Merlin Harp

I'm never happier than when painting birds (especially brids of prey).
So when a customer asked for a Merlin on her soundboard I was delighted to oblige!

Ushering in Spring?

Today I saw my first 'macro' moths of 2013. This is the rather romantically named Spring Usher
(I love the very rounded wing tips of this species). I also know that this is a male - how do I know?
Easy, he has wings - yes the female has no wings to speak of and so is flightless;
so she climbs a litlle way up a tree trunk, emits a pheromone and sits there waiting for him to come to her.

Here is the scene today (perhaps you can just see the roof of our workshop left of the nearest Oak).
Even though the snow has now melted, we are still very much in Winter and Spring is a way off yet.

Although I said that I liked the rounded wings of the Spring Usher, I was very pleased to see the pointed
wing-corners of this moth which helped me identify it as a Dark Chestnut (rather than the commoner Chestnut Moth).



Lunch-time today I was also keen to see if I could find any flowers and I was rewarded with three types.
No.1 The humble, but no less lovely Daisy.

No.2 Hazel flowers. These trees have male and female flowers -
the catkins are the male flowers, I couldn't yet see any of the tiny female flowers.

They start to produce their flowers even before the leaves appear.

Every year is different. This time last year this pond was virtually dry
but today it is overflowing!

Last but not least my flower no.3 The Primrose or 'prima rosa' - the first rose.
Roll on Spring and many more flowers and moths of course!

Leaves, Stems, Fairies and Doves

Here is the first stage of a 'Clarsach' soundboard decoration that I started last week.
As soon as I have the design traced on, I always feel very keen to get going with the paint.

Here it is with the first coat of all the colours blocked-in.

Inside my shed studio, with delicious music playing of course, I was toasty warm ...

... whilst outside the shed - very cold.

The finished design with several more coats of gold, bronze and silver
plus burnt sienna for the dark brown edging.



Two Little Dolls for Two Little Girls.





 

My wife Karen, has been busy creating these charming dolls for our two little great-nieces Charlotte and Hannah. The fun thing about them is that the dolls match Charlotte and Hannah's hair and eye colour.


  When the girls get them, I have to admit that I'll miss seeing them sitting in the chair by the fire in our living room!

How was your holiday?

We've enjoyed tasty Goose
with Black pudding

and Christmas pudding...

and all this and more...



and especially being with family...



and also spending some time in places like this.
But I have been wondering what my friends in blogland have been up to this holiday?
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all -
I hope you have all had a great holiday and are looking forward to a wonderful 2013!



Happy Christmas!

Christmas Eve is the time for one of our small family rituals.
Anna, Grandpa and I go hunting for the best piece of holly we can find to decorate the top of our Christmas Pudding (which must of course, be served with custard).

Happy Christmas to all my family and friends in 'blog-land'. It's a great time of year with an amazing thing to celebrate; I pray that you all have a fantastic time!

 
The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,
Of, all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

Oh the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
 
The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet saviour

The holly bears a berry as red as any blood, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good.

The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn.

The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all.

I can't resist also sharing this piece by Anna that she did for her art course-work.
She was given the title "Ordinary Extraordinary" so she chose to use the score of The Holly and the Ivy for her background and use her felting skills to create the ivy leaf & acrylics for the holly.
The little doorway flap with the woodland scene behind was inspired by
Sue Blackwell and Arthur Rackham. Anna's had quite a week first hearing she achieved grade 7 harp with distinction then a few days later, distiction for her singing grade 6,
proud Dad time :) !

The Leas, Sheppey.

As you can see, I have finally painted the beach scene (promised in my recent 'Moody Sheppey' post). Partly from Rita's encouragement, I have stayed with watercolour rather than my original intention of using acrylics. Watercolour takes on more of a life of its own giving a greater feeling of spontaneity but at the expense of a degree of control - you can see that the dark reflections have bled into the wet wash a bit too much (especially with the middle poles). I think I was too impatient to put these in and needed to let the wash dry for a few more moments. But I am pleased with the sparkle effect which helps to provide extra contrast with the distance. This was achieved by leaving the whole thing to dry off completely then rubbing lightly over the surface in places, with some fine-grade sandpaper. The best part of painting this though, was that it took me right back to the day I was there. I could still see in my mind flocks of Brent Geese in the distance and Sanderlings on the tideline (both of which you'll just have to imagine!). Plus of course, the aura of rather dull winter light that we get here in England this time of year.