'Sweet Dreams' 2011 pastel 20.5cm x 20.5cm

My latest painting just finished this week.

Kittens are such gorgeous cuddly little things especially when they grow up together. They play hard and fast then fall over in exhausted sleep so this pastel painting was very reminiscent of the time when I fostered kittens. They always looked so snuggly and content asleep so I hope I've captured the mood in this painting.

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Maudy's egg



Maudy's speckled egg

At last Maudy has given us an egg, such a tiny thing with delicate speckles that I can hardly bear to think of eating it. She made such a fuss in the chook house yesterday so I knew something special had happened. When I looked there it was sitting next to the egg Sage gives us every day that is almost twice the size. Perhaps Maudy will always give us these dear little ones because there was another one in the hay today. She seemed so proud of herself and even allowed me to hold her for a while. Being very shy I'm trying to build her confidence so she's not so nervous and already she seems calmer around me, not so nervous happily scratching around my feet.

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Can I be more painterly ?

Most artists get to the stage of wanting their work to look more painterly, well I do and there is, of course, no 'magical' way to suddenly loosen up the way you work. Like everything else in painting it's a goal you have to work at, but one that is achievable through practice and persistence so here are some interesting tips I found to help you on your way to that loose and spontaneous style so many of us aspire to.
Tip 1. Use the 'wrong' hand:If you're left-handed, put your brush in your right hand, and if you're right-handed, put it in your left. It'll feel awkward and you won't be able to paint as precisely as you can with your dominant hand. This lack of co-ordination also means that you can't get into that automatic paint mode where your brain says "I know what an apple [for example] looks like" and you paint an idealistic apple rather than the one in front of you.
Tip 2. Work in the dark:Well, not complete darkness, but in reduced light where you can't see every last bit of detail. Try lighting a still-life with a strong lamp from one side (oblique light). Or if you can't change the light, squint your eyes so the lights and darks in your subject become stronger.
Tip 3. Leave stuff out: This works for me as I'm a 'minimal' artist anyway, preferring to tell a story with the least amount of detail I can get away with.
Our brains are quite adept at filling in missing details, so you needn't put down every single thing. Take a long hard look at your subject, trying to decide which are the essential bits. Put down these only, and then decide whether you want more detail or not. You'll be surprised at how little is necessary to capture the essence of something.
Tip 4. Don't paint outlines: This is a powerful tip to remember and can go a long way to helping you create the 'loose' look.
Objects are three-dimensional, they don't have outlines. If you're unsure about this, look at your body and see if you've got an outline or if you're 3-D. You do have an 'edge' when you look at e.g. your leg, but as you move, so this changes. Instead of drawing an outline (or painting one) and then filling it in, paint the object as a whole.
Tip 5. Let the paint drip:Load your brush with lots of dripping color and let it run down the surface of your painting as you apply it to the 'right' place. Don't tidy up the drips. They add a fluidity.

Are chooks stupid ?

Onion & Christine foraging for worms



 A few days ago when I checked the nesting box I was stunned to see three eggs in the hay so now I know that only one of the chooks has yet to perform ! I suspect it's shy Maudy. Perhaps it's only coincidence but that same morning they were accidentally shut in their quarters until I opened the door for them amid a lot of noisy complaining. Snakes and goannas are a threat so we decided to shut them at night to avoid an attack but they do start to get very vocal especially when they know I'm about. The free ranging experiment has it's drawbacks too. The neighbours rang us concerned because the chooks were at their place on the driveway and clucking loudly when the car horn sounded to get them out of the way, so it seems a better idea to let them out for a shorter time later in the day so they don't have time to wander far before they start to think about roosting for the night. They really are very knowing animals and not at all deserving of the reputation for being stupid. As far as I can see they are pretty smart and learn very fast. They respond to my voice and come when I call them and Onion will follow me to watch whatever I'm doing with a very inquisitive air. Sage actually opened the door of the chook house one morning by picking away at the bolt so to think they are 'bird brained' seems an unfair assessment.
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