A truth

Villa 10, detail – ink and watercolour, sketchbook, 2009
Villa 10, detail – ink and watercolour, sketchbook, 2009

“Here is a truth: often a painting is done just so the artist can get to do a small favorite thing, or idea.  Entire paintings are done just to get to put highlights on a glass, or shadows on a lemon or sunbursts in the distance.  Whole landscapes are painted just to show a small flower in the foreground, or a water drop about to fall from a rose petal.  A moment of inspiration to render an idea, so simple a truth that it cannot be rendered simply, but surrounded by complexity of seeing our world, lest the idea be lost. When done, often the original intention of the painting goes unperceived to the casual viewer, but it is there.” Eight Decades blogging on StoryDoors

Happy 2nd Annaversary

My little blog turned two today. Wow ― has it really been two years since I started blogging? I thought I’d mark the occasion by making a list of my top ten arty milestones (my personal favourites) from the last year. Click on the images to view the original posts…

Getting seriously out of my comfort zone with wacky colours and peculiar perspectives
Getting seriously out of my comfort zone with wacky colours and peculiar perspectives
Creating my first abstract painting
Creating my first abstract painting
Photographing some of my favourite sketches in situ
Photographing some of my favourite sketches in situ
Appreciating the generosity of other bloggers (my thanks to Poppy for providing the reference photo for this sketch)
Appreciating the generosity of other bloggers (my thanks to Poppy for providing the reference photo for this sketch)
Tackling a favourite subject of one of my art heroes
Tackling a favourite subject of one of my art heroes
Upcycling an unusual family heirloom (a threadbare tea towel), a very personal project
Upcycling an unusual family heirloom (a threadbare tea towel), a very personal project
Anna Cull Tram
Being inspired by other artists…
...to see the world with fresh eyes
…to see the world with fresh eyes
Realising that thick paint and black outlines can make a subject look more realistic (it still seems counterintuitive to me... but it reallly does work)
Discovering the magic of bold outlines
Painting on a stretched canvas for the first time
Painting on a stretched canvas for the first time

So there you are… all in all, I’d call that a very productive year. Thanks for reading.

In the style of… Brian Wildsmith

Diptych of daisies, Akaroa, 2009
Diptych of daisies, Akaroa, 2009
Diptych of daisies – acrylic on canvas, 175 x 230 mm (each), 2014
Diptych of daisies – acrylic on canvas, 175 x 230 mm (each), 2014

A little nature study…

Diptych of daisies (one)
Diptych of daisies (one)
Diptych of daisies (two)
Diptych of daisies (two)

Brian Wildsmith

Brian Wildsmith – illustrations from Birds (1967) and Squirrels (1974) Images from http://eye-likey.blogspot.com
Brian Wildsmith – illustrations from Birds (1967) and Squirrels (1974)
Images from http://eye-likey.blogspot.com

Brian Wildsmith (born 1930) has written and illustrated more than eighty books. I love his use of colour and the way he combines abstract textures with carefully considered details. And his animals… his animals have such life and personality. You can check out his website here.

In the style of… appears occasionally instead of my regular Shoot it, Sketch it posts. Using my own photographs as a starting point, I’m drawing inspiration from some of the world’s greatest illustrators. It’s not about slavishly copying someone else’s art; it’s an experiment in seeing things differently.