Doodles of a Tea-Drinking Addict

another dream.

2011-02-26T19:54:00.004+01:00

The Giant Slug dream:

I was on holiday somewhere in a forest. Gigantic black slugs were hanging off the trees like leaves. I found a moth and I had to put it in an envelope to take home with me. The moth gave birth to a caterpillar which became a black slug and it was voracious. I dropped it by accident. I was disgusted by it and I wouldn't pick it up even though I knew it would starve. It grew and grew and grew and grew. I felt panicky and still wouldn't pick it up. A couple passing by picked it up. I felt guilty and worried that they would know that I had dropped it. I don't know what happened to it after that.

The next morning when I woke up I told my friend about the dream. She told me to throw salt on the slug.

Bad dreams

2011-02-26T19:48:00.003+01:00

I know that dreams are supposed to be your psyche sorting things out, but how can things get sorted out if you don't understand your dreams. Have had 2 really horrible ones recently.

Last night: I had that dream again where my mouth is stuffed with gunk and the gunk expands. This time I had difficulty keeping my mouth closed it was expanding so much. I went in search of a toilet to be able to get rid of the gunk. The first toilet I found was absolutely filthy and I could hear someone in the cubicle next door. I went into the empty cubicle and managed to get rid of the gunk which was sticking my lips and teeth together.I had to dig the gunk out with my fingers. By the time I came out the dirty toilet was spanking clean.

The dream goes on.... but that's it for now, complete with illustration:

Outpourings of a deranged mind!

2011-02-06T15:05:00.001+01:00

Well, my mind is a mystery to me, that's for sure! Have spent some happy hours this week mucking around in my sketch book. None of these are really finished. I expect I may add to them as and when....

Journal page 3

2011-01-29T15:53:00.003+01:00

A WIP I guess. Don't like it yet, though I like it more than I did. The character in the middle of the trio bugs me. Anyhow, I've had enough of this spread for a while, so I'm going to leave it, and no doubt at a later date I may come back and fiddle some more.

What amazes me in this new art-experience, is how liberating mucking around with colour, doodles and collage is. Cos I kind of don't care, I'm not bothered and I am really having fun and learning about different media at the same time. I also think that this stuff is helping me work through the difficult time I've been having. I'd love to run an 'activity week' at school with the youngsters in the summer doing journal pages like this, during their 'activity week' at the end of the school year. I BET they would love doing this kind of stuff, particularly the girls. Mmm...something to think about.

2011-01-27T21:52:00.003+01:00

Another Journal Page....no journaling added yet. Have done as much as I want to today, but I have a feeling I will fiddle around with it at another date. The beauty of these pages is that I guess they're never really finished until I decide so and that could go on for ages yet. Art??? Dunno, but I certainly am enjoying the weirdness of it. It doesn't involve an enormous amount of thought, the process is fairly instinctual and organic and I tend to flit around pages. I have a few on the go. When they start out they're quite ugly and I really dislike them, but by the time I get to this stage I'm beginning to like them and have had fun. A very therapeutic exercise, and well recommended. Hours of peace .....what more can I ask for? I look forward now to adding words to this, but I may not show you what I write! Who knows?

Art journaling 2011 resolution

2011-01-26T20:28:00.003+01:00

Well, it's been a very long time. I've been through and still am going through a difficult time....mysister died very suddenly (infront of me) at the beginning of November. Her death was preceded by months of extreme unpleasantness directed at her from all kinds of places and greatly worsened by the local press attention she received as well as some very vicious internet bullying. We (family) have all been struggling with it and I am finding it very difficult to deal with...that and other things.

I decided that the way to get through this would be to go back to my art, but I lacked motivation, enthusiasm and inspiration. I also thought it would be good to 'journal' to help me work my way through this. Tried following The Artists Way, but as ever I got stuck very early on, infact I got stuck much earlier on than I usually do, and frankly I find writing difficult at the moment. I discovered 'art journals' and I thought I would give that a try. What a struggle it's been. I've meticulously been working in my journal since Jan 1st....very good of me. But I've had a real struggle and I have no intention of even showing my efforts here. I've looked at all sorts of sources on the internet - amongst others Suzi Blu, Sharon Tomlinson, Teesha Moore and have been trying to kick start my creativity and work through the grieving. I only now feel that I'm beginning to find my way and I actually am feeling quite excited about what I'm doing.

I'm trying very hard to not be self critical: after all a journal is personal and not meant for show, so it doesn't matter what goes on in it, and nothing is really a mistake. But not being self critical takes some working at....particularly when you're out of your comfort zone.

As I said, I don't plan to show what I've done art journal-wise since January, (everything is so dark and miserable!) but I will show you the latest effort.... because it was, and is, so much fun! It's in an A5 Winsor and Newton sketch pad, collaged bits and pieces from magazines, acrylics, gesso, coloured pencils and a bit of oil pastel. I haven't finished with it...I plan to muck around with it a lot more. One of my aims is to make use of what I have around the house and NOT spend money on any more art supplies. I have kind of failed today in that I went out and indulged myself with a bit of 'pocket money' and bought some pens and some neo-pastels. But the main plan is to NOT buy anything in the way of supplies for the year and for this journal. I feel like I'm a child again, able to play with art!!!

