Sunday 19 January 2014

Sketching around Sicily





Looking through my sketchbooks and albums I realised just how many sketches and paintings I have from Sicily.  I am so lucky to live on such a beautiful island and have endless possiblities  and inspiration on my doorstep.





I love to get in my car and become a tourist for the day or a guide as sometimes happens.  there is always something new to discover even if I have visited the same place several times before.





I will be sorting out and putting these little sketches and paintings into an ebook, perhaps adding a few new ones to my collection too.

'The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.'
Marcel Proust








Sunday 12 January 2014

'The hours seem short'




I am busily working away at several paintings, one quite large (for me), here is a little sneek peek although there's still quite a bit of work to be done.  I'm not a fast painter, I enjoy the process too much!






Then there are a couple of sketches in my sketchbook that I photographed so they're a bit grey.
The first is one overlooking the River Avon from my recent trip to the UK, just behind the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford.



This tree is at the front of the theatre.



This is a little sketch of seagulls on the barrier of rocks created to protect the seafront.  I often wonder how birds decide who sits where...and what the pecking order is?


'Pleasure and action make the hours seem short'

William Shakespeare

Saturday 4 January 2014

One Step at a Time


'Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible
into the visible'
Anthony Robbins

It's the beginning of another year and many people are making resolutions and if you're like me your hopeless at keeping them.   I like to have goals to work towards instead, to keep me  going in the right direction.
I've been  looking at ways to make sure I stay focused on my goals this year and found a few tips:


  • Only set goals you're interested in.  As much as possible you have to set goals for yourself, so think about what your really want.

  • Write your goals down to keep them in mind.  Have a way to keep remembering them: stickers on the fridge, bathroom mirror or computer.  Create a 'mantra' to say out loud, choose 3 - 4 important words to repeat to yourself.

  • Review your goals from time to time, it helps keep you motivated.  Sometimes your goals have to be adjusted too, life never goes to plan!

  • Set  deadlines, a month, 6 months, 2 years.  Make a plan of how you intend to get to your goals.  Decide on some some easy steps to get you going.


Remember sometimes our goals help us to achieve things that at one time seemed impossible.

Have you thought about your goals for 2014, what words would you use?