new painting - 'Sugar high'

 I am so excited to have the second piece complete for the 'Let them Eat Cake' series.

This was so fun to paint.. I love little Chickadees.. they always look too cute to be real ;)

'Sugar High'

acrylic on canvas

14 x 14"
SOLD

I now want bows on all my cupcakes.. like being presented with a sweet , tasty little gift ;)

Love Helen xx

Befriended by a Scissortail'

This next painting was completely inspired by a lovely encounter recently with a Scissortailed Flycatcher.

I was out cycling solo in a rural area when suddenly this beautiful bird appears right next to me, playing and dancing around my handlebars.

I was completely entranced by it's amazing long 'scissor' tail and as it would swoop up above me it would showoff the beautiful apricot/ orange flash under its wings.

My feathered friend flew along next to me for about a mile, much to my complete delight and then watched me turn the corner from a safe perch.

Couldn't wipe the grin off my face for days..

'Scissortailed Flycatcher'

Watercolor

9" x 12"

                   Original available here

Moments like those are why I just cannot stop painting birds..

sigh... I just love those little feathered pieces of heaven :)

love H xx

Commission Delivered..Azure and Saffron

I can finally show you this piece ( it was a surprise commission by a lady for her husband's birthday)  he  was delighted, (these birds have long been a collectible favorite for him)

I showed a peek in this post ..

It's a  wee Kingfisher ... :)

 ( I love that out of all the birds , these ones have touched this man so much , he has many books and works of art dedicated to the subject)

I learned so much about them while researching.. they have a protective layer which shoots across their eye when diving underwater  for fish..   I also didn't realize that their feet are a bright orange/red and they are so tiny compared to the rest of their body  :)

I think they are so precious..  

thanks for visiting...

Sending you all a magical week ahead  xxxxx Helen

Eating from my hand... new painting..

Hi people.. well I managed to squeeze in a good painting session EVEN with the kids home for the summer !
Hope all you mama artists out there are scheduling in some art 'sanity' time ..hehe..

I'm still yet to name this one ..

 9 x 12  -Watercolor

I had fun with this.. I had never drawn a hand before so I used my son Luke as a 'hand model'.  He is very excited he thinks his hand is famous now :)

Let me know your thoughts on a good title for this painting..

I have lots of ideas bubbling over for ideas with this concept.. stay tuned..
Lots of love .. Helen xx

The bees are buzzing...

Yup they are here.. it was kinda wild to be driving around with 60,000 bees in the car!
That's a total of 5 hives 'worth'.. there was 12,000 in each 'package' of bees. 2 for us..  and some for 2 different lots of friends.

 Soo much excitement. ....here are some shots of our sexy  outfits...ooh yes.. the latest in pin-up for beekepers'..hehe

 Fellow 'Newbie beekeeper' Leslie made gorgeous honey sangria' to sweeten our nerves while hiving our new friends. YUM!!  beekeper nectar..essential!

Here is a shot of Leslie 'testing' if the 'calming effects 'were working..

Now we just have to feed our little buzzy friends lots of sugar water..  and pollen patties until they get established..

Here is a pic of one of their new homes....

Yup.. that is a viewing door.. so fab to be able to open it up and peek in through their perspex window.. and jus' see what's up in bee land.. ( created by Master wood artist' Jess)  :)


Viva Bees'..

 Love from ....Beekeeper Helen XXXx

'Lime'

You didn't think I'd leave out 'lemon's' little green cousin did you?

A drop of tequila , a lick of salt and this little bird is ready for margarita time '

I know what you're thinking.. this one is very ...

....um...

...green.

Yup.. but I like green.. so 'very green' it is..

the truth be told I tried some 'Fancy Fabriano hot press' watercolor paper instead of my usual cold press... hmm kinda didn't like it..

I felt I had less control with layering.. so I guess I'm a cold press kinda girl.. ( that's how I like my olive oil too). Olives are green too .. so yes that last statement is TOTALLY relevant to this post !

Hehe.. I am just rambling..

Toodle..oo ! Luv H x

Lemon

A splash of yellow !

.. A tidbit of info about me.. I drink hot water with lemon and honey every morning to wake up..

I'm just not a coffee or tea girl..

I love lemons.. the scent of lemon blossom just sends me... xxx