PS: I wonder what my pictures say about me??? I mean, I'm dreaming of these creatures at night!

La chaussure des reves....

2010-12-09T20:04:00.000+01:00

A bit of silliness....

with apologies to the Mums...

2010-12-09T20:00:00.003+01:00

I guess to every Mother Monkey, her baby is the most beautiful...and indeed in real life these 2 are truly beautiful. I'm afraid however I didn't quite capture that beauty...:-( Still it was fun trying, and it's been too long indeed since I last held a pencil properly.

Also love hands, and baby hands are adorable. What instinct is it that makes them curl their little fist around a finger?

Sketchbook efforts......

The strange faces of my daughter and a random baby

2010-12-08T22:28:00.003+01:00

My daughter pulls strange faces all the time, but makes for good fun for drawing. A couple of sketches of her from her Facebook photos.....maybe she'll get embarrassed...? Who knows?! LOL

And I LOVE drawing babies. This baby was too cute to resist.... some random baby pic I found. I'd love to know who the photographer of the baby was, to give him/her credit but I found the pic randomly...All done in my sketch book.

More airport people

2010-12-08T22:25:00.002+01:00

Sketches in my sketchbook. I love people watching... and listening...

Sketchbook

Airport people in my sketch book

2010-12-08T22:16:00.002+01:00

I had to go to New York for 3 days.... I hated the journey, and I hated New York, though it was an interesting experience. I hated New York cos I was tired and feeling heart sore..maybe had I been feeling happier I would have enjoyed it more. New York overwhelmed me and so did the journey. I did manage to sketch at the airport though...simply cos there was so much time spent there otherwise doing nothing. So my airport people are from Newark International Airport NY, and Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport.

And a couple more...

2010-08-07T15:55:00.003+01:00

art time before bed time

2010-08-07T15:35:00.003+01:00

Annie and I sat together at the dining room table and we drew and painted. These three are from sketches I did, and aren't really much more than sketches, and are now matted and framed ...with cheap mats and frames from the local Carrefour , and are going to take up residence on the very bare walls in my kitchen.

What a wonderful day out...

2010-08-02T20:37:00.004+01:00

Kermagen near Pleubian at low tide.
View over towards Les Heaux lighthouse from Kermagen near Pleubian at low tide.
Alittle 'greve' on the Trieux, looking over towards Lezardrieux. The marker is 'Rompa' I think. I'm more familiar with it from a boat!
View over towards Ile St. Riom from Abbaye de Beauport at low tide.

Picnic on a beach and slept and read and walked the dog. Actually, I sketched and painted, the others slept and read and then I walked the dog. Gloriously warm with a perfect sailing breeze. Somewhere near Pleubian in the Cotes d'Armor. A really lovely spot. I've come home feeling like I've been on holiday for a week. Maybe it's cos I was sketching and that always takes me away somewhere. My family are very patient with me.....

Holiday sketching

2010-07-30T12:31:00.003+01:00

View of bay at low tide from Abbaye de Beauport near Paimpol. Grey and overcast day but Wizzie and I enjoyed our walk, though he was dragging his paws by the end.
Kermouster at low tide. Such a lovely lovely afternoon....so peaceful and quiet and just what I need.
Tregastel

two more local scenes

2010-07-25T23:52:00.003+01:00

Had a great day with Frank and Annie on our market stall. Always a social event, though not necessarily a viable financial event. Did the top two whilst hanging around. South Coast cliffs, and Saint's Bay, and the last one is Chouet Bay aka Ladies' Bay ...not sure why it's called Ladies' Bay.

Two more...

2010-07-22T08:33:00.004+01:00

So enjoying painting and experimenting. Chucked a few efforts away. Did I throw out a masterpiece I wonder???? LOL
Two more Guernsey scenes. Portinfer and Low tide at Grande Havre. Grand Havre is a very special place for me.
My idea that I have floating around my brain cells, is to paint the entire coast of Guernsey....on paper that is, not in red!

Flag Rock three times

2010-07-17T12:09:00.003+01:00

What a fab morning I've had. Did my chores and then went for the paints. Three versions of 'Flag Rock' viewed from Cobo and from Albecq. For some reason my camera is being funny and the pics are blurry..:-(
Generally just playing with paints, and having fun. I'd better go feed my family now.

Postcard scenes

2010-07-15T17:17:00.001+01:00

Rousse Tower from Chouet
Lihou Island Causeway with Fort Saumarez in the background.

Postcard scenes

2010-07-15T16:55:00.005+01:00

Vale Castle overlooking Bordeaux bay

Saint's Bay.

It's been far too long....far too long!! I'd just about forgotten what a paintbrush looked like and what my watercolours smelled like! Anyhow, my mate Frank bullied me into getting on with it, so I did and it's been so therapeutic....I must never spend so much time away from drawing again!
Anyhow, a few postcard type scenes from around the island, small watercolours, approx 7 x 5inches I think.

