A Foxy Wolf

I am so happy to have my own website and it has really inspired me to work. Last weekend I finished this piece called 'Grasp the Nettle', a further exploration of the Little Red Riding Hood theme that has gripped my imagination for a number of years now. In this version I wanted to replace the wolf with a fox as we do not currently have wild wolves here, they apparently were hunted to extinction in the 1700's though there are plans to reintroduce them in a controlled area in Scotland. A fox is the closest wild animal that we have and I really wanted to mix that orange and red.

Big Red Wolf

I managed to rescue a big red wolf from my imagination in a tea break yesterday, the paint that I used came off easily and so it was good to be able to play with spilt flowers in his tummy.

A Menu

Well, I started with a menu for a wolf, after thinking of all the different characters that the wolf eats in fairy tales. Two more dishes to add and poor granny has ended up in the gravy boat, but I am never happier than when I am working away on a picture or project.

Wolf Whistle

Process more than product? This is my Red Riding Hood from the weekend, it is just the reflection of the masking fluid but I love these silvery images.

Weekend

At the weekend I should have been preparing for the holidays, but I have to admit avoiding this, instead I set about making a snow cloud for my kitchen and playing with Little Red Riding Hood again. 
The cloud like all clouds is a bit soggy and will probably have to wait for next weekend to be completed. I am happy with my wolves though they have just the right amount of menace and charm 

Milk

 Above my wolfish experiment, below a student (Lee's) work

I was inspired to try milk painting after seeing this, so I spent a night making a wolf picture and then decided to try it out with my class for life drawing today (Tuesday). This was a little ambitious as there were a lot of students and just two irons, but it gave them a flavor of this technique, which is really lovely and reminds me of lithography which I have not had the opportunity to do for some time now. 
Sorry I am jumping around in my posts at the moment as I am still without my computer.

Above my portrait of the model.

Autumn Reds

 

I went out to buy coffee this morning and on the way back from the shop noticed all these leaves on the ground and had to pick them up and do something with them, they are like thin ice you can hardly touch them as they all instantly fall to pieces.
I have been wanting to play with leaves and little Red Riding Hood so this was a good opportunity.

Wolf . . .

 

I forget what a battle it is in the winter to achieve things in the hours of daylight, a week before we completely lose the light and British summer time, I have not managed to beat the setting sun and I am still working away on 'My what hairy legs you have'.
Some changes are making me re-work pieces and I have added some fungus like tree forms, time and light is running out for the weekend.
However we have picked brambles (blackberries) made an apple and bramble pie and collected beautiful autumn leaves today, so all is not lost. 

Relaxing

 

Relaxation for me is now officially 'Little Red Riding Hood', fuelled by my current reading book which is Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales. 
 I still have not managed my definitive version, and I am very happy about this as I can keep playing. Oh and I am still working on 'My what hairy Leg's you've got' may be I will finish that piece tomorrow.

Never mind Granny give the wolves the tarts

 

 

I started this picture on Sunday. I took liberties with the story line, but I liked the idea of Little Red Riding Hood setting up a pack of wolves, all with jam tarts on their noses waiting, like those poor dogs that people train to hold biscuits on their noses, until they are given permission to snap them up. 

Feeling Wolfish . . . again

 

 

Playing with the Red Riding hood theme, it was a busy weekend but great to spend a little time painting again.