Song of the sea

"The lapse of ages changes all things --time, language, the earth, the bounds of the sea, the stars of the sky, and every thing "about, around, and underneath"man, except man himself."

~George Byron~

The wind has been wailing & pounding our windows with rain & hail for weeks, & all the while the sea storms have been calling me....
The icy rain drops & the fresh salty sea air rushes past my face

The splash of the waves against old stone Harbour walls, with ancient secrets hidden in their hearts

Waves crash against cliff faces, booming...vibrating up through my feet

Snuffly black noses find grassy tufts, full of interesting seaweedy smells

The house on the cliff top silently waits for a moment of calm...before the pounding of the sea, & the howling of wind returns once more.

What do you dream?

'The Dreaming Place'

Watercolour

10.5 x 14.5"

*More detail HERE*

"I am the stars, the ocean, the smell of the rain on wet ground,

tears of joy & sorrow, lavender flowers, old incense, & brightly coloured paint swirling in a jar of water.

I am the translucent glint of a Dragonfly wing, the soft music of windchimes,

& a compassionate embrace.

I am the golden glow of a winter sunset, the worn & aged pages of a favourite book, & the soft firey glow of a candle in the dark of the night.

I am the small piece of driftwood, carved by the ocean waves, rose petals, ribbons, feathers & sage.

A big pot of tea, on a stormy day, Cosy jumpers & socks keeping the cold at bay."

~Julia Guthrie~

This painting is a self portrait...of sorts..I didn't aim for 'photo-realism' of course *chuckles*
But it does contain a lot of personal feelings & energy. It began as something quite different, & as the time passed it took on a life of it's own & I just painted her as she dictated.
However, I would like to leave this one to the viewer to see how it touches you...& perhaps you will even be able to tell me exactly what its meaning is.
I almost changed the name of this one at the last minute, when I realised that Charles De Lint actually has a book named 'The dreaming place'. But I guess it just shows that great minds think alike! :)

Facebook Fan page & Stormy seas

“I have seen the sea when it is stormy and wild; when it is quiet and serene; when it is dark and moody. And in all its moods, I see myself.”

~Martin Buxbaum~

Photographs I took at the beautiful & imposing, Mullion Cove a few weeks back. We drove down there for a Sunday afternoon walk & after what had been a week of grey, damp weather, a glimmer of sun showed itself just as the sun began to set. It is a magical place indeed :)

This past few days we have been hit by some seriously strong winds, torrential rain & thunder & lightening! It has been wild weather... sadly I didnt have a chance to get to the coast & photograph any impressive waves for you. However...it ain't over yet *grins* there may more....

In other news I now have a Facebook Fan page! http://facebook.com/Eastofthesunart

Please feel free to come visit! :)

I have also been given a blog award by the lovely 'Yarrow'. I think I might have to fullfill my obligations in another post tho....this one is pretty long already! LOL

A bit of Winter reading

While the wind rattles the window panes & makes far off booming noises, that actually make me think we are living next to the sea (oh what a wonderful thing that would be:) ), I am cosy in my art studio with plenty of things to occupy me. Art ideas, & books galore!

And my lovely Husband also gave me a pressie yesterday...for years I have wanted a Pestle & Mortar but never really had the money to hand when I saw one I liked. So while shopping I spied one & he just popped it in the basket! I squeeed & did a little dance..LOL Now when I am grinding my dried herbs I won't have to use the end of the rolling pin!

And funnily enough on a visit to my In-Laws this week, my MIL gave me a book she thought I might like... it's called "Hints & Tips from times past"...& oh yes, she knows me well! :)

It's full of lovely natural remedies for all sorts of things.... from headaches & colds....
to dry skin, or dull hair.
There are also sections on jam & chutney making, natural ways to do your washing, polish your shoes, restore furniture, cleaning carpets, making bread & cakes....

And then there is the gardening section... home made compost, how to feed plants (naturally), growing a herb garden, growing & pickling veg.. the list is endless!

My MIL also gave us big jars of her homemade chutney & jam to take home.... :) She was very impressed I think when I told her I'd made chutney for the first time ever, from our tomatoes that didn't ripen this year :)
So... lots of fun for me have with this book...

Also this week I recieved a lovely package in the mail. My Mum, who is not very big on gardening & homemade things, saw an offer in their newspaper a few months back for free seeds. She sent of for them in my name, as she knows I will make good use of them in my veg patch next spring :)

Very happy with those!! :) And I get to try growing Aubergines, chicory & spring onions this time!
Also on the subject of books... my MIL gave me these 2 to read...

The titles sound a bit grim, but they are set The Dark Ages, & I've not read anything set in that era before. Plus I do love things like the old 'Robin Of Sherwood' tv series from the 80's with Michael Praed! lol (I have the entire box set on DVD :) )

'The Owl Killers'

Deep in the heart of the countryside lies an isolated village governed by a sinister regime of Owl Masters. Theirs is a pagan world of terror & blackmail....

I shall let you know how I get on! lol It may send me running back to my Robin Hobb library, screaming! :)

EDIT*** My dog Nimh has finally updated her blog too :) Go friend her & she might share some of that scrummy roast pork she's just blogged about :) lol http://secretsofnimh.blogspot.com/

Messages from Merlin

Very happy to announce that my 'Merlin' painting is being put to good use :)
My friend Rose Vanden Eynden posted his picture along with her regular blog post 'Monday Message From Merlin'! http://vandeneynden.biz/blog/?p=642
I love Rose's blog & you should all definately check it out along with her main website.

