Race For Life

I'm running the 2008 Race For Life marathon this year. It is to raise money for Cancer Research UK. I'm really excited because I got my running number through the post today. Not long to go now - its held on the 1st June so one week left.

Its something I thought I'd never be able to do but I'm going to give it my best and hopefully I'll get through it! I've been doing some special training at the gym so fingers crossed.

IMT- Doors

I decided to use the most famous door in the UK for inspiration this week. So here are post-victory Mr and Mrs Blair outside Downing Street.

It was based on this photograph of them and did look fairly straight forward to begin with. But I thought it looked a bit boring so I stencilled over it and generally messed it up a bit.

The result is something totally different to what I'd normally come up with so I was quite pleased with it.

Irises

Just finished this painting of some irises. It is an exercise from the book "Creative Watercolour Techniques". I am quite pleased with it, although you can see its nowhere near as good as the one on the cover of the book. I really liked that picture - the vibrant style and unusual techniques. Its what made me pick up the book and I would recommend it if you are looking to try something new with watercolour.

The effects in my Irises painting are achieved with wet in wet painting, masking fluid and salt.

My mum said she liked it and has asked me to do two more so she can hang them in the bathroom. She likes daffodils and poppies so I plan to do those two next.

IMT - Envelope Art

This is a portrait of my penfriend Ina. I immediately thought of her when I saw the "envelope art" theme because she sends me the most beautiful letters all decorated with stickers. She also collects postcards so I've made this one so she can have a really unique one to add to the collection. I painted it on one of those special "draw your own postcard" watercolour papers.

IMT- Rescue, Reuse, Recycle

Catching up with the Inspire Me Thursday art..

I used as inspiration this odd bit of scrap paper on the left. I've been keeping it for ages. I had used it to print off the excess wet paint from a picture at my art class so I could roll it up to take home. It made such weird random prints on the scrap paper that I kept it. One of those things you hang on to with a vague idea to use "one day".

Anyway the IMT challenge inspired me to dig it out and reuse it. So I added lots and lots of paints & pastel and made a colorful random design following the suggestions of the marks already on the page. I used the paint thing to brighten it up and make the colours really zing.

IMT - Medical Art

A painting for IMT this week based on a photograph I took in the British Museum of this Preserved Egyptian Man. Kind of related to medical art - I thought it was an interesting and unusual subject for a painting and I really liked the range of colours. Its not finished yet. I will add in some of the background. They reconstructed the grave pit in the museum with various items he may have been buried with - so I'll include those too eventually.

I've been really busy these last couple of weeks and have got a bit behind with IMT. I am working on something for the "Rescue, reuse and recycle" and "Envelope art" themes so I'll post when they are finished.

Best Wishes Everyone.

Team Harry Round Two (Revenge of the Hamsters)

Thank you everyone for your support of Team Harry in the Your Pet v My Pet. He won round one with 51% of the vote. Just snatching victory from the little pink paws of Honey the Hamster.
Almost beyond belief in round two he was up a against another ginger hamster called Honey! Poor boy - Harry is going to grow up with a serious complex about ginger hamsters!
Oh dear Harry lost out to Honey in the second round. Don't underestimate the power of the "caramel" hamster.

Good luck to Honey in the next round. She (?) is up against a dog called Baba who likes to lick the couch.

How we love our crazy pets.

http://www.orange.co.uk/communicate/galleries/mypetvyourpet/pics/2091_8.htm?linkfrom=communicate_galleries_mypetvyourpet_pics_2091_7&link=link_next&article=mypetvyourpet