Our Home

Our Home 

6 inch x 6 inch on Acrylic

As my friends know I am essentially a nomad, if I had any real sense I would buy a camper van or an RV and stay put for a few decades . However sense does not seem to be in abundance. So a little painting as a tribute to bricks and mortar and a garden gate

Happy new year everyone may it bring you health happiness and a little prosperity!

Best of British

Do you know how much Boddington costs in the USA. Well when its's on offer less than it does in the UK. So how can that be. How do they manage to pay someone to export and import the stuff and then cover 6000 miles of shipping costs. There are some little mysteries in life we are never meant to fathom.

6 inch x 6 inch on Gallery wrapped canvas

Friends

Friends

Well what could be more apt at this time of year. Because they really do make your world go round. Merry Christmas to friends and family be most of you a good 6000 miles away!

6 inch x 12 inch on Gallery wrapped canvas

Pretty in Pink n# 2

New Lipstick from my favorite maker. I know I should choose a red shade for the festive season but hey ho santa I'm a pink shade kind of lady!

6 inch x 8 Inch on Gallery wrapped canvas

All Skipped Out

He really really does like peanut butter!

8 inch x 8 Inch on gallery wrapped canvas

Just Skipping

Just Skipping

My hubby just loves peanut butter . Cant stand the stuff myself. Any way thought I better start posting all those paintings I've been painting!

8 inch x 8 inch Acrylic on wrapped canvas

Shake Rattle & Roll

There is always a first for everything. And all I can say is I don't like  earthquakes! . Its like being on a plane and  experiencing side way turbulence. 

"Extra Crunchy" 

8 " x  8"

In the UK Jif is a brand of bath cleaner so if seems funny to see it sitting in the fridge.

I haven't had a lot of time to paint over the last few weeks as we are getting ready to move. As always I spend more time looking at old pictures and letters than actually stuffing things in boxes!

Caught in the Shadows

8" x 8 "

An apt name  for this  painting, the title of one of my favorite poetry books . More concerning is my obsession with painting crayons. Perhaps in our hearts we are always 7.

Light and Lines

8 inch x 8 inch

"Simply Sauce"

My brother in-law Mr Savages favorite . Loves the stuff, little rascal used to make me drive a 40 mile round trip to Snenddon's Diner in Lambertville so he could breakfast on steak, home fries and eggs, easy over, liberally  sloshed with A1 Sauce

A taste Of Summer

8 inch x 8 inch

A taste Of Summer

There is something about summer in California. 

Its that heady smell of strawberries on a hot day when I drive with the windows down. Acre upon acre of lush ripe berries. What could be more decadent than to be fed one on a spoon.

The choice of back ground color is unusual for me it reminds me of a a vibrant sun set. Those rich lilac hues that often fill the sky. Any way I  really like this one which probably means no one else will!

Fab Dab

Fab Dad

8 inch x 8inch

"The Art of Racing in the Rain". Absolutely nothing to do with painting but perhaps the most heart warming thought provoking book I have read in a very long time. Biased, as I'm a dog lover.It tells the story of  family life through the eyes of a dog named Enzo. His remaining hours on this earth are numbered. A racing theme steers us through the book, via Denny, Enzo's master  a would be rally driver. Its parallels to life and modern living stopped me in my tracks. Worth every single penny of the $13.49 I paid at Costco. I can't recommend this short novel enough.

Rock & Roll no 2

8 inch x 6 inch

Bubbles

Bubbles 

12 inch x 9 inch

I really was in the mood for some humor with this painting. I needed humor after a 3 day stint of house hunting. The idea for this painting came from a 12 flight from New Zealand during which I happened to be sitting behind a five year old boy who literally blew bubbles for a 10 hour duration. He was such a happy chap blowing and popping bubbles to his hearts content.

I can't see this box in a store without smiling. In the end I gave in and bought a box. My husband and I sat in the kitchen like two children chewing gum and reading the jokes.  Its the small things in life that really do keep you laughing

Jar of Sunshine

Jar of Sunshine

14 inch x 12 inch

At long last this painting is finished. I'm still debating the varnish matt or gloss I'm not sure.I had an  absolute disaster yesterday I tipped a huge loaded paint palette on to the floor, some times there is nothing else to do in life but laugh. At least the Studio floor is wood!

Best Dad

6 inch x 6 inch

I always have have fun with these word paintings. The shadows on this piece are deliberately deep, I wanted to emphasize the interplay between sentiment and masculinity.

