School Run

The first spread, above, was completed along Benwick River after taking Harry into school and the spread below was completed the same day in Ramsey, sitting on the green, before collecting Harry from school.

It's surprising what you can find time for in the average day.

Cherubs and Angels

Last week my good friend Joannie sent me an angel pin, such a thoughtful surprise.
The cherub is a figurine I purchased for myself some time ago, it's very special to me. Since the angel pin is so tiny, I thought I'd use my cherub to create an image for this spread.

Thank you Joannie!

Day 31 - The Voice Of Anita Davies

“My journals have opened my wings and allowed me to fly.”

Anita Davies

I had to be the last voice didn't I?

I've enjoyed illustrating some of my favourite quotations this month.

The khadi book, with it's rough texture, was a challenge I regretted taking on through the first few days but I was determined not to let it beat me and adjusted my approach to suit the paper, this entry finishes the book.

I think it does one good to be thrown off kilter now and then, to be faced with something non-favourable and be forced to adjust...Life does that, it's a natural occurrence and we are capable of so much more than we believe we are.

Patience and faith are strong tools.

Thank you to all those who have enjoyed my voices and to those who left kind comments, your visits act as fuel for my journey!

Guardian Angel

ACEO size 2.5x3.5 inches, gouache & ink. Painted from imagination.

A Cherub for Charlie

Charlie Davies 10.03.2003 - 10.03.2003

For all you could have been and everything you are to us still...We love you.
Happy Birthday Charlie!

From The Sofa

My lounge, looking all festive and raring to go....Not long now!

Busy Days

Monday was a busy day, as most of them are this close to Christmas, so before I went to bed I made a quick sketch of our tree and stated the time of the sketch with a small tab. This set the layout throughout the rest of the day as I added images of my to do list, my Son Harry getting ready for school, my eldest Son's dog 'Scoby' and one of my evening cuppas!

I used various media including my Lamy Safari fountain pen, a pigment liner, coloured pencil and watercolour.

Festive Light

Both of today's journal entries depict a light source. The top sketch is created entirely from imagination while the bottom image is created from life, using one of my Christmas decorations as a reference.
I used pigment liner on both sketches today because the Lexington Gray ink in my Lamy Safari fountain pen has ran out and I was too lazy to venture into the studio to refill it.
Oh the shame!

Angel

15Mins - Ink in HP Journal

A quick sketch from imagination.

Least We Forget

'Nature's Grace' - Acrylic on watercolour paper

I created the painting above many months ago using a statue in my garden and mixed photographic references of poppies.


'Least We Forget' -Wimblington Church War Memorial
- Coloured Pencil on Cream Paper

The war memorial at Wimblington church is my most favourite statue in the area. I felt it 'call to me' from the bypass that runs alongside the church and detoured off to find it so I could see it closer. I have since visited it many times, sometimes for just a few minutes and sometimes longer, sometimes to sit and think and sometimes to sketch. I always come away from her feeling fortunate and re-charged.



Today's sketch efforts in my Seawhite sketchbook continued with the toy theme using Harry's toy soldiers to mark this important day and finished with one of the many poppies we have all purchased throughout the week at various locations. The design on the lower right was created using a bunch of fake silk poppies I have in a vase in my studio as a reference.

Happy 2007!

Champagne flutes chink and celebration fills the air as we look back on the past 365 days with either a smile or two fingers raised high in disapproval.

It has always seemed strange to me that we should wait for a specific day of the year to reflect this way, such a huge expanse of time between the two posts I’ve always felt was wasted simply waiting for the “excepted” time to plan changes and show our appreciations. What makes the start of any one day more special than the last?
Perhaps it is more to do with the relaxation period that comes before this celebrated occasion, followed by a quite time shared with family and friends, a time when work slows down and one is more able to see within themselves, their lives, the patterns by which they live. Then is it the peace associated with Christmas that allows us to stop and savour?
What a sad thought that we should feel we need to be “allowed” such a freedom.
And so, it is ourselves that create the boundaries around us, the walls that guide us blindly through our everyday routines, void of choices, feelings, growth.
My Nephew lived only long enough in this world to break the hearts of those who loved him, the only positive I could ever take from this utterly heart wrenching moment was the honesty of it…The fact that we are never sure if tomorrow will arise and therefore we must live for today.

New year resolutions are challenges we set ourselves that we mostly know we will fail because of all too many links in their chain having to be altered to accommodate the possibility. Therefore the list grows and the goal seems impossible…We give up! Changes do not evolve from lists alone they are born from courage, appreciation and a knowing of oneself.
It took a long time for me to be comfortable in my own company, in doing so I met the good, the bad and the ugly. The real challenge was to realise and accept that I was made of all 3 and only I could change what made me uncomfortable. Now, like a drug, I crave those moments late at night when I can be alone to reflect.

You are remarkable! You are everything you want to be and so much more, you can do anything, you have the freedom in yourself and you deprive yourself all too often of your own company.
Should I wish you anything this year be it that you rise to a new day each morning and allow yourself the inner peace to appreciate the gift as you unwrap it!


“STOP, listen………Know yourself”
“Honesty with oneself, about oneself is the ultimate gift”
- Anita Davies 2007

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." - Voltaire