Samhain sketches (again)

I’m still running with the theme and the sketchbook is almost full.

Mild December Days

Its been incredibly mild this month.

And days out lead to some good photo opportunities.

Walk from home looking back across to the Cheviots as dusk falls.

A trip to Lindisfarne on a Rum hunt.
Watching the boats in the harbour, sitting on the steps and pulling ropes.
Waving to a friend on the opposite shore. 

Me and my boy.
Love him to bits. 

The treat after our walk.

Warkworth at dusk on the way back from the County Archives.

Sunset over Simonside.

Kitchen Progress...

….Has halted for the holidays but going well so far.

One dresser repainted and new knobs!
PINK knobs.  Oh!

Tree and new baubles.
Richard thinks we have a gothic tree.
All black, copper and silver.
With just a hint of deep and bright colours in acorns (can you see the magenta one at the top?)
I love it. 

My new seat and rug, with the newly painted side table. 
Perfect for one person and a magazine.

 

Winter Stag under a Red Moon

Winter Stag under a Red Moon

Christmas Night

Hope you have all had a wonderful day xxx

Time to relax with something smooth and warming, cheers. 

Calling the Moon

Another quick sketch for Samhain

The Horned Goddess

Witches.....

Sketches for Samhain

When the veil between the past and present opens

A time of death.

Sacrifice of the Winter King.

 

Past and present exist as one.

Happy Yule!

When the Wheel of the Year turns from Dark to Light.

The return and rebirth of the sun.

Winter Solstice Greetings!

This is the most important time of the year for me.  As an artist and photographer I work with light…. and when the hours of light are so restricted I find my working days are short (it will be dark here by 3.30pm).  I miss it so much.

I truly believe this would have been the most important celebration for our ancestors.  
NOT midsummer - thats the DEATH of the sun as darkness takes over.

The Winter solstice is all about rebirth, hope for the future, the return of warmth and bright sunlight. 

May your next year be happy, warm and bright with your hopes and dreams fulfilled.

Samhain sketches for #NaSkeFiMo

Samhain

When the past and present worlds collide.

The veil between the worlds is thin.

Ancestor worship.

When the Witches fly.

 

(Yes I know today is SOLSTICE, more about that later today)

 

The last Mabon / Autumn Sketch

My wild, windswept tree.  
Diamine inks, pastel pencils, heat distressed copper sheets.

I love this one, good way to end this section.

 

Slow stitching

Working on a new piece…. but don’t want to reveal too much about it, nor the project as a whole just yet.

This one needs to be kept to myself for a while.
Maybe 12 months or more.

I have an idea.  It’s a good one….(I think). 
But I want (and need) to reveal at an exhibition, not before.

No, there is no date yet, nor a venue.

This makes it hard for me to blog sometimes, I want to show you everything I’m working on.

 

I will show you work based and around the Hare and I will show you my painting and sketching.  
#NaSkeFiMo (National Sketchbook filling Month) has expanded into December (and possibly beyond).

I worked through some Mabon / Autumn ideas and now its time for Samhain, so I’ll post those over the next few days.

I know you’ll understand.

 

Then another frost

Jack Frost was doing his thing, lovely hairy frost.  
The type that glitters as you walk past.

Has meant lots of layering up, gloves and huggingly by the heaters in the studio.

Sunlight through our beech trees.

Frozen hips of Rosa Rugosa.

Frozen candelabra in the border.

Has also resulted in a much needed tidy up.
When I got too cold I put loud 80’s anthems on and danced around.

After the storm

All the leaves have gone from the trees now.    

Autumn is glorious in Northumberland, only lasts for a few weeks and then a good gust of wind sends all the leaves tumbling down in one night.

Leaves floating in a puddle in a waterlogged field.

Colours

Make my heart sing

After the frost...

Came the rain

Thats not a river, thats a field on the left.
In theory anyway. 

Intuitive Painting

Years ago I took an online course by Flora Bowley.  I love her style of painting but haven’t indulged for a while.
I should really, I have several half painted canvases.  

It’s still very difficult to get motivated to do anything much and I know other people should not affect your life and motivation, unfortunately with me they do.  But anyway….

 These are in my kitchen, two tables and a loo seat.  
I hadn’t planned for them to be so brightly coloured, but against the mainly white walls they look wonderful.  
The one dark blue wall sets off the long table perfectly, though this won’t be it’s final resting place. 
Still lots of restructuring to do moving sinks etc. 

 

Hares and Swallows with Cherry Blossom and a Lotus.

 

#NaSkeFiMo

 

National Sketchbook Filling Month is progressing well, though next year I’ll use a thinner book! (and one with paper that isn’t cream - discovered I like white, and isn’t so “slippery”).  All a learning curve

 

Beauty in Brrr......

Has been very cold here and that means the garden has been looking beautiful.

Love that low winter sun through those trees.

November challenges

 

Do you feel a little like hibernating?

I do.  It’s a challenge just getting up and getting on with anything.

 Only with coffee, not tea.

 

I’m eating far too much chocolate, drinking too much coffee and reading far too much.
Is that all possible?   Can you do too much of those?
 

And did you know its….

The international aim is to write 50,000 words in a month.
I’ve set myself a goal of 25,000 as I discovered it late and didn’t get prep time in October.
I’m also enjoying.
 

Why not join us on Facebook?

 

 

 

#inktober /6