" Absolutely Orange "

6 inch x 6 inch
A Slice of Summer

I laughed so hard on Sunday . My husband had been on a trip to view some pertroglyps and had driven home through the orange growing area of Santa Paula. He arrived with 70 grapefruits and a commercial case load of oranges. Absolutely every fruit bowl is full and the kitchen has a distinctly citrus glow

Work in Progress Large Pencils Painting

Just thought you may like to see what I have been up to this afternoon. Currently working on the under painting for a larger scale 14 inch Painting.

You know what they say - A tidy desk is the sign of a sick mind. All I can say is excuse the mess!

"Look Left' on gallery wrapped Canvas May 2008

8 inch x 8 inch

Did you really think I would just paint the right shoe!

Beach Blues

I just couldn't get going this morning . Eight o'clock and I'm just sitting staring at my easel.

So rather than just sit there all morning I did what I've been promising myself I would do for a good few weeks. Go and get some reference pictures for a painting. Must admit I have never seen a life guard hut this color their normally that washed out CA blue. But this one, its electric. Currently I am thinking this will be large scale and in oil.

"Shades of Summer" On Gallery wrapped Canvas

6 inch x 8 inch

Ah- had a bit of a spree last week its so tempting when I actually get inside a department store. All those new summer lipsticks . Really how is a women supposed to resist it's worse than being in a french bakery....... But on the bright side so much better for your thighs!.

" Take Five " Painting on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

8 inch x 8 inch

Which old group published that instrumental "Take Five" can any one remember as I can't. Any way I bought a new set of sketch pencils I particularly like them as their hexagonal. The colors were vibrant they always make me think of spring and summer. Any way thats my explanation for the odd title. And my excuse for painting another set. I really must stop!

"Perfect Pearls "

6 inch x 6inch

I just adore these pearls they belonged to my skipping auntie. Ella was her real name but she was always known as 'skipping Auntie'. Simply because even in her late 60's she would skip with me in her back yard. I wear these earring with everything jeans evening dresses, I even sleep in them.

" Right Sneaky "

8 inch x 8inch

I am not sure why this painting amuses me so much. May be its a british thing. I got the idea for this whilst we were In NZ . I am pretty awful on ferries and during the "jaunt" from the north to the south Isle I had to focus on something other than my stomach. It was so choppy all I could do was fix my glare on my foot! . I was in fact wearing my little pink holiday sneaks.

Morning Glory - 6 inch x 8 inch Gallery Wrapped Canvas

6 inch x 8 inch

Its the only thing that makes me look half human in a morning. A good dash of lipstick! Well perhaps the addition of a large mug of coffee helps

" My Mate " 8' X 8" Acrylic on wrapped canvas

8 inch x 8 inch

This started out as the study for a large 20" x 20'' painting. I actually decide i really liked it and gave it a full make over. Its odd sometimes I can stare at things for ever deciding what color they really are.I first this jar looked black then eventually I realised it was actually nearly purple!

Any way its rare I say it but I really like this painting!

"Cala Lilly "

SOLD
1212

12 inch x 6 inch

Back to painting flowers from trader joes - Actually painting something that has little color is a real challenge. It a pretty simple painting but i quite like it

So Solo

10 inch x 10 inch

Yes I have been at Trader Joe's again.. Every time I pick up a bunch of these i realise that they are so very different. Sometimes the petals are variegated some times quite solid. These were just a lovely deep pink.

LinearLandscapes - Studio View

I have been asked to post a view of my quirky landscapes. This is a photograph of the corner of my studio. Note the large pencil sitting on the right.

" Best Mom"

6 inch x 6 inch

Its actually mothers day in the UK in march and being unable to actually buy a card in the US due to the date differences I decided to paint something. It then made me think why we only say thanks once a year so I painted this for any one who may just want to say thank you for no other reason than to just say thank you.

Loves me,loves me not

SO

8 inch x 6 inch

Well I was supposed to be painting the last of my lollipop trio's yesterday. However all good plans of mice and men as they say, I happened to pop in Trader Joes yesterday and they had a blaze of gerbera's on sale. They reminded me of sitting on a school field pulling daisies looking back I think the answer was usually no. I put it down to tall gangly teenager syndrome.

So big pink daisies and a Happy Valentines Day

In The Bag

6 inch x 6 inch

Only one more lollipop to paint and I can't decide if its going to be orange or blue!

