Saturday 31 December 2016

Starling

Tweet of the Day : Starling : As this is the last day of the year...I offer up a framed painting which is a favourite of mine...which I'm not sure I want to sell...it is one of those one would like to keep as it came off so well as a painting ....a rare event....a one off...a happy accident...as artists will know is not an everyday happening....anyway here it is.....A Happy New Year everybody!!

Friday 30 December 2016

Black Headed Gull

Tweet of the Day : The Black Headed Gull : Nesting on the beach….does not sound safe does it…but they can nest right next to you and you wouldn't see them...they blend into the background beach so well.

Thursday 29 December 2016

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Tweet of the Day : Great Spotted Woodpecker :an occasional visitor to our garden and very welcome when it does...but it never stays long....a fast food stop....

Wednesday 28 December 2016

Wren

Tweet of the Day : Wren : A wren with a sense of humour …what else can it be?........

Sunday 25 December 2016

House Sparrows

Tweet of the Day : House Sparrows : At the moment living in our roof space and keeping us awake at night....but we do like them being there...and we do feed them...not seen to much these days...on the decline unfortunately....so enjoy them while you can....Merry Christmas you'll

Saturday 24 December 2016

Mandarin Duck

Quack of the Day : The Mandarin Duck : Another very colourful duck and on this pond with a great reflection...I have never seen one in the feathers so to speak....I must put it on my bucket list….

Friday 23 December 2016

Cardinal

Tweet of the Day : Cardinal : We don't see them over here in the UK...but I remember my first sighting....in golf club in Hilton Head island USA...I looked up and there was the most colourful bird I had ever seen....I was gobbed- smacked…The sun was shining on it so it looked even brighter than it usually does......totally mind blowing.....

Thursday 22 December 2016

Brambling

Tweet of the Day : Brambling : Back to the birds now something for the season a warm looking brambling sitting on a branch chirping away happily...

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Bovine Blues

Moo of the Day : Bovine Blues : Buttercup has made it back to the shack….back in her old well chewed field and warmly dressed for the Winter ahead...her adventures oversees now just a dim memory....how soon we all forget....live in the "now"

Tuesday 20 December 2016

Buttercup phones Home

Moo of the Day : Buttercup phones Home : It looks as if we will never know how Buttercup finally got out of that boat and is now phoning home to be picked up and lead back to her field…and what happened to the boat....there will be one Irish farmer who has found his cow but also wanting to know the answer to that question...the thick plottens even more thicker.....

Monday 19 December 2016

Buttercup and the Tower of london

Moo of the Day: Buttercup and the Tower of London: Buttercup floats further up the river Thames and has now reached the Tower of London....but still cannot find a place to land...what next?

Sunday 18 December 2016

Buttercup and Tower Bridge

Moo of the Day: Buttercup and Tower Bridge : So it is London and that was the London Eye…so what is this...a bridge with towers on either side so it must be Tower Bridge.....very nice....but my question is ...how do I land and how do I get out of this boat?

Saturday 17 December 2016

Buttercup and The Eye

Moo of the Day: Buttercup and the Eye : After the rough Atlantic the waves had calmed down a bit...a mouth of a river.....buildings......and more buildings.....and then this a great wheel....I wonder where I am?

Friday 16 December 2016

Third Encounter

Moo of the Day: Third Encounter: Buttercup is adrift in the Atlantic somewhere…suddenly she noticed another boat...and just as suddenly there was a movement under the boat...who was in the boat and what was it under the boat?....she needed answers......particularly... how do I get out of this boat!!?

Thursday 15 December 2016

Scottish Castle

Scottish Castle : This is a close up of the castle a day or two ago...I was intrigued by the brickwork of the sides or rather stone work but there seemed to be both when I looked closer...The sun was hitting some of the sticking out stones which made interesting shadows...hard to reproduce in acrylic paint. I'd like to have another closer look at it…..

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Close encounter

Moo of the Day: COW WEEK ; Cow week continues with Buttercup ( for it is she) escaping the rower of the boat ( Whatever happened to him?) and setting out on an exciting adventure...there is not a lot she can do about it...she's adrift in a boat without a paddle....her first encounter is with a flying fish.....do cows like fish? have they ever tasted one? The thick Plottens…

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Boat Trip

Moo of the Day: COW WEEK ! It starts with "boat trip " a strange site but an interesting one…saw this in Ireland where a cow was being taken from one island to another ...it wasn't far enough to get a proper boat or a saver one...they somehow got this cow into this rowing boat and set of to next island...how they got it out if the boat boggles the mind...and set mine a'going....all the paintings this week are of what might of happened to this poor cow.....watch this space!

Monday 12 December 2016

Buttercup and Politics

Moo of the Day: Buttercup visits The House Of Parliament…this poor cow has been cast adrift in a small rowing boat and has decided to visit London…it is part of a series I am painting for my dailypaintworks auction..it's called COW WEEK and starts tomorrow…don't miss this exciting story…


Sunday 11 December 2016

Arnie

Woof of the Day : Arnie: A tough little dog this one...looks as if he works out....always down the gym...we passed him in the street and he looked at me just like this...never sure what to think...are they the same as cats regarding this...this didn't look menacing it was just a "look"...I think I'm getting paranoide...ahhh they are all out to get me....save me from the cats and the dogs staring at me.......I think I'll have a cup of tea and a sit down…I'll feel better later.....

