Make much of time

A little dabbling in the watercolour arena over the last weeks and look what I come up with - Make much of time.
What am I trying to tell myself? Make plans , prepare for the future, organize oneself and my life so it perhaps is a little more fulfilling and fruitful ??

The basis of this picture came about whilst looking through some tapestry books. It's  a combination of traditional pattern of the tree evolving from the pot and mirrored patterning each side.

The next picture was inspired when  I saw a pillow on the front cover of Country Style magazine , a floral bouquet. I still like the pillow more but it was a fun exercise in colour

Floral Vine

I decided to continue painting last night after the sea urchin although it was getting late, just so that I could try out the acrylic inks. I made a conscious decision that I would apply the inks no matter what. I'm always a little chicken when venturing into the unknown. Not knowing whether you are going to destroy the basis of your work in one quick brush stroke.

Pre acyrilic ink - watercolour

 A dash of ink, with flash on the camera

 No flash

In daylight the colours probably match half way between.

I have to work this afternoon so no painting this evening. I am going to go and iron my naturally dyed calico- it was dyed in the berry bath and is a mushroom pink/ brown. Thought I'd do a spot of printing in the next few days. I bought some white printing ink and have black and red already. I also have a  lino cut that  I mad at least a year ago and have never printed with it. See what happens.
Well I'm off to iron, at least its the kind of ironing that you don't mind - all for creative purposes.
Have a fun filled day!

Floral Foray and Sea Urchins

Last night I left off somewhere around here

And have progressed to this. I am unsure as whether to leave it at this or venture into colouring the background to fill the open spaces of white. Sometimes it is best to leave things alone but then again nothing ventured nothing gained. Maybe I should crack opened those acrylic inks that I have bought. I really am enjoying the colour play. Leave it for now and think about it.

Not too bad for a rusty old boiler , if I do say so myself.  Room for improvement but I'm not totally displeased.
On to the next adventure. I was looking at some ocean animals and the sea urchin caught my eye.
My interpretation is leaning to a more floral display, but often the ocean bed is really just a beautiful watery garden.
I asked my daughter Jordana to do a quick cut and paste with the painting and image repeat three times, a little like tiling

Don't you just love cropping out the rubbish but sometimes the whole picture is worth a view too.

Colour At Random Play - CARP

A night at work and I was still excited to get in and muck around with my watercolours when I arrived home. I popped myself on my bed and decided to give a whirl at colouring a carp in the Japanese style. I suppose giant goldfishes could be considered to be a member of the carp family.

I used Kaffe Fassett's Needlepoint Source Book: Glorious Inspiration  for just that, inspiration!

This is actually tattoo art on a mans' chest - Carp from The Japanese Tattoo by Sandi Fellman 1986.

I am now starting on a floral splash of colour inspired by one of Kaffes tapestry chairs.

Red Chair , needlepoint Kaffe Fassett 1989

Here's a progressive photo shoot with my  phone camera so some of the photography is a bit blue but beggars can't be choosers. I just have to wait until my birthday for a new camera.

Back to play time and colour fun. Show you the finished product tomorrow