​On a scale of 1-10, in the difficulty of photographing dark paintings, i'd definitely give it a 10!
There is always the problem of glare from any light source bouncing from the surface, so what looks a little dull and washed out here, is a significantly richer and warmer painting in reality. 
Ah well, you get the idea.

This painting was inspired by those we lost this year. In some respects 2018 has been wonderful, but in others it has been incredibly sad. But I have always believed that just because you can't see someone, it doesn't mean they're not there... as this painting clearly demonstrates.

Anyway, I am off to Cuba in a couple of weeks and I already know exactly what I'm going to paint when I get back. And I'll give you a clue... One of the items, I'll be bringing home with me from Cuba!

I want to wish all of you a very happy and HEALTHY New-Year.  I plan to make this a creative one!

Q. Have you ever painted something with a deeper meaning?
​(share in the comments below)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Looking forward to: Going to Cuba in a couple of weeks!
Planning:  My next painting... This one will include a beautiful glass (and something different for me)!
Enjoying: A few more days off.
Highlight:  A creative chat with the wonderful Youngman Brown on the Your Creative Push podcast


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​'After Dark'
24 x 30cm, Oil on Panel

It's funny that I seem to go through such contrasting phases where my paintings are concerned. 

For a long while, I painted mainly deep, dark paintings and then all of a sudden I felt desperate to turn on the light... That's about the time when I started painting marbles and other light and bright paintings. 

But as I have explained in my bio, there are two sides to me and recently I am revisiting the dark side. That's not to say I'm in a dark place at all... Actually, despite having a difficult few months while struggling with a creative block, I am actually in a really good place again. I literally go to bed thinking about painting... I dream about painting and I wake up longing to paint. 

Recently I finished the painting above, which to me is a very special one. It's special because it signifies a real turning point for me this year. It pulled me out of my block and sent me running for my brushes again.

I finished this maybe a couple of weeks ago and already I have a new painting well underway... It's another painting that embraces the contrast between light and dark... And I guess both should be embraced in equal measures, since we can not experience one, without the other.

I don't know how long it will be before the light starts calling again, but for now I am enjoying revisting my dark side. I hope you are enjoying it with me.

24 x 30cm
​Oil on Panel
​

​So here it is, my whisky glass painting finally finished.

It's been fun re-visiting my dark side. I think I'll do some more soon.
Meanwhile, what to paint next? Hmm...

Q. Where is your comfort zone?
​(share in the comments below)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Achievement: Filled my sketchbook at last!
Planning:  A new painting. Watch this space!
Warching: 'Killing Eve'  B.R.I.L.L.I.A.N.T!!!
Looking forward to:  A day out sketching in London in November


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It's interesting that in order for me to create paintings which are all about 'light', first I must embrace the darkest darks.

The next layers will see the introduction of subtle colours and depth, so watch this space! 

Meanwhile, I couldn't decide on the spelling of this deep amber tipple. I knew it was either 'Whisky' or 'Whiskey' but I really wasn't sure which! So I did a little research and it turns out that the Scotts spell it 'Whisky' and the Irish (and Americans) spell it 'Whiskey'... So, there you go, I learned something new today!

I also decided on my new marble composition, so I'm ready to get that on to my second panel. This means I'll soon have two painting on the go, which will feel great!

I can't tell you how good it feels to be back on top of my schedule, with brushes firmly in hand!
​

​Q. What's your favourite tipple?
​(share in the comments below)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Going to: The gym (feel fitter already)
Feeling:  Positive
Listening to: Al Marconi 'Terra Nova'
Looking forward to:  January... 2 weeks in Cuba!


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I've always had a deep fascination for psychology and I think having a general understanding of my own, can be the only reason why I am still able to walk in to my studio after so many weeks of continuously hitting a brick wall... (my head hurts)!

People were once led to believe that Artists were all 'crazy' and perhaps to some extent that's true. I mean, who else would put themselves through so much self-criticism, so many periods of crushing lows and frustration, only to continuously pursue it?
Paul has said to me more than once, 'Why do you do it, when it sometimes make you feel so bad?'
My answer? 'Because I love it....'

It's a bit like riding waves. When you're riding that crest, it's the biggest high you can imagine, but by the very nature of things, it's only a matter of time before you have to come down... and sometimes to a crushing low. And who knows how long you'll be struggling to take a breath? But when you finally feel yourself bobbing back to the surface, there's just no other feeling like it.

There's no way that anyone who didn't have a true passion and desire to paint, would be able to stick it out for very long. The emotions that come with it can be all consuming. I've been struggling for air now since the beginning of March, but having recently done a lot of soul searching I have finally been able to take a breath... enough that allows me the energy to paddle upwards towards that crest again. 

Some Blocks go Deeper than Others...

It finally dawned on me that I had been feeling guilty for painting. Guilty that 'my life is going swimmingly thank you very much', when the lives of some of the people around me were either ending, or crashing down around them. I think perhaps there's been a little 'self-sabotage' going on; mainly fuelled by the latter, but also by that nasty little 'inner-critic' who saw an easy opportunity and reared her ugly head again.

When I realised just what had been going on in that complicated brain of mine, I decided it was time to take control...

