something fishy this way comes...

It's been a fairly busy month and I even did some painting. Aaron, my son wanted an aquarium scene done for his bedroom and, typical of Aaron, it had to be done 'yesterday'. 

So it was rush-rush...and not a small piece either. I designed it on the go over three days...

Aaron wanted it done in a similar style to the previous fish painting I did for him years ago....so NOT my usual style. 

 

Background first....

Then painting in some of the elements

Some refining of the pebble base with more elements...

Some fish, refining rocks and more plants...

This (see below) is where Aaron called it finished because he just wanted it on his wall. lol You will spot the Angel fish and the Betta fish. However, the Neon Tetras (upper-mid right) and Corydoras (lower left) are not so easy to see in the pic but more visible in reality. A Bristlenose Catfish and some Epistogramma Cichlids were also planned but I didn't get the chance to paint them in. Maybe at a later date...

 In its new spot on the wall 

In keeping with the fishy theme, I thought you might like to see some of the goldfish in Aaron's pond on the back patio.

 

There are Shubunkin, Oranda and a couple of Telescope-eyed, butterfly fish — all goldfish species.

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On another note, are any of you participating in Sketchbook Revival hosted by Karen Abend? I've been watching the videos and doing a little here and there. Some are not my cup of tea but I do like to watch the videos regardless. Inspiration can be found everywhere. 

Anyway, that wraps up my post for today. I hope you are all keeping well. 

Love, Light and Peace

 

My favourite colours

This week in the Artist's Play Room group, Jenn asked us to share our favourite colour/s.

When I was a young girl, my favourite colour was lime green.

As a teenager, my favourite colour was purple.

As the years went on, I never lost my love for lime green and purple and,
between my teenage years and adulthood, I fell in love with turquoise blue too.
So that is my favourite colour combination.

I use them in my studio

Throughout my home and in my art.

Unfortunately, I've had a very busy week and time got away from me so I only have a work-in-progress to show for  the APR weekly art challenge featuring my favourite colours.  A partial layer with lots more to do.  I plan to finish it over the weekend and will post the finished page soon.

~ Love, light and peace ~

Day 13 - AEDM & Nablopomo - alpaca, crochet & sticks

it's been a nice, relaxing sunday here.

i spent part of the morning catching up with blogs and browsing my reference photos for a sketch subject. i finally settled on a photo that my son, aaron, had taken back in 2009.

an alpaca....too cute!

i started the sketch using graphite pencil but found i was second guessing myself too much so switched to my trusty pigma micron pen and things went smoothly from there on. i couldn't resist adding a touch of colour with my derwent inktense pencils.

and here is the original reference image.

for some reason, the white alpaca in the background makes me think of The Beatles.
 must be that dashing hairstyle - lol

to view the creative posts of other AEDM members for Day 13
click here.

i was quite tickled that paula invited me to participate in a task for the artist's way group that she has been hosting on her blog. check out the post here.

thanks, paula! xo

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i also found time today to do a little more work on my striped blanket throw

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i think my son, aaron, has caught the creative bug because, this past week, he has been busying himself making various items from paddle pop sticks.

he paints them up himself too...very effective all grouped together, don't you think?

i hope you had a nice, relaxing sunday too

~ love, light and peace ~

Day 12 - AEDM & Nablopomo - recycling an old painting

i've had some finished paintings stored in the garage for a few years now. i had originally painted for art workshops that i was teaching at the time. the subject, level, and style of the painting was to suit my students' requests and needs....and not something i would have chosen myself.

so, i thought it was high time i took the plunge and gave one of them a facelift

i picked out some decorative papers and glued them in place with matte medium

now the fun will begin once i decide what i'm going to do from here

maybe a mermaid given the theme on the decorative paper?

time will tell

to view the creative posts of other AEDM members for Day 12
click here.