But its in a bag....

Little Lemon Lolly, 5 in x 7 in Acrylic on wrapped camvas

 SOLD on Ebay

For some reason I have become fixated on trio's so two more to follow. This little yellow lollipop is sitting in  its  wrapper. I love how the plastic wrapper pick up and intensifies the color beneath. The side lighting bounces some vibrant highlights on  right. 

On the weather front for you Brits, well its jolly marvelous at the moment!

Rock and Roll, 6 in x 6 in Acrylic on wrapped canvas

SOLD

Something about the background of this painting niggled me so it had some rework over the weekend it just didn't seem mat enough - Happy at last.

Pastel Pales, 6 in x 6 in Acrylic on wrapped canvas

SOLD on Ebay

I don't quite know why I have become so fixated on pencils. So I  decided I would allow myself to paint a series of three and get it out of my system. Next week I think I will focus on do-nuts there is a local shop that sells the most vibrant icing I have seen. Surely no artificial dyes or e - numbers....

Thumb Nail 2

Mock up two for "jug and bowl"

Thumb Nails

As promised a few of my mock ups for my  larger more traditional still life paintings

Little Pink Lollipop 5 in x 7 in Acrylic on wrapped canvas

SOLD

These small lollipops just made me laugh, big pink shiny hearts in a  little plastic bag. They were so loud that I decided it would be an insult to paint them on a pale background so pretty in pink it is

I have had a couple of requests to see my thumb nails for my more " classic " work I will post these tomorrow

" Bliss' Chocolate Candy bar 6 in x 8 in Acrylic

Mrs woods if you read this, this ones for you... After your comments about HDL to LDL ratios,

I decided all was well with the world and ate a whole bar of Nestle's crunch and after week's without chocolate it was heaven. I will also be following your expert recommendations and protecting my cardiovascular system with a good glass of red wine.

On the painting front this was interesting with regard to the shadows it took me a while to really grasp how the shadows transitioned from brown to blue grey under the chocolate bar

love You - (2) 6 in x 6 in Acrylic

Not For Sale

I sold the original of this painting last week. My other half was pretty disappointed he's a keen scrabble player and had grown attached to it. So I painted a copy for home, the colors are stronger but the sentiment remains the same.

On a lighter note the weather in Sunny CA has been hideous, wetter than Wigan, I trooped out this morning clad in long green
wellington boots armed with a four foot golfing umbrella. Nothing better than a bit of puddle jumping even at my age!

Little Red Lollipop ( 2) 6 in x 6 in Acrylic

I have become rather attached to these little lollipops so I thought I would I would paint it one last time before I ate it!

Temptation 6 in x 6 in Acrylic

I painted this today simply because I was grumpy. I had my blood results back on Friday and my cholesterol is sky high.
Consequently I have put on a low fat low sugar diet. What do I do with a whole draw of sweets!.

Its temptation enough top drive a women insane...

Bearing my Heart . 8 in x 8 in Acrylic

He's finished !. This is a real change in painting style for me which i must say i really enjoyed.

This little bear same from a trip to Maui a few years ago, I saw him in a shop and just had to bring him home.
Sad at my age but we all have our little quirks.

Rock and Roll 6 in x 6 in Acrylic

I just love these old dice I think their from the 30's or 40's the colours are just wonderful.
I even love the way the white of the dots has gently yellowed.

Not sure what I fancy painting tomorrow - Any inspirations ?

Sweets for my Sweet 5 in x 5 in Acrylic

SOLD 

Well it finally stopped raining and I'll put my wellingtons away for another year....

On the painting front well, it is nearly Valentines day! . These are british love hearts they are about the size of a quarter they have been making these in the north of England since the thirties. I am pretty sure they still use the same machine.

Three blind Dice 6 in x 8 in

Well it rained buckets in Ventura today, it was was like a wet weekend in Wigan. So wet I actually wore my wellington , what more can i say! . I thought of painting another version of this with a small lego figure titled " of dice and men" .
Still tacking that jigsaw....

Shaker box and a Pear 8 in x 12 in Acrylic

I called it a day ! . And started painting " three blind dice " which i will finish tomorrow. So off to tackle the evil jigsaw over a good cup of typhoo tea

Fabulous sunset

Nothing to do with painting but the first sun set of the year was just amazing!. Happy new Year from sunny Ventura

painting in progress

I've finished the base coats on this today!. So I thought i would post this work in progress