151st entry...

A blustery day here in the Forest...
I am doing a watercolour in developmental stages - never before have I been so interested in experimenting; five years at college, of which I loved, but I was never SO fascinated in anything as I am in the movement and layering of watercolours. So here are the photo that I used and the first wash!

Photo used - 2011

first wash - 2011

Started by spraying the paper, then adding different dry watercolours...finally, with a bit of finger and brushwork, a spray of water again...
I shall try and do a bit more tomorrow!

150th entry...

Sorry I have been so remiss in my diary....life has been topsy turvy this week...

Autumn Leaves - 2008

  I have added this acrylic and pastel, be it a few years old, just to give people a taste of Autumn....I did it at college.  The purpose of the exercise  for me was to see how much movement I could get from a part of nature...I have always loved the movement that the animal kingdom gives us, and thought that autumn leaves would be an interesting challenge! I think that I have achieved...but I still love to draw people...

149th entry....A beautiful sunny day here in Hampshire!

An enjoyable watercolour sketch of Autumn leaves...they are generally so beautiful at this time of year! 

Jigsaw Design - Autumn Leaves 2011

I have updated my website....

http://www.sarahorchardfinearts.co.uk/index.html 

so please do go and cast your eye over it! An opinion on the slideshow would be extremely helpful!

148th entry...

Have collected my paintings and cards from the Salisbury Art Trail...Didn't sell any watercolours ( one of them has been reserved though) but lots of cards - so that's good!
Onwards to designing local Christmas card - a series of 6 -  Have decided to focus very close to home and hope that the locals of here will buy them!

The humble Christmas Robin - 2010

Our survey shows that the humble Robin has a big part to play in our Christmas cards....

147th entry...

Hello everyone...apologies for not writing my diary as I was doing the Salisbury Art Trail...
Anyhow...A commission...

Commission - Barney 2011

Photo of - minus tongue...

Am very pleased with the outcome of this commission above; have achieved a good likeness!

My next venture is to sort out a series of local Christmas card designs ...

146th entry....

So - AGAIN....- lost ALL my pictures on my laptop, which are backed up, up to this last weeks work!!!!!
I now have to spend HOURS sorting it all out ..............
Am going to buy a hard drive...and back up EVERY NIGHT!!!!!!
What a Jonah of a day!

145th entry...

Very busy person - VENUE 32 Private Viewing tonight...Off to have a very early supper!
Onwards and upwards!

144th entry...

A bit of advertising for my lovely next door neighbours....

Are you looking for a book on the New Forest, a speaker for your group, or searching for your New Forest ancestors? 
Authors, local historians, speakers, researchers and conservationists Georgina Babey and Peter Roberts offer a range of services to meet your needs. 

visit: http://www.newforestbooksandtalks.co.uk/

Sitting in my art room about to start a commission ...however below are two men shopping at the market together.

Jigsaw Design - Salisbury Market 2 -  2011

This is the last painting that I have submitted to the art trail....

143rd entry....

We have our private viewing on Friday...have hung the artwork at VENUE 32..

This was an extra 'people' one.

Jigsaw Design - People in the market square...2011

I am getting the hang of my distance/tonal depth....My endless quest in the research into watercolours is paying off!
I have mellowed the jigsaw effect by being more aware of were I place the charcoal rather than adding it 'all over'...Am using the watercolours with much more understanding, and being in control is lovely!
'Whisper + SHOUT' all the way!

142nd entry....Your opinion is helpful to me!

More artwork for the Salisbury Art Trail...

Jigsaw Design - New Forest Deer 2011

Jigsaw Design - New Forest Pony 2011 

I am pleased with these as I have achieved an atmospheric effect that I can get in pastels but up to now not in watercolours...What do you think...

141st entry....gosh! What a lovely day - wierd!!!

I am adding a couple more for the Salisbury Art Trail....Both framed 12"x12"

Jigsaw Design - Deer in the Forest - 2011

Jigsaw Design - Salisbury Cathedral from afar...2011

I apologise for the photo being slightly dark...in reality they both hold a better presence!

140th entry....what a beautiful day people!

The weather wasn't quite as beautiful yesterday, but good enough to sit out in the Forest with the girls sketching.  This was my watercolour with charcoal ...and I have got the depth to the painting for once, so am quite pleased when all the research reading I am doing works! Mmmm! this is good!

Jigsaw Design - En Plein Air...2011

Onwards and upwards..............gosh how I love my watercolours!

139th entry....Well done my beautiful daughter...........

My girlie collected her degree certificate for her BSc  Paramedic Practitioner

Plymouth University  - BSc Paramedic Practitioner 2011

How proud are we..... awsome!

Jigsaw Design - The Hoe with a BSc...2011

This is the card I did for her ..........as a 'moment in time'




Now - I am working towards the Salisbury Art Trail...


Venue 32 Unit 7, Loyal Trade Business Park Stephenson Road Salisbury SP2 7NS 

do come and visit...

Jigsaw Design - Salisbury Cathedral from afar  2011

138th entry.....Autumn creeps ever closer!

This is a larger framed watercolour and charcoal for the Salisbury Art Trail.. It is 12"x12"

Jigsaw Design - Autumn walk in the New Forest 2011

This is a walker in Autumn;  the heather is out and the whole area has a beautiful lilac hue to it! We are so lucky to live where we do...
A nice impression of life in the Forest.

137th entry....

This is another 'small edition' for the Salisbury Art Trail....and is of Stonehenge.

Jigsaw Design - Stonehenge 2011

An impressionistic view of it....wet on wet watercolours with a pen topping!!!
Quite dark, with an essence of an evening sun setting. I need to shift on and finish some more...have completed another 12"x12".

136th entry...Monday morning!

Next to work on - exhibition wise - is the Salisbury Art Trail, where artists put their work on display at different venues!

I am in the process of doing four 12" x 12" framed watercolours and a few framed small ones.4" x 6".

Jigsaw Design - Salisbury Cathedral 2 2011

This is one of the latter, and is of Salisbury Cathedral. Am pleased with it for its fluid effect and good palette!

135th entry....

This is a thank you watercolour for my brother and sister in law....for the music CD for my birthday...

'Flowers for my lovely sister-in-law and brother!' 2011

This, for me, is lovely and fresh with an impressionistic style! I have achieved with a quick wet-on-wet, no preliminary sketching...few hues... using warm and cold - red/blue/yellow ....plus green!

134th entry...a blustery day!

Purlieu New Forest 2011

Heather in the Autumn 2011

We went on a 'sketch' en plein air.........in the Forest!  What a lovely time!

These sketch watercolours were achieved sitting on the ground with my paints nestled in the heather! They are straight painting - no initial pencil sketching....I love that freedom that you get with just paint on paper then the pen or charcoal on the top.  I feel so much freer ....

133rd entry....

It was my sister-in-law's birthday the other day and so I did this watercolour and charcoal for them....

They have always been so very supportive with my artwork, and so I admit that I was not  sure if they would enjoy my 'Jigsaw Design' as they have loved my more traditional work and in pastel!

My brother and sister-in-law 2011

It was therefore with absolute delight - and slight relief as their opinion means a lot to me - that they said how delighted and how much they both loved it!  I am pleased with it as the first one I did was a trial to do and so to go second time around, and be happy with the outcome was a good experience!

132nd entry...

A better day weather wise here...

Sarum Artist's - Summer Exhibition 2011

This was a sketch while I did my steward duty at our exhibition in the library. My paintings of 'Music of the Spheres' are displayed in a glass cabinet...all beautifully hung!