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i love trees!

they have such beautiful auras and represent life and hope in many cultures.

i thought i'd share some pics with you of a native australian eucalypt called the scribbly gum tree.

those scribbles are actually made by the larvae of the scribbly gum moth

 kinda cool, huh?

til tomorrow

~ love, light and peace ~

Day 11 - AEDM & Nablopomo - a rose and a rest

hi everyone

today, i finished off the rose i started yesterday

here is the finished page...dated yesterday because that's when i started it

i am loving my derwent inktense pencils!

to view the creative posts of other AEDM members for Day 11
click here.

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for the majority of the day, i was lying on the couch with my feet elevated as they were very sore and swollen. i think it was due to all the walking i've done this week.  hopefully, it will be better tomorrow.

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for some reason, my chilli plant has decided to go all mutant on me. my chillies should look like this. note how they are nearly three times longer than they are wide?

well, for some unknown reason, they are now looking like this!

this one obviously tried to get some length but it just didn't happen.
it's a mystery i tell you.

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on a sad note, at 11AM today, we stood and paid our respects to our fallen soldiers in one minute's silence for Remembrance Day. the bugle on the TV played The Last Post and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

my heartfelt and sincere thanks to the men and women of our armed services

~ love, light and peace ~

Day 10 - AEDM & Nablopomo - sketch & art supplies

another busy day has passed and i'm now feeling SO tired!  i'm surprised myself that i've still managed to meet the challenge each day...can't say i'll make it all the way but i will certainly try.

another late afternoon sketch was the order of the day...this time, a rose

pencil free sketch using pigma micron pen in small moleskine watercolour sketchbook

and, of course, i played a little more with my new derwent inktense pencils. still some layers to go before i'll call it finished but this is what i managed today

to view the creative posts of other AEDM members for Day 10
click here.

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we were over at garden city (a large shopping centre) for the day and i couldn't resist popping into riots art and craft store. yep...i bought even more treats for the studio. heck, i'm sure the kids won't mind living on bread and water for the next week or so.

a wood burning tool and some watercolour tube paints
the wood burning tool is for making stamps

a 12 pack of A7 (approx. 3" x 4") mini sketchbooks featuring a variety of different papers

and a new pack of mungyo gallery watercolour crayons (love 'em!) and more water-brushes

until tomorrow

~ love, light and peace ~

Day 9 - AEDM & Nablopomo - sketch & inspiration

i didn't get a lot of time to sketch today as my son, brad, had to see the ophthalmologist at the mater hospital. i took my sketchbook along and sketched for a little bit in the waiting room and then i finished and coloured it when we arrived back home later in the afternoon.

pencil-free sketch using pigma micron pens, derwent inktense pencils and watercolour crayons in A5 watercolour sketchbook

after brad's appointment, we walked down to the southbank parklands and, while there, i popped into oxlades art essentials store and treated myself to set of derwent inktense water-soluble pencils (used later to colour the sketch) and an electric battery-operated eraser. i've never used an electric eraser before but, apart from the obvious, i'm thinking it will also be very handy for lifting out highlights in graphite sketches.

i LOVE the vibrancy of the inktense pencils!

to view the creative posts of other AEDM members for Day 9
click here.

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i took the following shots at southbank parklands today

bougainvillea

palms

tranquil setting

and this magnificent orange flowered tree

it's been a tiring day especially with all the walking as i'm still not over my asthma attack.  i don't think it will be too long before i head off to bed.

i hope you're all enjoying a great week!

~ love, light and peace ~

Day 8 - AEDM & Nablopomo - sketch & inspiration

unfortunately, i'm not a happy camper today.
yesterday, i bought a BOOST juice - green tea mango mantra - my favourite!  i've had this same juice heaps of times before but, after drinking it yesterday, i immediately started coughing and wheezing and feeling heavy in my chest. WEIRD! i'm still dealing with the asthma fallout.

 needless to say, i was only up to doing a small sketch in my moleskine watercolour sketchbook.

first the quick pen sketch using my pigma micron pen

then some watercolours and journaling

for reference, i used some photos i took last week of some morning glories growing wild near the creek just down from our house.

aren't they lovely?!

to view the creative posts of other AEDM members for Day 8
click here.

i think i'll get an early night now so until tomorrow

~ love, light and peace ~