Holiday to La Gomera, Canary Islands

2009-12-29T18:28:00.002+01:00

Some more...

Holiday to La Gomera, Canary Islands

2009-12-29T18:24:00.004+01:00

Watercolour sketches.... These just do not do the awesome scenery justice!

Holiday to La Gomera, Canary Islands

2009-12-29T18:15:00.002+01:00

Went to the most gorgeous place on this earth. La Gomera is just stunning and the scenery awesome. "Fraid my sketches simply do not do it justice, but I had fun in any case. Can't wait to go back there.
Airport sketches first. Horrendous journey both going and coming back. Shan't dwell on that, but had my sketchbook with me, so that it made it somewhat more bearable...

baby-faces

2009-12-09T22:44:00.003+01:00

Baby in my sketchbook and the sad girl is one of a series to raise funds for Tumaini. I think I need to do something to the nose and to the left eye.:(

Fiddlers' hands

2009-12-09T22:40:00.003+01:00

I love hands! I love drawing hands and I've long wanted to draw musicians' hands.
A few sketches of fiddlers' hands. The problem is that I find violins so difficult to draw.... These are quickies done in my sketch book.
I intend to do a proper series....fiddlers, pianists, flautists, guitarists and so on.
Hands say so much about a person I find....

The shepherd

2009-11-21T23:51:00.002+01:00

A sketch....just mucking around, cos I'm in the mood to draw. Participating in the Wet Canvas WDE this weekend, something I haven't done in so many many months. The photo wasn't very clear...that's my excuse for anything that's wrong with my sketch.
Graphite in my moleskine sketch book.

Hope

2009-11-21T17:48:00.004+01:00

An art exhibition on the theme of HOPE was organised at Les Cotils Centre for today, along with a talk about Hope in Art and also a workshop run by Tim Steward, who paints very moving work.

I put in a piece for the exhibition, only a little piece, 20cm x 20cms..a little picture in graphite, a version of which I posted earlier on as a sketch. I have to say I like it very much, even though the resemblance to the original little girl is not that good. But the poise of the child really caught the idea of HOPE for me, in that the purity and innocence of children is a beacon in a broken world, and for me a ray of hope...

The talk and workshop was very interesting, and not at all what I was expecting. We were left to ourselves to do the art work, and I inevitably ended up with the standard Christian symbols, which left me frustrated. However, it was a very liberating experience, and I enjoyed myself very much.
Small painting done in my A3 Moleskine sketch book.

Faces as usual...

2009-11-21T17:45:00.003+01:00

Still having fun with faces. Drew the first one whilst watching 'Children in Need' last night. Not a fantastic resemblance to the original, but on it's own, I like it!

Funny faces

2009-11-21T17:36:00.004+01:00

The funnier the better! A few semi-blind contour... I love doing things like this, cos there's no need to be correct!

4 more face sketches

2009-11-10T15:07:00.003+01:00

Some more flickr-faces. They're so good, cos they don't move!
All done in graphite in my moleskine sketch book. The aim is to do them again, from my sketch this time in monochromatic watercolour! Watch this space and see if I follow up on my aim! LOL
Good to be drawing again. I really miss it when I'm not drawing.

Two more facebook friends...actually real life friends for that matter!!!

2009-10-19T19:22:00.003+01:00

I've missed these two so much...they've been away from here for too long but are soon going to be back!! Yeahhhh!

facebook friend faces

2009-10-19T16:22:00.003+01:00

Facebook friends (from photos) and my two girlies from life!

Strange faces

2009-10-19T16:02:00.006+01:00

Needed to get back into practice, so off I headed to Flickr and found some faces to draw. They're good cos they don't move!!! You'll never know of course whether the likeness is good! LOL
I love drawing funny faces!

Big draw day

2009-10-19T15:59:00.003+01:00

Last weekend, JS arranged a Big Draw day which I attended. We did a still life, and it took me quite a while to get into the groove, but i eventually kind of got there and had a lovely time. First time sketching for a very long time...it's amazing how quickly you lose the skills if you don't practice regularly!

Jerbourg sketch

2009-10-19T15:57:00.003+01:00

Went walking in the last of the summer sun... about 3 weeks ago. Not a terribly inspiring sketch.

It's been a long long time again!

2009-10-19T15:54:00.002+01:00

Fisherman's cottage in La Roche Derrien, Brittany. (Left over sketch from the summer!)

Sillon de Talbert

2009-08-12T10:23:00.005+01:00

Went out exploring with Wizzy yesterday. Can't walk too far, cos he's so fat and wheezy and old. So we went back to L'ile a Bois and mooched around. A kind lady in the only bar-epicerie which was almost a small as the salle de wc at home, gave Wizzy a bowl of water!!!

Fete du Chant de Marins Paimpol 2009 again

2009-08-12T10:16:00.002+01:00

Fete du Chant de Marins Paimpol 2009

2009-08-12T10:10:00.003+01:00

Three fab days, lots of noise, lots of sunshine and lots of fantastic music. Mind you by the day three I'd started to have enough....I think it's the age or something!!! LOL

Here are some sketches... a few done on site, and one or two done from photographs at home, re-living the memories.