Rose is a clairvoyant medium, Spiritualist minister, licensed massage therapist, author, teacher, and healer.
You can find her website here ... http://www.vandeneynden.biz/Welcome.html

In other news, I was suddenly inspired to do some designs for the 'backs' of my Oracle card deck today! lol
Yes, well, it has to be designed at some point...regardless of how much art there is still to be completed for the 'fronts'. :)

I am also working on some new sketches including a painting of the Irish princess 'Isolde'.
Morgan Le Fay is also lurking in the back of my mind too, but I think she will have to wait her turn! :)

Handstitched Journals

I have made 2 handstitched journals (recycled paper plus a sheet of Lavender head paper) & I am stumped as to which of my artworks to use on the front covers!! LOL
So I am asking you guys... which of my artworks would you like to see on journals?

I am back to painting 'The Dreaming Place' now, after 'Merlin' took over :)
I shall hopefully be finishing that very shortly...so keep your eyes peeled!

Well, Winter is on it's way....I put the central heating on for the first time today!! agh...
But Winter is nice though.
Wooly socks & jumpers, pots of tea & buttery crumpets, walks on the beach all snuggled up in a big coat while the waves crash & the wind blows... Mmmmmm :)

New art...Merlin!

Well I have been busily splashing paint about on a project that called to me last week, & interrupted all else! :) I was drawn to paint the wonderful figure of 'Merlin' as a kind of Shaman of the forest. A wise man of earth magic.
Merlin is many things to many people, but esentially, I believe this is what he is.

'Merlin Of The Forest'
Watercolour
11.5 x 15

Merlin stands before the most ancient of the trees at sunset. Standing stones that are as old as the forest itself look on. Waiting & watching.

He gives thanks to his night time helpers & guides in this world...the Owls, the Moths & all the

creatures who live quietly in the forest, while the mist flows in at his feet.

What magic is about to occur?

A4 (approx 11x 8) Prints are available un-matted = £11.11

Signed 10x8" Matted (mounted) prints will shortly be available = £14.99

I havent yet attempted to create a bookmark of Merlin, but I'm sure I shall :)

I really enjoyed painting Merlin, & I am wondering if it will spark more 'Arthurian' art? :) I have a few more I am working on...not least 'The Dreaming Place' which is very close to being finished. And a few more in sketch form so far... If I am good & get all my website/paperwork jobs completed this week I shall hope for another full week of painting!! :) Perfect!

Quick WIP (part 2)

'The Dreaming Place' (In progress)

Just thought you might like to see the next stage :) I am grabbing a few hours here & there so keep your fingers crossed that I can get it finished in a reasonable amount of time! haha

This is an unusual one for me. Normally I like to have a definate idea around which to base a painting & it's symbols, but this one broke free of my original idea & has taken on a life of it's own...LOL

Even I don't really know how she will look when completed. And I don't know quite what her meaning is either... perhaps she is a message from my inner self to allow more freedom into my work? :)

It has always felt like a special painting...even when the only part I had sketched out was the figure (it's me btw...but I'm not too concerned about making it look 'exact'..lol). This is a painting that is meant to resonate with our emotions more than anything I think.

She would like people to look at her & find their own connections with her. All I know is that she will have feathers & flowers at her feet... an offering? a shrine perhaps?

It's a magical place...where she goes to meditate...& who could blame her! :)

Emotions of the Artist's World

This week I have been enjoying the last days of Summer... It seems she has a few rays of sunshine left for us before that 'nip' in the air pushes her aside for crisper mornings, & jumpers & socks come out of the closet.

The sun is still beautiful to sit out in, but the heat is fading. And as my garden starts to thin out, & grow full of seed heads, & brown twigs, I find myself planning already how I will lay things out next Spring...where will I put my Courgette plants, & what kind of flowers will go in the hanging basket...:)

It's a really nice peaceful time of year actually. I am appreciating Septemer more than I ever did before strangely enough.

I was inspired last night, as I drifted off to sleep, with an image that I knew had to go into a painting I've had sitting around for a while...it's been semi-sketched out but was still missing something.

Isn't it typical that you always get great ideas just as you've gotten comfy! lol I hoped I would remember it. And I did... a gorgeous flock of Butterflies (what is the correct term here? lol), flying in a magical stream up into the sky!

So this afternoon I have made good progress with this 'put aside' piece of work...& I am actually really enjoying it now :) I'm in the flow.... I think it might be titled,

'The Dreaming Place'

"The Artist is a recepticle for emotions that come from all over the place.

From the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper,

from a passing shape, from a spiders web...."

*Pablo Picasso*

~

I also have to announce the winner of my giveaway! It is the lovely 'Yarrow' of http://yarrow-retreat.blogspot.com/ Congrats Kim, you shall be recieving these goodies *pictured below* very shortly...& also I get to practise my intuitive card reading skills on you...*grins*. I thank you for that! :) I hope you enjoy them x

I have been to the garden of Eden

Well not quite..but I have been to 'The Eden Project' in Cornwall...which is similar!:) My parents came down for a week's holiday & we had a few nice days out (thankfully the weather has been blissfully warm & sunny). So last Wednesday we headed off to The Eden Project near St Austell. Its only about an hour North of here but the last time we went was when it had just opened...10 yrs ago!! Blimey....it's all grown a bit since then...

Pic above: Far left - stage dome (they hold concerts there). Middle - the Rainforest Biome. The small domes connected by the grassy hill is the restaraunt area (inside & outside). Far right - The Mediterranian Biome.
Waterfall in the Rainforest Biome

The Rainforest Biome

Veggies being grown around the cafe & eating area

So...apologies for not blogging..or getting around to doing that giveaway yet! lol I haven't forgotten you, I just havent had much time spare this week. Normal internet duties (& work) will resume next week.... :)