Friday 7 December 2007

Angel wings




It's the little things...
sunlight catching angel wings
moonstone sparkling on my skin...
but what would really make me sing..
just a little thing
like a nice big lottery win;)

Illustration Fridays topic this week is Little Things.
I'm using up my artistic licence here posting these ceramic Angel wings I've made but they are what I'm working on at the moment.


Angel Wings with Song of Solomon on parchment.


Fallen Angel on leather with silver wire and abalone

Wednesday 21 November 2007

Superstitions


Superstition is the topic for Illustration Friday this week.
Some people are superstitious about black cats, it's either lucky or unlucky if they cross your path, I'm not sure which.
Well something must have crossed this little fellows path and spooked him badly.
I love cats myself but I can understand how if you're not a cat person they could freak you out, with their steady stares and slinkiness.

Monday 19 November 2007

Semi Precious Gemstone Bead Rings

I've started making rings, with sterling silver wire and semi precious gem stone beads.
Diamonds have never appealed to me and having watched the movie Blood Diamond recently they have even less appeal.
But I love stones, even beach stones, I compulsively fill my pockets on beach walks.
Now my stone collection is a little more costly!
I'm discovering gem stones on Ebay and I'm like a kid in a candy store.





These rings above are made with rainbow moonstone, which throws beautiful colours a the light catches it, aquamarine quartz, turquoise and rose quartz.




More moonstone here mixed with pink quartz, and the one on the right has some amethyst too.

Wednesday 14 November 2007

Clothes do not maketh the man but....

They certainly help to maketh the dolly!



A friend asked me ages ago to make soft toys out of her two kids first baby blankets.
Please god she wont regret it.
I make things impulsively and hope that they turn out right.
I wouldn't know what to do with a pattern for example.
Unfortunately for this little rag dolly, who has one arm longer than the other and one leg fatter and longer.
But hey it adds character , right? and nobody's perfect.
We'll just call her wonderfully Wobbly Wendy and love her to bits.



Anyway Wendy doesn't look too wobbly with her clothes on, a bit like myself really!

Saturday 10 November 2007

Robin Red Breast



This little cheeky Robin is a regular visitor to my garden, more like a permanent resident actually, we're great pals.
He was delighted to have his portrait taken.

Thursday 1 November 2007

The Boss


Man, I'd love a beer.



BABE COULD YOU BRING ME A BEER.



WADDAYA MEAN THERE'S NONE



Relax dear, I'll give you a massage instead



OUCH BLOODY OUCH get away from me woman

Monday 22 October 2007

Giraffe Family, Mother and Child



I'm entering this photograph in the Guardian newspaper's weekly In Pictures photography competition.
The topic this week is Family.
I snapped this tender moment between mother and child last week at Fota Wildlife Park.

Siamang Gibbons at fota wildlife park




Siamangs are the largest of the Gibbons.
Their natural habitat is high in the tree tops of the rainforest's of south east Asia.
But these two can be seen in Fota Wildlife Park along with the rest of the family.
A long way from home then, but at least the rain shouldn't bother them, if only we had the tropical heat to go with it!

Friday 19 October 2007

Falling for a Zebra at Fota Wildlife park

Yes I fell head over heels for this little darling.
Who started out a little shy, but that didn't last long...



Oh you just want to take my picture, how about some action shots..



Here I go, watch me now...



Yahoo buckaroo



Here I come, did you see that, wasn't I great, amn't I fast though..



Pheeew.. that was exhausting, I think I'll have a nap now.

Monday 15 October 2007

Pelicans at Fota wildlife park





Just 'cause he pelly well can

A few furry friends at Fota Wildlife Park

Having a picnic


Just hanging around.



Squirrel monkey


Ring tailed lemur

Saturday 13 October 2007

Garden Portraits







A few photographs from my garden that I mucked around with in photoshop.
Just having fun, but I really like the yellow against the blue.

Thursday 11 October 2007

Otter love



Could they BE any cuter!!

Tuesday 9 October 2007

Open, Illustration Friday



Open for Bzzzness

This is the final one of three, you can scroll down to see the other two if you're bothered.
I think this is the best of the three but if anyone prefers the others I'd love to know.
All three are watercolours.



Open for Bzzzness 2



Open for Bzzzness 3

Tuesday 2 October 2007

Blue Iris Watercolour



I just had to do another Illustration Friday for 'The Blues', that moody dude was really depressing me!
So I went back to my flower power, much prettier:)
The source of the inspiration for this watercolour came from here

Monday 1 October 2007

Illustration Friday 'The Blues'



I don't know what his problem is, but he looks mighty blue to me.
Watercolour of some dude in a magazine.

Thursday 27 September 2007

Illustration Friday 'Juggle'



A little light relief from my anemone fixation!

Bobo wasn't the brightest and Harriett certainly wasn't the happiest.

Tuesday 25 September 2007

Saunder's Water Ford scrumptious Watercolour Paper.



A few posts ago I was waffling on about expensive watercolour paper.
Well it turns out I was totally ripped off, I found the same paper for 7.95 euros a sheet, that's 5 euros cheaper!
No wonder I was shocked at the price.
So naturally I snapped up, what now seemed like a bargain, all the scrumptious paper they had in the shop and spent a small fortune!!
But you know the mind is a funny thing, well mine is anyway!
Having plenty of paper has given me a great sense of freedom, I'm not feeling so precious about the paper.
In fact the watercolour above is twice the size of my previous one and is done on the scrumptious paper, Saunder's Water Ford series, rough surface, 300lb.

Monday 24 September 2007

Salted Anemones



I liked the composition of these anemones when I did them in pastel, so I went on to do them in watercolour.
The background has a lovely mottled effect, that gives it a nice depth.
This was a tip I picked up over the weekend browsing through the art books in town.
You simply sprinkle salt over the watercolour as it dries, just before it looses it's shine.
The salt absorbs the colour, leaving tiny crystalline shapes,like miniature snowflakes.
It's not hugely obvious in my painting 'cause I put another layer of colour over the salted one.
One thing I'd say is if you sprinkle the salt too soon it takes ages to dry out and if you get impatient, the wet salt can smudge as you try to remove it.
I learned the hard way!!

Sunday 23 September 2007

Shirley Trevena's watercolour



This gorgeous painting is by the artist Shirley Trevena.
I first came across her name on a great blog have dogs will travel
who highly recommends Shirley Trevena's book Vibrant Watercolours
I've just had a look at Ms. Trevena's web site and I'm very impressed.
So much so that I'm off out tomorrow to see if I can get her book for myself.

Thursday 20 September 2007

Chalk Pastels Anemones.




Anemones again but different medium at least.
Trying out different compositions.
I thought this one could do with a butterfly, so I photoshopped one in.
I think it works, I might pastel it in properly tomorrow.

Ok, now that I'm looking at it in the light of day, I think the butterfly is overkill and way too big.
So that's one less butterfly to draw!

Wednesday 19 September 2007

Expensive paper



I know ,I know, enough with the anemones already!
But I feel I'm making progress, should bloody well hope so, this is the fifth attempt.
This time though I used expensive watercolour paper, I mean really expensive...
13 euro for a sheet of 20x30" 600gms weight rough finish.
It's the most I ever paid for paper but oh it is so worth it.
I like the way it bleeds the paint and soaks up the water without buckling, it just adds an extra dimension to the painting that I love.
It's a whole new learning curve but I'm not complaining, I'm thrilled about it.