Earth Hour 2010 Official video

Don't forget to get your candles ready for Earth hour this Saturday night at 8.30pm!

The Joys Of Spring

'March brings breezes loud and shrill, stirs the dancing daffodil'

From my window today I can see a single daffodil  in bloom. The first out, among a large clump near the hedgerow. And yes, it is dancing in the wind. It's a blustery March day here. The rooks nests so high up in the trees are swaying. It amazes me how securely made they must be. I expect the tiny birds in their eggs are used to the gentle rocking motion and when they hatch enjoy it as a baby in a crib does.

The snowdrops in my little jug are beginning to go over now, so it's time to bring the primroses in.

Primroses are one of my favourite flowers and whenever my nose touches the delicate petals and I deeply breathe in the scent I am instantly transported back to the age of about eight years old. We used to pick bunches of them and violets, tie them with wool and hang them from a long stick to make carrying them home easier. 

There are green buds and shoots wherever you look now and things are beginning to wake.

 Now the evenings are lighter, there is more playing outdoors for them and me. ;)

 And the hens are enjoying some warmth on their wings.

I've been pottering about in my greenhouse and have planted seeds. I won't show you all that, but I will show you these that I couldn't resist....

 Bunny tails! I just had to have a packet of these! :)

While we are on the subject of four legged creatures, I will mention that there are some new brown March hares in my Etsy shop at the moment. And The fox painting 'Wearing A Robe Of Gold' is now available to buy as a print.

I've been busy cutting out little wooden birds and beasts which I will show you another day. Until then, I wish you all the joys of spring!

A Trip To Wonderland

Like many people last weekend we went to see Tim Burtons latest film, the much anticipated 'Alice in Wonderland'. I didn't have any expectations of what the film would be like as I really didn't mind. I love Alice however it is portrayed. I love the way that the book has been interpretated so differently by Artists and Filmakers over the years. We enjoyed it, but then it's always had a place in my heart. The surreal dreamlike wonderland is an Illustrators heaven. And the white rabbit, well he has been a long standing companion of mine, following me around (or do I follow him?) from college days. He often finds a way of getting into my paintings and often he takes on the form of the white hare.

 Here he is in my latest heart hangers. I mean, how could  I resist doing 'Alice' themed hearts this week after watching the film :)

Here he is just disappearing... Both hearts will be listed in my Etsy shop later today! So if you are interested hop across and see.

I wonder what this young lady would think of the film? This is the real 'Alice' namely Alice Pleasance Liddell
She inspired Lewis Carroll ( Charles Lutwidge Dogson) to write the adventures in Wonderland.
She lives on my dining room wall.

I am lucky to own a complete Illustrated works of Lewis Carroll with all 276 original drawings. Here are a few of my favourites by Sir John Tenniel:

Several years back I illustrated a picture book that had many wonderland elements about it. It was called 'The Palace Of Cards' I thought I'd share some pictures from it:

Whatever you are doing this weekend have a wonderful time. But I definitely recommend taking a trip to wonderland!

A Lucky Number From My Shell Box.

Down to where the snowdrops grow.

I wandered.

Nearby the woodpeckers tree.

I listened.
I sowed seeds. 
And later we wrote numbers on little pieces of paper and put them into the shell box and gave them a shake about....

 

And

the

Lucky

Winner

picked out was Number 35! 

Anna

(Anna please can you email me your address details and I will get your chosen print in the post to you.)

Thanks so much to everyone, for taking part in this giveaway.

x

Wearing A Robe Of Gold

It's Spring!
March has arrived bringing beautiful blue skies and birdsong.

Wow.. what a wonderful response to the giveaway! If you haven't already entered you have bags of time left. I will choose a winner out of the hat, sometime on Sunday. (Make sure you leave your comment on the giveaway post)
I said I'd show you the painting that I have been working on, so thats what I'm back here today to do....

After painting the picture 'Clothed in Silver'  (The white fox) I  decided to do a picture to accompany it. Along the same theme. I planned the picture here in my sketchbook where it has been sat patiently waiting it's turn to be created into a  painting on canvas.

 

'Wearing A Robe Of Gold'

                                                      (24x30 cms on deep edge canvas)
I have included 'my moth' and tried to capture the same light that was glowing on the morning when I let it fly to freedom.
This will be available to buy as a print in my Etsy shop soon.

I also did this little 15x15 cms painting yesterday..

' Mothlight'

The colours have turned out a little bright in this photo. In reality they are much darker.
Right, I'm off to paint two large owl hangers now.