Firstly, I re-joined the gym. After all, a healthy mind starts with a healthy body, right?

Secondly, it was decision time. I walked in to my studio last weekend and destroyed one painting that I'd been battling with for way too long. This was a painting I honestly didn't like from the beginning. There was a lot of Phthalo Blue in it and I have realised that this is one particular colour that also has a negative affect on how I feel. I really dislike it.

I also destroyed a small painting I'd been working on. This time, there was nothing actually wrong with the painting itself... It was just that I'd painted it for all the wrong reasons. I painted it because I was going through a block at the time and couldn't think of anything else to paint (symptom of said block). 

Thirdly, in no uncertain terms I told my inner-critic to 'sod off'. I may have even thrown a few four letter expletives her way... Oddly, she seemed a bit taken aback and finally quietened down.

Finally, I decided that since I'd been feeling 'dark', maybe I should use that to my advantage and paint from the heart, which is always when I paint best. So at the weekend I started a brand new Whisky painting. And for the first time in quite some time, it felt AWESOME! 

But of course (as it says in my bio) I have two sides. And my brighter side also calls. So why not get two paintings on the go? So I also have a new marble painting planned and I will have started that by next weekend too.

I can't tell you what a relief it feels to finally be above water again. 
So normal activity is resumed (hurrah!) and I'll be sharing the process here, starting with layer one of the whisky glass. 

Watch this space!

...I'll get to that shortly.

Meanwhile, I wasn't going to post this 'experimental' piece on my blog because it's way different to my usual subject/style.

'It will look odd!' ...I thought.
'It will throw off the look of my blog!' ...I worried.

But then I realised that that is what this blog is for. To share what I've been up to.
So I decided to post it anyway...

​
Is it finished? No.
Am I going to finish it? No.
Am I done with painting glass? Absolutely no.

This painting served it's purpose. I needed to stretch myself and try something completely different... perhaps to prove to myself that I could? And I am pretty happy with how he turned out. And I enjoyed it enough that I will most likely do more in time... but just for fun.

I've had a few people recently who have asked me if I'm still painting, because I don't seem to be posting so much these days. I completely get why it might look like I'm not, after all, I usually complete around one painting a month and I often post progress shots too... Well, that was until this year.

So, why has my productivity slowed right down this year?
I thought I should explain. There are two reasons...

The first is that we lost two significant people in 2018; In March, we lost a friend of ours, then in May, we also lost my lovely Father-in-Law. Naturally we spent a lot of time trying to help in any way that we could and of course it goes without saying that this was our priority for some time (and of course I wouldn't have had it any other way).

The second (and main) reason boils down to taking on a couple of commissioned pieces. You might remember I was commissioned to paint a HUGE marble painting, which took me the best part of three months to complete...  In fact during the time it took me to paint it, I would usually have completed at least three or four paintings. 

Once I'd finished that, I completed a small, fun painting of some floating bubbles, which I really enjoyed. I was about to start another painting, when I was offered another commission, quite large, which I agreed to take on. This one is taking me far longer than I'd imagined and again I've found myself in a situation where I'm working on something for a long time. And it comes so soon after the previous commission, when to be honest I think I needed a longer break. The problem with commissions is that I can't post progress shots. So I look like I've dropped off the face of the earth!

So, the answer is yes. I am still painting, even though it doesn't look like it.

On that note, I have made the decision over the last few days that I am not taking on any further commissions for a few months and even then, I'll be limiting myself to one or two a year. The only exceptions will be smaller commissions of subjects that I love to paint.

So, once I've finished the commission I'm working on right now, you can expect to see my blog as active as it was in 2017 and many more paintings on the go. 

Commssions are a lovely thing... but they are also incredibly stressful and all consuming. 
Sometimes it's best to just say no.


Q. How do  you feel about commissions?
​(share in the comments below)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Excited about:  Vlogging! Finally I have a proper DSLR! Hmm... Just need to figure out how to switch it on... Then should be a piece of cake, right?
Planning: A Vlog Post. I thought it might be a fun, more direct way to connect with you.
Acheived: A wonderfully clean and organized studio. Took me ages, but was well worth it!
What's next: I'm turning my commission around for a while to work on something new. All planned and ready to start! Woohoo!


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10" x 12" Oil on Stretched Canvas
​Available 

​This was a really hard painting to photograph and to be honest, the painting is far nicer in the flesh than it looks in the photo! 
​

...The photo above is much closer to the painting.
​
After spending so long on my previous painting 'High Rollers', it was nice to do something a bit less taxing, so this was the perfect size, particularly as I've just started another large painting, although still not quite so large as the last!

For this painting, I used a canvas which was sent to me by the canvas company 'Loxley'. They asked me if I would try it and let them know what I thought. I'm used to working on a very fine surface for my paintings, so I wondered how I would find it, but actually I liked it. It handled detail very well considering it was a 'medium grain' canvas and I have to say, the quality of it far outweighed one of the leading brands. 

So, now it's on to the next painting, which is a commission. This time, a 'triptych', which isn't something I have done before.

I'll post some progress shots as I go!

It's been a while... But after months of working on my largest commission to date, finally I am able to share it with you...
​

38" x 56" Oil on Stretched Italian Linen
​SOLD

The image really doesn't give you an idea of the size... It's just under 5 feet wide and just over 3 feet tall and even the smallest marble is bigger than my head, so hopefully you get the idea!

