hoop portraiture...something new.

ONE 14" embroidery hoop
ONE photograph
ONE piece of lush linen
ONE pencil (4b and 6b)
ONE tub of acrylic white
ONE paintbrush
ONE sepia pencil
=
my new portrait project.

Want one? I'd love to make one for you...

What did you get up to this weekend?

Hugs
Char.x

Monday's Mother and Child

HAPPY MONDAY...this is my new series which I am building up for our Mamas and Chicks Show in Oct.

It's called *Mother and Child*...

You'll be seeing a long series of "family" artwork over the next month or so...

It's little Miss J's first day at School today.

Wishing her luck...

HUGS

Char.x

Tuscany...oh Tuscany...

Have you ever been to Tuscany? Have you ever  tasted the food from the Tuscan earth?

Have you ever driven over one hill and seen another painting just waiting for you through your windshield (windscreen)?

Smelt the grasses and lavender...seen the old farmhouses surrounded by Olive groves?

Spent the night at an Agriturismo where they have served wild bore for dinner?

Been to villages built on hillsides filled with history and Art...

If you haven't...please try and make it there once in your Life...if you have, then you would know the reason why I would JUMP at the chance to paint a Tuscan Scene...

I will be presenting this final sketch to the client...if accepted it will be painted on three canvases.

HAVE A WONDERFUL MONDAY!!!

HUGS

CHar.x

HAPPY Monday...

I adore the way you all cheer me up on Friday...THANK YOU! You SO helped me get over the Friday's Delivery...for those of you who missed it, scroll down to see what the reaction was when I delivered the Pastel Portraits...

Anyways...now I really do know that commissions are not always satisfying,but they bring in the bread...so, I just have to be a little thicker skinned and not really care too much about the reaction...right?!

We've had a busy weekend Mr.R and I...On Saturday we were at Beer Fest in Toronto which was a lot of fun...and I think my favourite was an Apple Pilsner with Vanilla Icecream! YUM...probably a tonne of calories,so you don't want to go overboard with it...but very refreshing on a warm Summer day!

Sunday was spent contacting all our vendors for our Fall Mamas and Chicks Show...which is on October 22nd this year. It'll be fun as it's the week before Halloween so all the kiddos can come in their Halloween outfits!

The above sketches were done last night...the colours aren't right as I didn't have my watercolours out...and just had an itch of an idea to jot down on paper...it's for the book I'm working on...

AND...as you can see, our little Misses got their hair straightened by their Cousin A...it's amazing how their hair is SO much longer when straightened....they ADORE it and keep brushing it.

"can we keep it for going back to school? please Mummy?"

Hmm,that's in 3 weeks time...I don't think so!!!!

I think I may have to invest in a straightener one of these years(not yet) or perhaps it can be a Christmas gift!

We're off to find Back to School gear today...I know we have a while but the weeks are going to creep up on us...I had planned to start waking up our girls at their school wake up hour(6.30am)...their school starts at 7.50am...I KNOW...SO early!

Fortunately I am an early bird...and as long as we have everything ready the night before...we should be fine.

What are you up to today?

Check back tomorrow...I have a Tell ALL Tuesday interview with a local Torontonian.

That's all I'm saying :-)

HUGS

Char.x

my Mum...

was born in Sweden...near Malmo. She grew up with 4 other siblings...2 of which are still in Sweden, and her 2 sisters are in Ireland.

My Mum grew up in a house which lay just below a hill which was  used as a ski run in the Winter...she worked the ski-lift when she was old enough...they skiied to school...

In the Summer there were mushrooms and berries to pick...and lakes to swim in....sounds wonderful doesn`t it!

Tall, athletic, stylish in her Marimekko dresses and Hunter boots...this hasn`t changed since the 60`s...

she has taken care of 2 beautiful gardens(one is still running it's course beautifully), a 240 year old house with 7 bedrooms(some very very small bedrooms)and an ancient AGA which had to be fed coal every day...twice a day!!! she took care of chickens, she's raised pheasants, horses,lambs, cows, deer, cats, dogs...oh, and 3 children and our Dad.

I never felt like she was in a rush, she never rushed us...she never shouted at us...she's still NEVER in a rush...she's extremely calming.

She has thrifted at charity shops since I was little... and finds the most remarkable of items.

Her eyes change colour from ice blue to dark grey...depending on the weather and what top she's wearing...she's 67 years old and has only just found some grey hairs on her head.

She has a passion for being happy and has a natural love of textiles and design...

Once upon a time she wove carpets and wall-hangings...this was before she became busy with all of US...and the animals.

