Chinese fowl

I loved doing this one and experimenting. I flicked masking fluid onto the background and then did a wash. At the end I also flicked ink at the bottom of the painting to representing feed. The rooster has very long legs, but apart from that I am quite pleased with this fun watercolour.

Chinese Frogs

One night a few of my friends gathered around and experimented using chinese painting and a very good book. This is how mine turned out (second time around). All in all, it was great fun experimenting

Ducks

A dual challenge for Wet Canvas - classical quickies and weekend challenge

Tree

Another watercolour completed at art class. I enjoyed painting this one however I wish I could get away from the "browns". It seems to be a safe colour for me. Nevermind, my next painting will be a bright one, I PROMISE!

Window

Another challenge for DD, this time the theme is "windows". Yet another watercolour.

Jungle

A watercolour for Illustration Friday theme "Jungle"

Shipwreck

Another Wet Canvas activity. This was a really rushed watercolour. Sometimes I get to the point where I have too many projects to do and not enough time.

Classical quickies - "C"

A watercolour - bowl of cherries. I'm quite pleased with this one.

Clifton Springs

This is the result of a Helen Cottle workshop. She is an extremely talented watercolourist. The painting is of Clifton Springs, near Geelong. It is a watercolour from a photo. The photo was beautiful however it's not an appealing subject to me. I added the boat for a bit of interest. Still having problems scanning my paintings (I don't seem to have a problem scanning other pieces of work, just paintings).

Farm

Once again the scanning is not good. This is another watercolour, of a farm (no where in particular). It's a bit "yellowy" for my liking, but that is the effect required.

Trunk Bay

This is a quick watercolour painting I did for the Wet Canvas WDE challenge today. It is of Trunk Bay. I am sure if I had a lot more time this would be a very interesting painting.

Classical quickies - "B"

This one was obviously very rushed and I'm not happy with it (but I can't tear the page out of the journal). Anyhow it's done. I may go back and do another "B" someday.

Classical quickies - "A"

As part of an ongoing series aim at building skills to become a better artist we start with "A". I drew this anchor which I am quite happy with.

Perspective

I did this assignment for WetCanvas. Peering through limited space (viewfinder) was very difficult and frustrating. Everything appeared elongated, compared to normal visition. Initially I drew in pencil and later with watercolour. I am very please with this perspective.

Giraffe

Here is a watercolour painting I did for wet canvas. I am very pleased with this one.

Fishing

A watercolour of father and son beach/surf fishing. I really like how the beach turned out and am particularly pleased with the tree (I used my new mop brush). Unfortunately the scan is not very good (my stitching is visible).

Housework

An EDM challenge is to draw something associated with "Mum". Call me cynical but I drew a broom and mop, housework never stops, not even on Mother's Day.

Pansy challenge

This is a Wet Canvas challenge, well it's my interpretation of a lovely photograph of a pansy.

Bottlebrush

Chinese coin

Journal

An Inspire Me Thursday challenges as to find the art in the everyday - can't get much more everyday than a chocolate wrapper, paperclip and label!

Red shoes

Wizard of Oz was one of my fave movies as a kid. Loved everything about it. I drew Dorothy's shoes for Mad Hatter Monday challenge - unfortunately the wonderful red glitter shoes don't scan as glitter!

Altered Spring Daffodils

For the One Step Further symmetry challenge I scanned a watercolour painting and added borders around it. It then looked too plain so I added some punchies to try and spruce it up. I found it difficult working with lines around a drawing, it was almost too clinical for me. This was definitely a challenge!

Lavender

EDM challenge - something found on a nature walk. I found beautiful, fragrant lavender

Spring Daffodils

I think most people like daffodils. This is a watercolour dones for Inspire Me Thursday and One Step Further.

Australian Wildlife #5 - Blue Tongued Lizard

A wonderful reptile which can be, within certain restrictions, kept as a pet.

