Sunday Sketches

It may be a bit late in the day but I'm here for another Sunday Sketches.  Today's sketch is a little fishy.  Just doodles really and allowing my pen to follow my imagination.

I hope you are all well and please join me to look at the other entries, I just know they will be fab!

Happy Sunday to you all.

Helen xx

Sunday Sketches

Hello and oh my I've made it to another Sunday Sketches post.  It's been a bit too long but let's not dwell on  that....at last I can unveil the finished Octonaut's Banner.

I decided not to paint 'Happy 4th Birthday Ollie' on it as after all the work that went into it, I thought that Ollie would like to hang it on his wall.....which he has done.  So lovely Jim found the Octonaut font and created a separate banner with the words on which I must say looked good.

This was a real challenge for me (a labour of love) as I've not painted such a huge long piece of work before and it was difficult to find places to lay it out.  I've certainly learned a lot from this should I ever be mad enough to offer to do this again (although I fear I already have....).

Above are some shots of each piece of the banner as it was over 6ft long.  I decided to scan in and print off the characters faces, logo's and the inside the Octopod and stuck those on to give a more realistic effect.  The rest was all painted in acrylic paint on wallpaper....a remnant of the cottage renovation.

 And here's the birthday boy himself!

Please join me in visiting the other Sunday Sketchers.....there is always such a variety of artwork to see.

Happy Sunday to you!

Helen xx

ps....I think if you click on the images you get a larger version which may help when viewing the banner.

Sunday Sketches

Time for Sunday Sketches and this week I've included a sketch of an Octonaut - Kwazi to be precise.

I offered to do a large Happy Birthday banner for Ollie's 4th birthday party which is in the middle of June and I thought I ought to get sketching and get some ideas down,  I didn't get time to put some colour on it, but will post it up and probably some others another time.  If you click on it you should get a larger picture.

I hope your Sunday is going well.  It's a rather wet one here so it's housework, film time with Daisy and then some ironing for me.  Still, I'd rather do that on a rainy Sunday than a sunny Sunday.

Please join me at Sophia's blog to check out the others.

Happy Sunday xxx

Sunday Sketches

Happy Happy Sunday to you all. I am liking this habit of posting an entry for Sunday Sketches. Last year I did quite a few but other stuff just got in the way so it's great to feel like I am back!

Here's the finished Desert Island Pip. Had fun again just letting my imagination run free. Wonder if she will find any treasure?

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. We went to the local St George's Day celebrations yesterday and had a fab time. Jim was taking pictures for the local Business Association and I snuck a few in too. It really was a great procession and I especially loved the Harley's and the mopeds at the end. The noise was deafening but absolutely wonderful. I will post some more pictures soon but in the meantime, please head over to Sophia's blog to check out the other entries.

Happy Sunday.

Helen x

Sunday Sketches

Well a week after my last blog post I am back with a half finished sketch of Pip. It's been a week where I haven't blogged, but where I've spent time with my family, remembered the passing of my dear Dad and dealt with some serious day job work stuff. So I haven't really made the time to do much blogging or creative stuff. My soul has needed the break.

Time with the family was really needed and I will post some pictures soon of a farm trip.

I hope you are all well and that life is being kind to you and please head on over to Blue Chair Diary's blog to look at the other Sunday Sketches entries.

Helen xxx

Sunday Sketches

Sorry for the awful iPhone picture but we are heading out to Brighton today to see my best friend, so I didn't have time to get the fancy camera out.

I've made it to another Sunday Sketches.....so feeling very chuffed with myself. Pip has reared her pretty head again and this time finds herself on a Desert Island......I've not finished the drawing yet as want to add in some other sea creatures, so it's very much a work in progress.

Hope everyone is having a lovely Easter and a great Bank Holiday weekend.

Please head over to the wonderful Blue Chair Diary's blog to check out the others.

Happy Sunday xx

Sunday Sketches

Another Sunday Sketches - wow this is becoming a very good habit :o) These are Lien's Converse - they are black but I just wanted to draw the outline. I am debating whether to go over them in ink and then use an ink wash, but I kind of like the simple sketch, It was fun to do and really relaxing too.

