From this...

Tracey Fletcher King shared an incredible artist with me today. Ben Quilty, an Aussie artist who uses bold colour and few strokes to just capture the essence of a face. It looks incredibly simple... but naturally, it's not as easy when you try it for yourself...

I used watercolours to sketch it out. Of course, had I been happy with the end result I wouldn't be calling it a sketch! But then again, then I wouldn't be able to share it with Sunday Sketches!

I liked bits of it, but it's not exactly quite there is it? Especially the eyes... pretty freaky! Even my son looked at it and asked somewhat curiously if it was "supposed to look like that?"

Back to the drawing board and out came the oil pastels and pencils and we used the rough sketch as exactly that... We ended up with some more Lisa Wright than Ben Quilty but I like to think there's a touch of him in there; you can still spot some of the original paint underneath. Shame one eye is bigger than the other...

Back in the swing

I so had to do art - it was pulling at my soul. I needed to play with my new oil pastels. They are beautifully soft and squidgy but not much cop on fine details so the prismacolor pencils joined in the fun.

I'm posting this for Paint Party Friday. I usually include some words, but I seem to be short on them this morning... Truth be told I'm actually a bit grumpy due to lack of sleep. My mind is wandering and I'm watching bullfinches feast on the rowan berries of next door's tree. There are four of them - two pairs - and are frequent visitors to this particular 'take out'. In fact, on closer inspection there are blue tits and wagtails in nearby eateries too. It's a veritable ornithological delight out there this morning. I shall be sorry when the berries are all gobbled.

I might take my grumpy, bird-watching self off now and get dressed!

Tootles for now!

Something old; something new...

I'm not in the best of moods I can tell you. I mean just look at what I'm drawn on... some piece of old advertising tat... When I knew that my likeness would be immortalised using a brand new box of oil pastels I was terribly excited. I imagined my future hanging in the finest Bond Street gallery and the smartest homes. But no. I get sketched on a catalogue selling friendship bracelets and silly posters.'Keep calm and drink champagne' indeed...I should be so lucky...

Apparently I'm for some art challenge involving old, new, borrowed and blue (or any combination thereof). The lady on the opposite page to me got to be blue... but frankly I think my mood would suffice for that particular category...

Really my dear, I don't know what you're complaining about. You look perfectly divine and judging by the poster stuck to your neck, it sounds like you're off out to have a fun time. I am much more serene myself and prefer a life of quiet contemplation... Although I wouldn't say no to trip to the dentist to do something about the colour of my teeth...

Well readers, looks like my blog was hi-jacked today (or maybe just 'borrowed') by these two ladies for the Inspiration Avenue challenge - old, new, borrowed, blue and Paint Party Friday.

Happy Christmas everyone!