She's a master crocheter and knitter...did I tell you my Mum is the BEST chef ever...she makes the best Rye Bread...and gives it all away...

My Mum has taught me everything...nearly...she has a lot more patience than I have...I have to count to 10 spmetimes to stop me from exploding...I have never heard her counting under her breathe.

Meet...the ONE and ONLY Mamma...my Mum, Agneta. (I know she deserves a book written and illustrated about her...it's just finding the time)

Have a wonderful Wednesday...I am dedicating today to you Mum...because I LOVE and MISS you dearly.

Thank you for being such a beautiful person.

your

Char,ON

my Valentine girl...

My Valentine girl...

it's been the perfect day with my wonderful family...thank you for your sweet,sweet comments in my last post.

This SKETCH is for all the ladies out there who I know who read our Blog...

stand proud,you're a wonderful Woman...you're beautiful and have a great head on your shoulders...

you're inspiring to So many...breathe colour into your Life...

Live it like you LOVE it!

HUGS

Char,ON

bright...

Bright Star...have you seen it?

well...I got to see the first 15 minutes...STUNNING colours and amazing camera work.

then our DVD player crapped out...so upset...but images still engraved on my brain...

so I sketched her funny red and white dress...honestly...the film is a must see...(thanks for the suggestion Abby!)

Oh...and have you ever coloured on Moleskine sketch paper? It's like silk...wonderful...smooth...a pleasure...you should try it...even if you don't usually draw or sketch...you'll probably be tempted to take up sketching!

IF I don't get a chance before V day...please accept my HUG to you all... and have a SWEET one!

Char,ON

sweet strappy sandals...

don't you just wish it was Summer some days? Yeah...me too.
Today my goals were not met(by me)...I'll wake up early and finish "P" ...

The next 3 days you'll be seeing RED (shoes and boots)...
I WILL pass by and say hi to you on your blog tomorrow...promise. This week is speeding by again....Aaaahhhhh...time slow down!

Going to close my lids for 5 hours... A DOMANI...

Char,ON
p.s. due to the heaviness of my lids...I will be posting new shoes tomorrow on ETSY...thanks for understanding.

QUICK...QUICK...

I squeezed in an hour and a half sketch of my Rockports...determined to keep up  the SHOE a DAY for HAITI.
I bought these 2 summers ago...and LOVE them...they're great as you can put the whole shoe in the wash...they're airy and remind me of dance shoes when they're on.

Do I have lots of shoes? YES...               do YOU?

Thank you for all your kind comments...I really do appreciate and love reading them throughout the day...
It's 10.30...the sofa is calling my name...and I am SO beat...BUT...I still have an hour and a half before shut eye, which means I have time to post them on Esty.

Sleep well....OR...have a great day...really depends on when you're reading this...

HUGS
Char,ON

ART for HAITI - Day 2

I woke up this morning with Mr. R at 5.45AM...yup...all so I could get a head start to today, it seems I need to add a few more hours to my day....and less sleep is how it's going to happen.

Made my Earl Grey tea and a bowl of oat porrige,banana and dates...(sounds good eh!)

I chose my shoes for today...they are probably one of my favourite pairs...I got them when I was 22(LONG time ago...but they still fit)...they're from Italy...they're leather soled and patent top.

I love wearing them with black pants...they were a challenge to draw...but fun and it brought back many great clubbing memories!!

I am planning on selling the sketches/drawings or paintings in an Esty Store(still in progress) and donating a portion of the sales to Haiti.

When I have set it up I'll post the link...I hope you'll help in the raising funds...I'm still looking into where I will donate to.

Any suggestions???

Have a wonderful Monday.

HUGS

Char,ON

Sunday's shoes...for Haiti.

we hope you had a great weekend...ours up here in Canada was remarkably warm for January...which was lovely, but we really need a little bit more snow for better ski conditions and also the ice-rink is melting a little...so we haven't been skating. We did however have YUMMY Sushi takeout last night with friends...which WAS SO deeeelicious...I could eat it every day. There's just something about it...it feels like it's good for you and you never feel TOO full.

I did also pick up "The Creative License" by Danny Gregory from my bookshelf and flicked through a few pages...I love his work...and his whole story to how he came about drawing again. His work is so about the "now" and recording anything and everything around him.

SO...I have made myself a NEW challenge...as many illustrations as I do...or animals I draw...they're not studies from Life...and because I am constantly here there and everywhere with the girls...I rarely can sit at a cafe,bar, park for longer than 10 minutes without one of our darlings wanting something...and that means I have now left "MY" practice and time for my artwork studies.