Afternoon outings

2009-07-30T20:27:00.005+01:00

Kermouster and Le Sillon de Talbert

Had the loveliest afternoon exploring beyond Lezardrieux, a direction we don't often go in. Gorgeous!

Moleskine sketches done in situ! Colour added on the second one at home. 'Fraid the photos aren't very good!

Fontaine a Pontrieux.

2009-07-30T19:19:00.002+01:00

I find this fountain incredibly ugly, yet the Pontriviens are so proud of it!!!

Sketch in my moleskine. It's used regularly by the drivers of the 'caleche' for the horses, and for water for plants and things in the market.

Lavoir in Pontrieux

2009-07-30T08:14:00.003+01:00

OUf!!! What an exercise in perspective!!!

It's been such a long long time!

2009-07-28T21:22:00.005+01:00

Finally got myself out and painted! And boy did I struggle with this. My old bete noire.....perspective! There must be an easy way round!!! arggggh! And furthermore.... I am well out of practice....

A 'lavoir' (a wash/ laundry house) ..one of the many along the river in Pontrieux, Brittany. Done in my moleskine sketch book. I spent a couple of idyllic hours by the river, listening to music and hidden by a hat whilst sketching. Lovely weather and beautifully peaceful.

Poppy field

2009-06-08T18:54:00.004+01:00

Playing around and trying to be loose with these watercolours. Inspired by a greetings card I saw whilst I was in Herm.
In my moleskine w/c sketchbook.
Back to the exam marking....sigh....!

Lunch time at Cobo Bay

2009-06-03T16:45:00.004+01:00

It's at this time of year that I remember exactly WHY I wanted to stop teaching and 'retire'!!!!
I am sick of exams....so much marking to do. Took time off at lunch time, headed down to the west coast and Cobo Bay, bought myself a cup of tea and an ice-cream and sketched. Completely recharged my batteries!!!!

Done in my w/c moleskine. (Getting fonder and fonder of that little sketch book!)

Icart and Echiums

2009-05-30T16:15:00.003+01:00

Pink flowers

2009-05-30T09:23:00.002+01:00

Bobbie thought they were FOXGLOVES, Annie thought they were LUPINS. What do you think they are?

Day trip to Herm

2009-05-28T09:48:00.003+01:00

Day trip to Herm..... (neighbouring island). My three slept after our picnic, I walked and sketched.
I have just noticed that the foreground rocks on the second sketch haven't been grounded and look like they're floating !!! Watercolour sketches in my w/c moleskine sketchbook.

Sketch one: Brehon Tower from Fisherman's Beach, Herm, with Guerney in the background.
Sketch Two: Crevichon, (next to Jethou Island) from Fisherman's Beach.

It was the most beautiful day, a low spring tide, misty and sunny and gorgeous.

This week has been my half term week off....I had great plans to sketch...where has the week gone and where are the sketches????? Still trying to work that one out....!

Playing around

2009-05-21T22:32:00.004+01:00

In the mood to play with paint, but not in the mood to be precise and all that stuff.... and this is what I came up with in my Moleskine watercolour sketch book. I've cropped the bottom slightly, cos what was there kind of imposes itself too much on the picture. My husband says this reminds him of the "flamboyants" trees in Mauritius. Haven't got a clue what I was doing when I did this and not quite sure what I think of it overall. But hey, playing was fun! Now I'm ready to have a glass of water, brush my teeth, go to bed and read a book for a while.

Frustrations

2009-05-20T18:11:00.004+01:00

A sketch done on the cliffs last Wednesday and a sketch from my head today.....otherwise I'm just NOT doing enough art!!!! Frustrated BIG time. In between the two is a really really bad sketch...totally flat and lifeless which I refuse to show, and that was the 3rd of 3 attempts. Gave up in irritation, then came back and did the bluebell wood one...which I feel quite pleased with.

Big sigh

2009-05-02T23:18:00.002+01:00

Haven't done anything worthwhile for sometime now, and still not producing anything worthwhile..feeling kind of restless really.
A couple of very poor sketches..one from Icart and the other from Jerbourg. Those rocks are flipping difficult to draw/ paint...and the values are all over the place. The real life views were/ are absolutely STUNNING, not that you'd get the slightest idea from what I've done. I'm almost ashamed to post these... sigh of frustration.

Bluebells and shells

2009-04-28T22:41:00.003+01:00

The bluebells this year are magnificent....I've never seen so many. Bluebell wood was magical and the cliffs are delicious...the golden gorse smelling of vanilla and almond, with masses and masses of bluebells, pinks, wild garlic......just stunningly beautiful.
Picked a couple of bluebells from the hedge outside and did these contour studies. Difficult flowers to capture...so delicate and so complex.

A few more shells to add to my page too.

Playing around...

2009-04-15T20:16:00.003+01:00

Well.... sometimes it's good for it to rain so much that you are stuck indoors. I had lots of fun painting and playing around, inspired by the work of a Breton artist who has had her work printed in a little book called "Un petit tour de Bretagne" which I bought earlier this week. I like the clean brush-marks and her uncluttered use of colour. Was inspired by some of her pieces and used them as a starting point. I think I might have learned something today, though not quite sure what!!! LOL

Le Trieux

2009-04-15T18:56:00.002+01:00

POuring with rain and drab and grey all day long. So lit a fire, and cosied down. Painted from a photo, aiming to be loose..... Not sure that this is all that successful, but I enjoyed myself!

Another beautiful day...

2009-04-13T20:38:00.003+01:00

Another beautiful day. I made a chicken casserole with rice, loaded family, casserole, dog sketching kit into car and off we went. We picnicked at POrt Moguer beyond Plouha. Just utterly lovely.

I walked Wizzie-dog, we had lunch, the others snoozed, and I sketched. Perfect day finished off with a delicious patisserie from a Boulangerie-Patisserie in Plouha village itself.

Sketch is view of Gwin Zegal from Port Moguer.

Also did some shells in my Moleskine...(still in the love half of the love-hate relationship with that sketchbook. I like the way the ink slides smoothly over the paper.

Rocks at Ploumanac'h

2009-04-12T21:34:00.002+01:00

What a beautiful, warm sunny spring day. Just utterly gorgeous and we spent most of it outdoors. Had lunch in Ploumanac'h, then whilst Annie and Johnny slept on the beach, Wizzie and I walked along the cliffs, and eventually headed back to the sleepy-heads, where I then sketched. An absolutely perfect day.

Maison du LIttoral

2009-04-11T21:32:00.004+01:00

Fantastic day spent with my daughter..... drove out to PLougrescant, walked the dog, had a picnic, walked again, and then I sketched and daughter read. Lovely weather. Not that happy with sketch...... but the day was perfect! Hoping for more like this tomorrow.

P.S. If anybody could give me advice on how to paint rocks successfully, I would be SO grateful!!! I mean, how are you supposed to get the folds and creases and shadows without making it all look like some giant sand-patty?! :-)

Little doll

2009-04-09T08:55:00.003+01:00

As part of this week's art scavenger hunt at www.wetcanvas.com, we had to draw a toy/plush toy. When my daughter was a baby, my youngest sister gave her this doll, which never really 'bonded' with Annie, but 'bonded' with me! LOL It's a strangely-shaped little black doll with a baby on its back....very quirky. I drew it in my moleskine sketch book (the book I have a love-hate relationship with and withwhich I am currently in the love stage) in pen, whilst listening to the most amazing, inspiring podcast from HTB on prayer. There was a further challenge on the Art scavenger hunt, to draw one of the items on the list from 2 or 3 different angles (can't remember how many for sure....). I love drawing things from different angles, I like looking for strange shapes.

Camellias

2009-04-07T17:44:00.002+01:00

First day of holiday. Got some camellias from the garden and did some studies in my new Moleskine sketchbook, with which I have a love-hate relationship...at the moment I love it.

Semi-blind contour which I'm kind of obsessed with at the moment.

View from Jerbourg

2009-04-04T19:46:00.002+01:00

A beautiful, though cold day. Went out onto the cliffs and sketched. What a lovely time.

Flower studies

2009-04-02T22:10:00.003+01:00

My birthday was over a week ago, and I received so many flowers. They're still around, though some have eventually gone to the great flower-pot in the sky. A few semi-blind contour studies and I thoroughly enjoyed doing them too. Pen in my sketchbook. Well-needed relaxation time after a very long term at school ....

Eistedfodd hopefuls...

2009-04-02T22:05:00.004+01:00

t

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I can't believe that I'm not drawing like I used to and I miss it! I need to get back to it, and the odd occasion when I do draw I feel so out of practice, so that I'm reluctant to try cos I feel I'm not going to succeed, and the longer I leave it, the worse the feeling gets.

This collection of sketches were done whilst sitting through lots of eistedfodd hopefuls about a month ago..... My favourite one is the pianist....I completely caught him.....LOL But the only person who will know that is myself! ;-)

Birthday sketching...

2009-03-23T08:55:00.003+01:00

Well...not quite, but all part of the birthday and mother's day weekend......
I went out on the cliffs and walked and sketched..... how perfect can that be?!!!
The Peastacks from the cliffs beyond Moulin Huet.
It was the most beautiful day.

Ahaaa! A post after so long...!

2009-03-16T20:04:00.004+01:00

Had a commission to do these 3 doggies from the tiniest lowest, resolution photo ever! Never ever again!!!! Either I take my own photos or I get a decent size, or no go!!! Too much hassle. Not my best..... Reluctant to hand it over, cos I don't want to be associated with this really. Grumble

Bunch of daffs

2009-02-12T23:25:00.005+01:00

More daffs...they're there infront of me and I can't resist them.
Semi blind contour..... I love doing drawings like this....there's no pressure to get them right. :-)
Tomorrow is Friday...and then half term. Looking forward to it. I'm quite shattered.

