Heir Apparent

Is the name of the piece I am finishing off for an upcoming exhibition. He looked like this at the start of the weekend.....

And now he looks like this!

After a teeny bit more tweaking he is off to the framers.
He was snapped at Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.  What a gorgeous bloke! Posed for us like a movie star!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Magpie Progress

Another little update on "Beyond the Garden Gate " looking a little better thank goodness!  These progress shots are more for me but happy to share.

Being a big fan of old rusty things and rustic old posts....I relished working on the posts and gate....much more to do there. Worked some on the Magpies too which has helped!

The hours at art just flew by this week.....as you can see I was completely engrossed!

We are a varied lot as you can see.....such lovely people!
I will share this one again when its completely done.
I was surprised when Facebook threw up a memory from 3 years ago the other day. It was my first efforts from my very first classes....I was so nervous and excited. Still feel the same.....

Some days I feel I have made such progress and some days I  feel that I have so far to go.....but going into my fourth year since I made the decision to embrace my inner artist.......best decision EVER!

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Kakadu Kingfisher

After lots and lots of work on the Pandanus leaves my sweet little Azure Kingfisher is finished. This piece will always be a beautiful memory of our sunrise cruise on Yellow Water Billabong in Kakadu National Park. A magical morning!
I really learnt such a lot on this piece....pushing things back and highlighting things to bring them forward. I crazily enjoyed the process so much I have drawn a lovely duck in reeds I photographed in Castlemaine Victoria....piccies later! Anyway......"Kakadu Kingfisher "

"Beyond the Garden Gate" is taking shape and is in what I call the 'ugly' stage. I am experimenting with a faded background scene using Pan Pastels with coloured pencils over the top of some of it for detail......had to seek advice for all that I can tell you.......trying to extend yourself can often be challenging but worth it later.
So the jury is still out whether this one will work or not. But trying hard not to be too precious and document the journey warts and all!

At least the composition is looking better! The Magpies outside my door at present are singing away....hope they aren't laughing too hard lol!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Beyond the Garden Gate

There is a little town near Broken Hill called Silverton. We visited it in 2016. It is a strange and interesting place. Down the road from the pub is an old stone miners cottage. On the side of the cottage someone has repurposed a lovely old garden gate.

The rusty gate attracted me straight away lol! I just knew that I wanted it in a drawing at sometime....that time has arrived.
How to use it? I wanted Magpies.....a favourite bird. I wake every morning to their beautiful melodic warbling and the house over the back has a Magpie apartment block in their backyard tree.....so Maggies it was......dragging out all my reference pics, not a lot of anything too great was apparent so quite a bit of artistic license was used.
And then we got down to a preliminary sketch. It was a bit of a challenge getting a composition I was happy with.....but finally something to work with.

Next transferring it on to my robust drawing paper.
That done. I have started to put down my base colours and block in the design (so I know where I am going lol)

I am hoping for some foliage behind the left hand Magpie but will deal with that next. I think it now has some potential.....she says with great confidence!
Watch this space!

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx