32/365 Paintings Challenge

Painted after catching up with an old friend. As you can probably tell - I was feeling pretty joyful.
Paint supplies are low. I never seem to have enough and yet it stretches. A friend dropped in a couple of tubes she no longer needs. So glad of that. An addiction I have to keep feeding.

Asta x

9/365 Paintings Challenge

I had a friend in this painting...she just gave me so much joy. May you feel the same.

Can you help me name this painting? I'm thinking it could be the subject's name.

Asta x

8/365 Paintings Challenge.

I'm calling this one Fancy Pants Valance. It was inspired by gypsy style bedding I'd seen in a book. Its about A5 in size because I'm low on supplies. I will have to restock ASAP. Thankfully a friend is bringing around some preloved acrylic paints on Friday.

I have to share that Blue Eyed Hippy has an admirer and is sold. I am thrilled. She's going to a lovely home!!!

Peace, joy and colour,

Asta x

4/365 paintings - Bright Spot

A gloriously bright corner where I imagine snuggling up with a good book. I hope it brings you joy. - Asta x

365 paintings in 365 days

1/365 Summer Rain 

And now let us welcome the New Year, full of things that have never been ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Do you still suffer from the wounds of childhood? It happened to me with painting and though I still dabbled creatively I would never call myself a painter. I'd actually do anything but paint because I did not believe I could, and if I didn't have a go I couldn't fail, now could I? But I longed to paint. (This reminds me of when I started to write fiction. Same story, just a different script.)

Then two generous artists entered my life -  Kate Forman Ortiz (who is illustrating a story I wrote) and Lucie Walker. Both speak the same language as me. I instantly connected with their bright, joyful paintings of people mostly. They celebrate humanity and all its colours. Lucie told me that I could paint. That in fact anyone can if they have the desire to do so.

And so I started. One painting at a time. The very first one was a riot of bright colours. It was one of those glorious moments when I was lost inside myself and time stood still. It was a meditation. It was a prayer. Now I paint my way to joy. I even painted my way to peace during our move to the city.  I paint and I paint and I don't care if no one else likes it. I don't care that I am self taught. And YES I am a painter. I tell people you are a writer if you write. I am a painter because I paint.

Today is New Year's day and I have started several challenges (because they motivate me), but this is the first one that I will share with you. I am going to try to paint a painting everyday - or at least 365 paintings in the 365 days we have this year. This is my first. It has been so hot here, and I realised as I painted this (like a stream of consciousness) that I was expressing my gratitude for water. As St Francis wrote in his canticle of the creatures: 'All praise be yours my Lord through Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious and pure.'

I will be posting a new painting everyday to keep me accountable. I hope to make it past this week, but for now I am taking one day (one post) at a time. Through colour may I give back to the world a little of its lost heart. - Asta x

'...in a time lacking in truth and certainty and filled with anguish and despair, no woman should be shamefaced in attempting to give back to the world, through her work, a portion of its lost heart.' - Louise Bogan.