One Life

A prompt from a creative group, this poem is sums everything up. I believe if half the people in the world believed this, it would be a much better place.

Lightning storm

A DD challenge - I used my favourite colour combination purple and pink

Bullies

Madhatter Monday - Bullies. This is a drawing of a pit bull terrier bully - half dog half girl. I remember a girl in primary school who bullied and taunted me for quite a while. Back then though we just had to deal with it. Schools didn't have policies and people weren't as educated as now. I just got on with life, and the details are very sketchy now but I don't hold a grudge.

Creation, Youth and Age

An Inspire Me Thursday "A Series of Art" challenge entitled Creation, Youth and Age (aka Egg, Duckling, Duck). I had so much fun doing this, in fact I found it very challenging designing the piece but I am extremely happy with the outcome.

Australian Wildlife #4 - Pelican

Cat's eyes

This DD challenge was to draw something black. Although it didn't scan very well, here is my cat's eyes.

Castle

Another of my groups "One Step Further" where I combined a photo and paint together - very unusual for me. A very textured appearance of a castle.

Botanical study - February

The rose! Not one of my favourite flowers, much to the shock of most. My favourite flower is a tulip but it's difficult to find one in February! In any case, the rose is a lovely flower to paint with such a variety of colours.

Lava lamp

Mmmmmmmmmmm, lava lamps - I remember these well. I had one or two and they never seem to last very well. I still adored them though and am very tempted to buy one and give it another try.

Botanical Study - January

I fell in love with a botanical study by Edith Holden. She did this last century in the form of a diary and everything about it is divine - from the drawings, to the information to her exquisite hand writing. She motivated me to put together my own little study of flowers. On my evening walks I have opened my eyes to the world of plants and pick one a month to study. The scanning is not clear because of the textured journal paper.

Australian Wildlife #3 - Platypus

Such a shy animal and difficult to find in its natural surroundings. Any photos of the platypus should be cherished because of the scarcity. It was a pleasure reading up on such a beautiful mammal.

Spiral

Another DD challenge was to draw something spiral in shape. This was obvious to me - the shape of a shell is spiral, such a wonder of nature.

The spiral is associated with regenerated life and is an ancient symbol. Each phase begins, moves to a climax and comes to conclusion only to move into a new experience as the process begins again.

Colour Study - Green

Not one of my favourite colours however it is fun playing with different tones.

Australia wildlife #2 - Possum

The second in my Australian wildlife series. I remember walking home from work one night and coming eye to eye with a possum on top of a brick fence. They are beautiful creatures (guess they're not though if you live in the inner city). Mind you, I think all creatures are lovely EXCEPT for spiders.

Hippy

A DD challenge - to draw someone in flowing clothes. I wish I remembered the 60's and 70's - I would make such a wonderful hippy.

Australian wildlife - Kookaburra

I decided to do a study on Australian Wildlife starting with a remarkable bird, the Kookaburra. A magnificant creature with a stunning beak and even more stunning voice.

Colour Study - red

A study of the colour red

Stonehenge

A DD challenge is to draw something made from stone. Can't go past STONEHENGE.

Airplane

A DD challenge is to draw something to do with an airplane. I decided to draw an Emirates plane - we went overseas last year with them and they were such a fantastic airline. I could not fault them and I am in fact looking forward to flying with them again!

Eye

A DD challenge was to draw an eye. Here is one in both watercolour and pencil.

Blackpool

BLACKPOOL - one of my favourite places in UK. Very tacky. And they made a TV series on the place. What more can I say - must visit.

A watercolour/pen drawing of cheese.

Red Bluff

This is another watercolour. I went to the beach where I grew up, southern suburbs of Victoria, and took a photo of Red Bluff and then painted the picture at my art class. I entered this in my first art show this year (2006) and it did nothing! Nevermind, I was still quite excited about entering it.

My Tooth

I drew this as part of the DD challenge (my favourite group as it motivates me to draw EVERY day). The poem is something I remember from childhood.