Sketching Frenzy -Louboutin Shoes

Who doesn't want a pair of Louboutin's?

Sketching Frenzy - Cycle Chic

I love CycleChic Copenhagen blog and Pays-Bas. There is some fantastic photography and it is lovely to see so many people cycling - yes, cycling is back and I want to join the revolution. A lovely Dutch bike or Pashley. Sadly, where I live it just is not set up for cyclists and I know too many people who have been in serious accidents, more than once! So until I live in a place that has more cycle lanes then I will stick to the trails and enjoy the views.

Sketching Frenzy - Candle Holder

Saatchionline - Art

I have submitted a painting to Saatchionline. Big Ben in Colour -this is the painting:

The winner will be announced January 20, 2011. Prizes: the winner receives $1000 USD and the work will be exhbited at the Saatchi gallery in London. The runner up will receive $500 USD.

What a great competition and the opportunity to display work in a London gallery is truely exciting.

I am asking for people to take a look at the work and vote for me.

Thank you!

Why I paint...

Why do I paint?

From a young age I have always enjoyed drawing, painting, using a variety of materials, techniques and creating art in one form or another. I go through phases where I can paint and paint and then nothing.

I have two daughters who are under 5 and they bring out my child like artistic creativity which helps me to be more hands on and experiment with materials I otherwise would not. Also, working in an corporate environment for over a decade can knock artistic creative thinking on the head somewhat but my kids have helped me regain my 'lost' imagination.

In England I was an art and design student at a college but decided to study business at university, also in England. I have continued to paint when I can and am inspired to do so. I moved away from Europe and I have developed routes in Canada where I have attending art classes to develop my knowledge and learn new techniques.

I lean towards fine art, I also enjoy photography and visiting galleries (when I get time). I have sold paintings and have exhibited work but now is the time to promote myself and create more work, I would love to be a full time artist but I can never see myself as a starving artist! My paintings are for sale - thought I should mention this.

I have used many styles, I seem to go through phases but don't most artists? Until I find a style that I love to do and can develop I will continue to experiment. Using colour is my main objective, I love colour. I enjoy working on still life projects and being inspired by what is around me.

As well as creating new work and being a full time office worker and mum I intend to develop my own website but I think this will be sometime later next year.

Now that I have provided a profile snapshot I hope that you enjoy my work and who knows you may even buy some.

Postcard Art - Norway (Charity) #2

Golden Poppy

Here is my initial painting but it did not go the way I wanted hence the tree painting in an earlier blog below 'Golden Tree'. The flash from my camera has produced unwanted light, so I will get a better photo posted later. However, you can see there is a lot of texture in the paint. It is a painting of poppy's in a field with a glimmer of gold, green and red. It actually came out well in the end but I think I prefer the tree painting.

Maybe you prefer one to the other. Let me know the one with the most votes will be sent unless I send them both!

Postcard Art - Norway (Charity)

Golden Tree

How can art, twitter art, help children.? Here is how: http://davidsandumart.posterous.com/call-for-artists-twitter-art-exhibit-in-moss

What better way to paint for a fabulous cause, these postcard sized painting, drawings etc will be posted and sold for approx. $32.00 and all the money will go towards children's books. The deadline date to submit work is Nov 27th -it needs to be posted soon.

I have two designs but I think this is the better one of the two. I will name it 'Golden Tree' I think I will produce a larger version of this some time soon. However, I have sent two mini paintings the other is Golden Poppy, and why not indeed?

#twitterartexhibit

Vibrant Poppy

Vibrant Poppy's

One I did this week. A miniature, 10x12, acrylics.

Following on with the poppy series. I wanted to paint something more vibrant and colourful. I think this did the trick.

I have not decided on the painting I will donate to charity but this one is a potential.

Gladstone Pottery Museum

Gladstone Pottery Museum, Longton, Stoke on Trent.

This is a painting of Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke on Trent painted with acrylics on canvas that I did, not too long ago. Imagine it without the people (the image has changed since I painted it). A colleague of mine who is now a full time artist, Laura Zerebski does the most brilliant, vibrant of paintings of places in British Columbia. I thought I would try and produce something similar but in my style of painting. I also wanted to practice and copy other painters since this is the best way to learn and develop your own style.

Stephanie Matthews

My Old Tree

Gnarly Tree - Arundel Lane

The first tree I did since moving to Canada. This was an old tree outside our house sitting in our front garden. This is oil on canvas, did not really use oils much before this. I love the autumn colours and use the background florishing trees for the colour.

Stephanie Matthews

My new tree

Jurassic Forest

I like this latest piece it was very easy to do, surprisingly. I painted this in art class. One of the students in class said it had a Jurassic look about it, hence the title. We all did the same scene but very surpising what results we all came out with, mine was nicknamed 'Jurassic Park'. I used a variety of colours, staring with five lines drawn on canvas to make the horizon and the trees then the sky was painted and the trees, which was the most fun since there is a lot of background colour with texture (you can see the red popping through) and the finishing touches of shrubs etc. All done with acrylics.

Stephanie Matthews