Solstice

It's that time of the year again and I'm looking forward to spending time with my family, and wishing all my blogging friends a happy Christmas and a healthy, creative new year.

Two digital sketches depicting both winter and summer solstice.

Etsy Front Page!!!

So happy I was treasured on Etsy's front page today featuring Australian products by "Percivalroad"!!

Red Doves

Illustration Friday: Silent

I'm not sure why I like making winter scenes at the moment, as we are looking forward to the summer here in Australia. I think it must be a feeling of nostalgia for those cold, crisp winter nights, especially when the snow falls. My new work is of two foxes playing in the silent winter's night.

Illustration Friday; Fuel

Haven't entered IF for a few weeks. The word fuel inspired me to think of the snow and the need to keep warm, not that we have much snow in Australia!

New Pink Giraffes

My Giraffes are multiplying!

New work for Etsy

Small Painting from Sketchbook

Sunday walk along Balcombe Creek to the Briars

I was invited by fellow blogger Viltogvakkert to document a sunday walk. It's a great idea and I'm sure it will be interesting to read about other bloggers' walk in the fresh air.
The day started out wet, but cleared with some sunshine without being too warm. We followed the creek close to where we live. There is a board walk that continues to a wildlife reserve where we went on the hunt for sleepy Koalas. Not lucky today, but we did see a small snake warming himself on the path and a couple of swamp wallabies resting in the marsh.
Check out this link http://www.viltogvakkert.blogspot.com/

Front Page!

I made it to the front page of Etsy last night, so happy!

New Work for etsy

Illustration Friday; Boundaries

I was sitting outside in the garden last week with my grandson who is two and a half. We were playing with a bubble machine, watching the bubbles gently float into the sky across the boundaries of our fence into the creek nearby. The memories gave me inspiration for this illustration.

Illustration Friday: Disguise

It's not Halloween yet!

New work- Running Hares

The tiger who came to tea

Sorry I'm a bit late with this post, but if you're in London and are interested in illustration, there's a great exhibition about Judith Kerr who wrote the Mog books and The Tiger who came to Tea. I think it finishes in early september so there's still time to catch it. It's on at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. Her books are classics now, and I'm sure many under fives still enjoy them.

Illustration Friday; Obsession

Thinking of the colour, form and texture of a painting is an obsession of many artists. I love using bright colour in a work to create an illusion of depth and space. This is a painting done a few months ago but recently reworked.

Philip Island

A week of recovery after minor surgery, spent a great weekend with friends at Smiths Beach on Philip Island. Discovered some great rock formations on the beach.

Illustration Friday; Gesture

The gesture of love!

Just returned from my trip to the UK, we had a great time catching up with family. Now back to reality.

New Work

Beautiful Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, England

Taking a short break, visiting family and friends and having a great time!

Flinders

Illustration Friday; Asleep

Asleep in the sunshine, dreaming of something nice to eat. My little cat spent most of her time in the garden asleep. She died aged eighteen but I'm sure I can still see her under a bush in a warm shady spot curled up in the sunshine, in the garden.

This illustration was made a few months ago but I thought it was a good one to put into this week's I F.

Painting 2

Another painting almost finished called "Solitude."

New Painting

I've started painting again after a break of about a year, during which I've enjoyed working with mixed media illustrations. I'd forgotten how hard it is, both physically and mentally to create paintings on canvas and paper. At last I've finished two works for a couple of local shows. This is a small work on Arches paper called Flinders Beach.

Illustration Friday; Safari

I really love watching giraffes move so gracefully with their long tongues reaching out for the tallest branches.

Illustration Friday "lesson"

A lesson from the tree of knowledge, a thirst for learning throughout your life.

New work for my Etsy shop

Great Barrier Reef

Have just returned from a short break to Far North Queensland to see my son James. We had a great time cramming so much in, during four short days. The highlight of the trip was snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, which has been on my wish list most of my life! Here are some photos of the coral and fish. The colours of the different fish were amazing. Going to the reef has really made me feel that we must protect our environment as this wonderful area is so fragile! The coral may not be saved for our children if we don't take climate change seriously.

IF: Duet

I've always admired the resilience of sparrows, often watching them working as pairs searching in the city food halls for crumbs. They seem to be tough intelligent little birds. I don't often see them where I live in my semi rural home, until the bird seed is on the table. They turn up out of thin air with all their mates to take advantage. These two little birds are singing a duet!

Fossicking

Something I love to do when I'm out walking. The term (fossicking) is still common  in Cornwall and Australia and was most likely originally a word used when searching for gold and minerals in the early days. Anyway, I love to find different treasures whether they are old bones, shells , feathers or seedpods, keeping them in my studio to sketch when I need inspiration.