Darkest Hour

Darkest Hour
Acrylic and ink on canvas
90cm x 90cm

My husband laughs at me when I paint on canvas - I paint and then I paint over and then I paint over again. One of the benefits to me is that canvas can be reused, that acrylics and oils can be overpainted time and time again. I might not paint the same picture but I paint, and with each painting I learn from mistakes, from small successes. This canvas has beneath its layers at least 5 other seascapes. In moments of wild fantasy I imagine art historians of the future looking at my paintings, studying the layers through x-rays and saying, "Yes, this must be an Anita Murphy. There are several paintings underneath the surface painting!" In my dreams!

Watercolour study for Darkest Hour
15cm x 15cm

Yellow Tulips and Pears

The Trevena influence continues. I am hoping that I will develop my own style and not be hooked in being a poor imitation of a wonderful artist. I did not learn the lesson from the last painting of planning my picture before hand and once again I was forced to crop this picture to make it work. I have to admit to being unreasonably pleased with the pears - very happy with them. They are such a joy to paint.

Pink Tulips - Silver Linings

There is no mistaking the influence Shirley Trevena is having on the paintings I am doing at the moment. I had an argument with myself about this today - is it alright to copy a style and I came to the conclusion that it is. Learning from someone else's process gives you tools that will help define your own style. Even the old masters had and were students themselves, learning at the "Master's knee".

One of the things that I have learnt from Shirley is that you should allow yourself to experiment - it is after all, just a piece of paper. I spent two days this week painting what at appeared to be a reasonably good piece - at least, it was until after a sleepless night, I leapt in with both feet. The problem came because I had not spent enough time preparing my sketches and had thought that the little blank corner made nice composition. Only I had no idea what colour I was going to fill the empty space with. And the result was a horrible mess. I threw the now offending piece on a pile under my work table. Placing a pre-cut mat over the side with which I was happy, I found that it made an acceptable smaller piece. Lesson for the day is, do not despair, a disaster rarely covers an entire painting and smaller sections might be redeemable.

The Blue Vase

After a week of throwing acrylic paint rather unsuccessfully at a large canvas, I came back to watercolour for relief. Very aware of a Shirley Trevena influence here, though the image started from an idea from a totally different artist. I often look at other artists work because I am fascinated by the process they use but the danger is then that you get stuck in their style and not producing your own work. Which is another reason why you should paint form your heart.

Arum Lilies

These are one of my favourite flowers of all. I love their sculptural quality and the grace of the curves of the petals.

Experimenting with backgrounds this week with lots of different techniques, using cling film, blowing and dribbling paints and masking fluid and splattering. I'm having to learn patience and waiting for layers of paint to dry in order to get clean lines with no spreading of colour. I find it very hard to have more than one piece on the go at any one time though I think that is the way to go to maximise productivity.

Late for Christmas .......

A little late for Christmas but one of my favourite birds, nevertheless. Their little red breasts brighten even the darkest winter day, adding a splash of colour. While still working predominately in watercolour, I am beginning to think more about mixed media. I've been studying various artists including John Lovett, Shirley Trevena and Ann Bockley and their wonderful use of all the water media and different implements to mark make are inspiring.

Christmas Break

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is ready to start a new year with renewed enthusiasm. I am. I am taking my life in my hands and really going all out to fulfill my hopes and dreams of being an artist. So here is to 2014, where dreams will take flight and soar. Happy New Year Everyone!

Owl

Some creatures faces just speak to you, their eyes may catch your attention, their expressions, attitudes. Owls do that for me and barn owls with their lovely large eyes but seemingly blank expressions are so enigmatic.

Kingfisher

I watched a wonderful series on television which featured kingfishers and since then I have been mesmerised by these little birds. Their flashes of brilliant colour brighten riverbanks and add a irridescent magic to the leafy green world of water and trees.

Hoopoe

It's such a pleasure and honour to be asked to do a commission for someone - an old friend asked if I could paint a hoopoe for her to give to her husband for Christmas. An easy choice to say yes on two counts; she is an old friend and I love hoopoes. I grew up in Kenya and these birds were everywhere and more recently when we lived in Pakistan, I rediscovered them. There striking colouring stands out and their elegant headress of feathers is worthy of an Ascot hat!

Rosehips

I recently saw an exquisite botanical painting of a single rosehip - it was perfect! You could have picked it up off the paper, it was so realistic. On my weekly foray to the florist, I found that they had sprays of rosehips. So this week's floral paintings are inspired by one perfect rosehip.

Landscape sketch

I've been very lax this week, very little painting has been going on in my mini-studio. But I do have an excellent excuse. My son is getting married and I have been working hard at the sewing machine making bridemaids' outfits and my own dress.

I did manage to do this little sketch which I am hoping is going to become a large painting. I've been longing to get back to landscapes and this really appealed to me. The colours of the heather and the late summer fields and the contours of the hill.

Hydrangea

While I was shopping for Lisianthus at the florist, I was seduced by the most gorgeous hydrangeas. I love these flowers with their big blousy heads in a range of colours from white through pinks to bright turquoise blue - my favourites! After painting the first couple of petals, I began to think that madness might lie in hydrangeas!

Lisianthus

Lisianthus - such a delicate flower, unfurling it's petals like a twirling skirt.

Walking to an appointment with my physio, it struck me that these upright flowers might lend themselves to a different format ........

After receiving several enquiries, I am working on having my artwork produced as prints and cards - more info coming soon.

Cymbidia Orchids

Continuing with the floral theme this week, I've had a flush of pink in my palette from painting a commission of cymbidia orchids. It's such a joy when someone reaches out and asks you to paint a picture for them. This is the first of two commissions I have lined up.

A couple of warm-up exercises to test out shades of pink .........

Eryngium

There is something about these plants that I love - but I can't decide if it is the colour of spiky blue flowers or the silvery grey and green foliage.

Sand dunes

While we were in Denmark a few years ago, I was struck by the beauty of the sand dunes. I have found few landscapes more peaceful than the undulating sand with whispy grasses blowing gently in the sea breeze, shadows playing on the pale sand. I took a number of photos and then forgot about them as life ploughed on with it's distractions. Wanting to find a way back into artwork I was searching through my photos looking for something that would inspire me and came across a number from that day on the beach - the painting that followed is a mixture of fact and fiction.

"Dunes" - Watercolour

Botanical influence

While I am happy to admit that landscape is still my passion, I have been tempted to dabble in a few botanical subjects of late.  Not really the best subjects for someone wanting to loosen up, especially when they have a tendency to go for teensy weensy details given the slightest provocation.

I love the colour of Physalis and the little lantern-like pods hanging from the stems.

New Beginnings

It has been a very long time since I have posted on my blog. 

No excuses!

Well, a minor one - I couldn't get into my blog! I don't know what happened but I could not log in until today. 

We have moved to Vienna so I am now surrounded by wonderful architecture and art. Culture is seeping out of every alley so I have no excuses not to be producing bountiful amounts of artwork! I am also enjoying being unemployed and having plenty of time to start getting to grips with art. I've been exploring and playing with subjects and styles in watercolour and in oils.

One of the last pieces I did before we left Germany was this portrait of my nephew, Sam.  Painting someone that is near and dear is quite an unnerving experience as their face appears out of the paper. 

The Watcher

The Watcher
Charcoal on Paper
April 2012

"I will not be just a tourist in the world of images, just watching images passing by which I cannot live in, make love to, possess as permanent sources of joy and ecstasy."
Anais Nin