I heart daffodils.

2009-02-11T23:34:00.005+01:00

Daffs are my most favourite of flowers. I saw these at M&S yesterday and couldn't resist. Such cheerful flowers. Mum said that the first thing she saw after giving birth to me was daffodils. Maybe that's why they're my favourite flowers. When I see the first daffodils of the season, my heart gives a teeny little leap of excitement.

Dreams and such

2009-02-08T23:00:00.001+01:00

Ode to a flute and dreams...

2009-02-08T00:43:00.003+01:00

Ode to a flute: Daughter plays beautifully, but won't practice..... grrrr... this is causing angst!

Feet...... just fancied drawing really, and if you want to know about the house click on picture to make it bigger!

I am enjoying doing these inaccurate, semi-blind contour drawings, cos they are relaxing and I am not hung up about getting things absolutely right...I just want the essence, and I think I'm getting that. They involve me having to slow down in the drawing process, which is good, cos everything slows down...heart rate, frustration rate, breathing.... until I am quite relaxed.

Chez Rapunzel.

2009-02-07T10:40:00.001+01:00

Added an extra little detail to Rapunzel's house.

Maybe I'm a witch....

2009-02-07T10:38:00.001+01:00

...cos I dreamt about cats last night...

Rapunzel's house?

2009-02-07T00:17:00.001+01:00

This house was inspired by a picture posted on "Different Strokes from Different Folks"
I keep meaning to join in this but keep forgetting. Thought I would draw the picture in any case. Here's the original ref photo and my version.... a semi-blind contour, with colour added in watercolour. The whole thing came out darker than I intended...I'd intended it to be more bright than this when I drew the house this morning, but it seems that by the time I added the colour this evening, my mood had darkened somewhat.....

Funnny FACES

2009-02-07T00:08:00.003+01:00

Revisiting yesterday's drawings with added colour. Had fun doing these this morning before heading off to school. Had so much fun I left later than I meant to and arrived later than I'd intended.... ooops!
The sketchbook I'm using at the moment is a "Seawhite of Brighton" which I picked up from a local newsagent which has started stocking them. They're not too expensive, and I really like the quality of paper. The paper has a bit of tooth to it and takes a watercolour wash reasonably well.

Facing facts

2009-02-05T23:02:00.006+01:00

Came home quite tired....this full-time teaching lark is taking some getting used to again!!! LOL
Sat down with a cuppa and barely moved again..just sat and doodled. Semi-blind contours. I love doing these...don't know why I haven't done them in such a long time. I like the expressions they have, and the quirkiness....
All done in my sketchbook. I really relaxed doing these.

Facts to face:
Got to teach cos money is getting tight what with all the bank crisis and cut in interest rates etc. So gonna have to get used to working full-time for the time-being. No big deal, have done it before, others do it, and kids are at school all day too. At least it's a job I enjoy and get a thrill out of, and it's quite fun when all's said and done.

Daughter is turning into teenager and brings along all attendant baggage. Very tiring.

Nearly 50 and my face is drooping along with other parts of my body.

I shall never be a pop-star! This is a big fact I must face!!!! :-)

Lots more facts to face, but I'm keeping them to myself!

Things to enhance eyes....

2009-02-04T21:24:00.003+01:00

Really got the urge to draw at the moment..helps me relax too.

More self-portraiting

2009-02-03T22:31:00.004+01:00

Following on from the previous post..... no waffling, you will be pleased to know! :-)

Self-portraiting

2009-02-03T22:20:00.003+01:00

Looking at myself either in the mirror, or in a photograph has always been difficult, because I never recognise the person I see there. To date, every self-portrait I have drawn has been poo-poohed by anyone who knows me, as not resembling me at all. Clearly the person I see in my mirror is not the person that everyone else sees, and certainly the person called ME who appears in photographs bears no resemblance to the person ME that I see, but is the person ME that everybody else sees. So which of the two is the real ME??? Do the Vincent Van Gogh self-portraits we are all familiar with, depict the real Van Gogh? The Van-Gogh that he saw...in his mirror, but not the Van Gogh that the world saw....How do we know that he did a good likeness of himself??? Putting aside his very obvious drawing skills, how can we be sure that the person he depicted in his self-portraits is the real Van Gogh and not just his own introverted perception of himself reflected by his moods at the time? Does any of this make sense?

I have it on the authority of my daughter, that the mouth/nose sketch of myself that I have drawn is definitely ME, as are the eyes.... but were I to put the whole lot together, would I get ME??

Furthermore, what do my individual features say about me? What do you, who don't know me, learn about me from these sketches? Can you tell what kind of person I am?

Self-portraits...definitely a bizarre, introspective activity.....I'm working on it! LOL

Another snow-day off school!!

2009-02-03T19:09:00.003+01:00

Annie finally fulfilled her dream to surf on snow! She had a fantastic time.
Also built a very comical snowman. Amazing how something so inanimate and ephemeral can have such personality...like Pumpkin Halloween heads....

