One Hibiscus, Two Hibiscus, Three Hibiscus, Four......

Here's my latest painting. I've been having a lot of migraines lately, and about the only thing I've been able to do when I've had them is to paint in a medium with no smell and using some of my favourite techniques and equipment. So this one is Pen and Ink (that always is calming for me), and Watercolour Pencils. This one measures 10" x 8", and was a challenge and a real pleasure all rolled up in one.

Have another Exhibition to get ready for on the long weekend in June -- 9th, 10th, and 11th -- still don't know what I'll be putting in at this stage.

Pansies Galore.

Tonight I think I've finished an All-Over Pansy Design in Pen & Ink and Watercolour. I may tweak it here and there after I've looked at it for a few days. The leaves are a little darker than shown here, but I have deliberately left them understated, as I wanted the flowers to be the focal points in the design.
Here it is at the moment anyway.

Three Painting sold at Rotary Club Exhibition.

Sorry for my hiatus, but I have been so busy -- there just aren't enough hours in the day. I'm feeling very happy at the moment though, as we currently have the Clare Rotary Club Art Exhibition on here in my home town, and the three paintings I exhibited sold within the first 15 minutes on Opening Night. WOW!!!!!! that was exciting!! The standard of the Exhibition is excellent and I've enjoyed quite a few wonderful hours there, just browsing and admiring the work of fellow artists. It seems that the Pastels have been selling more rapidly than any other medium this year.
These are my three paintings that sold.

Busy, Busy, Busy.

Things have just been so chaoticly busy lately, that I've hardly had time to think. There has been something on every day for weeks and I had visitors right over Easter (which was great). The only thing I've had time to do is to dream of what I actually WANT to do, and that's only when I'm in bed. I really love to wake up early, and just lie and think for an hour or so -- it's amazing what can be worked out in one's mind with a clear and uninterrupted brain, at that time of the morning.

When I went to High School, I did a similar thing with my studying. I set my alarm clock for 5 a.m. every weekday morning, and studied until 7 a.m., and was ready to catch the bus at 8 a.m. Of course I had a wonderful Mum who put my breakfast in front of me, and fixed my Lunch and Recess for me each day (and she also made my bed). No, I wasn't spoilt, just had a wonderful Mum who preferred to do everything herself. And the studying really paid off, as I knew my text books word for word.

Anyway, back to Art. This is one of the drawings/paintings I demonstrated at a Workshop I conducted a couple of weeks ago. I love old buildings, and I have quite a love affair with Pen and Ink and Watercolours.

Another Pastel and my latest ArtCards.

WOW, things have been SOOOOO busy lately, and they're about to get even busier. I finally made it to Art Group last Monday after missing the previous two weeks. It was great to be back to see what everyone was painting, and to get something done for myself. I've been really busy getting lots of extra paintings ready for the Gallery, and all being well will set them up this coming Saturday.

A few weeks ago I was asked to paint two dogs as a Commission -- the client lives too far away for me to take the photos myself, so had to rely on what I had sent to me. They arrived today, and I think I'm going to have a real job to be able to do the black labrador, the body especially is a black blob, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. The Alsatian is slightly easier to see. They also would like a painting of their house, and two of the photos are quite nice, but show different angles, so will have to think about which one I'll go with. Will post them as I eventually get each one done. There's no hurry, as they are going overseas in a few weeks until the end of May.

In the meantime, here is another Pastel -- I love Sunsets and Sunrises, and often tend to go for the Reds/Oranges/Yellows, but this one is a Sunrise in Pinks/Purples/Blues.

Also have a few of my new ATCs, which are all done in Pen and Ink, and Watercolours.

Two more Pastels.

Wow, I have been so busy lately, that I haven't known whether I've been on my head or my heels. Quite a bit of last week was taken up with getting paintings ready to take to a new Gallery which I've been asked to exhibit in. Have most of it set up now, but will need to go back again within the next few days to add a little more. I also attended our South Australian China Painters Association Country Branch Meeting last Wednesday in the Barossa Valley. I'm the Vice President, and we have a Meeting and Workshop on the first Wednesday in every month and always have lots of fun, plus a chance to learn new techniques etc. from the Demonstrators. My turn to be the Demonstrator next month, so I'm going to have to get my running shoes on soon to get everything ready for that. Never a dull moment.

I'm posting two Pastel Paintings. I love painting with Pastels, and hope to start another one at Art Group next week -- haven't chosen my subject yet though. Will have to get the think tank working.

One of the Pastels I'm posting tonight is an Australian Red Merle Shepherd Dog, and the other one is a River Scene. I really enjoyed painting both of these.