faffing

Have been prattling around with wire, fabric, needle, thread and bits of wood - came up with this. Very folky arty type thing, supposed to be some sort of an angel!

'varnishing day'

Managed to find sometime at the end of yesterday to 'varnish' (or matte as they say in America?) all of my recent footy/rugby paintings.

Now to decide what I'm going to do with them - list in my shops, think about joining 'Artfinder' (has anyone got any experience of this ?), create a Facebook page wherefrom I can advertise them for sale or try and approach small galleries!
Any advice welcome.

finished

The paintings are now finished. I seem to be accumulating quite a few footy paintings - I must get around to putting them in my Folksy shop.

All are 18 x 24cm, mixed media on canvas board.

                        

paintings

A pic of three, first stage, footy paintings currently on my 'painting' table. Each one is on canvas board and measures 18 x 24cm.

vehicles

In y1 today we continued drawing vehicles but this time in '3D'. We took it step by step, using squared paper and simple shapes. We drew vans, trucks, buses and cars.

Not bad for 5/6 year olds.

Another painting - 'Derby'.

Possibly City vs Utd. Canvas board, 18 x 24cm, acrylics. £30 (p&p free worldwide) would see this adorning your wall! If interested please comment. Should you wish to commission a footy pic of your favourite team please let me know.

another

Another finished painting. This time a Scottish rugby player in full flight. 

Canvas board, acrylics, 10 x 15cm.

£20 (p&p free worldwide!).

Please comment if you'd like it.

flames

The y2's did a bit of colour mixing today, as a precursor to creating collage pieces that represent the fire of London.

We varied the proportions of red and yellow to get darker and lighter oranges.

Meanwhile, here's one of my paintings from last week, all finished.

It's on canvas board, painted using acrylics and measures 18 x 24cm. If anyone is interested in buying it, £30 would secure (p&p free - anywhere in the world)! Please comment sold.

new card

Another card 'design'.

more cards

Tried out another idea for my hand-drawn cards today.

Let me know what you think.

Poppies

Inspired by the poppies at the Tower of London we've started to make some very simplified ones of our own. The intention is to 'plant' them as an avenue to be walked through by the parents attending our Remembrance service in November. Afterwards we hope people will offer a donation in order to take one home with them.

Today's painting.

painting & Poland

This weekend saw my wife and I venturing to Poland to stock up on pottery. Whilst there we visited the site of the POW camp from where the 'Great Escape' took place - stalag luft 3. There's a small museum with artefacts and poignant information regarding the fate of the escapees. There's also a reconstruction of a section of tunnel and a replica of one of the huts.

We didn't manage to get as far as the actual site of 'Harry' as time was short but hope to return early next year. 

Currently on my painting table - a small (12x12 cm) mixed media piece. 

more cards

Made some new cards - collaged patterned papers for the dresses and drew the rest.

Packaged with envelopes- am still thinking £2 each or 3 for a fiver.

collages and kicker!

Today the y1's (5/6 yr olds) started to create collage self-portraits. We stuck to using simple shapes. Think these will look quite effective when complete.

Latest automaton to leave the workbench is a prototype 'kicking' figure. It's a very rough creation just to test the mechanism. The squares on the cutting mat are 5cm just to give you an idea of scale.

It works...

...but I'm not happy with it. The mechanism is too fiddly to make and install and I've already worked out how to make it much simpler!

There's also no reason for the arms to be 'loose' as they don't really move. Am already thinking of two players tackling for the ball!

swan lake

The latest automaton to leave my workbench. 

Again, a simple mechanism. This frame on this one is made from a cut down domino box.

The ballerina figure is poseable. Compare this pic with the first.

Must make the effort to list these in my shops to gauge interest.

drawings

Have been drawing some cards . Various subjects but in the same styles. Might list some in my shops. Done with sharpies on card, A6 single fold. 

 

doodle

'following the catch'

 

 

Ink & pencil in sketchbook.

'almost home'

Think I prefer the original sketch rather than the final painting!

 

Acrylics on paper, roughly A4 size (20x30cm).

'nother one

Over-painted another picture. A footy supporter one has been given the eyes and mouth treatment and has been shaded with crayons.

 

Am torn between the stark simplicity of the one on the right and the more representational one on the left.

altered

Had a few spare moments today so added to one of last weeks paintings - eyes and mouths!

 

Both are acrylics on heavyweight paper, roughly A4 size (20x30cm).
Would love to know which style folk prefer - the simple, abstract one or the more realistic (!) image.

more Polish girls

The 'new' style didn't go down too well so have painted up a couple more that might be more agreeable! Again acrylics but this time on canvas board so they can either be hung as is or propped on a shelf.