Meanwhile, I hear this question so many times:

Just WHY is art so expensive??

So I thought I might try to explain it by looking at exactly what this painting has cost me, the Artist. But I'm not talking about the price of the canvas, paints and mediums used (all v. expensive btw!)... I mean everything aside from that.

So, it cost me...

1. A full set of brushes
2. An easel, which collapsed under the weight of the canvas.
3. Two knees and my back, thanks to the above incident!
4. Many, many sleepless nights worrying about the following things: How long it was taking. Can I really do this? Will it be good enough? Will the clients like it? Will it meet their expectations? How complicated will the shipping process be? 
5. Time with my friends and family... and when I say time, I mean LOTS of it. Every single weekend spent in my studio while my incredibly patient husband took on the household chores! And of course time during the weeks too.
6. Three confidence melt-downs... This is because I had spent so long on it, that I had stopped being able to actually see it.
7. And after all that, in a couple of weeks from now, having put my heart and soul in to this peice of work, it will be taken away (to Massachusetts) by a specialist art moving company... and I will never see it again.

So, when you buy a piece of art, it's really not just the art you are buying... You are buying a chunk of the artists life, along with a piece of their soul... and you really can't put a price on that!

Meanwhile, am I glad I took this on?
Absolutely!

Painting takes my emotions on such a roller coaster... Sometimes I am flying as high as a kite and sometimes I come crashing down to an all time low... Would I change that? Not for the world... It's these emotions that make us alive!

​Q. What's the biggest piece of work that that you have ever painted?
​(share in the comments below)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Planning: A couple of weekends off!
Watching: Marcella The 1st episode was actually quite disturbing though...
Reading:  'Get Even' by Martina Cole (not my usual genre)
Highlight: Several inches of snow! Sherlock (the dog) loved it and my 21 year old son reverted back in to a 5 year old!

​
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Can you believe that Christmas is upon us already?
This one has come around alarmingly quickly and my 'to-do' list is frankly out of control!

Still, thankfully there is one thing I have finally been able to cross off of my ever growing list and that's the launch of the brand new website, 'Kick in the Creatives'.

Myself and co-founder, Tara Roskell (aka The Idea Medic) have been working on this for the last few months and let me tell you, we have been working our socks off to get it launched in time for the New Year! It has been really hard work and of course I've had to put the time in around when I'm working on my huge marble commission along with all of my other commitments and to say 'I'm knackered' would be an understatement!

But I think it is worth it. We only published the site a few days ago and already we have had a buzz of people wanting to join in! But I'm not going to tell you all about it right here. Instead, I will tell you very briefly, that it's a place where all of the many popular art and writing challenges, such as 'Inktober' and 'NaNoWriMo' can be found under one umbrella, but with lots of brand new ones for 2018 added to the mix. 'Art Journal January' being just one example.

And if you subscribe to the monthly Newsletter, you will know in advance all of the challenges going on for the following month, which means you can plan ahead. And that's particularly necessary for challenges such as '30 in 30' and 'Half Past Christmas'.

And 'Kick in the Creatives' also has a Facebook Group, where participants of the challenges can share there work, along with their frustrations and also share tips and urge each other on.
And of course it can be followed in all of the other usual places:

Facebook Page
Instagram
Twitter

But if you want to hear all about it in a bit more detail, why not have a listen to our introductory podcast episode here. You'll enjoy it!

And you can explore the site, by clicking on the image below...

​
​I'm taking a blog break now until the beginning of February, firstly because of Christmas and secondly because I'm going away for a couple of weeks in January. I'm in need of a dose of sunshine, so Caribbean here I come! Then this blog will return to normal and I'll be back at my easel and sharing my usual arty stuff with you!

Anyway, I wish you all a very happy Christmas and I really hope you join us for a very creative New Year. 

Meanwhile, before I go... We are asking fellow creatives the following question and we'll be reading out the most bonkers answers on our first official Podcast episode, which will air in mid-January...

Q. Where is the strangest place that you have ever sketched?
​(share in the comments below)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Planned: A January holiday in the sun
Achieved: The new 'Kick in The Creatives' website and Podcast
Reading:  'According to Yes' by Dawn French
Feeling: Absolutely KNACKERED!

​
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You hear about 'happy accidents' all of the time... and let's face it, everything we do is one big accident; Nothing can ever be truly planned, we can only ever plot and hope!

Of course not all accidents are happy. For the second time since I began this blog, the platform host has lost every single one of your lovely comments! I've considered disabling them altogether (I mean the comments of course, not the host) because it's upsetting when you have taken the time to comment and then they all just disappear! Apparently they are 'working on the issue' but hmm... I'm not holding my breath! 

Never mind... This year has also brought with it some really happy accidents...
2017 was going to be my year of saying 'yes', even if something felt way out of my comfort zone. The commission I'm working on now for example... I'm certainly comfortable with the subject, but the size is something quite different! 38" x 56" is the largest painting I have ever tackled... But I said 'yes'... and so far so good...

