All made of Stars

Not so long ago, you may remember I drew a sketch, of this half animal, half human. I played around with it digitally and promised I would return to it. So now I have. This is a painting on wood.
                                                                  'All made of stars'

I also returned to other sketches done at the same time.
I often write words down, in a little notebook I keep. Random words that sometimes pop into my head and  sentences that inspire a picture, especially like to creep into my head in the dark hours past midnight when I should be in bed asleep,  instead I  find these are the hours where most of my ideas for work appear.
Words from my notebook....
                                                  Most can see, but many are blind
                                                  Many can hear, but most are deaf
                                            "Remember to open your eyes" said the fox

                                                   'Remember to open your eyes, said the fox'

Or...  'From the light we all came' ?  I'm not decided on the title of this piece yet?........
 I will be making prints of these very soon. First I will have to get them scanned in town though, as my scanner is broken and I haven't got around to buying another yet. (another job on the 'to do' list) Hopefully I should get them done by next week.
In the garden already nature is making preparations for next years fruit. The catkins are decorating the hazel tree.

There are still leaves that are not ready to fall. After all they were late arriving this year. 

 And only 25 days, until the days begin to get lighter again.
I will leave you with a song that I had on repeat whilst painting these pictures.  Beautiful video too.

Music To Listen To While Sketching And Watching Butterflies And Bees

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” Albert Einstein

There is not a day goes by when I don't listen to some form of music. I wash up to music, paint to music, cook to it, and  most nights fall asleep to it.  When I was a child I heard music in the ticking of my parents bedside clock and when I lie in the bath I hear it in the dripping tap.  Music is an escape for me, a story. As well as immersing myself in pages and ink I mostly submerge myself in notes and melodies that fly me away to heavenly places.  Far away from the constant bombardment of negative news and daily dose of depressing data that is thrown at us via, media and social networking. Oh the bliss to put headphones on and block out not just the news of the world sometimes but my own thoughts that get carried away on the wave of it all.
I like all kinds of music but my favourite is the type that gives me goose bumps. That is the music that reaches  my soul. It's always a joy when I find a new piece that pulls at my heart strings, brings a tear to my eye or lifts my spirit and takes me on a flight as if I'm an eagle soaring high above the earth.  When  I come across such a piece I listen to it over and over. The other day I watched a dvd and found this beautiful piece by Alexandre Desplat.

Here's another wonderful piece by Dustin O Halloran..

And more beauty by Sigur Ros

I've been sketching in the garden and have continued to be outside in the good weather as much as I can.

   

The sunshine has brought out lots of butterflies and bees to the garden. So good to see.  

"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher" 
William Wordsworth