OK, I am on a bit of a roll and all these ideas that have been buzzing in my mind are finally being put down on paper. There are a LOT more to go yet though.

a few drawings

I have been doing lots of sketching and drawing during the last couple of days. I am creating some illustrations because I have got another little project up my sleeve....which I will divulge a little later. Therefore, my blogging will have to take a back seat for the next few days whilst I am busy compiling my next set of illustrations.

The strange, funny faces that I drew and coloured, in the photo above were inspired from a mural that I saw. I would like to do something like this on a childs bedroom wall.......but probably not so many scary faces.

london stencil

I think that a London skyline stencil would be good for the Olympics mural.

London olympics mural, stencils.

Using my projector, I enlarged these two images, drew them onto card and then cut them out using a craft knife. I had to simplify the images so the stencil would work. The pupils who will be doing the mural with me can use a sponge and acrylic paint to apply the images.

Olympic mural idea

Here is another idea for part of the Mural that I will be doing with Pupils from a school in Woodhouse Eaves. I created a stencil of a cyclist and sponged the outline in black paint. I stuck pieces of a map and coloured tissue paper onto it, just to add a bit of colour and texture.

I am so lucky

Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire, Eng.

Jessie in Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire.

Cascais, Portugal.

Cascais, Portugal.

On days like today,with the sun out, blue sky all around and only my dog, Jessie and me walking together, I could keep going for miles. I listen to the birds, study the colours and textures of the trees and bushes. I turn around and glance back at the village in the distance with the quaint old church and I think how lucky I am to have such a good companion to walk with and to have the time to be able to completely relax and appreciate such beauty and tranquility.

My mind wonders back to a year and a half ago, when I walked daily with my dog in Portugal. Of course, it was hotter and my surroundings were different but also very beautiful. Its a great feeling to remember the positive aspects of anything that has happened in the past, and for me, the beauty of Portugal will stay with me forever.

London Olympics Mural

I have been commissioned by the local National Association Of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies, to do a short art workshp with pupils from a school in Woodhaouse Eaves. The theme is the London Olympics. The workshop will be in July, therefore I am planning the mural all ready by designing and cutting stencils as one of the options for the pupils to use. I would like them to have the freedom to paint freehand their own design, or use some pictures that I will bring as inspiration. Her are a couple of stencils that I have done. My daughter who is 10 years old used a sponge to apply the paint to the Diving stencil. I also did the same with the Gymnast.

Bright red mirror with butterflies

My daughter chose some pretty wrapping paper which I cut out the butterflies and added them to the frame. I will find a chair or a blanket box next and paint it to match this mirror.

Bright red mirror

This mirror will certainly add a pop of colour to our new house that we are moving to on 24th of March.....less than 3 weeks away. I may even add a few butterflies to this mirror, requested by my daughter, Hollie. I will have a look at some wrapping paper today to see if I can find some butterfly images; simple, bold and modern is what I want.

Bold flower mirror

Spring is here and we have a friend's birthday tomorrow. It is my daughter's friend who will be 11 years old and so I decided that something flowery and bold would be perfect.
I recently bought a few of these Ikea mirrors from a charity shop, and today I painted one of them a pale green. I then cut out some flowers from good quality wrapping paper which I purchased from County Crafts in Melton. Next, I glued them on and finished it with several layers of matt varnish. It is modern, colourful and perfect for a girls room.