Earlier this year I engaged in a conversation where I accidentally found myself saying 'yes' to being interviewed on a Podcast. This is something that I thought would be way, way too terrifying! But I did it anyway and it went okay!

This interview led me to accidentally meeting Tara Roskell, aka 'The Idea Medic' who then invited me to be interviewed on her own Podcast. And following that interview, quite by accident I found myself co-hosting a joint episode with her soon after...

This one joint episode accidentally led in to several more joint episodes and then quite by accident, we became actual friends who began chatting about all things bonkers over the phone... including elephant poo (don't ask)!

Then one day we accidentally found ourselves talking about some really creative joint projects for the new year... We accidentally planned a new website... along with a brand new fortnightly joint podcast on a completely new channel of it's own, to accompany the site for 2018... And now we have accidentally started making all of these things happen...

So 2017 has propelled me in to an altogether different direction than I had 'planned!' And it's all been just one big happy accident! 

If you want to know more about this exciting new project, then keep watching this space. I'll be sharing all soon!

But meanwhile, you can click on the image below to listen to another one of our joint Podcast episodes. This one is all about online art challenges... Enjoy!
​

Q. So, what's been your happiest accident...?
​(Share in the comments below)

Week in a nutshell...

Working on: A brand new creative project in 2018
Acheived: 10 weeks of healthy eating and exercise... And some new muscles!
Learning:  Lots of 'techy stuff' Essential for 2018 plans!
Wishlist: iPad Pro

​
(Click below to sign up for my Quarterly newsletter for news, product reviews, studio tips, periodic exclusive discounts, plus links to other Artists!)... If you haven't yet signed up, now is the time... I have a very generous Christmas discount coming up for subscribers!

The first brushstroke is always the hardest in any painting, but once I get going, inevitably I find it hard to stop!

But since I'm working on a particularly large painting right now at (38" x 56"), I'm having to step away for a few days at a time. The last thing I want, is to get a bout of 'burn out' when I've made such a commitment. 

So I'm working on this painting in five hour chunks and after a couple of sessions, I turn the canvas to face the wall for a few days.
​
Why do I do this?
Because it helps me to see it with completely fresh eyes the next time I start working on it.
If I didn't turn it away from me between times, I would stop 'seeing' it... Hopefully that makes sense!

I'm about 2/3 of the way through the under-painting right now. It's a hard stage to live with for so long, but I have to trust that once I start the mid-layers, it will bring depth and life to the composition.

Of course my inner critic is constantly gnawing away at my ear... but so far I'm managing to drown out the noise by looking ahead and trusting my hand...

Watch this space!

​Q. So, how do you stay focussed when working on a large project?
(Share in the comments below)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Listening to: 'The Creative Penn' Podcast
Planning: Some creative challenges for 2018
Discovered:  This super easy-peasy and free photo editing site 'Fotor'
Inspired by: An interview with Joanna Penn. You can listen here.

​
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...​It's something every creative person wants to know, right?
And I think I've found the answer... at least for me, anyway.
 
And the answer is so far from what I imagined it to be; Something I thought I'd rather stick my head up an elephants bum, than actually do... and something completely non-creative. And actually, even though the answer sucks even more precious time from my already busy days, I feel more and more inclined to draw/paint/write whenever I can as a result.

And it's all down to energy levels, both physical and mental. It really is as simple as that! Who knew??
 
So... just how did I go from feeling like I'd been put through a washing machine cycle, squished through a mangle and hung out to dry... to feeling fresh off the shelf? Well, I added the gym to my already bursting diary! Okay, so I did a little bit more than that, in the form of a complete lifestyle change... But exercise, I think has been the key. Seriously!
 
From the 1st September, I changed my diet completely. And I did it because over the next few weeks not only am I working on a bloody huge commission, but I've also been summoned for Jury Service. Humph! I've a good mind to throw whoever it is in jail, just for dragging me away from my studio!! (Oops! Did I actually say that out loud??)
 
Aside from that, I run my husbands business for 30 hours a week, not to mention keeping up with the other stuff that marriage and motherhood brings... shopping, cooking, cleaning, dog walking... I knew that if I didn't do something pretty drastic, I was never going to be able to cope with all of the added extras I was about to take on...  I needed to find a way to up my energy levels (preferably legally), if I was ever going to do it without having a complete melt-down. And divorce really isn't an option as even after 24 years, annoyingly I still love the guy. Shouldn't I at least be a little bit bored by now?? Apparently not!
 
So, in preparation for the tasks ahead... I completely cut out all yummy flavoured, tasty foods and swapped them for cardboard-like alternatives, such as grains and oats. I'm currently also full of unidentifiable 'green stuff'...vegetables, fish, nuts, super-foods, juices etc. Also, I cut out drinking beer at home and instead I enjoy (or rather endure) the odd glass of red, but only when I feel like it and not 'just because it's Friday.' And besides, a detox does seem like a good idea on the lead up to Christmas, right?

Not that I'm going to pretend I'll never over-indulge again... After all, there is nothing more fun than falling out of a taxi, waking up in a skip (it's been done) and spending the day with my head down the toilet wondering what on earth I did the night before, but understanding nevertheless that it must have been sensational amounts of fun for me to be in such a near death state the following morning... But once I reach my optimum fitness level, let's just say that I will be doing things in a little more moderation (most of the time) in order to maintain my newly found fitness level!
 