Talking of relaxing, I am so tired today after helping Jim photograph a wedding yesterday and we didn't get home until late. So entertaining a 5 and a half year old and an almost 4 year old is taking every last ounce of energy I have. We are off to the park in a mo, so hopefully they will run off some of their energy while we try and relax.

Please head over to Blue Chair Diary to check out the other Sunday Sketches.

Happy Sunday x

Sunday Sketches

Hello and can you believe I've made it to another Sunday Sketches this week. It's only a little doodle I did using my new gouache paints (can you tell I am in love) and pen. A bit of fun. Also a bit ironic as we are having gorgeous spring weather here (no rain in sight) and I am posting this just before we head out to Kew Gardens for the afternoon.

I have had a lovely weekend so far and wishes for this weather to continue. It sure makes everyone happy and the world a brighter place.

Please head over to Sophia's blog to check out the other entries....I promise to as soon as I'm back from the afternoon outing.

Happy HAPPY Sunday and Happy Sunday Sketches.

Helen x

Pirate Pip - Here she is!

Good Morning! It's Sunday, the sun is shining and it's Mother's Day here in the UK. Wonderful. Happy Mothers Day to you all.

Here's the finished Pirate Pip sketch. I meant to post it the other day but the last few days have been a bit busy. I am pleased with how she turned out and I had fun using my gouache paints for this.

I haven't done a Sunday Sketches entry in ages, so I hope you don't mind me popping by and adding my sketch.

Wishing you all a lovely day. We are off soon to a kiddies party, then poor Jim is pretty much working the rest of the day editing a busy week of photography. Still, being able to follow your passion makes working at weekends worthwhile.

Have a fab day and please head on over to Sophia's blog to check out the other

Helen

Sunday Sketches

Well I have made it for another Sunday Sketches - at least I am consistent with my inconsistency!

I haven't been sketching as much as I would like but I have been sketching some Christmas ideas and doodles, some for cards, some just so that I can let it flow and see what happens. Below are a couple that I did with a Christmas theme (strangely enough!).

Yesterday morning I was recovering from helping my lovely Jim out on an event he was working at. It was a long evening and I didn't get home until 3,30am but we did have lots of fun. From a mere people watching point of view, I loved seeing all the women in their different outfits and the variety of styles. And as for the shoes....wow......I think it was a contest to see who could wear the highest. But it was great and some of the men made a real effort too!

However, children don't understand a 3,30am late night and needless to say it required a lot of energy to keep going throughout the day. So I treated myself to a trip to Hobbycraft where I purchased a few goodies to make some things with.

This morning Jim has another photoshoot with a family which should be fun and then I think he wants to take a few pictures of the kids for the various relatives to send with cards - so a photography and creative filled weekend - perfect!

Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and please head over to Sophia's blog to see the other Sunday Sketches pictures.

Helen

Sunday Sketches

I've made it to another Sunday Sketch and I have learned not to declare that I will make sure I do one each week (as typically say that is a kiss of death for me), but I will enter as often as I can.

This week I was doodling ideas for Christmas Cards and I doodled up a Father Christmas and put some light watercolours on it. Just having a bit of fun really, but that is what it is all about.

Please head over to Sophia's blog where you can find lots of other creative people showing their amazing artwork.

Today I shall be cleaning and putting back all my crockery etc into my new kitchen and then once the floor has been laid it will all be done. Hurrah! Only 5 years after moving in, I now have a new kitchen.

Hope you all have a brilliant Sunday xx

Sunday Sketches

Well I am so VERY excited. I have spent all week painting, painting and painting and had the best time. I have painted one picture, almost finished another one and started my next. I feel like a little production line. My excitement is due to the fact that when I painted the first one I tried to take photographs at most stages to see how the painting has developed. I have done this almost at every stage (there is always a part when you get so engrossed that you forget!). And what I have done is put it all in a little video for you to see. And this is my first EVER attempt at doing this so please bear with me....I hope they get better as I plan on doing more.

