Four Seasons = One Year

A tree for all seasons, winter, spring, summer and autumn... a whole year in one tree!
This year is drawing to an end and it always amazes me how time just whizzes by.  Naturally we reflect on the year that's gone by, our achievements, successes and probably mistakes too.  Life isn't always easy and my art has been important over the past few years, keeping me me positive and enthusiastic.  Nothing is impossible!
Happy New Year and I hope 2012 is a good one.

"Don't be pushed by your problems.

be led by your dreams."

Unknown

Happy Christmas!

For my blogging friends all over the world, hope you have a peaceful and happy Christmas!

Sketchbook Time

Lead actress having make up done

I've had a busy week but still time for some sketching!  On Monday I spent the day at one of my favourite old villas taking part in a film...only as an 'extra'.  The scene was a high society party in this beautiful ballroom.

Leading actor (the baddie)

                                                

It was a tiring day pretending to drink champagne in a long dress, sadly the champagne wasn't real and the glitter was fake......but was fun while it lasted!

This sketch is from a couple of weeks ago early in the morning sitting in my car.  Even an urban scene can look pretty in the autumn.

From  my car again, an old gateway on the main road through town.
The top looks like a crown or perhaps an urn, but I couldn't fit it all on my little sketchbook page.

Sink or Swim?

'Sink' for Illustration Friday.
It can be quite pleasant letting your body sink slowly down into the silent depths of deep water, but sooner or later you have to swim back to the top!

Forever Autumn

Not very seasonal I know, but here in Sicily it's still fairly warm and sunny (it will probably rain tomorrow!)  and autumn comes late.

Up until last week the climbing vine at the front of my house looked like this.  I love the mix of colours and the way the sun shines through the leaves in the morning. 

This is a chocolate coloured sunflower grown in a pot in the summer, I'd like to fill the whole garden with them!

Separated

'Separated' for Illustration Friday

Bright Knights

Do you remember the video frames we downloaded and coloured for the Bright Knights, here is the final video.
The Bright Knights are an Australian Group who found an unusual method of making a video for their debut single 'This Love', they asked people to colour in all 2,158 frames.  I did two of them, one of which is about 3.29 in to the video, I'm still trying to find the second!
You can see more of the process here

The Village Square

If you venture into some of the smaller towns and villages in Sicily you will always find there is a village square where old men gather to play cards and chat.  If ever a 'stranger' comes into the village you can be sure they have noticed, if there is any gossip then they will know and the Sicilian 'coppola' or cap is a must!
This my latest page for the Sketchbook Project, only three more double pages left to do!

The Brigade

'Brigade' is the theme for this week's Illustration Friday.
Geese seem to work in groups as they defiantly take on strangers and people often use them to guard property.  These Canadian geese were in one of London's parks, but I have vivid memories of been chased across a field when I was a little girl by a gaggle of white geese!

It's getting closer to Christmas and I've many things to prepare so this illustration has been transformed into a Christmas card... I just added some white acrylic blobs and they became 'snow' geese.

Round

'Round' for Illustration Friday.
 This one now has a big red bow to make it into a seasonal Christmas card!