Oops, I said 24... Actually I meant 25, which happily leaves one of each for me!

These are NEWLY RELEASED limited edition giclée prints.
Beautifully reproduced by Jim Holden, with pigment inks, on Hahnemuhle, German etching, 310gsm.

Every now and then, a painting goes off to it's new home and I find it really hard to let go.
​So, here is my answer!

Week in a nutshell...

Enjoying:  The first beautiful hot days of this year!
Reading: 'Stranger in the House.' Another gripping thriller, by Shari Lapena 
Working on: The reference for my next painting.
Highlight:  Seeing my prints for the first time.


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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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​As promised in my previous post, here is a time-lapse video of my latest painting 'Denture Venture'...

...It was great fun to paint (I just love painting shiny things) and I'm enjoying getting to grips with video editing. I'm getting slightly better I think..? I have already decided I'd like a new video editing program for Christmas. Hopefully then I can make some really well made video's for you to enjoy!

​Meanwhile, as you may already know I was really unwell for a couple of weeks with flu. I'm only just back on my feet, so it has left me way behind in the studio. Normally I'd already be working on a new painting by now! So I really need to get my act together this weekend and get another plan in progress.

Anyway, hopefully I'll have something on the go soon!
Meanwhile, these two look pretty good together, don't you think? I've just got to sign the red one and it'll be complete!

​Q. What's your favourite subject to paint?
(Share in the comments below!)
​

Week in a nutshell...

Highlight:  A fabulous birthday weekend including a beautiful meal at 'The Middle House'
Wish List: 'Final Cut Pro X' 
Good Deed: Rescuing another bird (the 5th this year!). This time a Jay.
Looking forward to: Starting a new painting. Watch this space!


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Over the Easter Weekend, I decided that instead of disappearing in to an avalanche of chocolate and certainly before I get my teeth in to another painting, I ought to devote a morning to adding the final touches to the four most recent ones I have done. 

So first of all, I write the date and title of the painting on the back. And I finish that with an inky thumb print, so should one of my paintings ever end up on 'The Antiques Roadshow' (dream big and all that), there will be no question that it's one of mine! ;0)
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Next, I finish the sides of the canvas in a clean white and then finally, I sign the front of the painting itself. 

Of course all of these final touches are quite time consuming, but it was a morning well spent. Now I could move on to something new, with no pending loose ends to tie!

Anyway, I decided to share a snippet of my morning in the art studio with you by way of a very short video. But the video unwittingly became something other than what was meant. In this case, a 'Where's Wally' video! (Or I believe in the States you call it, 'Where's Waldo'...)!
​

...From the moment I spotted that image, it was never going to be serious!

Anyway, I did manage to start something new... Actually two somethings; one big and one small... one that won't surprise you and one that definitely will!

Watch this space!!

Q. So, did you find Wally (Waldo)? 


Week in a nutshell...

​Highlight:  Being invited to be interviewed on the Podcast 'Your Creative Push' (Date TBC)
Discovered: A cool YouTube video... 'Sketchbook Tips for Creative Freedom and a Cohesive Look' 
Planning: A time-lapse video for my, still fairly new YouTube Channel, complete with voice-over... 
In Progress: Two new paintings. One large and one small. Will talk about those in my next post!


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At last my marble painting is finally complete and I'll be revealing it to you this Wednesday!

Meanwhile, I thought I'd treat you to a little video, which was filmed just as I completed the mid-layer (You get a little real time followed by some time-lapse).

​Sometimes I can become so relaxed as I'm painting. Any more so and I'd probably sink in to a coma!
​

At least I am getting the hang of the camera now. If you missed my previous post, you might want to check out my blooper!!

Before I treat you to a much shorter post than my previos two, I just wanted to say thank you for the lovely feedback I'm receiving on my new blog. It seems that my two previous posts in particular, on motivation and time management, have inspired several readers to contact me, which has been really nice.

