He loves me, he loves me not ...

This is my daughters painting. She's nine and wanted to do something big. I bought her a canvas 24" x 24" and sat with her and talked as she painted. I promise I had nothing to do with her choice of content the text she put on it or what she wanted to achieve. How proud can a dad be?

Green eyes

I've had this picture in my mind for a long time, Beth's green eyes. Shes an artist aged nine, and has a wonderful talent - trying hard not to be a pushy dad!

As if butter wouldn't melt ...

Here is Fudge. I had to work from photographs for this one. I took some after one of her moments of sheer madness and she needed to rest - for five minutes before the next one. She's a cross between a Poodle and a Fox Terrier - a Foodle, although, as she's tee total, I think a Perrier is more appropriate. (did you see what I did there?) I have lost count of the last warnings she's been on. It's snowing here in Lincoln, the dog has now pinched the best place in front of the fire and, although smelly, rather adorable.

A little piece of Lincolnshire

I finished Andrea and Rob's painting. I said I wouldn't put too much green into it but it turned out green. Well that plan didn't work too well! It's Lucys birthday today, so, Happy Birthday Lucy!

Ive been tagged!!!!

Freebird has 'tagged' me to share six random things about myself. I wouldn't normally play these kind of 'games' but as she has caught me in the middle of a large procrastination, here goes:
I once fell out of a cubicle in a shop while trying on a new pair of jeans - I was sixteen and embarrassed. (is this random enough?)

I get serious withdrawl symptoms if I don't paint. It is an inner demon sometimes, whilst being creative it is also destructive - you never match the painting you have in your head.
I love old trains - no i'm so not a spotter!!!

I lived in Malta as a child but grew up in Manchester - not much difference there! Now I live in Lincolnshire and love the place.
I have a dog called Fudge which, if she doesn't start behaving soon, I may have to leave home with ( I wish I hadn't said - if she goes, I go!)

I have four wonderful children which I am very proud of and don't spend enough time with.

Now I am to list the rules and pass on the tag to others who might want to play along.

The rules:

1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.

5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

I hope you don't mind freebird, I'm not going to 'tag' six people, I don't know six people!

Great fun though!

Messing about in boats

I'm working on a really big canvas for friends, which is keeping me from sketching and journaling, time has gone nowhere this week. I've spent lots of it in London and not even had time to drop in on the National Portrait Gallery which has to be my all time favourite treat to myself. I love potraits. It is the mosts challenging art there is and I have total respect for anyone attempting it and awe for those who achieve it. My favourite Homer Simpson saying 'If something is difficult, it's probably not worth doing' ... So I painted boats :-)... I'll keep going back to portraits though, doh!

Those early birds ...

I set myself up to spend the day painting, went to get something and the children were in there. 'Can we paint?' 'Pleeeeease!' Oh well, I'll wait until they are in bed.

Red Arrows rule!

I've just watched a programme on Channel 5 about the Red Arrows. I watch them practice daily in the airspace above the village, they are based about four miles away. Jez Hawker, their leader went into Beth and Williams school to talk about what they do - I have the ultimate respect and awe for what they do. I did this painting for my Father in Law and thought - today is a good day to share it! Apologies for the quality of image, didn't anticipate posting it on a blog!, and a request to Jez, can I come and spend a day sketching in RAF Scampton? How cool would that be?

Lazy Sunday afternoons

Preparing the subject. Take one wet Sunday afternoon, invite in-laws over. Add one large roast dinner with a drop of wine, light log fire, wait fifteen minutes and hey presto! A drawing!

Book Illustrations, well sort of ...

This pile of books sit on the bookshelf because they look nice. Actually I enjoy a good Famous Five story sometimes, usually when stressed. Must be the thought of 'lashings of Ginger Beer'!

I pinched Andrea Josephs's pile of books idea, so I can't take credit for subject choice.

My first moly post!

Not a sketch from nature, it's a combination of sketches and photos that i'm working up into a painting. I was in Runswick Bay on the Yorkshire coast earlier in the year. It was a painting emerging in front of my eyes as a group of children climbed onto the jetty to fish for crabs. I like the shapes and the space the children create, there were probable twenty of them in the end. I may end up painting this more than once using different people on it.