Saturday 10 December 2016

Cheeky Grin

Meow of the Day : Cheeky Grin : This is another look I have just received from a friendly cat passing through our garden...I explained to it that we have birds feeding here and we didn't want them attacked and eaten by cats…I gave me the "look" and cheekily grinned ...why can you do?

Friday 9 December 2016

Tiger

Meow of the Day : Still trying to get that look that cats give you when you talk to them....what are they thinking?…I showed one a card trick the other day and got the same look…Impressed I hoped but the truth is…I haven't a clue...but enjoyed painting it...

Thursday 8 December 2016

path 1

New Forest Path :  Just reviving my long neglected website and found this landscape I did in the New Forest reminding me that it is a great place to paint…I promised myself that I would spend more time there next year…..and get some great landscapes under my belt.

Wednesday 7 December 2016

Castle

Castle : Again one of my students ideas that he was copying from a photograph…my idea was to paint a copy of it along with him as he worked on his...so that I could show him the next step on my painting without working on his....

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Tabitha

Meow of the Day : Tabitha : I started this drawings as a rough idea for tomorrows painting but it just went on and on a developed a mind of it's own…funny how some paintings do that...very unexpected ...so what started as a rough idea ended up as a finished pen and ink drawing....looking at it later I have added some colour to the eyes...

Monday 5 December 2016

The Red Warehouse

The Red Warehouse : One of my students ideas that she was copying from one of her own photographs...my idea was to paint a copy of it along with her as she worked on hers...so that I could show her the next step on my painting without working on her painting....one of the many faults I have....I get carried away and think it's my painting and just carry on with it and completely forget it is the work of someone else ...ho hum...

Sunday 4 December 2016

Sam the Man

Meow of the Day : Sam the man : This is Sam a very light coloured cat almost no colour at all...so this time I tried to as lightly as possible using the acrylic paint like a watercolour...to get that wispy affect....I like the look of this and will try it again….as it has much power...

Saturday 3 December 2016

and the cow jumped over the moon

Moo of the Day: … and the cow jumped over the moon…: I 've always wanted to do that ever since I read about it in a children's book….hey diddle diddle….and no one is looking … o…a short run and up I go….clearing the moon by inches …from where you are standing…of course …..


Friday 2 December 2016

Midnight Crow

Tweet of the Day : Midnight Crow : We don't usually fly at night but tonight I just felt like it....so here we are...trying to find out what night birds are eating ...Owls are alway munching on something as they pass my nest keeping me awake....I want some of that…. problem is I can't see a thing !!

Thursday 1 December 2016

King of the Castle

Baaa of the Day : King of the Castle : Here we are nearly "teenagers " no longer hanging about with Mum like Snuffles there….we're off to have some fun...a bail of hay is all we need..we can play here all day..till elevenses that is then it's back to Mum for refreshments...

Wednesday 30 November 2016

The Three Stooges

Moo of the Day : The Three Stooges : Some families love to dress their children up like themselves so the whole family are wearing the same and looking like a " Family" it doesn't fool us…once we've finished posing for this artist were are getting rid of all this unnecessary stuff and getting back into our leathers...and looking like cows again.....well calfs....at least.

Tuesday 29 November 2016

Flowers for Mum

Trunk of the Day : Flowers for Mom : I was lost...couldn't keep up...Mom found me.. ( I knew she would )…and took me back to the herd...so I picked her some flowers....

Monday 28 November 2016

We Three and Dad

Baa of the Day : We three and Dad : Out with Dad today....Mum says she needs a rest ...From what ??!!...Dads a bit strict but we still love him.....we are on our best behaviour ...Mum says it's a shame we are not alway like that…Sometimes Mothers are hard to understand aren't they ?

Sunday 27 November 2016

Cold Spell

Baaa of the Day : Cold Spell : As it gets colder we put more clothes on to protect us from the winds and the snow...hats and scarfs just aren't enough...out with the jumpers....Ahhhh that feels better…we can face any weather now...bring it on!

Saturday 26 November 2016

Ellie and Jodie

Mooo of the Day : Mother and Child keeping warm now the weather has changed not looking forward to the snow…but it's not here yet so lets enjoy the somewhat cold grass until it does...at least our heads are warm...

Friday 25 November 2016

Ewe and Me

Baaaaa of the Day : Ewe and Me : We are having a cold spell…so precautions have to be taken...wrap up warm...scarves and woollen hats are to be warn....if you weren't wooly all over you would have to wear wooly jumpers too.....keep warn this Winter....

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Rags

Meow of the Day : Rags : Rags is a little cat that lives locally and is an occasional visitor to our garden ...mainly passing through to the other gardens ...but lately has been stop pig off to try catching some of our bird visitors on the bird feeders...I confronted her the other day and all I go was the "look" .....I'm still trying to capture the cat "look"…but still not there yet....

