Still life painting, losing weight and other comments

I was pleased to see two comments on my site! Wow that really creates a connection with the outside world.

I was looking at the top painting of the sunflower, statuette still life and realised that I had not created enough contrast between light and dark. A mistake I quite often make. I think over the easter week holiday I will correct that. I will post two more paintings once I can borrow Dominique's camera.

I am still finishing the photomontage painting John gave us to do. He is not going to take us for painting as they have changed the timetable around.

I have decided to record my weight loss here every week. It has been a big struggle since I arrived in Australia in October 2007, to lose weight. I have kept eating through all the stress. All the girls in my family have decided (four weeks ago) to set up a "No Fat Club". So far we are doing well. I have lost 4.l kgs. Just another 20 odd kilos to go! This year is all about self-improvement.

Here are three paintings I did last year. For quite some time I have been painting in a very smooth way, blending etc. I am trying to find a more expressive way of painting using thicker paint. Now I realise I would like to use paint both thickly and thinly. I hope this year to make a good deal of progress.

Life Drawing Class

I was really pleased with my drawings I did in the life drawing class yesterday.
I attend an untutored life drawing class given by Emmy Mavroidis (Nyora Studio Gallery). The model was really involved and considers his posing "performance art". I felt a connection with him in that he exuded a certain "drama" which I think has come through in my drawing. I will attempt to put this on my blog site. Here goes.....

The Dove

The Dove (now named Jenny) is in fact a Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) also known as the Spotted Turtle Dove. It is common and widespread. They build a stick nest in a tree and lay two white, glossy eggs. Well Jenny managed only one. In southern Australia they breed mostly from September to January.