Alice Springs

Hello, its starting to get really cold now in Australia. The weather is gearing up for winter. My son had soccer training tonight in the wet.

This painting is a picture of the Springs in Alice Springs. My daughter has just returned from school camp. Having spent eight days away on a bus travelling out back Australia.

Dancers

There are so many things that I should be doing and instead I've been painting. Oh well, much more fun.

New work in progress

I began this picture today. Inspired by my son and daughters end of year dance concert. These two caught my eye. While the older students are amazing to watch, the younger students capture your heart.

This is one of the first times I have actually used black in a painting. I had some under painting with colors and then over the top with black pastel. I think the contrasts are effective.

Mosman Gorge

This picture is inspired by our trip to Cairns last year. We swam at these falls. The place is breath taking in its beauty. The two children in the foreground are my son and daughter.

Three little gangsters

How cool is this. One of my friends who lives in Sydney came down for my 40th birthday, quite a while ago now. The theme was 1920s. She has four boys and they all dressed up in gangster outfits. I took many pictures of them all and painted a picture of my son with two of her boys. She really liked the painting so I sent it up to her this year. She just sent me an email with the pictures in a choice of two frames. I liked this one the best. The framing shop must be able to scan the picture into the computer and then add the look of the mount and frame, so you have a clear idea of the finished product.

I haven't come across a framing shop in Melbourne with this facility yet. Looks like Sydney is one up on us Melbournians.

Day Dreamer

Do you ever have days when you keep fiddling with a picture and you muddy it up. Well today I couldn't help but play with the previous posted picture "Steet Beat" and now it is getting really muddy. I know at some point I should have stoped but couldn't help myself.

My husband said to put the picture away for a while. What a great idea! So I started this little cutie. Isn't he gorgeous. He has so much expression in his eyes. Just captivating. This portrait is from a photo reference taken by a lovely friend Lyndal Alston who has lent me many photos. She is an amazing photographer. She has been working in many rural areas in outback Australia and has captured some amazing pictures of people and places. Lucky me I have been able to use these photos.

Lion Love

Here is an ink drawing that I have just completed. The reference is from Sam Mowska's photos from whilst he was in Africa. The reference was used with permission.