Anyway, when I started these changes, I presumed that in time it might help me to up my energy levels a bit, but I had no idea just how 'bionic woman-like' I would feel in such a short amount of time! There is something to be said for all of this  'my body is a temple'  malarkey after all!

On the 1st October, I decided to add joining the local health club to the equation. Since then, I've been alternating between working out in the gym and swimming, five times a week, determined to have a bum like two tennis balls by December. I think my body has gone in to shock, but the last time I felt this fit was probably a decade ago!
 
And I realised over the weekend as I was working on my large commission, that I had been standing up for 4 hours straight. Normally I sit down to paint, partly by habit and partly pure laziness! But for a canvas this size, sitting down is impossible. I realised that had I not have prepared myself for this in the way that I have, I would have found it physically far more difficult to stand for that length of time and I'm sure my back would be suffering the consequences already... But it feels good. I feel good. And the most surprising result is, that I feel the urge to sketch and paint almost all of the time, regardless of where I am or what I'm doing... so I'm picking up my pencils at times when I would normally almost certainly be 'flagging.'
 
I can't deny that I hurt. I hurt everywhere. Even my eyebrows hurt. But I'm noticing of course that my muscles are becoming more and more defined. No pain, no gain, right? And this comes at a good time as I need all the strength I can get to kick my 'inner critic's' arse out of my studio!!

Yep... she's back... sitting on my shoulder, yacking away in my ear as I paint! But I'm doing a good job of ignoring her and just focussing on the task in front of me.
 
I'll be talking more about my inner critic over the next few weeks and how I manage to Shut that Goddamn Monkey!!

You may have noticed I have gone a little quiet recently...
Most unlike me, I know!

Well that's because I have started my really BIG marble commission and I have to say, it's not easy taking on something like this and having time to post about anything else... Largely because I'm not actually doing anything else art wise, aside from a little sketching!

But, I do have a fair bit to talk about quite soon and I'm going to share with you some of the thoughts swimming around in my head as I tackle this challenging commission.

But meanwhile, myself and Tara Roskell, aka 'The Idea Medic', have made another podcast episode for you... This time we share tips on how to stay motivated; something that is quite timely, as my inner voices have already started trying to hold me back!

I hope you enjoy the episode!
You can listen to it by clicking this link, or on the image below...

​Never has there been a time when I needed to manage my time more efficiently, than I do now.
Work is showing no signs of slowing down, I have just taken on my largest, most challenging and most detailed commission to date at 38 x 56 inches... and I have also been summoned for jury service!
Great timing, eh?

Add that to trying to keep up with shopping, cooking, cleaning, going to the gym and walking the dog, it looks like I'm going to be working through evenings, weekends and possibly some nights too to keep on top of everything!

So my latest joint Podcast episode with Tara Roskell from 'The Idea medic' comes at a very good time for me, as we discuss ways of using time in the most productive way possible and in some cases even making extra time you didn't even have!

​Of course, there is a bit of a bonkers twist in the episode, as is often the case when the two of us get together... but I won't spoil the fun!

You can listen to the episode here:

You might also find this blog post I wrote some time ago useful, where I share lots of tips on time management!

...Meanwhile, for obvious reasons my blog will be a lot slower for a while until jury service is over! But I'll try to get back on track as soon as I can!

2.5' x 3' Oil on Stretched Canvas
Available Soon

I wanted to capture these 'classic' Coke bottles on canvas before they disappear forever...
It's funny, the other day I saw an old Fairy Liquid bottle from the 1980's and it's surprising how seeing something so simple from the past can take you right back there!

When I was a kid, I was never allowed to drink fizzy drinks at home, so I got to enjoy a Coke with a straw only when I was at a friends house or a party... And by the time I left home, the only coke I was interested in, contained a good splash of Vodka!

​Anyway, I should be thankful that fizzy drinks were never a part of my daily diet, since to date I still don't have any fillings. That can't be a coincidence, right?

Q. So, what things make you feel nostalgic? 
(Share in the comments below)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Started: Exercising on the cross-trainer. Expecting a butt like two tennis balls in no time! Right?
Drinking: Vegetable juice...  Hmm.... ??
Watching:  'Doctor Foster'... First series was brilliant!
Excited about: Starting my next painting... This time, 38 x 56 inches! Oo-er!

​
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​Before I say anything, I have news... I have FINALLY finished my Coke Bottle Painting.
Hurrah!!! 

​I'll be posting the finished painting in the next few days, so keep an eye on the blog!

Meanwhile, I've been up to mischief! 
You might not know, that recently I have been dabbling in the world of Podcasting. No idea how that happened. I kind of just fell in!

And I'm not talking about being interviewed... I'm talking about co-hosting episodes with Tara Roskell from 'The Idea Medic'.

Tara regularly interviews artists and other creative's on her Podcast, but between times we have joined together to make some fun, joint episodes. We have recorded two so far. The first, was '12 Ways to Come Up with Creative Ideas'. 

The second and most recent 'Drunk and Disorderly', is slightly more bananas!
We decided to test the affects of alcohol on creativity. Does it make us more creative... or less?

