Of Men and Monkeys ........

I have been busy the last week or so; my DIL is due to have her baby in around 6 weeks and we are all sure (including her doctor) that she will go early. With this in mind I have been working hard on a UFO that I began a while ago. I had seen this quilt for a baby and loved it, now I am working on it in earnest now that the countdown has begun.

It is based around the little poem "5 little monkeys jumping on the bed......" and is full of cute mischievous monkeys with pillows and feathers. I have made it in the same tonings as the baby room that DIL and son have decorated.

I also finished another supper cloth that I started at least a year and a half ago .... rotfl ...... still have one more supper cloth to complete and I still have the christening gown to make although I have made a start on it.

At the same time as doing the embroidery I have been having fun with my new easel. B11 spurred me on to try and portrait and you have all seen the results (check here if you need a reminder), I was quite happy with it and have decided to try a couple more.

I have been trying to focus on just part of the head, in this case the nose and eyes and let the rest of the head be more suggestion than detail. I think there is still a great deal of room for improvement but by and large and reasonably happy with how it is progressing.

What I am trying to capture was/is the depth in the eyes. I remember when I first saw this man I was struck by the sadness and depth of emotion his eyes held. It was as if he carried the sorry of his nation burrowed deep within and a hint of it was escaping through his eyes. I doubt I will be able to capture that essence but I am pleased that I have tried.

I will probably put this one aside for a week or so then have another look at it - I do not want to overwork it and it is so easy and tempting to do this. If you have ever painted you will know exactly what I mean - you think it might be finished then decided to add a little more and often you spoil what you had. I have no got into the habit of putting a work aside for at least a week when I am thinking it may be completed so I don't fall into that trap.

I have been searching the internet for interesting faces and found some amazing ones of Indian Sadhu's and homeless men. Now it is just a matter of shifting through the countless pile I have saved to decide which one I will work on next......lol.

Look What I Got!!!!

Over the years I have used many easels for my art work and all, without exception, have been massed produced 'el cheapo's', because I have never been able to afford (or justify) the cost of a good studio easel. And over the years I have drooled and been green with envy at all those lovely easels , and other expensive art gear, in catalogues that I pour over and dream of buying when I win the lotto.

But - guess what!!!

Yes, excitement runs so high in this little (hem hem) girlie's household because a new easel has made it's way into my workroom!!

B11 bought me the most wonderful studio easel. We went out on Sat morning and he is still laughing at the way I am almost reverently stroking the wood. Now it is firmly entrenched in my workroom and waiting for my first new art work to begin. Never in my wildest dreams did I really think I would own something like this. I have even gone into my workroom about a dozen times just to make sure I am not dreaming; I can't stop smiling.

So whats the big deal about an easel you ask?

This one is hand made and especially designed by an artist so it works so well. It is adjustable in height and I can tilt from vertical to horizontal and anywhere in between. It will open to 1.5m so I can fit a large work on it, I will have to work somewhere else in the house if I use a big canvas (have an enormous family/dining/kitchen room I can move to if I do)
I can adjust the whole thing so I can sit at it or stand whichever I like whenever I like and it is made from beautiful wood and feels so special under my fingers.

B11 says he is expecting some great new art works now and I just don't know where to start.....lol.

I also cannibalized my old easel - it worked out well. I now have all my watercolour paints in/on a stand alongside me. Has a drawer so I can put other bits and pieces in it and because it is basically an old easel I can adjust the height to suit if I am sitting or standing.


So here it is pushed into my workroom, it dwarfs my old easel ... lol... think I am going to move and rearrange the whole workroom. I have a 2.5 m work table in here, 4 large bookcases, a computer desk, plus a couple of cabinets - and yes I still have a big grin on my face!!