And just cos I haven't done one in a while, a Zentangle!

Thou shalt not pray....

2009-02-02T21:30:00.002+01:00

Have you ever heard of anything so absurd????!!!! A Nurse was suspended because she offered a prayer for her elderly patient.

Snow day!

2009-02-02T19:04:00.004+01:00

Woooo! It snowed...4 inches (that's alot for us!!!) and we got given a day off school. How cool is that? My family and I went out walking.... We had a lovely day. Feels like we've been on holiday.
A few sketches for today.
Unfortunately the top two sketches turned out browner than I intended.... ah well, they're only sketches...

wool doodles

2009-02-01T10:40:00.003+01:00

I haven't drawn anything in the last couple of days, but I have been doodling......with wool. I recently ordered some books about "free-form" knitting and crochet, and I'm totally hooked... (pun intended!!! LOL)
Very very soothing...like zentangling. I love the textures and the uncontrolled-ness of it all.

Gnarled tree

2009-01-28T09:14:00.003+01:00

Yesterday morning I heard the most ridiculous rumpus outside my window, coming from this tree. 2 mating pigeons.....what a noise!!!!
I love this tree....very gnarled and twisted and covered in ivy.

Migraines...

2009-01-28T09:12:00.003+01:00

I woke up with a headache 2 days ago and by the end of the day I nearly threw up all over the kids at school.....arggggh.!! A real humdinger of a head it was.... Only jsut getting over it.

Why do pictures turn out blurred?

2009-01-28T09:10:00.001+01:00

The first daffodil that I've seen, and haggis....I stuffed myself stupid on Burn's night with delicious haggis....
I find Burn's night a really bizarre tradition. The only reason I was there was cos the band were booked to play...we did 2 on the trot.

Meeting doodles

2009-01-28T09:08:00.002+01:00

I hate meetings, I hate meetings, I hate meetings......I always resent the time they take.

Something edible..

2009-01-20T23:00:00.004+01:00

Well...it is something edible, but I guess I will leave you guessing!!! So tired...too tired to even draw this well enough to be recognised. Yawn......going to ZZzzzzzz now.
If you really want to know..... it's for this months Virtual Sketch Date, which you can find here. Will attempt to do a better version later on when I'm more awake.

octopus

2009-01-18T22:07:00.002+01:00

Too tired to say anything really.

More doodling fun

2009-01-18T09:44:00.003+01:00

This may sound strange to you "real" artists out there, but although I have always enjoyed drawing and I love the creative process, this is the first time I've really had "fun" ..playing around with drawing and colour and using my imagination. I am so enjoying myself.

Sea-creature sketching.

2009-01-17T22:46:00.002+01:00

Jelly fish and octopus fascinate me. They are so "alienesque"....they seem to come from another planet, the kind of place Dr. Who would visit, or one of the planets in "Star Wars".
Sketchbook sketches....

Just doodling.

2009-01-17T22:26:00.003+01:00

That's all I was in the mood to do last night.... so I had a ball doodling. This for me is akin to letting my hair down....:-)

Marketing your art

2009-01-13T16:20:00.001+01:00

I love Cathy Johnson's work, and have just found her little series on "marketing your art". Such good advice. I ought to print it out and stick it up above my desk!
Go visit here. Very worthwhile advice from an experienced and fantastic artist.

You know that feeling....

2009-01-13T15:57:00.003+01:00

...when you' ve been ill and you're on the mend, but not quite there yet, and you want to do things, but you haven't got the energy and you end up feeling depressed.....
Yep, that's where I am at the moment. Spent the weekend and the last couple of days down with the "noro" virus. Hopefully back to school tomorrow, but at the moment, neither well nor ill, if you know what I mean.
Tried to occupy myself drawing:
A couple of EDM challenges: No 170 A zipper/ no 105 a pair of scissors
Also new art scavenger hunt: item: draw what you are wearing- my sandals and my floppy yoga pants for slopping round the house.

Could this be ME???

2009-01-09T01:16:00.002+01:00

Maybe, somewhere in there, is a little bit of me.... or maybe, this is the ME that was around when I was drawing this, the ME that only I can see, a hint of ME that briefly appeared and made contact with myself whilst I was staring at myself intently in the mirror. Who know????

Staring at myself...

2009-01-07T22:47:00.003+01:00

..is not a pleasant experience. Sitting propped up on my pillows with a mirror perched on my knee, I attempted another self-portrait. My dad would describe this as my "fierce" look. Certainly there is a fierceness in my eye....LOL
I scare myself! That starey look is so unnatural...I guess it is an effect of self-portraits, cos one stares at oneself with such concentration.

I cannot bare to look at myself!

2009-01-07T00:12:00.006+01:00

It's bad enough looking at myself in a mirror to do my hair and wotnot, but to sit and stare at myself for minutes on end in an attempt to do a self-portrait from life is utter purgatory....I find it really difficult. I don't recognise the woman in the mirror and I most certainly do NOT recognise the drawing....about 15 mins worth..and I can assure you I cannot see me there at all. Grrrrrr The thing is I've committed to doing this throughout this month. Will I manage it???