SO...I am going to enlighten (said with a chuckle) you ALL with MY ENTIRE SHOE COLLECTION!!! you`ll see...I am a FAN...of shoes and boots!

Haha...and THESE...RED SHOES are my first pair.

I started off with a Pen line drawing...there will be NO erasers here...I need to see faults and correct them if there are some.

I then used my colouring pencils...it's been a while. It took approximately 1 hour to complete.

These are one of my fave pairs of shoes...I think you'll enjoy this series...it'll be a surprise every day...and oh my, I have some shoes and boots for YOU to see...heehee...

It'll be self reflective along with challenging and rewarding.
I am planning on selling the sketches/drawings or paintings in an Esty Store(still in progress) and donating a portion of the sales to Haiti.

Are there any new projects you're up to?

I will now try and get around to seeing what you've been up to, I promise...this weekend has just whisked me away from the computer...and my projects.
Until tomorrow's Shoes!!!
Char,ON

Oh...I of course forgot my camera on Friday eve when Mr. R played...but...it was awesome.MANY friends came out to support him. He's very talented...and dedicated to his passion towards music.

3 X 3

Here's my 3x3...if you had passed by earlier you would have read about Gustavo Aimar and how he is celebrating 3 years of Blogging(he's a FANTASTIC illustrator)...and is celebrating by posting little 3x3inch creations on THIS site, which ANYONE can participate in.
Such a great way to celebrate...spread the word and create something 3x3 for him to post.
All he needs you to do...if you don't understand Spanish: send him and email to aimargus@gmail.com with a Jpeg of your painting,drawing,illustration...but it has to be drawn in a 3x3inch format...not just cropped to size. Your link and name and what media you used.

So much fun...make it your weekend project!

OH...and I nearly forgot...check back in an hour and enter our *WIN WIN WIN* Giveaway...to celebrate our 507 FABULOUS READERS!

Until later!

Char,On

tea and biscuits

She doesn't really look exactly like these...but has some similarities, and I should really wear my glasses whilst sketching because things always slant to the right a little and have been noticing it more and more recently!(getting old)
I just finished the above sketch whilst we were having our Tea and Biscuits before her nap time...her Tea consists of a dipping of the Tea bag in warm milk...she just likes to dip her biscuits in her Tea like her Morfar(my dad).
The one below was sketched quickly before we went raspberry picking this morning. She kept moving around so much...but I captured somewhat of her and her concentration whilst she practiced writing her ABC's.
I find sketching on a whim something which I used to do a lot more of before I had to chase after our girls...and now that they're more independant...I would love to start again...I have been trying to remember to bring sketching materials with me wherever I go...and would love to make a day to day journal...with sketches amongst appointments.
CHECK THIS OUT!!!!
Gustavo Aimar is celebrating 3 years of Blogging(he's a FANTASTIC illustrator)...and is celebrating by posting little 3x3inch creations on THIS site, which ANYONE can participate in.
Such a great way to celebrate...spead the word and create something 3x3 for him to post.
All he needs you to do...if you don't understand Spanish: send him and email to aimargus@gmail.com with a Jpeg of your painting,drawing,illustration...but it has to be drawn in a 3x3inch format...not just cropped to size. Your link and name and what media you used.
So much fun...make it your weekend project!

I am off to do something little now...and I'll post it for you later.

ON ANOTHER NOTE::
We reached 500 FABULOUS READERS.... YAY!!!
You guys are awesome.
Check back sometime this weekend to enter our *WIN WIN WIN* giveaway!
You all deserve to win...but only one will.(sorry)

Have a wonderful weekend...and get creating!
HUGS
Char,On

you'll LOVE this...

maybe as much as I do...and I just HAD to share it with you all.

Last Thursday Amy from Pikaland (GREAT blog-she's our Tell all Tuesday this week) posted an article with Gemma Correll and her new FLICKR venture "What I wore today".

The difference is that you must only draw your "outfit" and no photos are allowed.

There are so many of you fabulous readers out there whom I'm sure would have SO much fun with this...

SO, I gave it a go. It's like a Fashion Diary for the camera shy...I also see it as a great reflective tool,hey, I can REALLY see how I need MORE stylin in my every day wears!!!.

I'm going to try and post at least 5 days a week there...and do a few of our girls and what they're wearing too.(Little Miss A and Miss J thought this was a wonderful idea!)

These are my first editions...enjoy and you MUST go and see what talents the group holds.

Hoping you had a great weekend...ours was spent at the Drop Zone...my darlin hubbie was sky-diving again.

What did you get up to???

Char,On