Waves II, North Mallorca coastWaves I, North Mallorca coastWaves of Mallorca, I and II We have just returned from a visit to Mallorca, the North East coast at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains. It’s a landscape that never fails to inspire me. Usually tranquil, the sea this time was rough and stormy at times, … Continue reading Waves of North Mallorca
wildlife
outdoors in the countryside…
Frosty morning Sunrise
I just looked back on my post for New Year 2020, only to discover that I posted a picture of a frosty morning sunrise; a view of our garden down to the little apple tree where the birds feed. This morning, it was just the same, a beautiful sunrise, with the light filtering through the … Continue reading Frosty morning Sunrise
Where the pheasants live
There are many pictures I should be sharing with you just now, all sports inspired, but every now and then a picture comes to me almost by accident - they don't 'fit' with the sports work that I usually make but they do 'fit' together -since mostly these oddities are made under the same circumstances - in the early hours before it's quite light - or even in the dark - and I make them because I have woken early and can't get back off to sleep...
Drawing August: Fingerprints and all!
Drawing August #2 Pastel is possibly the purest form of painting – we work with pure pigment and little else! See more...
Drawing August: Especially Espresso
It’s Drawing August time, a celebration online of all things drawing...see more
Still life on kitchen table
I made these pictures in the kitchen, after arranging some of my Mum’s flowers in a vase on the kitchen table. I liked the look of them against the white table top, so I decided to set up and draw them there. The table top was soon cluttered with my water pots and paints, along … Continue reading Still life on kitchen table
Spring cleaning…
It’s been a while... but I’m getting ready. I recently came across these photos of two drawings I made in our garden...I am not quite sure where they are in my studio so it’s time for a little Spring cleaning, followed by some gardening and definitely pastel drawing outside... Have a lovely weekend! 🙂 The … Continue reading Spring cleaning…
Sunshine inspiration…
In January, there is nothing better than reminders of sunny days. Looking through some of my pictures made in Mallorca brings back good memories and inspiration for the year ahead...can't wait! Wishing you sunshine inspiration too...
Happy New Year!
Wishing you the best for the year to come - have fun, health and happiness!
Autumn breeze
We've had some gorgeous days lately as Autumn comes to a close. The forecast for the weekend promises an icy wind straight from the North Pole - certainly felt a bit colder on my walk just now but the sunshine and blue skies are beautiful and there's still warmth in the breeze... at least for … Continue reading Autumn breeze
Philip
We have a pheasant, in our village, we call call Philip, who trots about from one garden to another and even takes walks along our street - he is quite a star. I am trying (again!) to capture him crowing which is a wonderful flurry of feathers and sound. Here are a few attempts in … Continue reading Philip
Glad all over!
Hello - Welcome to Sunday! I've had to pause my Tour de France work for one reason and another - resuming next week all being well, but I have been working on pictures inspired by my garden....
Sunday snooze
Hello! Time to slow down - The past week has been a bit full on, so to enjoy the company of our cat today is a treat. Recent research says that there are many health benefits from sitting with your cat or dog - they calm, restore and heal. I can't argue! Sleep on Azlan! … Continue reading Sunday snooze
Primaries
Hello! Progressing quietly through January with time to experiment -it's nice to return to a medium or technique not used for a while. This time, I rediscovered acrylic paint and palette knives, thinking about landscape. It's been so dark and grey here lately, that I felt the need for colour too - variations on the primaries, … Continue reading Primaries
Drawing January: Snowdrops in colour
Hello! Another January drawing, again looking at snowdrops. This little group grow in the yard of our village church. What you see below are the stages of one drawing, Little Darlings. I wanted to use the transition effect to animate the stages a little. The most recent stage (stage 8) appears underneath. I'm nervous of this in … Continue reading Drawing January: Snowdrops in colour
Drawing January: Winter and snowdrops
Hello - and a belated Happy New Year! I've just come indoors from my first drawing expedition into the garden. I know that's overstating it, but I do carry so much stuff down from the studio, it feels like I'm going to the North Pole! Weather bright and sunny after a flurry of snow - … Continue reading Drawing January: Winter and snowdrops
Wisteria magic
Hello! Spring is almost over and the season on the brink of changing to summer. One plant that marks this transition is the wisteria, which pours colour and fragrance like fountains in many gardens, including ours. It's a lovely subject, offering curling lines, twisting branches and of course the colour. I've drawn it in pastel, … Continue reading Wisteria magic
A tempting plum…
Hello! As part of the daily drawing challenge, #DrawingAugust, I decided to work in the garden where I spotted a tempting plum hanging from a bough. It's there now but in few moment's time.... Happy drawing!
Tulips or lollipops?
Hello! Another holiday weekend in the UK and I have to confess that I'm still having a few days of quiet noodling about, not doing very much really! The weather has been lovely and spring is so pretty here that our garden has suddenly lurched into life and ran well past my feeble attempts to … Continue reading Tulips or lollipops?
Slow coach!
Hello! I hope that you have had a peaceful and joyful Easter time. I wish to share something different. I've been working on this large oil painting on and off for about two years (possibly three, if I think about it!). The inspiration came from watching the birds in our garden from the conservatory. A peaceful … Continue reading Slow coach!
Let sleeping cats lie….
Hello! I wanted to share some sketches I've just made of our cat Azlan. I like to draw him when he's asleep. He tucks his paws and tail away, (well just about) and as he is a black cat, looks at first glance, very much like a blob with ears! However, as you look longer, the lines within … Continue reading Let sleeping cats lie….
Storm waves
The weather over Christmas and the New Year in the UK has shown the devastating power of the sea. The sea fascinates and attracts like mad. We can't help ourselves, but the reality of living and working with it is another matter. Here are some drawings:
Pretty in pink
My second post that ties in with the Festival of Flowers blog. A great idea and very inspiring. Find out more - and take part, on http://festivalofflowers.wordpress.com/, (or click the logo below). It was one of those perfect late summer days yesterday, so I took my pens and watercolours into the garden and made some drawings. The … Continue reading Pretty in pink
Little African Violet
This is a post that ties in with a blog project based around flowers. Well worth a look and taking part. Find out more on http://festivalofflowers.wordpress.com/ , or click the logo below. This is a little african violet that sits at home with us and quietly goes about its work in a charming way. Here is my drawing:
Snow into Spring
The winter in Britain this year has been exceptional, one of the worst in recent memory. This week we've seen farmers desperately trying to rescue their sheep and cattle, buried deep in snow drifting over the hedges where they sought shelter. Where the sun breaks through there is a slow thaw, but in the hedgerows … Continue reading Snow into Spring
January blues
This week the weather steadied - snow bedded deep and days were cold. The whiteness is wearing and we're all tired. I ventured out to meet my friend Sheila who was painting nearby, but mostly continued work in the garden. Along with my usual pen and watercolour, I changed to oil paint on board for … Continue reading January blues
Winter white?
Following on from last week, the winter has begun to bite deep into the countryside. We've had days of hard frosts and now today, the snow is falling. It was too cold to hang the washing out, so instead, I festooned our garden trees with food for the birds. Colour arrived in the form of … Continue reading Winter white?
Beautiful, cold January
Winter has arrived in middle England - it's been cold and foggy, with the exception of one day when the sun came out. I hung washing on the line and couldn't resist setting up outside to draw. It was wonderful to be outside in the fresh air. The rest of the week has been cold … Continue reading Beautiful, cold January
Maxine Dodd 