Looks like we're going to have gale force winds tonight - I've already found two pieces of someone's roof in my front garden!
Today I'm going to mention another favourite artist - Stephen Quiller - his site is worth looking at as I love his use of colour - http://www.quillergallery.com/index.htm. He has produced a number of books and videos which are great if you love colour.

Thought I would feature another of my favourite artists today - Robert Burridge- his website is http://www.robertburridge.com/. I love the vitality and colour in his paintings. I have some of his instructional videos and have just ordered his workbook. As I am a colour junkie his work really apeals to me!

We had snow yesterday and now today we have had rain - all day!
I'm back to work and all I can say is 'thank goodness it's the weekend' - it's dark when I go to work in the mornings and dark when I come home, I'd much rather be curled up on the sofa with the cats.

2008 already - tried to have a reasonably quite day so we chilled out and watched some TV. Saw an interesting documentary on the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams - might pick up a couple of CDs when I have some spare cash. Found a good website - http://www.rvwsociety.com/.
I also watched one of my favourite musicals - Singing in the Rain. My daughter watched it with me as she's never seen it before (she's only 11!).
Back to work tomorrow - back to the early mornings and packed public transport - never mind it's the weekend soon - ha, ha

Jasper's Feline Abstract ACEO

Sarah's ACEOs

Haven't had much time to paint recently but we did manage to snatch an hour this afternoon to do a little fun painting. I had some ACEO size pieces of gessoed watercolour paper so I got a few acrylic paints out and got my daughter Sarah involved. I only finished one before our tom cat Jasper decided to leap onto the paint and one of the prepared ACEO cards. I've posted my piece here and will post Sarah's and Jasper's in separate posts.

I find new year a little bit depressing but I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Thought I'd mention a couple of art technique books which I like. The first one by Claire Harrigan I have mentioned before in a previous posting 'Abstract and Colour Techniques in Painting'. I can't find a website for this artist but you can find examples of her work on the web. The book is illustrated with numerous colour illustrations of her work and gives a good insight into moving towards abstract and semi-abstract art and the use of colour. Being a 'colour junkie' I love looking through this book.

Another book which came my way recently is 'Collins 30 Minute Acrylics' by Soraya French. She is a professional artist and was the 2005 winner of the SAA Artist of the Year award. This book is a little gem which covers the basics as well as providing inspiration in small bites. It is also full of lots of colourful illustrations to whet the appetite. Her website is - http://sorayafrench.com/wordpress/

The weather has been wet and windy - not quite 'Christmas' weather. The snow - if we get any - seems to come later now, between January and March.
All the cats went out to play before the rain got too heavy so the house is now covered in hundreds of muddy cat prints - amazing how they even get them on the walls!

I've never been ice skating before and today was my first attempt. I went with my daughter to The Centre for Life in Newcastle where they set up a temporary open-air rink during the winter. http://www.life.org.uk/.
It took me a long time to leave go of the side and the boots were killing me but I finally managed to get round the rink on my own - I never fell over once, which really surprised me. It's only something small but I feel a real sense of achievement and I tried something new!