En Pointe

Progress shots on my Ballet Pointe shoes commission piece.

A little bit of colour.....

Today's efforts. More shading and more colour...

Slowly coming into being. Next decision will be background! Something soft I feel.
My life as a Mother saw many, many pairs of these....nice memories working on them.
Almost time to start something new. Thinking?
A little something to ponder on.

 Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Nearly There

I am almost there with my breakfasting Egret. Can you see his little morning catch? More detail has been added and the bird cleaned up and made sharper.....the pond has been pushed back (A new lesson learnt) I am at the stage of leaving it propped up at home where I can see it all the time....this gives a better perspective of what is not right or needs tweaking!

And now for something completely different....ballet pointe shoes !
A commission piece for a lovely girl. I have completed the initial prep sketch.

Now to transfer it onto some lovely paper and bring it to life....she says with hope in her heart lol!  Watch this space!
Some of Mother Nature's awesome artwork....

Rock pool, Wards Canyon, Carnarvon Gorge National Park, Queensland. A favourite photo of a favourite experience of mine.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Happy 2019

A new year dawns fresh like a beautiful new piece of paper....no marks, no erases and no mistakes. But these are the very the things that make us grow!

I hope you place your first marks on your new paper with joy and confidence.
Over the Christmas holidays I did a little bit of playing in my handmade gifted sketch book I shared with you earlier.
A Lewins Honeyeater......

And a platypus both found in Eungella National Park. I used the inspiration of the leaf rubbing from there on the inside cover.

I used a base of activated watercolour pencils and coloured pencils over the top.... but alas the paper was not as robust as was needed so I had to leave off before I was satisfied.....I will have to use some gentler techniques for the other pages.

You may recall that I had just begun a white egret in Waterlillies before Christmas. Well that is turning into a nice little challenge of "allowing" different techniques to evolve.....embracing or rejecting!
I have worked the background in Pan Pastels as I want a faded background of sorts with coloured pencil detail diminishing towards the top.
Progress so far....a lot of hmmmm? hmmmmm? happening! Please excuse the photo....very dull day here today!

If you make art you will know the "I really really HATE this " stage lol! I have been there and back a few times with this one. I think because we have a picture in our minds eye of what it will look like and when it doesn't match the image...argggh! As there is still a fair way to go, much more detail to add....I shall reserve judgement for now lol!
I will treat you to another beautiful piece gifted to me by my very clever and talented dear friend Diane Smith. She wasn't satisfied until I had a matched set of my two beautiful Granddaughters rendered in graphite......so Miss E. Will join her cousin on the wall.

Di inspires us all with talent and kindness. I am so thrilled to have them.
So there you are folks.....my new year catch up. I wish you a very creative year........ If you draw, paint, stitch, quilt, knit, cook, write, make cards, journal, garden or take photographs.......whatever creative pursuits you follow, if you love it, do it with your whole heart....you deserve it!

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx