Taking Flight

This is a painting I've been mulling over for nearly three years, ever since a wonderful walk along a beach in Devon. The previous day had been stormy, the seas were rough, and the evidence was there on the sandy beach - huge clumps of seaweed washed up by the waves, and making the most of what must have been a feast were flocks of black headed gulls (in winter plumage of white and grey with a dark spot on their heads rather then the summer plumage with a black cap). As we walked along the shoreline the gulls took off, then returned when we had passed by.

A large painting, 21 x 14 inches on Fabriano Artistico extra white rough paper. I used a collection of reference images taken that day to arrange the gulls for a pleasing composition. I'm satisfield with how it's turned out.
©Ruth S Harris 2008

Sad Demise

On a recent walk through Hereford I noticed an old friend had gone. She'd cheered up visitors to the Cathedral for two weeks every May for many years, but this year her presence will be missed, she's gone forever.

The building which supported her was in need of some work, so the contractors took a hacksaw and chopped her off just above the roots, a sad end for a beautiful wisteria which had flowered her heart out every year, covering the large Georgian building with purple chandeliers.

I'm relieved I managed to get some photos before this happened, and had a chance to paint some of the flowers.

Watercolour Tulip Tutorial

I wrote this tutorial a while ago for an online forum and it just occurred to me that I could share it here! It should be clickable for a larger, readable image. Hope it's of some interest!

Saving your best work?

I've started to go through some of the older work that I kept for myself, re-evaluating whether it should be on my walls or whether I should sell it. Mostly I prefer my more recent work, but occasionally I find a painting that still speaks to me, reminds me of a special time or place, and I can't imagine letting go.

This is one that I had kept back, but I think it's time to let it go to a new home where it will be seen and loved. "Peaceful Place" (2005) was a favourite, but I have another painting of the same place which speaks to me more.


I have many more to go through still, so many memories to revive - this could be emotional!

How do you get your artwork seen by prospective customers? The old way was to take it to a bricks and mortar gallery, sign away your life (or at lease 40% of the sale price) and hope the right person would walk in - not the best method. Then Ebay came along, and for a while it was good, then fees escalated, sales took a nosedive. There is hope though - www.etsy.com is a new sales venue for all things handmade!

I've opened a shop on etsy to increase my online presence, the site has a real community feel, sellers and customers are friendly. Artists and craftspeople have a new venue for selling!

Time to get into a new routine, I need to update my blog regularly with my latest adventures in art!

Recently I seem to have had a breakthrough of sorts - I feel like I know what I'm doing, know how to make a painting work. Friends say they see a difference in my work, that it seems more cohesive, background and subject working together as a whole. I don't know where this comes from, but I want it to continue, to never have that awful panic when I realise something is going completely wrong.

That wouldn't be good though, because every time I have a lull, a bad spell, where it seems I can't do right, when I reach the other side I've improved, found a new direction or the answer to a problem I didn't realise I had.

I guess I should just carry on, enjoying the good times and embracing the bad times!

Some recent work, completed in the good times!

Lacy Days

Sunburst