The more you see

Not long ago I had an opportunity to do some painting from photographic reference, supporting a friend who needed some work done at her direction, a specific short project with particular parameters about what and how it should be completed.  Here is one I did of hay bales, apparently they were photographed in France.  Below are some snaps showing how this developed in the course of the day.  This was worked in acrylics on a framed canvas of about 76 x 51 cm (approx).

The project took one short painting day.  From about 10AM to a  hard stop at 230P, to pack up and then head out for a late afternoon/evening work shift of appointments and meetings.  Perhaps it looks easier than it really is.  In fact, (for me, still) it requires good concentration and discipline to complete something like this in a day.  But I can do it, and I keep an eye every so often on where I am in my work, so I can keep a good pace and adjust if need be to bring things in, completed and on time.   This particular day was quite cold, so I worked all day wearing my old fave barn coat (yes, it does have paint splodged on it, not the first time it's happened !).  Note to self:  wear warmer foot wear next time, maybe the hiking boots !!

I still think it is funny that the big hay bale here is facing straight at the viewer, while the ones in the background are at a slight angle, along the curved furrows seen in the pasture scene.  But that is how the photo reference composition had it, so my painting reflects it.  As before when I painted hay bales, they look So Easy.  But I can tell you, there is a bit more to them than one thinks.  You might be surprised to learn that the big hay bale in the foreground got a fair bit of attention, to give it more dimension, more life, and richer colour.  Possibly an hour of the total work session ?  I probably could have worked all afternoon on just it !

The more you look, the more you see.  A lesson to consider and contemplate.  Still, it is good practice to work with discipline and to a time table.  Overworking a painting is the enemy of a fresh result.  All in all, I am happy with these hay bales.

Dinner & Dessert

Its winter here and I have been trying out some new recipes.

First, here is a stunning accompaniment to wintry meats and stews.  Brussels sprouts have been on sale locally and look fabulous.  Cut in half and stir fried in a bit of olive oil and then caramelised with a tablespoon of vinocotto and a tablespoon of low sodium soy sauce, they are outstanding.  Serve with freshly cracked pepper.

brussels sprouts cooked in vinocotto
and low sodium soy sauce

If you haven't heard of or used vinocotto, check this link out for more info.  (You can find other links and info on line too, I just picked one to get you started !)  It is fabulous stuff and very versatile.  I hear it makes a fantastic glaze for salmon or fish.  I can vouch for it being excellent on baked fruit too--yum !  Well worth investigation and experimentation.

And a new dessert.  A cranberry upside down cake.  At the bottom of the pie-shaped glass baking dish I used frozen cranberries, with a layer of crunchy pecans over them.  And then a butter based batter gets poured over all that.  The same concept as a pineapple upside down cake.  Bake it up and when done, turn over and release from the baking dish.  It was really lovely, and served up deliciously with vanilla ice cream !

cranberry upside down cake, a stunner  and delicious !

Happy eating !  (me, I am doing my best to stay warm, but not gain weight over the winter time.  It is taking getting myself out in the chill to work out.  So far so good !)

Next Post:   a new painting exercise.

Oxford Day Trip -- Annie Sloan's shop

Well, sorry to be so long to post since last time.  The time since returning home from the latest biz travel has positively been a blur.  I arrived on a Monday, the worst possible arrival day, because it means longest time until I get a really good rest to recover from jet lag.  And the weeks have been busy.  But here I am, closing June with an update post on what I have been up to.

I was in the UK at beginning of June and courtesy my good friend Luk, I got a lift on Saturday morning from Farnborough to Oxford.  I have never been to Oxford before.  I was keen to see the city, and also was seeking a particular shop there, Annie Sloan Interiors.  To learn more about the shop and also the awesome paint products Annie Sloan has created and sells.  These aren't yet available in Australia, but since I was close enough to go visit her shop and learn more, I thought, why not.  And such a great excuse for a lovely Saturday day trip.

It was a bit of a cloudy day, with a bit of drizzle.  But everything everywhere in Oxford and the whole country was festively dressed up for the Diamond Jubilee weekend and all about were in high spirits.  We found the Annie Sloan store without much trouble.  And had a lovely time checking it out.  Annie Sloan sells 'The Best Paint in the World' and I am so keen to try it out.  I did not buy it all there, because I knew the next day I would fly to Washington DC and I planned to get some at a stockist there, near where I used to live in Falls Church City (Stylish Patina on West Broad Street).  But I did buy some samples of a new colour I read on the Annie Sloan website had not been launched in America yet.  Stunning dark green colour called Florence.  I saw a photo posted online of small table that she painted in Florence with dark wax (follow link to check out the table).  And I fell in love with this colour.  And that little table was in the shop--Gorgeous, gorgeous !!


The shop was absolutely charming.  A small shop, but chock full of lovely displays of paints, fabrics, and painted items.   I really loved their patriotic displays, buntings for the jubilee and a stunning dresser painted in a union jack motif.  While there, I met and talked with Annie's husband David, who was really lovely to meet.  I bought also a number of the paint brushes for sale and the last wax brush the store had on hand at the time.  And a book. And a number of Annie Sloan fabrics.  Wow, I did pretty well out of this !

 I had a great day in Oxford and looked around in the High Street and eventually walked myself back to the train station.  I bought a ticket back to Farnborough and that evening had a nice dinner in the Aviator Hotel where I was staying (highly recommend this, nice place !!).  Spent time enjoying a glass of red and making notes on the inspirations I had gathered on my day trip.

Snapping forward in time.  In Falls Church Virginia (outside Washington DC), I called in at Stylish Patina, to buy up some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint samples.  Owner Kelly later in the week helped me, filling an order for more paint and wax, which was shipped to my parents home in Nevada, to await me after my business meetings.  I also was very pleased to have an opportunity when I was in New Orleans to meet the proprietors of Annie Sloan Unfolded--Lisa, Scott and Jason.  (I was looking forward to learn more about when the product will be available in Australia !)  By the time I got to Nevada, Kelly's shipment had arrived in time for me to pack it into my checked bags, to bring it home to Australia.  I was really wanting to try it all out on some timber furniture and learn how well it works to paint it...just like all the rave reviews about using this paint that I have read on HEAPS of blogs, (especially USA bloggers, who can actually get their hands on the product) !

The Rest of the Story.  Trust me--don't bother trying to take the wax back in your checked bags.  TSA removed it.  At the first opportunity after I checked the bag.  And left a note in the bag, chiding me for my folly.  What about the tins of paint you ask ?  Well, these did make it through.  And so did all the sample jars I bought from Stylish Patina in Falls Church and Annie Sloan's in Oxford.  Though, TSA did open the big tins of paint packed in my bag.  And managed to mangle the cans (not sure what happened there--did these get put on some machinery to test them ?!).  But thankfully, the were not punctured and did not leak, and it seems TSA was kind enough to tape them up (a lot !) before putting back in the bag.  They just did not look as nice as when I got them in Nevada from Kelly's shipping.  But the paint is OK (the important bit).

Do Stay Tuned.  I will be painting up colour charts with the 10 or so colours of sample pots and tins I managed to get into Australia in my checked bags !  And !! I will be painting some furniture, plus an AMAZING vintage metal bird cage I got this week at a country auction, for a song (if I told you, you wouldn't believe the price.  Truly.  An amazing find).  All subjects for another post.  As you read about my journey into creative ventures, maybe not all paintings.  But yes and yet--all part of the same journey I am on.  Hoping you will check in time to time and see where it takes me and what I am up to :)