Monday, October 31, 2011

Mrs. Moody .....

Meet  Mrs.  Moody.  I have always loved Lynne Hoppes art work,  particulary her faces (portraiture).  Recently she had a tutorial on her blog (sept. 20th) to explain the process she uses to create these wonderful characters of hers.  I've been meaning to have a play and today was the day!!! 
Lynne uses mixture of pencils, oil pastels, gouache, watercolor and many other mediums (she's very brave) and she very generously explained exactly what we needed.
Back in 2009 I was in an altered book Round Robin.  I found an old book,  "The Greatest Thing in the World" by  Henry Drummond and sent if off.  The problem was there were only four of us participating in the RR,  so there were still MANY empty pages.  I decided this book was perfect for me to practice faces.
Mrs. Moody came about due to a reference on the page I used  of the 'Messrs. Moody '....  
Lots more practice needed,  but I loved incorporating the oil pastel, gouache, watercolours etc.  Lots of fun, smooshing them around, smearing and generally having fun... thanks Lynne.http://lynnehoppe.blogspot.com/

Mrs. Moody. (click to enlarge)

I have been haunting the Opportunity Shops (charity shops) lately too.  Finding some old books and fabrics.  A couple of weeks ago I found this lovely still life painting.....I am quite taken with still life.  Of course I had to buy it ($50).  I just love it and have it hanging in my bedroom.  I think it will be in the lounge room soon, where I can see more of it.  It is oil on hardboard by Ellen Mileo (1934-2006)  a real TREASURE for me.  I am trying to find out a bit about the artist.



"Cyclamen and pomegranates"  by Ellen Mileo (oil on hardboard)

I have been doing some crochet too.  I've been enjoying crocheting this scarf for a friend of mine ...arent the colours glorious.  They make you happy ....and it is coming along quickly as I'm always wanting to get to the next colour in the variegated ball of yarn.

crocheted scarf.

Thats all for the moment.  I know I've been away from my blog for a while, family commitments make it hard sometimes,  but I am still quietly creating when I have the time.  It's great therapy.

BE  SILLY
BE  HONEST
BE  KIND

Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Bye for now,

JACKY  XOX

22 comments:

Hoola Tallulah said...

I love Mrs Moody! I am going to have a read of the tutorial, it sounds fascnating. The Ellen Mileo painting is beautiful, what a find! Also, I had no idea you could crochet Jacky, you sneaky sneak, looking forward to seeing he completed scarf, that yarn is gorgeous. Big love to you xx

ArtPropelled said...

Lovely to see a new post and meet Mrs. Moody. No wonder you are excited about your new painting by Ellen Mileo. What a lucky find!Love the glorious beginnings of your happy scarf too.

Ro Bruhn said...

Love Mrs Moody, I hope we get to see her Saturday, love the scarf too, the colours are awesome.

Sharon Tomlinson said...

Hi Jacky, Mrs Moody is so lovely. I remember Lynne's generous tutorial and you nailed it. Also really like the page you painted on that informed you who she is. I would have been drawn to the beautiful still life too as well as the beautiful ball of yarn you are using. Thanks for sharing all.

A bird in the hand said...

Hello Mrs. Moody!
Lynne is amazing. I follow her blog too and have learned so much from her.
cheers, colette

Caterina Giglio said...

nice to meet you mrs moody... glad to know you are still quietly creating.. duty does call doesn't it? x

Nat Palaskas said...

Mrs Moody is superb, good job Jacky!
What an incredible find of still life painting. You got me thinking that, I have to look at paintings when I next hit the opshops. Good to see you posing again - Hugs Nat

Peggy said...

Jacky, she's wonderful! And your scarf is just lovely -- how fun to use that cool yarn. You've been busy!

Robin Olsen said...

Mrs. Moody is lovely. I see Lynne's influence, but she is definitely your own person. Great score on that still life. I really like them too and would have been thrilled to find that one.

lynne h said...

hey! well i was sure surprised to see my name here!! thank you, jacky. you are always so kind and generous...

and mrs. moody is gorgeous! she's very sophisticated, i think. but not worldly. she has a deep inner life.

have you enjoyed the prismacolors or even had a chance to try them out?

love you,

me

p.s. i have been crocheting too

Penny Berens said...

Oh, those colours! In the sixties I painted a chest of drawers purple, orange and pink!

Elizabeth said...

Mrs Moody is fabulous!!!! I love her placid calm expression!! The colors of your scarf are glorious !! Love your painting- love thrifting and I did a whole day of it yesterday- found tons of clothes made of silk gauze- nuno felting collage coming up soon for me!!! happy Stitching Mz JAcky!!!

henrietta (aka ani aka zani) said...

Lynne Hoppe has a definitely a unique hand and I'm always so fascinated by her postings. There is something so quiet, mysterious and engaging with her characters. You really want to know their stories. Beautiful interpretation of the process. Congrats. Keep it going.

deanna7trees said...

you did a great job with Mrs. Moody. thanks for the link to the tutorial...maybe someday I'll have time to try it. and just love the yarn for your crocheted scarf. I, too, love working with variegated yarns and threads because there is always a new color to look forward to.

Linda Vincent said...

Hello Jacky...I'm back for a blog catch-up! Your painting has a lovely quality to it; I will go and follow the link after this. As for that wool....wow! I love it! Must go and Google 'variegated wool'... ;-)
XX

Gaye Todd said...

Love love love mrs moody :D and the scarf looks fabulous. Is it a simple pattern? I also love your op shop find - cant wait to hit the op shops with you again. xo
Ps email on its way this weekend....

MulticoloredPieces said...

Hi, Jacky. Very enjoyable post with so much variety. The scarf yarn is so pleasing--makes me want to find my crochet hooks or knitting needles and do the same. The altered book portrait is lovely and thanks for the link. And your treasure-hunting efforts have been rewarded by your still life--very beautiful. I love still lifes too.
best, nadia

angela recada said...

I am a bit jealous f Mr.s Moody's elegant long neck and perfect eyebrows! She is gorgeous, Jacky!

The still-life you found is a real treasure, too. I can see why you had to have it. It's lovely!

And now that I see all your lovely yarns, I feel the need to pull out my crochet needles again, too. I love the colors of your scarf. That purple is heavenly.
xoxoxo

angela recada said...

Argh! "f" should have been "of" and "Mr.s" should have been "Mrs." - of course!
:0)

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Moody is marvelous...she looks as though nonsense will not be tolerated. and i know the thrill of variegated yarn- this one is an explosion of happy colors.

Karen said...

I love your face Jacky, it is so beautiful......(the painted one is amazing too!!)....just realised how the first sentence reads!!

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Ellen Mileo was an artist from melbourne who didn't start focusing on her art till later in life, (her 50's I think). She had very close ties with the studio gallery at 69 Smith st, Collingwood. I had the great privelege of knowing her and her husband Tony in the early 2000's. She had unfortunately been affected by stroke, but we would sit together and she tutor me on all aspects of life. I was learning about photography and we would compose stills together. My favourite is much like your painting. Before she passed away she touched my life in a very magical way. The generosity she and her husband shared with me are often in my mind. Especially when I see her paintings, like the one you have shared. That's a pretty precious thing that you have on your bedroom wall! Much Love and thanks for sharing!!!