Here's my entry for this weeks Sunday Sketch, and although I know it isn't exactly a sketch, I couldn't do any sketching as well.... I was painting (big smiley face).

Seascape - Acrylic 12" x 12"

Here's the video, I hope you enjoy. Please check out the other Sunday Sketches and have a great day!

Seascape - A painting in progress from Helen Mills on Vimeo.

Sunday Sketches

It's not been a very creative week and I really do miss being creative. It's my core, it's in my soul so when I am not able to create it just doesn't feel right.

So as I have been unable to do anything to last weeks idea, I grabbed an old painting which is still taped to my painting board and decided enough was enough and that I was going to finish it one way or another. I've been working on it on and off for a couple of months now, dabbling every now and then but not actually making any decisions on it. So here it is, finished. I am not doing anymore to it and although I am not sure what to do with it, I may use parts of it as postcards or greetings cards. I won't cut it up, but just use photographs to find an area I like. You can see the previous stage here.

Click the picture for a larger view.

Please join me at The Blue Chair Diary for the other Sunday Sketches.....a great bunch of people with wonderful ideas and art.

Have a lovely Sunday. We have sunshine where I am in the UK and it's been beautiful for the past few days, so Jim, Daisy and I may head off to Kew Gardens, providing I can find my membership card that is.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Sunday Sketches

This weeks sketch for Sunday Sketches is based on the lyrics of an Elbow song, Great Expectations. I saw them at the O2 on Monday and they were brilliant....actually better than brilliant. We had fantastic seats and they played all my favourite songs, so I was one happy bunny.

The sketches are very much a work in progress as I am still trying to work out the composition of the picture, but I thought I would share my progress so far.

I hope you all have a great Sunday and please join me in checking out the other entries.

Helen xx

Sunday Sketches

This weeks Sunday Sketch is another whimsical piece......maybe the older more serene sister of last weeks.

I used too much water as the paper in my sketchbook crinkled up a bit, so I am thinking of applying gesso to the page first and then using acrylics to paint my next piece, whatever that might be.
Please check out the other sketches done, everyone is just so talented.

Have a great Sunday xx

Sunday Sketches

I haven't had that much time to be creative this week......actually lets rephrase that, I've been feeling so tired and a bit sick, that I haven't wanted to be creative, but instead I've taken myself to bed quite early most nights. Sleep has been what I have needed this week.

However, I made this little whimsical sketch in the hope to try out some new ideas and see what happens. It's halfway through as a sketch and I will put some colour on it, have a play about and may even use it as a basis for a painting at a later date.

Just putting pencil to paper, letting the pencil find it's own way and enjoying the process gratifies my soul.

Please join me in checking out the other Sunday Sketches hosted by Sophia as it's a great community of talented artists.

Have a sunshine Sunday xx

Sunday Sketches

My entry for this weeks Sunday Sketches hosted by Sophia, is from the Stretching to Sketch challenge by Kelly Berkey. I had lots of fun doing this and I hadn't used pastels in ages, so it was lovely to do. Kelly will be posting up all the entries soon so please keep on checking her blog to find out when.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. I'm off to a BBQ later, which considering it's March and raining in London, it should interesting!

Happy Sunday! xx

Sunday Sketches

A late Sunday Sketch entry today, but it's here at last.

I shall head over to Sophia's blog to check out the others.

Take care.

Sunday Sketches

Happy Sunday to you all. The sun is shining where I am which is lovely as it's been dull for the last few days.

My sketch this week is of some shells that have been collected, which are surrounded by words that came to mind when I think about the sea. One day I will live by there....

I've just sat down with a cuppa and having a bit of a quiet time until Daisy and Jim come back from swimming.

I'm sad to say that Sophia will not be hosting a Sunday Sketch this week as her father has undergone emergency surgery. My thoughts and prayers are with her and I hope her Dad gets better soon.

I hope you have a good Sunday wherever you are and whatever you do x