Eye candy from the books in the art shop

I was rather naughty taking these photo's of the art books in the art shop but I simply can't afford any more books, no money and no space in my suitcase:(

I couldn't resist these images though, they're so beautiful and so wonderfully painted, nihonga style I think.

I will probably go back to the shop and buy the book anyway!

xxx

New work in progress

A short and hopefully sweet post to share with you what I'm currently working on. The first two pics are of the Tanabata festival held here in Japan during July, the festival centres around the tale of star crossed lovers who get turned into stars separated by the milky way and can only see each other once a year. The temples and streets are very colourful at this time as children make brightly coloured banners and write their wishes on strips of paper that are then tied to a bamboo branch.

The first picture, which I'm tentatively calling Autumn Girl, is a spontaneous, unplanned painting which, if I'm honest, I'm not sure what to do with next! Any suggestions?

xxx

Making progress

My work in progress has progressed a little!

The picture of Martha Wainwright was inspired by a competition she was running to design a t-shirt for her tour (the image of her is from her latest album - I know you're married but I have feelings too). I just haven't had the time to get it done by the deadline though and it's still not finished so I'm just enjoying coming up with different ideas for it and having a play around. It'a a very sexy pose!

The other painting has gone through a few changes with regard to colour, it started off being quite bright and I've kept toning it down until I was happy with it, which I now am:) xx

Tea and cake - two of my favourite things

Just a quickie to share some more of my older work with you, a theme very close to my heart (and tastebuds), cakes, yummmm!!

They are all painted on good quality watercolour paper using acrylics, sometimes I add some soft pastel and bits of collage paper (usually pretty washi paper from Japan). The first 2 pics are almost A1 in size and the long thin one is about a metre and a half long, it took me ages but it's one of my favourites, I was really happy with the colours. xx