186th entry...My book is launched!

A Stroll Around Hale - The New Forest by Sarah Orchard

Launched on Saturday 21st July 2012

A Stroll Around Hale  

Signing my first book


A Synopsis

Hale is situated in the North of The New Forest; a place of quaint beauty.I feel privileged to live here, so to share with you the delights I encounter every day, let me take you for a stroll around our beloved English village!

If you would like to purchase a copy of this delightful little book about a journey around the village of Hale please email: sarah.orchard54@hotmail.co.uk 

                                                        price is £5 plus p+p

185th entry....Hello!

My book is finished so tomorrow I am sending it to be printed - how cool is that!!!!
'A Stroll Around Hale' written and illustrated by ME!!!!!!

Life moves on....

184th entry....Life moves on!

Life is moving in its weird and wonderful ways...

The last month have been so stressful but now there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel!

My art is moving onwards to a different level and I am happy with that! I write a log on a 6monthly bases noting where I am now...it is interesting to see the development over the last 2 years of my art life!

I am now illustrating and writing my own book which I think, in my heart, I have wanted to do forever! This and the exhibitions plus selling cards, plus my classes are all good!

Foal and Mother in The New forest - 2012

So I add this recent piece of my work...

183rd entry

This is an acrylic painting done for my son for a friend's birthday. Very Sarah Orchardish...

Durham Univercity:  Kaisha's 21st Birthday - 2012

Exciting to do another acrylic - took most of the day! ....used individual photos to make the composition with Durham Cathedral as the backdrop.
A great success apparently!

182th entry...

So ...they are resurfacing the pavements in our close...could the council not spend the money on more important issues!!!! Ok! gripe done...
On to the real world!

Card for my boy - 32years together May 2012

My ability to draw horses is improving as I achieve this card for my lovely husband!

Card for 'The Hale's Angels' choir May 2012

This is a card from the Hale's Angels to the retiring vicar....A quick 'moment in time'
My book is half way through and I am loving doing the writing and the illustrations myself!
Also, apologies for not writing my diary more often but life - as we all say - is busy!

181st entry...

It rains and rains and rains!!!!
However between showers we did some watercolour and pencil sketches,

My garden between showers - 2012

Just an impression!

180th entry...raining or what!!!!

I thought that I would give you a taste of my Cornwall holiday, so I took a page of 4 sketches from my 365 sketches for 2012 that I download on Twitter every day!!! I scanned the page, used  watercolour and charcoal
and printed them onto card for my family; to say thank you for a magic holiday!
Here it is...

Cornwall with my family - 2012

Starting top left with our walk to Mevagissey; top right a pint or two at The Ship; bottom left is the opening of our secret bunny presents - all home made - fabulous - do try it!! Bottom right is our walk back from Charlestown and did we get wet!!!!
Back to the routine of life now and very busy!!!!

179th entry..back from a fabulous time...

in Cornwall with 17 family members!

In the Ship Inn - 2012

Outside the Ship Inn - 2012

The first is a birthday card and the second one is a post card...both are a typical 'Sarah Orchard' style...

178th entry...still sunny!

I have done very little art at the moment but am working hard on my art things - if you get my gist!
Saw the Hockney exhibition and can say that I wasn't particularly impressed!  Why? The paintings lacks substance and soul..

177th entry....sunny! Ooops! sill me ...already downloaded..but I do like it!

Life Sketch - march 2012

I enjoyed achieving this sketch...done at my life class....using a soft watercolour wash followed by charcoal...

Focusing on shopping today but hopefully continue with my book tomorrow! The return of my lovely, lovely son tonight from Durham Uni...so a long train ride...may make life that bit more erratic!

176th entry...me again!

Life is so busy - getting a structure of the week ...
Here are my latest paintings!

Card from The Orchards - 2012

Hale Village Primary School - 2-012

Watercolour sketch of High cliff Beach - 2012 

Life Class - Feb 2012

I do love the quickness of the life study...took about 10 minutes!

175th entry...Cold!

Sitting doing a local scene for a pressie in my art room.....but starting to get quite cold....onwards though!

174th entry...Can I have an opinion...

'Early Morning in The New Forest' 2012
Updated 

I have had conflict in my mind with the depth of the original pastel that I put on 173th entry...
Here is an updated version ....What is your opinion?

173rd entry

This is a pastel for an exhibition.

Good old pastels...

Do wish to work in a fresher, more impressionistic way but that will come I am sure!

'Early morning in The New Forest - 2012

What a fab day...went cycling off road with my boy!  Magic!!!

172nd entry...

Onwards to a meeting with '3 girls +' to discuss Hampshire Open artist...exciting!!!!

My sketching every day is proving to be successful...this is no 53...all are on Twitter!

171st entry...

This is me...

Card for my Nephew's 21st birthday...2012

The above is a card for my lovely Nephew. 

Commission 2012

...and this is a commission - i added a riding helmet which is very wise!

170th entry...sorry to have disappeared!

Been terribly busy...which is good!

'A Rose for My Love' 14.2.12

Onwards to continue with a commission and working on my Food Market cards!

169th entry...

Last day of January...doesn't life flash by...
Anyhow, I have been in my art room - with it's new insulation and  looking very posh I might add - I am progressing with my new 'Foal Series' and developing my style!

Prehistoric series 'New Forest Horse' - 2012

Prehistoric series 'New Forest Foals' - 2012

So ...anyone care to comment out there!!!!!!
I am working on my drawing skills and getting the correct anatomy...although I think that they hold a 'Cave Painting' charm that need not be artistically correct! Mmmm! very pleased person I am!

168th entry...lovely walk in the village!

I am updating my website - please could you give me some feedback!

Here are the sketches from my '365 sketch a day' that I couldn't download yesterday!

21.365

20.365

10 mins sketches with pencil...

167th entry....Rain Rain Rain...then stop!

I have added two of my 365 sketch sketches...interesting that I can feel my drawing ability relax and flow more as I am doing the nightly pencil work!

Here they are...

14 - 365

18 - 365

I will add some more when my broadband stops messing around...asaah!