Thoughtful Thursday!

Study of young female nude

"Study of young female nude" pencil on hot pressed paper, 14" X 18" by Hilary J. England

Here is an hour long study I did in pencil, of a new model.  The pose was interesting, and I always like new poses to "shake things" up a bit.  I usually don't work in pencil, but I also like using mediums I don't usually use to keep things fresh.

~Enjoy

Getting back into the groove...

"Study of marigolds in a ceramic jar" by Hilary J. England, 2011, 8" x 11" oil on canvas

I haven't been painting much lately, sadly.  I feel like I spend all of my time in hospitals for the last year or so.  This got me down, really down.  It was an effort to even get the basic things done around me, such as getting out of bed after a while, when I would lay there and see my afternoon filled with shuttling kids around to Dr appointments, between Anthony and Noelle.  But, after a couple of weeks of feeling down, the Spring won out, and I picked up my brushes, dusted them and myself off,  and got back to work.

The weather went from 50 to 80 in nearly a day, so the air conditioners will need to be put in soon.  This makes me a little frustrated because that small window of time, perhaps two weeks, (which when I was a kid used to be the entire Spring season) that we all have between freezing temps and blistering heat,  has now passed in the middle of my turmoil, and that was a very productive time for me, because it was one of the only times of year (a few weeks in the Autumn as well) that my studio was completely and blissfully comfortable in terms of temperature.  Now I will have to start sweating it out in there.  Yuck.

Ah well.  I can only go to work and be thankful I actually have a studio nowadays.  For years, I put all three kids into a bedroom, with bunk beds and a crib, and used the other bedroom as my "studio."  Mean?  Not really.  Even after we bought a big house a few years later, when they were young kids and not babies anymore, and they all had their own bedrooms, they still all wound up sleeping in one room anyway.  Funny how that is!

So, enjoy the little study I did of the marigolds.  I had to start somewhere, and I find that painting flowers sometimes is very soothing, because of their texture, and their quiet, transient beauty.  Plus, smelling them is always a bonus!

Hello there!

"Seashell and sand, study 2" by Hilary J England, oil on hardwood panel, 8" x 11"

Why, the sun is shining today--Hello there!  We've missed your bright presence in our area for the last week, so you are a welcome sight and sensation!

I've started doing my preliminaries for my newest painting, and in the meantime, I'd like to leave you with the second study of seashells, to compliment your thoughts of warm weather, summer, the beach, and fun days!

Enjoy♥

Fine Art Registry's Featured Artist of the Month

Hello all!! I have the distinct honor and pleasure of being Fine Art Registry's Artist of the Month--you can read the article they did about me and my work at:

www.fineartregistry.com


I'm very flattered that they chose me, and I look forward to producing more artwork for sale and for print release, for my collectors.

New Link

Link

New Painting

"Lilies and Wood" Oil on Canvas, 12" by 16".

This painting was done in studio from a pink lily I picked from my garden. I am enchanted by the array of colors and sensory pleasure that flowers give...I arranged this mature bloom on an old work bench, since the contrast of textures was interesting to me--the stark simplicity of the wood, and the velvet softness of the lily. I perched the flower in an antique porcelain vase for a neutral yet elegant vehicle to showcase the two opposing elements. I utilized a limited palette of only burnt sienna, french ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, alizarin crimson and white, thinned by a mixture of 1/2 and 1/2linseed and turpentine to create this painting.

Time to work on my next summer flower--the sunflower...also, will be posting my Maine paintings within the next couple of days--that's all for now, folks!

Fine Art America--check it out!

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Tornado Time

We have a tornado alert in effect for the next hour...it's kind of laughable, since we live in Schulykill, PA.

Aside from having my power knocked out several times today, still no sight of it! Anyhoo...above is my latest painting--it's called "The Secret" and here's the tidbit behind it: I was doing yardwork and I started to get divebombed by a crazy robin, and I know birds don't generally carry rabies ;-) so I figured I'd find out what I did to irritate it so badly...upon some perfunctory inspection of the area gutters, and a large hedge, I found the "secret." Her nest--she was defending her nursery! It was better than an Easter egg hunt! I quickly left the area so she could go back to attending her nest and not abandon them altogether...

I've had a dickens of a time photographing this last painting, maybe since it's a high contrast painting...the darks and lights don't come through balanced like they do in the actually painting...it's a reflection issue, even though I'm not using flash.

Anyway--I've done the best I can in terms of photographing it, so now it's time to post it to eBay, Etsy, and all the other sites---going up very low, with no reserve price, so now's the time to go bid!

Take care and ttfn!

Slo Mo Confusion

The rain has been relentless...it lulls you into a sort of aimless mindset...a lethargy that becomes deeper with each passing raindrop...it's hard to get motivated when every day is soggier than the next.

I've gotten alot done, considering the fact I'm working two businesses, and taking care of kids that are home for the summer! Not too shabby...

I finished up my third painting in the series of seven last night--so now we have:

"Sea birds on a gray day" (SEE PAINTING ABOVE)
"Immortal beloved (flowers for the dead)"
"Lone fisherman on the jetty"

Starting painting number four hopefully tomorrow--I have a figure drawing session tonight, and also a very good high school friend coming in tonight to stay with us for the next two days, and also a wedding party coming in this weekend, plus we need to get the new drapes up in several guestrooms, not to mention installing a few new antiques...so I'm spread a little thin now--we'll see how it goes...

Untitled

I've had a lingering sickness for the last two weeks...it's in my throat now, but I hope it's on it's way out...

I've also had a lingering sickness in my mind...I feel all out of sorts...anxious, a bit depressed, as if something is waiting to happen...I can't pinpoint it, and I hate being distressed over something vague.

I guess I'll just out to my studio and start another piece...It's cool and clammy out, and I kind of like that...matches my mood.

My Dad came for a visit yesterday with Dale and Tom in tow...it was good to see him out and about, be he looked old and frail, and I was afraid to hug him and get him sick all over again. We all had a nice chat...discussing art, Silver Screen Hollywood, of course, Clint and his movies, Gran Torino, we went on to discourse about Henry Miller, reading some passages from "Black Spring" and as usual the state of the economy and political turmoil...drank some herbal tea...which was good because my nerves were fried with an ocular migraine triggered by an overdose of Chambourcin the night before...I gotta cut out the BS...that shit is going to be the end of me if I don't watch it.

Well, another cup of coffee, and I should be ready to head outside...