Tuesday 29 May 2012

Blue Tit With Blossom - original oil of a bird on a branch with blossom

Blue Tit With Blossom - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

I hadn't intended painting another blue tit - Cyanistes caeruleus for the more intellectual amongst you! - but simply couldn't resist this little one. I have always loved the combination of pink and blue/grey - I just think it is such an appealing colour combination and the addition of the lemon yellow and definite blue adds, to my eyes, a really pretty and attractive combination. I hope you enjoy this painting!
SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for approximately 2 weeks before it is ready to be shipped.


Friday 25 May 2012

Blue Tit

Blue Tit - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

These little birds are very frequent visitors to my garden and I never tire of seeing them. I liked the shape the bird and twig made in this painting and find it a very pleasing and satisfying arrangement. I hope you like it too!

SOLD

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Shepherd Reflections - original oil of a German Shepherd Dog

 Shepherd Reflections - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

close up of eyes:


This painting came about as a result of a challenge on the Artists Reference page of Facebook. I was actually too late to enter it into the challenge but I wanted to have a go at painting it and changing the atmosphere of the original photograph. In the reference photo, the dog is lying on grass with a ball type toy. I decided, as you can see, to give it a black background with some reflection as on a shiny dark wooden floor. I'm very pleased with the result and hope you like it too.

Anne

This painting will need approximately 2 to 3 weeks to dry before it can be shipped.


Sunday 20 May 2012

Fairy Wrens - original oil bird painting

Fairy Wrens - 5" x 7" oil on hardboard/masonite

I was absolutely enchanted by these little birds when I saw the photo taken by aussiegall at flickr. I've done some research about them and they come from the family Maluridae. This family includes 14 species of fairywren, 3 emu-wrens, and 10 grasswrens. 

I believe, although I am not sure, that the little birds I have painted are fledglings. Certainly in my mind they were as I painted them, hugging closely to each other as they face the brave new world - I can just imagine touching their soft plumage; how lovely that would be.

SOLD


Monday 14 May 2012

Age Cannot Wither Her - Black Labrador Retriever Oil Painting

Age Cannot Wither Her - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

The title of this painting comes from Antony and Cleopatra written by William Shakespeare in 1623. It never ceases to amaze me how many well known phrases were penned by Shakespeare.

In this instance however I felt the title reflected many things in relation to elderly dogs - perhaps particularly their capacity for love and devotion to their owners; and yes, to my eyes, senior dogs lose nothing with age and remain forever beautiful - in fact they become more so.

Anne


This painting is straight off the easel and will need approximately 2-3 weeks to dry before it can be shipped

Thursday 10 May 2012

Playtime! - Jack Russell Terrier

Playtime - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

How many times have we dog owners seen this particular bodily pose in our own pets? It is such a familiar and happy invitation to play that I don't think many can ignore. Come on - play!

Anne


This painting is straight off the easel and will need about 2 weeks to dry before it can be shipped

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Dormouse and Blackberries

Dormouse and Blackberries - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

 Dormice, such as the one in this painting, are famous for being sleepy and their name means 'sleeping mouse'. If the outside temperature remains cold their hibernation may last up to six months or even longer and to accomplish this feat they store body fat during the summer months. These small, agile creatures are most at home in woodland, where they are well adapted to climbing trees. The hazel dormouse is the only one native to the UK and is one of Britain's most endangered mammals. It is a protected species and may not even be handled without a special licence.
 
Interestingly where I live dormice are particularly abundant and work is carried out in the woodlands to encourage the survival of these sweet little creatures. Last year we were puzzled when out for a walk with the dogs to see a lot of what looked like bird nesting boxes in part of our local woods. We knew though that they couldn't be bird boxes as the woodland was too dense and the boxes too low. We've since discovered that they are nesting boxes for dormice - a joint project between the Surrey Wildlife Trust, the local council and Guildford Golf Club. It's good to see people banding together to help the little dormouse.

SOLD


This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for 1-2 weeks before shipping

Thursday 3 May 2012

Beagle Sea View

Beagle Sea View - 7" x 5" oil on hardboard/masonite

In April parts of the UK were deemed to be in a drought situation having had 2 consecutively dry winters. In order to reduce the amount of water used, hosepipes and sprinklers - for watering gardens, washing cars etc. was banned in some areas, including where I live, meaning these jobs would have to be done with watering cans and buckets. I think it was the very next day that it started to rain and it has done virtually nothing else since! Well, all right, I am exaggerating a bit but it was the wettest April since records began and May has not been great either! All this means that I am now longing for lovely hot, sunny days and if I can't enjoy them in reality, at least I can enjoy them vicariously through my paintings hence Beagle Sea View above. In case you're wondering, yes, it is a lovely hot day in this painting with just the hint of a cool breeze to keep everyone comfortable; the sea is warm but refreshing - enjoy! 

SOLD

This painting is straight off the easel and will need to dry for several days before it can be shipped.