Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Angels everywhere .......

Christmas is coming......  it always creeps up on me too quickly and I am rushing about, trying to get things finished (that I thought I had plenty of time to do!!!).  But I do LOVE Christmas.
Each year lately I have been doing a painting/drawing to make my own Christmas Cards.  This year I did this Angel in watercolours and gouache (you can click for a closer look) .... she will grace my cards this year and I have had her framed for a Christmas exhibition my local art group are having during December.
There seem to be Angels everywhere at this time of year.  Pop over to Dee Mallons blog and see her latest cloth and the wonderful Angel that has appeared......



Last month I did a pastel portrait workshop with Agata Lelek.....I felt very challenged as I dont work with pastel and I am definately not a portrait painter/artist.  I love naive, folk style art. 
I really enjoyed this workshop .  We chose a picture/photo from a group that Agata supplied and then she taught us her technique of putting down the pastel with a cloth and lifting off with a kneadable eraser to make the picture appear.
Believe it or not,  the portrait below was from a picture of Charlotte Johansen in the movie "Girl with a Pearl Earring".  I know there's not much a resemblance,  but I was pleased with my picture and would love to do more with Agata...she's a wonderful teacher.
 
Talk about a Jack of all trades and master of none......  next..... below is a cloth I began a couple of years ago with Jude Hill.  I never completed it,  wasnt happy with certain elements, especially the little houses.  But, after seeing some of Dee's  cloths,  I thought I might get it out again,  pin it up for a while and get some ideas brewing as to where I might go with this cloth.

 
A page from my daily journal (which as you know I dont do daily entries....I'm not disciplined enough,  but I still call it my daily journal???).  I do love to record quotes I come across,  words of wisdom, little anecdotes etc.  from blogs I read and I love to have a play around with my little travel watercolour set.  I never work on pages in a chronological order....often randomly stick something down or paint so that I come across it further into my journal...like this little owl.  Elements of him were used for a linocut I did earlier this year.  And now here we are in November I came across him again...that made me smile.  I might even do come more work on him?


Some days when I look out my kitchen window I just have to grab my camera and capture the colours, the wedges of colour.... paddock, trees, sunlight, mountain range, sky ... this was after a storm recently and the sunlight on the land behind the trees looked amazing,  was just glowing.  The photo doesnt do it justice,  but it reminds me of that warm glow.



LIFE ISN'T ABOUT
FINDING
YOURSELF.
LIFE IS ABOUT
CREATING
YOURSELF.
 
-UNKNOWN-

Take care of yourself in this weeks coming up to Christmas.

Jacky xox

21 comments:

deanna7trees said...

you've been busy. love your angel and you did really well with the drawing. i'm taking a watercolor zen class online and i've been enjoying it even though i'm not very good at it. and i've been following along with dee's houses. isn't it great how we can inspire each other to keep going. wishing you a wonderful holiday season.

lynne h said...

oh jacky! this angel! yes, that blue is perfect!! i just love everything about her... i think that you can expect a card company to be contacting you to design cards for them. : ) i also think your pastel drawing is fabulous. such wonderful shading... *everything* here is just beautiful and soulful...

love...

Unknown said...

I laughed when you wrote 'a Jack of all trades and master of none' that is how feel as well but never could put into words LOL! However you are a master! What a glorious angel!! I like everything you've posted! Bravo

kathyd said...

jacky i agree with lynne . this angel is outstanding . thank you so much for sharing . i love that house piece you did in jude's class .i really thought it was cool . i love your owl too .
i agree about christmas ... here too soon . i hope you have a wonderful one .
xxoo
kathyd

Jenny said...

Oh Jacky... your angel is stunning... what beautiful cards they will be... and I LOVE your portrait... sounds like a fabulous class... your little owl is the sweetest too... yes... would love to catch up next year... that would be lovely...

Jenny ♥

Nat Palaskas said...

Good to read your dabbling on about your art and daily life. You sound so much like me with the bit about 'Jack of all trades and master of none'. As long as you enjoy whatever you do that important. Love love your Angel, pink on blue oh, beautiful - Hugs from Nat

Dot said...

Aagh... I just wrote a long comment and blogger gobbled it up! Here I go again :).
Gorgeous post Jacky. Your angel is beautiful - you do folksy art so well.
Your pastel drawing is incredible, Beautiful shading. And the cloth is special too. Loved seeing your owl journal page - are the same travel watercolors I gave you last year?
Hope you are staying cool over there.
Dot xx

Ro Bruhn said...

Wow Jacky your card last year was fabulous and I think this one's even better, your angel is gorgeous. Your pastel portrait is great too and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with your cloth. We must catch up before Christmas. Ro xo

Gwen Buchanan said...

Amazing portrait Jacky... Love it!! and your view is so expansive, like a dream.

Gwen Buchanan said...

And your Angel is heavenly!!!

angela recada said...

I LOVE your angel, your portrait, your stitching and your view from your kitchen window! xo

Rachel said...

It does seem that Christmas has snuck up on us this year, but you've made a great start with your angel for Christmas cards!

jude said...

maybe a master of many. the drawing is glorious!

Peggy said...

Oh Jacky, this is all so, so wonderful. You are an amazing artist!! -- your angel is lovely. I don't know how you manage to do everything, but I sense your joy and love in all of these. Beautiful. Have a great weekend. xoxo

Pat said...

Jacky, I think everything you've done here is wonderful, but I especially like your cloth with the houses. I think it's good to put things away when they don't seem to be working and then pull them out later and look at them with fresh eyes and a new perspective. It usually works for me.

Philippa said...

Hi Jacky - Your angel is wonderful! I'm sure your friends will be delighted to get such a special Christmas card. And I love your owl too - but check out the one at my house!!!

Mary Stanley said...

Love the beautiful angel!! You are amazing!
The spirit cloth is softly colorful and wonderful, glad you brought it out again for us to enjoy. Great owl too! Lovely post...so much to take in...thanks, Jacky!

Zorana said...

You are Jack of all trades and master of them all too. The angel is perfect! It's the prettiest card I've seen in long time. I am fascinated by the portrait you made. Such beautiful shading. You can do it all! It's a joy to read your posts. xo

Kim Henkel Creations said...

All beautiful Jacky! Your Christmas card - just perfect! Your pastel drawing - amazing! patchwork cloth - so yummy! and the daily journal - what fun and the scenery - enchanting. I too love being a jack of all trade and master of none. It keeps me happy and for me that is what creating is about!

karen said...

Oh Jacky, Christmas has crept up on me too! It always does.....there is so much gorgeous stuff to look at in this post. Your angel is divine and I love your sketch. The piece you started with Jude is worthy of more attention, it is so very delicate.

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