Of course we didn’t enjoy this experiment at all! Being forced to drink was all sorts of pants! But I wanted to try it because when we’re kids we have no inhibitions... I mean I certainly wouldn’t run around my friends garden in only my underpants now!! …Well… not unless I’ve had way too much to drink… which got me thinking…
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As adults, we become more inhibited… There is only one medicine for that (well, that’s legal anyway), and that’s alcohol!
So the idea is, if we can let go of out inhibitions again, will it make us more creative, less inclined to care about the result etc…
or will it just make us less able… So we decided to experiment…

​Before recording the episode, which you can listen to here, we each had to try several creative activities, including sketching, character building, poetry etc... within a certain amount of time. And then we had to do the exact same experiments after drinking alcohol... It really was completely bonkers!

...But, the results were quite surprising (not to mention, highly embarrassing)!

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​Anyway, if you want to keep up to date with future episodes, then I will add them to this page.
Or, you can subscribe to Tara's podcast here. 

And in case you're interested, our next episode will be... '14 Ways of Creating Time When You Don’t Have Any.' So if you struggle with time management like I do, you might want to listen out for that one!
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Q. So, how does alcohol affect your creativity? 
(Share in the comments below)
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Week in a nutshell...

Planning: A Gym membership and detox from 1st September. My body will soon be a temple!
Drinking: 'Club Soda'... My new and healthy alternative to beer!
Watching:  Masterchef Australia, Series 9... SO much better than our own version!
Excited about: A possible new commission in the pipeline... This one will really test my skills!

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So what should you do when you're experiencing a creative block...?
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Reach for the chocolate?
Lie on the floor, kicking and screaming?
Curl up in to the foetal position?

...Well fortunately most of us are able to control the urge to do all of the above, but it doesn't mean we're not feeling the frustration in a big way. But if the problem lies with simply not knowing what to paint or write about, then I have a nifty suggestion that might just help you out...

The problem we face can often simply lie with having too much choice! 
It's not easy to pluck an idea out of the air, particularly if you are one of those who doesn't specialise in a particular subject!

But what if someone were to give you a random word and you had to use it as your inspiration? Even if you can't think of something to create straight away, this random word immediately gives you direction and gets your brain ticking. 
(I'll explain how it works in a mo)

Now I wouldn't be suggesting this technique if I hadn't used it myself and come up with some pretty successful paintings as a result.  As an example, you might remember this painting, which was inspired by the word 'Evidence'...

...And these two paintings were inspired by the word 'Breakfast'...

I could go on, as there are several other paintings I made which were inspired simply by a random word, but best get to the important part...

Where can you find a random word?

Well, just pop along to Random Word Generator and use the very first word that pops up to inspire your creation!

​And you can be as 'loose' in your interpretation as you like! For example, I used the word 'warmth'...  to inspire this paintng...

...(I was going for warmth in the lighting here).
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The point is, that the random word gives you something to work with and gets you creating!
And this technique can be used for other creative obstacles too, such as writers block.
For example, you don't know where to start your novel and your random word is 'Amber'...
​(btw I just got that word from random word generator) Well perhaps your story begins... 'In the amber glow of a flickering fire...'
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You see how it works?

​I think now is a good time to share a progress shot of my latest painting as it is right now.
It'll be the last progress shot I'll share before it's finished (I think), otherwise you won't be at all surprised when I reveal the finished piece!

I still have to finish the back bottle, the straw and then there will be another glaze to go over both bottles before I can finally call it done. Hurrah!

...It's taken longer than it should have done really. Partly because I've been taking part in other creative ventures with Tara Roskell from The Idea Medic (which has been quite revealing) and partly because of other time related issues. But I'm hoping to be done soon so I can move on to the next painting... and I'm already thinking of what my next subject might be... Hmm.... Any thoughts?

Meanwhile, those other creative ventures I mentioned?
Well I'll be sharing those with you soon, I promise!
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​Q. So, what's on your easel right now? 
(Share in the comments below! You can even add a pic!)
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Week in a nutshell...

Brave moment: Making an actual video in front of the camera, in possibly the most embarrassing of situations! More on that soon!
Looking forward to:  An evening out with friends this weekend.
Enjoying: Some tummy tickling art related jokes!
Compliment: Two of my bloggy pals asking if they can use my weekly round up idea... So I guess you like it then? Cool!

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​At the request of my lovely arty friend, Jennifer Mclean, from the blog, 'Just Add Water Silly', I made another time-lapse video of me sketching an eye...

Well, I wouldn't want to break a promise, now would 'eye'! (I see your eyes roll)...

​This time, the eye is sporting a big bell-bottomed tear. I do hope she cheers up soon!
I wonder what her story is...
​A lost love perhaps? ...Or maybe she's just peeling onions! Let's hope so!

There is lots coming up... More progress shots of my latest bottle painting, a new joint Podcast episode with Tara Roskell from 'The Idea Medic' and some other creative posts for you to enjoy.

So, watch this space!
​Meanwhile...

So I had great fun co-hosting a Podcast episode with creative genius Tara Roskell, creator of 'The Idea Medic.'

You can listen to the entire Podcast episode here, but meanwhile here is the loony-bin trailer made for the episode!

I just love the super-hero capes, lol!

​Tara and I plan to do more joint episodes every now and then. So here is my question for you...

 Q. What subject would you most like to hear us talk about? 
(Share in the comments below!)
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Week in a nutshell...

Making: Another timelapse sketch, as requested by Jennifer McLean, from the blog 'Just Add Water, Silly!'
Planning: To drink a few too many... But it's for a very creative reason, so watch this space!
Watching:  'In the Dark' (Gripping!)
Happy about: She is back! Yes, Tracey Fletcher-King is blooging again after a five month break! If you haven't seen her blog, it's a must for all those who enjoy a good laugh!

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​...So, how do I sketch quickly?

Well, first of all I make a sketch... and then I turn it into a time-lapse!
See? Easy-Peasy! ;0)

I'm still working away on my latest painting. So meanwhile I thought that this would be the perfect time to share something a little different with you for a change! 

...Inspired a few months ago by Danny Gregory's book, 'Art Before Breakfast', I've been putting aside some time every weekday morning to sketch something, however small, before I start my day... and I can't think of a more creative way to kick off a day than that!
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Sometimes I keep it super simple and sometimes I might work it up to something a little more refined. I'd say that this sketch is somewhere in-between. 

Meanwhile, I'm thinking of making a whole series of videos dedicated to sketching, for my new You Tube channel (which is still very raw right now btw)... What do you think? Would you like to see more?

Q. Do you make time for daily sketching? 
(Share in the comments below!)
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Week in a nutshell...

Making: More videos
Learnt about: Instagram 'Shadowbanning'... My accout is ok, but is yours? Check here.
Watching:  'Feerless' (V. gritty!)
Discovered: 'Linktree' If you don't know what that is and you are on Instgram... you should check it out!

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If someone had asked me a year ago if I thought I would ever be interviewed on a Podcast, I would have laughed! No way... Who would be interested? And besides, I really don't have the voice for a microphone... My husband says there are times when surely only a dog can hear me... and it's not unusual for me to answer the phone, only to be asked, 'Is Mummy or Daddy there?'

That said, thanks to my day job, I have finally managed to master the art of sounding more 'adult' like on the phone and less like a ten year old child, which is just as well, because as you might remember, I was invited to be a guest on Youngman Browns Podcast,  'Your Creative Push' only recently (You can listen to that interview here). 

I was blown away to be asked, so as you can imagine, I was bowled over to be invited so soon afterwards by creative genius, Tara Roskell to be a guest on her own, brand new Podcast, 'The Idea Medic!' 

Most of Tara's questions were quite different to the ones I was asked before, so if you'd like to listen, you can click on this link.
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...It was so much fun. It was like I'd known Tara for years (though maybe it helped that I wasn't quite so petrified this time!) 

Anyway, out of the experience came the bonkers plan to create a joint episode on how to come up with creative ideas... How fun is that?? I'll let you know how that one goes!

Meanwhile I'm still busy working a way at those coke bottles. Progress shots coming soon, I promise!
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​Anyone who knows me personally, knows that by nature I am a 'neat' person. And I wish I meant that in the cool American way, but I just mean plain old 'tidy'.

Someone even asked me once if I might be a little 'OCD'... I mean, chuh!!

Okay, so I do admit that I function better when my surroundings are clean and organised... And yes, maybe when somebody does something reeeeeally serious, like leaves the toilet seat up, I might start feeling a little, well... anxious... sweaty... stressed... perhaps hyperventilate a little... with maybe even the odd  palpitation thrown in... But really, OCD??? Come on!!

And yes, I also admit that when I finish a painting, I have to clean and organise my studio before I can even think of starting a new one! 

But, in my defence, if my studio stays clean for too long, then I can feel really anxious for the complete opposite reason. My studio is way too clean! And I see that as a really bad sign because it means I'm not painting... but also a really good sign because it means I'm not OCD!

So, although I like a clean and tidy home,  a chaotic studio makes me feel great! It means there is something going on in there! And there is definitely something going on in my very messy studio right now...

...I'm still in the very raw stages of this one and there is an awful long way to go before I finish this layer. My favorite layer is always the final one, when everything 'pops'... I can't wait for that part!

It's fun painting large, but I'm used to getting a painting done a fair bit quicker than this. But patience is a virtue and all that... I hope it's worth the wait!


Q. Do your surroundings affect how you work? 
(Share in the comments below!)
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Week in a nutshell...

Highlight:  Planning a joint Podcast episode withthe lovely Tara Roskell from 'The Idea Medic' 
I'll post the details soon!
Wish List: An iPad Pro (though I think I'll be waiting a while!)
Thinking about: A holiday (possibly) in January
Inspired by: Jessica Abel 'Out on the Wire'

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...Well, at least 3 foot is certainly large for me!

Regardless, my boobs are still wobbling at the moment... and if you are wondering what the heck I'm talking about, then you must have missed my last post! Speaking of which, since that post was so EPIC I thought I would treat you to a nice 'shorty' this time!

Right now, I am busy working on my latest painting and I must say, I am loving working on a bigger scale! It means I can really get my teeth in to the detail (and you all know how much I love the detail)!

So, here I am marking out my basic outlines and smaller shapes of light and shadow...

