch.

Martine Weare a friend of mine - playing in the local U3A Ukelele Band

Catharina Engberg - Photograph of a birthday celebration meal at Jamie Oliver's Italian Restaurant.  That little pot is as heavy as can be

Debbie Nolan - A little duck

Lesley Nugent (of Nuggleton fame) - obviously an Owl, but I just wanted to paint it differently, so it is in fact a Zowltangle!

Pamela Williamson - Year of the Sheep or Goat and this one is a little pygmy goat.

Hope you all had a wonderful and peaceful Easter. Thanks for popping by.

EASTER CHALLENGE PART 1

Been busy so far, thank you for your challenges on here and on facebook.  I usually have 4 days to myself while my hubby spends his time at the golf club.  But due to unforeseen circumstances this is not the case this year (much to my dismay much as I love him)  So undaunted I have tried to fit in your challenges, between spending time with him.

To this end I have traced some for speed, and worked smaller than I normally do.  Nothing larger than A4.

Here's the first 5 for your perusal.

Annette Goatley's challenge a talking carrot! Sorry 'link' maker not working.

Annie Arkwright from Accringoton - card shark or Ace of Hearts, or is it money slipping through her fingers? Beverley Wells   and sorry Bev my 'link' maker isn't working.  

Chris Owens - a line of marching children

Sue Clinker - Chinese Year of the Sheep.  Hope that symbol does mean sheep!  And sorry Sue my link button isn''t working.

Jacquie Finney - Camel in a sandstorm

Whatever will I end up painting today?

Hope you are all having a Happy Easter or a Happy Anything at all.

CHALLENGE POLLY THIS EASTER

Challenge Me to paint anything this Easter, or a bit longer!  I did this the last 2 years and managed to fit them all in in the 4 days, when hubby is at the golf club, but this year could be different, as hubby may not be golfing for the 4 days.  If he is at home we will be out and about.  But I do enjoy stretching myself and seeing what ideas you come up with.  Also, I have more friends on here and on facebook, so goodness knows how many I will receive.  But I will do them all over a period of time, as soon as I can.

Here's one I did last year.  Was challenged to paint a horse, don't think this what was expected.

Over to you.

Have a wonderful Easter xx

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

A POSH ALPACA

Well so nice to get back to near normality .............   and back to my beloved watercolours.  Wanted to do something simple so used the pic of an alpaca.  His name is Algernon.

Have a great week, and stay healthy, or I will send Algernon round to tickle you with his curly wurly hair.

ANNIE FAINTS!!!!!

Some of you may have noticed I haven't done much blogging lately.  Well I have a really good excuse.

Been ill since November.  Rushed to A&E and admitted 3 times. Liberal use of morphine Yahey! Loads of scans and yukky tests and then an op (nothing sinister).  So fingers crossed they have cured my problem.

Now then, while I was recovering, my friend Annie Arkwright from Accrington, visited me.  It wasn't the canula in my hand or the drips I was attached to that made her faint.  It was the sight of my handsome consultant.  Whoosh she went down as quick as a flash.  Got concussion and never saw him again. Good job he didn't try and help her, he would have been knocked out by the small from her old wellies. Poor Annie.