Anyway, today I am posting something a little different... something I definitely wouldn't normally have posted! I discovered this footage on my own camera very soon after reading Nicola McLeans post on the problems she was having with her own camera, so I was of course  inspired to share it!

...So you know that feeling... You walk in to your art studio with the hope of a peaceful and productive day? ...I just love being in my studio. It's my haven... My 'girl cave'... Well usually!

Only this day did not go quite so well!
Firstly, my Husband was working just outside the studio and whatever he was doing, it was NOISY!! Usually, the only sounds I hear as I paint, are the birds tweeting and my music playing. But on this day it felt more like I was in the middle of a building site than in my studio!

Also, I had decided to make another time-lapse video, like the previous one I did. Only this time it would be better... Well, at least that was the plan! But instead, with all of the racket going on outside I couldn't concentrate properly and I was having trouble connecting my camera to my phone... Or so I thought!

What I didn't realise, was that not only was I already connected, but I was already filming! And I didn't even realise this until a few days later when I discovered the footage on my SD card! I must admit, when I saw it I was quite amused by my obvious bewilderment... and the fact I started actually talking (cursing) to myself at the end of the video, only highlighted the frustration I was clearly feeling!

Anyway, in the end I decided that this was not the right frame of mind to be in while painting, so I took Sherlock for a long walk instead!

For your own entertainment, I thought I'd share it with you... This was about 10 minutes of confusion and headache, condensed down to about a minute...

Q. What's your biggest obstacle in the art studio?
(Do share!)


Week in a nutshell...

Excited about: My large marble painting is almost finished!
Discovered: The joys of using an Editorial Calendar. Now I can plan all of my blog posts well in advance!
Listening to: Brahm's Lullabye, by Chloe Agnew
Watching: I wish! The Sky Box has conked out, so nothing until the end of the week. Humph!


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Ever felt like you just can't open that sketchbook or walk into your studio?
Let's face it, the laundry won't wash itself... You still have to clean the bathroom and you haven't even thought about what to cook for dinner yet!

Or, is it possible that you are procrastinating?

It seems that just about every Artist I have ever spoken to goes through this at some point; consistently failing to get their bums behind the easel and instead getting distracted by other things that frankly can wait. Nobody is going to die if dinner is an hour late and it's not the end of the world if the vacuuming is done tomorrow...

There are ways to handle procrastination, depending on whether the reasons are simply that life is getting in the way, you are going through a creative block or whether actually, you are  going through a bit of a confidence crisis.

Since this subject is a lengthy one, I'm splitting this in to two blog posts; this one focuses on the confidence crisis/creative block. My next post will look at ways to find time for painting when life gets in the way.

I hasten to add that I find it very easy to write about this because a) I am currently not in crisis and b) I have, however been through them before!

Some tips to try when you are experiencing a creative block/confidence crisis...

• The first thing to do is to turn to another artist. If you are a blogger, then the chances are you have met some amazing artist friends who are only too pleased to give you a pep talk! They have almost certainly been through it themselves and may well be able to help pull you out of it. If you don't know any other artists, then you should check out this link, and scroll down to the (free) Artbyte titled 'Collective Insight on Blocks' (by Carol Marine). Here you will find several, very talented artists who have shared their accounts of their own creative blocks and how they managed to pull themselves out of it.
• Give yourself permission to have a break... (just not for too long) Maybe give yourself a couple of weeks away from the easel and enjoy something else for a bit; baking, gardening... whatever takes your fancy. My guess is that the brushes will start calling you the minute your first cake collapses!
• Visit as many local art galleries and art blogs as you can. You may just find the spark of inspiration that you need.
• Hang a white-board on the wall and write on it each time you have an idea for a painting. Out of sight, out of mind, but when you see it on the wall every day, you won't forget your creative inspirations!
• Take some time out to organise and clean your studio. Sometimes this is all it takes to get those creative juices flowing. There's nothing that will get me in the studio quicker than having a freshly organised space to work in!
  