​...And below you can see I'm going straight in with colour (there is no need for an under-painting with this one)!
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And here is where it is at right now...

...And now for the fun part; those big, sparkly bottles!

​I'll post some more progress shots as I go.
​Enjoy!

Q. Do you prefer working large, or small? 
(Share in the comments below!)
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Week in a nutshell...

Highlight:  Chatting to the lovely Tara Roskell on her brand new Podcast, 'The Idea Medic'. (I'll post the link when it airs.)
Ordered: An aluminium panel to experiment with. Can't wait to try it!
Cooking: Recipe's from 'Hemsley and Hemsley'... Healthy, yet so far absolutely delicious!
Watching: Wentworth

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When I haven't painted in a while, my feeling of identity seems to completely abandon me!

All the while we are drowning in an avalanche of poo-filled nappies... trying to remember who we were before life got completely absorbed by a tiny, yet oh so loud human being, we don't have much time to question these things... but once our job is done and we are finally 'free' (for want of a better word), we kind of need to re-evaluate our purpose... I mean there is definitely more to life than merely popping out sprogs and as much as I love my husband and kids, I've never wanted to be defined as just 'wife and mother,' nor do I plan to be a victim of 'empty nest syndrome'... not that I have time for that with a big hairy bundle of testosterone to keep me busy... (btw, I mean the dog, not my Husband!)... Nope! We have to 'sex it up' a bit!
 
A feeling of self-worth is an essential ingredient for being able to walk with 'boob-wobbling confidence' (or 'moob' wobbling if you are a man)... the kind of confidence we feel when we know exactly who we are and what our purpose is. Okay, so once we've had kids, maybe our boobs don't have quite so much 'wobble' to them anymore... but still, you know what I mean.
 
So, just how do we get our boobs to wobble?
 
We have to find something we LOVE doing... Something:
a) We think about before going to sleep  
b) We dream about doing at night
c) It's the first thing we think about when we wake up
 
So, whether that be writing, music, photography, art, fitness, gardening, cooking, travelling... whatever your thing might be, find it! And then pursue it with all of your heart! Strive to be the best at it that you can be, because I truly believe that having no focus or passion is damaging to our mental health and overall well-being.

... Wow that was deep!
But having a passion for something outside of ordinary daily life, makes us happy. And positive people, attract positive people! Without it, we unwittingly become absorbed by the negative things in life and even the trivial things can become all consuming!
 
Anyway, needless to say, art is my own passion... I don't watch the news, I avoid violent films... What can I say? Ignorance really is bliss and I like comedy! Period!

But, nevertheless, despite my unwillingness to 'invite' negativity in to my life, I have noticed a pattern in my mood over the years since I began painting... a pattern of ups and downs, highs and lows... I can go from being somewhere in orbit, to hurtling towards a crushing low in a matter of weeks! But my philosophical side has led me to understand just why this is...
 
As artists, writers, musician, or * fill in the blank * our own self-image and feeling of self-worth can be largely related to how well we think we are painting (or whatever) and how well our creations are being received. Highly egotistical really, but there it is. We are all human after all!
 
So, as a result of this, when I am not painting and I have nothing in progress... for example when I'm experiencing a creative block, or for some other reason I'm unable to paint for a while, I can temporarily lose my feeling of identity, causing me to feel really... well, 'blah'.
 
But then if we experience those low points as a result of pursuing our passions, how is that healthy?
 
Well, it's only possible to feel the highs, if we go through the lows... It's about balance; we need the highs to heavily outweigh the lows and when we have a passion to focus on, generally speaking we are much more positive than those who don't.
 
And both the highs and the lows are really important. I know it's a cliché, but think of life on a Merry-Go-Round, as apposed to life on a Roller-Coaster. Those with an ongoing enthusiasm for something live life on the Roller-Coaster, experiencing stomach-churning ups and exhausting lows... but nonetheless, we ARE experiencing. Life is unpredictable and exciting. Our boobs are wobbling.
 
Those without a passion however, are experiencing life on a Merry-Go-Round. Maybe their lows are not so low, but their highs are not that high either. Life is predictable and not so exciting. Their boobs are definitely not wobbling.

 
...Anyway, that's enough philosophy for one day... but it is an interesting subject and anyone reading this who recognises themselves as the person on the Merry-Go-Round... It is never too late to get off and try something new! I certainly can not imagine my life without painting now... It's just, who I am!

Meanwhile when I finally got back on my feet having had the flu, a new wave of inspiration came flooding in. My boobs are wobbling all over the place! Yep... I have emerged from the abyss, to the crest of the wave and I just can not WAIT to get hold of my paint brushes again! And this time I am working bigger than I have ever worked before at 3ft x 2.5ft. I'm really excited!

This photo really doesn't show the canvas to be as big as it is, but since Sherlock looks so cute, I'll show you anyway...
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​So watch this space!

​Q. What gets your boobs (or moobs) wobbling?
(Share in the comments below!)
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Week in a nutshell...

Feeling:  Excited to work on a larger scale
Hairy moment: A main branch from a HUGE tree, fell on my art studio roof while I was in there! (no damage - Phew!)
Baked: Mary Berry's Carrot and Banana cake... And hurrah! It worked!
Planning: A possible exhibition in September


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