So in order to cheer myself up after a hard day's work at school...first day back into full-time teaching, when I thought I 'd given up for good....a shock to the system... I zentangled for a bit to soothe myself. The first is a continuation of yesterdays, and then I started on another on and off throughout the evening. I love doing these things, but I know that I'm going to get bored with them soon.....

I really have to do this...

2009-01-06T00:43:00.004+01:00

Yet another Zentangle..... My retirement came to an end today and I am back at school , having truly believed I would not be teaching in school again.... ah well...c'est la vie.
So after a busy day with one thing and another, I found myself borrowing daughter's gel pen and zentangling on black paper. I like the effect, but prefer black on white. The sparkle of the gel pen doesn't reproduce so well here.

The thing is I've signed up for a couple of projects on Wet canvas: Portraits throughout the month of January in the Art from Life forum...which means I may be forced to do self portraits....something I have to come to grips with, and the other is a Project drawing stones/ rocks using oil pastels, which I look forward to doing. So what am I doing instead.....zentangling.... sigh....

Comfort and necessary...

2009-01-03T23:17:00.006+01:00

Themes: COMFORTABLE and NECESSARY:

...my MBT shoes...SO comfortable and make walking a total pleasure, though not much in the fashion stakes, but then as my daughter says, I'm not a "fashion zombie"!!! LOL

....my gloves are NECESSARY at the moment, cos it's SO cold! All part of the Scavenger Hunt which ends tomorrow. Don't think I'll finish this list. Oh well never mind!

PS...Oh yes...and a Zen tangle.....still addicted......

Meditative addiction

2009-01-02T19:24:00.002+01:00

Oh well..that's my excuse! Have been out and about in the car all day, and needed therapeutic relaxation when I got home, accompanied by a cup of tea and a choc wagon-wheel.

I love doing these. I expect I'll get bored eventually...

I think I'm addicted..

2009-01-02T10:02:00.003+01:00

Actually, I AM addicted, no "thinking" about it......this is going to seriously have consequences! What I find so fascinating is that the idle doodling results in something beautiful and organic. I love the organic feel to all the individual doodles that go up to make the whole. I do find this very very meditative.

PS. I need names for these don't you think???

Zentangling....

2009-01-01T23:52:00.002+01:00

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Just discovered the art of creating ZENTANGLES. I practiced it many years ago whilst at school in my rough book/jotter during lessons.....we used to call it "doodling".
Strangely enough my art teacher at school particularly liked pen and ink work involving intricated doodles which never appealed to me, but now I see a bizarre beauty in these doodles.
I came across Zentangles today via the post of another artist blogger "Creativity Journey", and felt quite inspired. Creating a zentangle is mesmerising and meditative and takes you inside yourself.... a really relaxing, regenerating process. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I think it might help me loosen up.
What amuses me is that I have a friend "Keropika" who has been doing this style of art for years and years, and I even created a cross stitch from one of his pieces, but it takes those who are so good at marketing to make doodling a saleable commodity!! Check out the Zentangle site!!!

Doodles of a Tea-Drinking Addict

another dream.

Bad dreams

Outpourings of a deranged mind!

Journal page 3

Art journaling 2011 resolution

La chaussure des reves....

with apologies to the Mums...

The strange faces of my daughter and a random baby

More airport people

Airport people in my sketch book

And a couple more...

art time before bed time

What a wonderful day out...

Holiday sketching

two more local scenes

Two more...

Flag Rock three times

More postcard scenes

Postcard scenes

Postcard scenes

Holiday to La Gomera, Canary Islands

Holiday to La Gomera, Canary Islands

Holiday to La Gomera, Canary Islands

baby-faces

Fiddlers' hands

The shepherd

Hope

Faces as usual...

Funny faces

4 more face sketches

Two more facebook friends...actually real life friends for that matter!!!

facebook friend faces

Strange faces

Big draw day

Jerbourg sketch

It's been a long long time again!

Sillon de Talbert

Fete du Chant de Marins Paimpol 2009 again

Fete du Chant de Marins Paimpol 2009

Afternoon outings

Fontaine a Pontrieux.

Lavoir in Pontrieux

It's been such a long long time!

Poppy field

Lunch time at Cobo Bay

Icart and Echiums

Pink flowers

Day trip to Herm

Playing around

Frustrations

Big sigh

Bluebells and shells

Playing around...

Le Trieux

Another beautiful day...

Rocks at Ploumanac'h

Maison du LIttoral

Little doll

Camellias

View from Jerbourg

Flower studies

Eistedfodd hopefuls...

Birthday sketching...

Ahaaa! A post after so long...!

Bunch of daffs

I heart daffodils.

Dreams and such

Ode to a flute and dreams...

Chez Rapunzel.

Maybe I'm a witch....

Rapunzel's house?

Funnny FACES

Facing facts

Things to enhance eyes....

More self-portraiting

Self-portraiting

Another snow-day off school!!

Thou shalt not pray....

Snow day!