Sophie's self-portraits

Sophie's self-portraits
Originally uploaded by JournalEYES

When my daughter left primary school recently, the school presented us with a folder containing all her school reports and a series of self-portraits that she had drawn each year. It was such a lovely leaving gift.

It is interesting to see them all side-by-side showing the developmental stages of her drawing skills - the first one features the all important belly-button that all children seem to include in their early pictures! and the last one the introduction of shading. It is also interesting to see when she chose NOT to draw the glasses that she has worn since the age of 6...

Cactus

A prickly subject.... again painted at the garden centre.

There is something very interesting about this particular garden centre, it is a family owned business, and one of the original founders is a lady of 101 and she still comes in to work every day! Well they say doing what we love keeps us young - she must be the proof...

Pots

More paintings from the garden centre

Tulips

Painted in-situ at a garden centre with my drawing and painting class
Watercolour in a Moleskine Watercolour Notebook

Mask-and-Scarf

Still life from my drawing and painting class.

A VERY tricky subject, a black sequin mask on a striped grey devore velvet scarf...

Pitt Pen on watercolour paper

Shells

Still life from my drawing and painting class

Watercolour on watercolour pad

Seascape

Seascape
Originally uploaded by JournalEYES

Week 2 of my drawing and watercolour class - this week, seascapes, using masking fluid and spatter techniques, working from a photo.
I'm really pleased with how this one has turned out, but must try harder to get my horizon line straight! I think what really made the painting was adding the little sailboats on the horizon - they weren't in the photo.

Widbrook

Widbrook
Originally uploaded by JournalEYES

A quick sketch, done while sitting in the car - had to stop when another car parked in front of my view!

First attempt at not using pencil first!

Pitt artist pen, Moleskine sketchbook

Sky 2

sky2
Originally uploaded by JournalEYES

Another sky study this time I applied a Watercolour wash then removed some paint with a tissue to get the cloud effect, then back in with a darker colour when the paint was slightly wet to create the dark clouds. Landscape put in when sky had dried.

Sky 1

sky1
Originally uploaded by JournalEYES

First class of my drawing and watercolour course - missed the first two weeks, so am playing catch-up. Learning basic watercolour washes and skies - then adding a simple landscape

Musical Italy Inchies

Musical Italy Inchies
Originally uploaded by JournalEYES

Sample of inches for 'Art for Cures' Musical Italy swap in the colours of lime green, pale blue and orange