Another interesting artist - Sylvia Edwards - who paints brightly coloured, imaginative watercolours. http://www.sylviaedwards.com/bio.html
I also have a large book filled with her striking watercolours - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0952998696/digitaltruthph08 - it's expensive but I got a cheap almost new copy for half the price.
This book features her work along with other artists - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564964345/digitaltruthph08 - out of print but well worth reading.

After messing about with splodges of colour on thick watercolour paper I decided to try a five minute painting of an apple - it's not too bad but I can see I need a lot of practice!

I've been trying to get back into painting after many years - I passed my A level art approx. 28 years ago but I was never a fantastic artist. So I finally succumbed and decided to try and make a colour wheel. Had a look through the Nita Leland book "Exploring Colour" and decided to use lemon yellow, azo yello med., quin red, permanant rose, ultramarine and Phthalo blue (GS). You can just about see my haphazzard attempt. Just to compare a few colours I put splashes of other tube colours around the outside - Buff titanium, phthalo green (BS), cad orange, cad red light, quin magenta, diox purple - all are Winsor and Newton Finity range except for the Buff tit.

which is System 3. My daughter wanted to get involved so I let her paint some of the colour patches.

It would have been my Mother's birthday today - she died December 2005. It's one of those sunny Spring days today, the sort of day she loved - I can picture her sitting in the garden with her cats, soaking up the warmth of the sun........

Thought I might post occasional links to artists I admire. Not all have websites of their own - especially those from previous centuries!! LOL So I'll post sites where their work can be seen.
I want to start with Mary Fedden who is still going strong even in her 90s! There is a book by Mel Gooding showing her work and there will be a new book coming out in June - both are listed on Amazon if you want to check them out. Below is a link for a gallery featuring some of her art.

http://www.clark-art.co.uk/pages/thumbnails/97.html

Anne Redpath is another interesting artist - a short biog and images can be seen at this site -
http://www.bridgeman.co.uk/about/collections.asp?type=cBridgeman%20Artists%20Copyright%20Service&topic=355

Was browsing Amazon the other day (can't resist books!) when I came across an interesting art book. It hasn't been published yet but I've pre-ordered it as it looks good. Looked up Claire Harrigan on the web, couldn't find a site as such but found her paintings on some gallery sites. Was very impressed so I'm looking forward to the book.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abstract-Techniques-Colour-Painting-Harrigan/dp/0713490551/ref=sr_1_1/202-5001310-9202269?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178189875&sr=1-1

Spring is finally here, the tree in the front garden is covered in pink blossom which looks like pink snow when the wind blows.
I've been trying to grow some English bluebells, a few have come up but not as many as hoped - sorry about the blurry picture.
The cats are enjoying the weather although Daisy is a little nervous about being outside so she tends to hang round the kitchen window (yet another blurry picture)
Tomorrow is 1st May which I believe was called Beltane, a festival which marked the return of Summer wth the lighting of fires - and a chance to dance round the Maypole.

http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/festivals/beltane.html

Found an interesting new book on Amazon - Acrylic Revolution by Nancy Reyner. It's not available here till the end of June but should be available in the USA now. Have put it on my wish list. Had a look at the author's website and was impressed by her paintings.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acrylic-Revolution-Techniques-Working-Versatile/dp/1581808046/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/026-2117146-9726027?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175357794&sr=8-1

Haven't been to the Laing Art Gallery for a few months - even though it's in the centre of town I never seem to have the time to call in. I went yesterday with my partner as it was his birthday and we had a day off work. There's a great exhibition on at the moment 'New Art for a New Era' featuring some of the artists who emerged at the beginning of the 20th Century. I must make a resolution to go more often.

While I was ironing I thought I would quickly try to sketch Carmen who was sleeping on the sofa. For a sleeping cat she moved around a lot in a few minutes. I switched on the TV to pass the time because ironing is one of the chores I hate most in the world – I would really welcome a fashion for wrinkled clothes. March of the Penguins was on – I’ve never seen it but I ended up sobbing most of my way through it – thought I would try a 30 second sketch on the back of an old envelope – need more practice …LOL