Hello!

It's been a crazy busy week which always means my art and blogging suffer. However I did find time to go the the BP Portrait Exhibition 2011 at the National Gallery last week before the exhibition ended. Considering I walk past the Gallery every day it took me a while to make it!

This painting of George O'Dowd aka Boy George by Layla Lyons just blew me away. This photograph does not do it justice as it is far more colourful in person, and at almost 2 metres in height it really has an amazing impact. If I was Boy George, I would be over the moon with this portrait. What I loved most was seeing it up close, seeing the brush strokes and then standing back and feeling blown away by it! Very Inspirational!

I hope to have more painting time this week and an update on some works in progress.

Happy Monday.

Helen xx

Forest Garden - painting in progress video

It's been a busy weekend what with nursery graduation for Daisy (nursery did a graduation party for the children leaving nursery and starting school), painting and doing more stuff to the house and of course keeping the kids entertained!

I did find time to finally put the video together of the progress of my Forest Garden painting, which I hope you enjoy.

Forest Garden - mixed media painting from Helen Mills on Vimeo.

Hope you have a good Monday!

Helen xx

I am in love

I was looking online last week for ideas for my wedding. I love the idea of a 50's themed wedding but I am not too sure I would suit the dress. However, it doesn't stop me from falling in love with them. I will post my findings as and when I can and right now I have to show you this dress. I can imagine Carrie Bradshaw from SITC wearing it. It just made me gasp when I saw it!

I am so in love with this dress. The designer and creator of this dreamy dress is Brighton based Joanne Fleming. You can find her blog here and also if you search Joanne Fleming Design on Facebook you can find her page. I highly suggest you like it!

I have to say that her dresses are just wonderful and all so individual. I am all for supporting local artists, whether they are potters, knitters, dressmakers, musicians or painters. And I am blown away at the talent we have in this country.

Talking of art, I have been cleaning out my studio space the last few nights as it's incredibly messy, and as I don't mind working in a mess it gets to the point where eventually I can't stand it any more. I will post up some more pictures soon of the paintings I started last week.

Have a good Thursday....almost the weekend!

Two more on the go

An observation
When I don’t paint or create I feel like something major is missing from my life. I feel restless, frustrated and sometimes miserable.

Solution
Paint more (simple!)

Problem
Time (Life sometimes gets in the way)

What needs to go?
Internet time

Wise words from countless successful artists.....paint every day or as often as you can. It doesn’t always matter what but the fact that you are taking action generates activities which can in turn generate success.

So it seems I need to paint more, stop wasting time on the internet and do a little every day.

My new mantra I reckon.....

The start of two new paintings......

Have a good weekend!

Forest Garden

Here's my finished painting. It's like nothing I have painted before and I have used lots of different techniques and methods and really enjoyed the process.

I used inks, pencil, acrylic, surgical spirit and lots of water. I let the paint run, drip and splash. I had no agenda as to how I wanted the final picture to end up.....all I knew was that I wanted to be guided by instinct and that is what happened.

Anyway, here it is and it's also in time for Paint Party Friday - yay!

I will be posting more on this making of this painting soon, but in the meantime, take care and have a wonderful Friday.

Helen x x

ps - click on the picture for a larger image

I just love this

I came across this dress on the make something blog. I love it....from the hand-dyed silk to the actual style of it. So simple but utterly wonderful.

For more pictures and information, please click here.

Hope you're having a good week. I attended my online Paint Free class last night and I really enjoyed myself. I'm looking forward to seeing where this course takes me and my art.

I have also finished my recent painting which I intend to call 'Forest Garden' and I will post pictures of that in the next day or so.

I wish I could paint all day....

xox