Keep calm and...

   Most of this month has been too crowded to do much in my studio. We have had family and friends staying allot and since my studio is also the guestroom that means I don't get allot of painting done!

   So I've been trying to keep my blog alive and healthy since I can't go out to my quiet little room outside and paint every picture that comes into my head.

   I have been painting all day today, but not the kind of painting you are thinking of right now. I've been doing a few days work house painting for my aunt this week which is good because I will earn a tiny bit of money. That sort of thing is scarce for me these days; I no longer get a student allowance because The Virtual Art Academy I am studying with isn't NZQA qualified.

   I can't wait until we get well into February then I shall be settled down into a normal routine and be able to really get working and get painting. I also have vague ideas about starting to work on drawings for an exhibition next year maybe. It's an exciting idea, and will take allot of thinking about and planning and money too. But lets see what this year brings before we start talking about crossing bridges let alone jumping over rivers!

Pages from my sketchbook

Here are some pages from my sketchbook in response to Loriann Signori's challenge on her blog. 

I use my sketchbooks as places to scribble when I don't feel like doing a proper drawing but want to make marks with my pencil anyway. Or I use them it for daily sketching challenges which I love or preliminary sketches for more finished drawings or paintings.

 

This first photo is one of several I have done from famous paintings. I find the best way to learn more about a master's work is to copy his masterpieces. I discovered allot about 'In the Conservatory' when I did this page. And also about the artist. Art Project Powered by Google is a great reference for this kind of thing.

On this second page are a couple of sketches I did in preparation for a portrait of the girl. They were really helpful and decided me on the first pose as an open smile really doesn't look good in a portrait.

These last two are from a daily sketch challenge I set myself earlier in the year. I always find my hand eye drawing skills are given a huge boost after I draw heaps and heaps and regularly.

Tigger

   This will be the first of a series of watercolour paintings I am working on. He is half finished and I''m working from a photo of my horse, Tigger. 

Coming on...

This big painting is going very very slowly! I haven't worked on it for days, sort of lost inspiration, but I'll finish it, don't worry. This is what it looks like at present. 

I have been doing lots more drawing than painting lately, I'll show you my sketchbook tomorrow.

Horsey Inspiration...Please

Now after that short break, a weekend flu of some sort, I have woken up to Monday morning well enough for weekday duties. 

Now, I have no new pieces of art to show you, nor do I have any ideas for anything! Isn't it very annoying when you really want to draw or paint something but have no idea of a subject!

So do you have any ideas to suggest?

 Drastic..

 Simple...strange....

 beautiful....wild...

abstract...

fanciful...

All my, as yet unknown, ideas seem to be centered around horses just now so give me horsey ideas for a picture. I will be glad of your help, and will be particularly pleased if you have a really good idea.

I'm getting inspired already, just from looking at Google images!

All images courtesy of Google, if you own or know who owns one of these images let me know so I can credit them! :)