End of the Year

This will be my last post until after Christmas. I thought I would share with you some progress shots of my current piece....the Egret in the Waterlillies....

It is hard with a white bird but he has to wait until last as there is quite a lot of feathery details to go on his chest. I am completely absorbed in this new piece and challenging though it is, great enjoyment is happening.

My summer reading is art inspired also.

It's about Elizabeth Gould, wife of famous Bird fancier and naturalist John Gould.  Eliza as she was known was her husband's very talented illustrator for his book plates. She was ahead of her time and juggled married life, motherhood, tragedy and her artistic aspirations. Amazing woman. Needless to say I am loving it.

That's it from me. Thank you so very much for popping in to visit me. I hope in some way I have inspired you to treasure your creativity whatever form it takes.
I wish you and your dear ones a very Merry Christmas.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Gifts From The Heart

This week I was surprised to the extent of leaving me without adequate words. My dear friend Di who I met through art and fellow Queensland Wildlife Artists Society member.....

gave me a stunning drawing in graphite of my eldest Granddaughter when she was about a year old. She borrowed my photo secretly for this surprise. Whatdo you think?

I just adore it and we will always treasure her beautiful work. Di is such a clever and talented artist, other friends and I are in turn blown away and inspired constantly by what she creates. She is also so encouraging and supportive to all of us with our own artwork.....not to mention a gorgeous person...love her to bits!

I did share this on my stitching blog but for those of you who don't read it. My friend Denise gave me a beautiful nature sketchbook journal made by her Aunty Kay.

It is made from handmade paper and the cover features some Japanese paper Denise bought on a trip to Japan. The journal is a concertina type...

The inside cover also has a little surprise! Beautiful rubbings of leaves from Eungella National Park recently devastated by bushfires. I am really looking forward to recording some special drawings in it.

Both these gifts speak straight to my heart as do the fact that friends took the time to think of me.....a gift enough on its own.....and then create these treasured and special gifts........feeling extremely blessed!!

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Hello!

After the completion and collection of my Sacred Lotus Pond piece I have been taking a little break.......apart from a few festive journal scribbles....after such a detailed realistic piece it is rather freeing just to draw some fun things from my imagination.

And a little bit of practice with my pencil never goes a stray....Fox and Fungi. Graphite was what I orginally went to classes to improve and then coloured pencils Polychromos to be exact grabbed my attention and haven't let go. It is very nice to just play with paper and a pencil. I keep promising myself some time with a graphite pencil....maybe 2019 lol!

My new project has come to me from several photos shared with me from a friend to use how I wish.

So thats what I have been playing around with.....getting a few lines down on paper.....taking inspiration from both photos. To and froing......discarding, redrawing.....yes? no? etc. But I think I may be almost there.
I have a little more tweaking to do and then I will transfer my rough sketch to my beautiful Fabriano paper to hopefully bring it to life with lovely pencils and DETAILS!

You probably can't see much but evidence that a newbie is on its way nonetheless!
I'm really excited to get moving now!
Wishing and hoping that you are getting to the heart of what matters.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx