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.

A New Cupboard A Worn Out Pencil and A Birthday Giveaway.

This week I  bought a cupboard. How could I resist this wonderful piece of furniture crying out for a new home in our local charity secondhand shop? Look at all the storage it has!

It's a lovely old piece and reminds me of 'Moonacre Manor'.

Looking at the state of my pencil though. Hmmm... maybe I should be spending the pennies elsewhere!?

I've been busy with more hearts. A special one for a relative of mine's birthday and a couple more hare designs that have been listed and sold and are on there way to their new homes.

I've almost completed a new painting on canvas. But not quite. It still has a few finishing touches to be put to it, so I will wait just a little while longer until I show you that one.
You may have noticed I've altered the blog banner. I thought it was time for a  small change, as it's my blog's birthday! To be precise it was on the 29th February two years ago that I started blogging. I can't believe it's been that long! What a wonderful time I've had. A big thank you to all the lovely people that visit here and follow and all the friendly, kind,warm and  positive comments that you leave. :)

Surely this means it must be time for a giveaway!! .......

So, all you have to do is leave me a comment here, letting me know which is your favourite print I have for sale in my Etsy shop. Then next Sunday I will pick a winner out of the hat and they will win that favourite print. Good luck ! x

A Little Trip Out

This week the children have their school half term break, so the house has been filled with sounds of piano playing and smells of biscuit baking.
The sky has been really showing off, wearing the most amazing clouds and colours.

Its been a week of recharging batteries. A time to visit special places.Today, a visit to Gloucester cathedral.
It was snowing and icy cold.

Luckily inside was lovely and warm and we wandered around drinking in history and inspiration for two hours, fuelled in between by a mug of hot chocolate and slice of cake in the coffee shop. I won't go into too much detail about the cathedral, as you can read  about it here. But here are my photos of things that inspired me.

  The hand painted ceilings and walls.

 Beautiful  lettering on stone and stained glass

Cold stone faces

Everything reminded me of how much I love medieval colours.

 

And this marble hand was so beautiful, I just had to keep touching it.

 

  

 

I've always been in love with stained glass and here of course it is everywhere.

But this window below wove a magic spell over all of us.It's by local stained glass artist Tom Denny

My small camera couldn't capture how beautiful it really was. It needs to be seen! You must go and see it, if you are not far away. It's simply stunning.

A different kind of magic crept into our visit too. The cathedral has been used numerous times as the film set for the Harry Potter films. Here are 'my two' standing in the passage where the message written on the wall proclaimed..... "The Chamber of secrets has been opened"

They enjoyed exploring, seeking out the different areas that had been used in the films, and so did I.

To finish our trip off and because it was snowing, (as in the story) how could we resist a wander, just a few steps from the cathedral to a rather famous address. Number 9 College Court. A little shop just off Westgate Street that once belonged to an old Tailor his cat and some very clever mice.

My favourite Beatrix Potter story. :)

Gold On Fur And Some Old Work

This morning golden sunlight on golden fur. As if to fool me into thinking it's the warmest of  summer days outside.

It is bitter cold outside. Blades of grass are sugared  with frost and the water in the bird bath is solid again.

I cocoon myself in scarf, hat, gloves and coat to venture out into the garden. A bunch of snowdrops and to defrost the bird bath, my small mission. It's thirsty work when you are a bird preparing to build a nest. Flitting branch to branch and darting from tree to hedge, I've been watching them from my window as I work.

There is new growth in the garden. Among the dry browns, a new primrose and a single bluebell  emerge.

 And back indoors, it doesn't take long for the snowdrops to open up.

I have started a new painting on canvas and will be back to show you pictures very soon......

In the mean time and because I haven't any new work to show you today. Here are two old paintings of mine which were done for a personal picture book project, a few years back. It got abandoned in dummy book form when I was told by publishers that the illustration style was too old fashioned looking? I also felt my story wasn't strong enough.

 I'm thinking of going back to the one below as I'm not quite happy with it.  The sky needs darkening down a little and the tree needs more work too. Then, if it turns out ok I might make it available as a print?

What do you think? :)