A Step Up
Watercolour pencils on watercolour paper
4.5" x 6.5"(11.2 x 16.5 cms) approx.
Price : $100

SOLD / SWAPPED : 1 Oct 2006 : Thank you Andrew Henderson

Being a 'colourist' means my paintings are usually of the cheerful variety. Some time ago I found a photograph in a gardening book with flowers bursting out of an old boot - I thought it was great and thoroughly enjoyed doing this loose pencil drawing in its honour. I chose to position the boot at a bit of a jaunty angle to give it a sense of movement - something which is very important to me in painting. Movement gives it life.

I added a bit of water to the watercolour pencil marks but not enough to entirely wash away the textured feel - I like it grainy.

It's a lovely, rainy, nippy day here in Connemara in Ireland - I love autumn for more than its rusty colours ..... for me it means that winter is just around the corner, and I live for winter! Cosy turf fires, hot scones (made by my husband, Alan), hot chocolate and the promise of snow. (Being South African-born I am pretty snow-deprived). So far in my life I've only ever had one white Christmas.

Anyway, if you would like to purchase 'A Step Up' (which could also arrive on your doorstep already double-matted {double-mounted} in white if you like) please email me and we can discuss either PayPal or WorldPay.

Lilac Buds

'Lilac Buds' : Acrylic on Board : 5" x 7" (12.7 x17.8 cm)
Price : $100

SOLD / SWAPPED : 1 Oct 2006 : Thank you Andrew Henderson

After one art exhibition after another for a few months this summer, I was totally exhausted. While in town one day I treated myself to some cut flowers to take home as a pick-me-up. Hmmm, not only did I buy this bunch of purple flowers (the name of which I do not know) but I arrived home laden with a huge bunch of sunflowers and one of the usual mix of carnations and chrysanthemum. I took hundreds of digital images of them all for a couple of days running, as they opened their blooms further each day.

These delicate little buds, on slim stems, were so beautiful as they began to turn from purple to a rusty brown. None of the buds actually opened as a full, fresh flower (perhaps they'd been languishing in the supermarket for far too long) - but anyway I bought them for their rusty brown, red and yellow marks more than for their purple glory. And I kept them long after they had all drooped, just to enjoy their colours of old age. I'm pretty sure this won't be the last painting I'll do in their memory.