• So your last painting was a disaster? So what?? Who cares??? And as to whether it was a failure or not, well that depends on how you look at it. It's highly likely that you learned a lot from that painting, so how can that be a negative thing? It certainly wasn't a waste of time! Mistakes are our friends... A bad painting is simply a stepping stone to a good one. Nobody ever got better at anything without making mistakes. Period.
• Take some time to sit down and look through all of the paintings you have done that you are really proud of; the ones that make you wonder... "How did I do that??" That's a really great way of realising your own ability.
• And finally, if you are a beginner and you are simply scared of failing, just remember this... In order to become good at something, you must first be willing to be bad at it!

If you really are in need of a great big creative boot up the bum, check out this video below, which I came across the last time it happened to me. It was posted by Danny Gregory, who I think is one of the most inspirational Artists and bloggers around. You must check out his blog...

Meanwhile, if you know another artist who is in need of a good kick up the bum, why not share this post with them?

​Coming up: On Saturday, I'll be posting part 2 of this post, but this time I'll be focussing on how to find more time to paint! If you have any suggestions, please comment below and I will happily share them!

Q. Have you ever been experienced a creative block/crisis? 
(How did you deal with it?)


Week in a nutshell...

Baking: Coffee and walnut Cake - Was a complete disaster!!
Saturday Night: Friends for dinner
Listening to: Enigma
Discovered: A cool podcast, Your Creative Push



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Aren't we always trying to find the perfect brush, the perfect easel, the perfect medium recipe...?

Well I am still looking for most of those things, but I have at least found my perfect palette! Actually I had it made at my local Glazing Company, but it was a worthy investment as it should last me a lifetime.

Anyway, rather than babble on about it, instead I thought I would simply demonstrate exactly why I like it so much...

Coming up:
On Wednesday, I'll be publishing a post on motivation, or lack of it... how to deal with a creative block/confidence crisis and tips on how to find the time to paint, when life gets in the way.

​...So I have to credit my 20 year old Son, Charlie, for helping me put together my very first time-lapse video... Only this time it was me teaching him, patience!!
​

​Q. What have you learned from someone half your age?
(Be honest!)


Week in a nutshell...

Reading: Bridget Jones's Baby.  (On page one...)
Listening to: Eva Cassidy
Breakfast: New York Bagels with cream cheese and Marmite. Mmmm...
Inspired by: Jennifer Mclean's recent blog post, at 'Just Add Water, Silly'

In my first post, I said I would be posting more frequently than I did on my previous blog. So here I am again! And today I have a little preview for you... Well, more like a snippet of my latest work in progress. Only this time it's in the form of very 'professional' *cough* video!

...Oh okay, so it's not very professional at all. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing, so no attention was paid to lighting etc... Nor did I clean my studio space to at least try to give the (false) impression that it's actually organised!

And the moment I started speaking, Sherlock assumed that I could only be talking to him. I mean, talking to myself would look a bit bonkers, right? So he came in to see what I was up to, which was a little distracting to say the least!

Anyway, at take 3, I decided to just post the damned video, flaws and all...

My next goal is to catch a cold... And I need to do this before making my next real time video. This way, hopefully I can sport a more deep, sexy kind of a voice, instead of the ten year old voice that seems to squeak out of my mouth when I hear it back on tape. Gaaagh!
 
Do I really sound like that?
 
Well, to my horror, yes! The voice we hear inside our own heads is actually deeper than others hear it. FACT. Like the camera, unfortunately a video also does not lie! If you're interested, you can check out the explanation I found to that here.
 
So if you have a cold, please let me know... And don't be surprised to find me licking the rim of your coffee cup!


Q. So, do you have any tips on making video's?
(I'd love to hear them!)


Week in a nutshell...

Listening to: The Lightning Seeds
Excited about: My new Time-Lapse camera! Expect some 'test' video's soon!
Thinking about: Getting fit... Just thinking... (Well, one step at a time!).
Favourite blog post: 'Flight Risk' by Nicola McLean
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