Monday 21 November 2016

Family Outing

Baaaa of the Day : Family Outing : We are all going to the top of he field this morning for a Family Outing...we don't usually come up here...but to day is special....it's Mum's birthday! and see likes the view of the mountains...have a good look around before you go said Mum ...Go? says I where are we going now…..on holiday said my mother mysteriously ...you'll end up in a nice restaurant somewhere but not in a nice way.... what is my mother talking about....the older generation talks a lot of nonsense sometimes...what do they know?

Sunday 20 November 2016

Proper Cow

Moo of the Day : Proper Cow : Thought I'd just try to paint a proper cow…as I always seem to painting the same cow type with long faces…it was a lot of fun to see the differences but I see that the stare is still the same…. scary…This and many other paintings are on show at the Oxmarket in Chichester Hampshire
From end to the month November for a week don't miss it!

Saturday 19 November 2016

Mum and Me

Moo of the Day : Mum and Me : Huddling together in the grass soon to be covered with leaves it's Autumn eh Mum? and it's getting cold again....good we have these nice leather coats I hope we still have them next year....you never know what's going to happen…I've just seen a wooly jumper that looks like someone I used to know.....ho hum...what does it all mean?

Friday 18 November 2016

Autumn Cow

Moo of the Day : Autumn Cow  :  Happily grazing in the field when it noticed that there were more leaves than grass…ahhh Autumn has come around again...soon be inside in the warm and all that hay....yum yum...

Thursday 17 November 2016

A Night With Mum

Bleat of the Day : A night with Mum : It getting colder....too cold for me...I need a warm Mum....and here she is...always there for me. I see other mums pushing the lambs away from their warmth...and making them fend for themselves ...but I'm younger so I'm ok for the time being...but come the day....I'll be older and ready to leave home.....some Mothers still have their children living at home in their 30's......but I don't think that is sheep.

Wednesday 16 November 2016

Autumn Cat

Puss of the Day : Autumn Cat…I'm starting a series of cat faces to try and capture a look a cat gave me the other day...it looked me straight in to my face...and I just couldn't work out what it wanted....if it wanted anything...it was very strange....you can tell when they want food or to be let out...or when they want to come in to 'their' house....but this look this cat gave me was something else....I'll know when I paint it…

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Hidden Sun

Hidden Sun : Painting down at The Solent in Hampshire UK …big skies...the end of the afternoon..good long shadows...and lots of boats and a great sky...trying to get it all down in a painting is as frustrating as it ever has been...but one has to try..this was a very quick sketch later worked on in the studio...never quiet as good
as what one does on site...

Monday 14 November 2016

Blue Tit

Tweet of the Day : The Blue Tit : Another Blue Tit... I think that that is because there are so many in our garden. As soon as I put out new nuts in the feeder out they came, hanging comfortably under the feeder much to the pigeons annoyance....who have to wait underneath for any titbits.

Sunday 13 November 2016

Autumn Reds

Autumn Reds : Down by the lake again…this time the leaves are speeding up their changing ..now the whole area is looking red even there ground is covered with red leaves...its all happening here...you feel one good wind would blow them all off the trees and leave them bare in a day...could be another painting...

Saturday 12 November 2016

Bearded Tit

Tweet of the Day : Bearded Tit : You wouldn't want to be late putting out the bird food in the morning with this one around....it will frighten the day-lights out of you....A brown, long-tailed bird, usually seen flying rapidly across the top of a reed bed. Males have black 'moustaches' rather than 'beards'. They are sociable and noisy , their 'ping' calls often being the first clue to their presence

Friday 11 November 2016

Autumn Moonlight

Autumn Moonlight : Again down by the lake...this time with just a camera...too cold and dark to paint but interesting never the less...everything was purple or shades and hues of the colour... great with the yellow / orange leaves ...more orange than yellow...now…Winter is a coming in...

Thursday 10 November 2016

BBC Plane

BBC Plane : Some musicians friends and I meet up for a hearty breakfast at a local airport weekly …as we tuck in this is the view from the window...it has intrigued me for years... the shadows are calling for a painting...so I finally got around to painting it....after many attempts at getting it photographed...including as I was photographing it one of the planes took off....

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Autumn Lake

Autumn Lake : A stroll by the lake...sunny, bright and crisp morning...and fresh ...Winter is on the way...the leaves are still hanging on..you feel that one strong wind would render them bare...meanwhile we can keep painting.
We had to take down our exhibition yesterday...a bit depressing...nobody sold any paintings...our cards and some folios went...but no paintings! Ho Humm back to the easel for new work for the next exhibition…difficult to get going again.....

Tuesday 8 November 2016

Windy Hawfich

Tweet of the Day : Windy Hawfinch : I love it when the wind blows birds feathers....it's a challenge to painting...The UK's largest finch, it has a massive, powerful bill. Always shy and difficult to see, the hawfinch has become even more enigmatic in recent years with a decline in many of its traditional breeding areas. They still come to our feeder...