New Austen Prints

My mind is completely frazzled today - probably because I've been thinking too much about recent news events both here and in the States...and the world over for that matter. Maybe I should give the news channels a rest for today and just paint and think about pretty things...speaking of which...

I thought I'd make up some new prints from recent paintings! Hope you like!

 

"Jane and Bingley Take A Stroll" - 5 x 7 print

 "Kitty & Lydia" 5 x 7 print

xxx

Giveaway extension and the Castle is moving!

Firstly, hello there and Happy Thanksgiving to you wonderful visitors in the States :) ...and Happy Black Friday aaaagh!

Oh if you have been following Castle On The Hill over at the Facebook page, I've made a new one for you. For some reason, the old 'Purrr' one wouldn't allow me to change or administrate anything. I know not why, but this new one (actually named Castle On The Hill) makes a lot more sense. I've uploaded a lot of new photos, so you can see almost the whole back-catalogue (bar a few which are on my old laptop etc). Still adding as we go but please hop on over there to join me at the Castle!

 

NOW...The giveaway...

"Paris, 1959 - Patrice Reads Obsessively, Sometimes To Her Own Detriment..."

 

Yup! Just a little giveaway! It was originally just a Facebook one, but I've decided to extend it for just another week on here too :)

I only recently realised that our very own 'Patrice' is all over Tumbr , so for anyone who would like to win an 8" x 10" of the lady herself, all you need do is send me a message (either on Facebook, Etsy, or right here), telling me what Patrice is reading. I've already had some cool suggestions and would love to hear what you imagine!

 

Good luck and hope to see you over at the new page :)

 

xxx



A world of blending

There's something pretty big which I'm working on.

I'm not sure if I should switch to oils for part of it, just for the ease of blending. I have some open acrylics (open meaning they stay wet longer, so you have more time to smooth the colours together). This has to be VERY smooth, but as you can see, it isn't complying perfectly:

OKAY

JUST ABOUT AS SMOOTH AS I NEED.

ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.

HMMMM :(

 

Maybe more layers and more working and working at each part will do it. This could take a loooong time.

 

Hope your day is going SMOOOTHLY!

(Smooth sounds like a very odd word now. You can see why I am a painter and not so much a writer.)

xxx

Wuthering Heights

"Wuthering Heights" 12 x 12 acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PAINTING ON ETSY.

I hope I've done some justice to Emily Bronte's original description:

 

"Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff's dwelling. 'Wuthering' being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather. Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed: one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. " (Wuthering Heights. Chapter1)

A little photography has been in order recently to prepare for this painting. I'm so lucky the skies complied :) I just switched the direction of the lighting around a little.

 

xxx

Sale Time!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SHOP

 

Yep! I've decided on a little last-minute sale for you! Originally, It was just going to be an ACEO stock-clearance, but I decided why not just throw in all of the prints for a little while at least?!

 

So, If you've had your eye on anything in particular for a while but have been putting it off because it's just that teeny bit more than you've been wanting to pay, now's your chance to leap in there!

 

I'm trying to get all of them labelled, but with the other projects I'm working on right now, I won't get them all, but believe me ALL prints are available, so just type 'ACEOSTOGO' inot the coupon code box at checkout and they're yours! 

 

The sale is only on until Wednesday 3rd Oct inclusive.

 

I hope you find something fun!

 

 



Hot Prairie Fire and all the Colours In Between

Unintentionally, this post has turned out very red-and-yellowy. How apt for our season :)

 

I've been working away on a new painting. Here are a few glimpses. I thought  would have had it finished by now, but Amelia has had a couple of days off school poorly, so i haven't had quite as much time as I though - AND I always mis-time these things, so it will be finished when it's finished. I'm pretty sure we're close...

 

Ever dependable Gardener's DelightTomatoes are ripening in the conservatory :) yes - this year, I just went for the good old faithfuls instead of the usual rare varieties! Yum!

 

...and these chillies are crazy hot! They start with that lovely, capsicum taste, then the tingle begins... Now, Rob isn't one to turn down a good chillie challenge and can usually take the heat, but this is a tough one! If you're interested in trying it out for yourself (or surprising a loved/hated one with a bit of spice!) the variety is Hot Prairie Fire. My friends in the US can also find it on Amazon...and you ovely peeps in Aus, there are some on Ebay too ;) OK. I would love to list every country and continent, but that could get crazy. I'm sure you can find your own if you're at all interested and live elsewhere).

 

 Since Sunday, Amelia has been trying something new. As I got to grips again with the sewing machine (hadn't touched it in three years), we decided to make a little mini cushion, onto which Amelia begged to sew 'something'. I remembered we bought a little pack of pink buttons from Liberty's last year (also have a look at their children's wear - woohoo, but costy!!).

She did get a little frustrated when she realised she had gone and made loops and put the needle in and out the wrong places, but I kind of love it like that. It will be lovely to keep these little mementos and see how her skills develop over time. I can't wait to see her finished product!

 

I've packed and parcelled all orders to date, so had better get off to the village Post Office, then back for a little scintillating karate uniform ironing for Amelia's class later!

 

Toodlepip!

xxx



Sparrowgirl

Well, who knows what we're up to today - I've written this in advance of posting it so you have something to look at while we're away (not that I think you can't live without my amazing words of wisdom - or incoherent babblings...)

This is the preliminary drawing for the painting below - Sparrowgirl. It was painted over Springtime, hence the Hawthorn leaves and flowers. I have a real soft spot for Hawthorn. Its gnarly but delicate bark, its tiny, pretty flowers, the berries (said to be good for the heart and for digestion - but don't go nibbling any old berries - I'm only going on what I've heard, not hard evidence!) and the history and folklore of the plant,also known as Mayblossom.

I remember a story that I heard a few years ago, when I was living in Lampeter,Wales. It involved the chopping down of an ancient Hawthorn tree to make room for a road. Not long after the road was built, and the tree disposed of, a huge crack opened up in the Earth in the area where the tree had stood. No matter how people attempted to fill in the hole and make the road useable again, the same thing kept on happening. Eventally, the road was abandoned and no more efforts to build one were made. They say it was because the faeries had been angered by the destruction of their sacred tree.

I love those stories!

Sparrowgirl will be for sale in the shop in September :)

Thank you for reading!

xxx

Princess Gretchen

"Princess Gretchen" Watercolour on paper. (approx 3" x 4")

Gretchen. She dislikes being indoors and being told what to do. Unfortunately, much of life at court involves both of those. Whenever she can, she runs out to the forest to spend time with the wild things.