All posts filed under: Animals

When you feel sad…

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So I haven’t been able to paint much lately. I’m a huge animal lover, and just lost one of my guinea pigs to genetic kidney disease. It was heart breaking to me.  Why am I telling you this? Well because it caused serious ‘artists block’.  I’m sure LOADS of people have experienced this sticky, blurry, head fuzz that decides to sit in your brain from time to time. For me it comes along when I feel sad. I don’t think there’s a cure, I think you just have to harness the bad and turn it into good. So I’m working on a whole new collection of paintings based on the unique little characters of animals, and the happiness they can bring us. Bit different to my previous landscapes, but art is a journey…as are the stories from our lives that enrich our work 👌 This collection will be  for you, Jelly Bean.

Framing paintings

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My lovely assistant is looking very pleased with himself after helping me with a busy day of framing ready for my solo exhibition on Tuesday 10th November. I’ve chosen white frames for all of my colourful pieces, and I have to say I’m very pleased with how they all look now they are framed, bubble wrapped and ready to go!

Things that bring a smile to your face

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Life is beautiful, extraordinary, and filled with opportunities.  We all know that right? But sometimes, just sometimes, life can provide barriers (obstacles if you will) that serve to compete with the path of happiness we all so wish to skip along.  It can throw up irritating little hurdles that you just have to hop over and carry on  as you dance along your merry way.  At least that’s the slant on life I try my best to uphold.  It’s not easy, and sometimes it can be a downright battle when you feel like you are constantly trying to push, heave and kick obstacles out of your way like a relentless Ninja.  But even a Ninja has down days right?! Anyway, today was one of those days for me.  But do you know what really cheered me up when I was feeling a bit fed up? This picture of my Dog Harvey (left) and his friend Harvey (right).  Whilst on the surface this is a silly picture of two bemused dogs with towels on their heads, …

The Gift Of Photography: A Few Handy Basics

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If you read my previous post ‘The Gift of Photography’ you will know that I was recently given an SLR camera for my birthday-EXCITING.  From this, you may also know that I have no idea how to use it! I decided that I would embrace my newbie photographer status and share the lessons that I learn along my little journey of discovery with this remarkable piece of equipment.  Last time I ventured out into the world with my camera, I was literally just pointing and shooting using automatic mode (which I like to refer to as THE SAFE GREEN BUTTON).  Although I liked some of the photos that I took, I was well aware that I could do better with a bit more ‘know how’.  This weekend I had an accomplice who knows a thing or two about photography- my brother James.  He showed me a few handy basics that any newbie photographer can start to experiment with.  I think it is important to point out that I did not go out with the intention of taking fantastic photos, but to …

The Cat Who Changed How I Think

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I have to admit,  I am not the worlds greatest cat lover.  In fact, I grew up in a family where cats are considered to be entirely selfish and aloof creatures who are far more interested in food than the unrequited love of their owners. From a tender age,  it was drummed into us by my dog championing father that cats CHOOSE to spend all of their time either defecating in children’s sandpits, or winding up  the family dog – probably to illustrate their superiority over us lowly, dribbling humans whilst they casually rejoice at their own splendiferousness  no doubt.   In short, they were viewed as no more than unwelcome furry visitors to our garden. As I grew older,  if visiting friends and a feline creature just so happened to decide to sit on my lap, I’d silently panic.  I cannot relate to cats, and do not know how to respond to their advances.  Reluctantly, and somewhat awkwardly, I would make polite attempts to stroke them whilst desperately trying to avoid their sharp little claws.  I also felt like …