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!

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.

'polish' figures

A couple of faux, ceramic 'polish pottery' type figures. The one 'sitting' on the edge is a simple slab figure whilst the one with attached limbs has a hollow body and a large wooden bead for a head. The hair is hand-made string, that I've had for ages, and the fixings include vintage buttons.

Stop press : the ceramic poppies that we made in school have so far raised over €500 for the Royal British Legion.

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.

portraits

The y1's continued with their 'all about me' unit and created self-portraits from clay. Not sure if we'll paint, 'varnish' or just leave them when they've dried.

Today's small painting on my table.

Again, 12cm square, mixed media.

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. 

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. 

 

selfies

Some quick paintings, acrylics on heavyweight paper (still curled a bit though), of footy supporters.  Might do a whole series of paintings in the style of selfies ie. crowded, with some folk squeezed in on the fringes. 

 

These are all A4 size. As you can see I stuck with the 'red' noses!

completed

Finished the painting the other day. Thought I'd overdone it with the noses (cadmium scarlet!) but they're beginning to grow on me and look ok..

 

no sale

No takers on ebay for my painting (sad face). Some page views but no bids. Was the starting price too high (£4.99 with free worldwide p&p)? Or was the painting simply not up to scratch? I would have thought a Man Utd picture would at least attract some interest although they did lose the local derby in the middle of the listing period!
Back to the drawingboard/easel to try again.