Monday, November 11, 2019

WITCHES' BROOM TREE WIP 🧹 OIL PAINTING

I love the trees! 



I love collecting their leaves, their seeds, the conks that I sometimes find on their trunks on my woodland walks and of course taking their photos. 

I also love the illustrations and paintings of trees, particularly the ones done by 19th - century British artists.

The Witch Broom Tree in this painting was inspired by Emily Carr's gorgeous trees of British Columbia.

"In 1818 Constable exhibited a beautiful drawing of elm trees at the Royal Academy. It failed to sell and so it was still in Constable’s possession two decades later, when he added a note on the back to the effect that “This noble Elm … was blown down April 1835.” It was a portrait, in other words, of a particular tree, one whose fortunes he continued to follow, and whose eventual loss he lamented long after he’d moved away from the area." ~ Professor Christiana Payne


And like John Constable, I adore painting them. When I came upon a tree down the road from where I live that looked quite peculiar I took a few photos of the tree for future reference which would come in handy when I went to paint it. At the time I didn't know why the tree was afflicted with such unusual, odd-looking, broom-like distortions but after looking it up online I discovered it was disease trees get and not from witches : )

I suppose the namesake is because it reminds one of a spooky broom belonging to a witch. So I decided to paint the Witch Broom Tree in oil but it was my first time painting entirely in oil and I didn't realize just how long it takes for the painting to dry and cure. This painting is still very wet.

I added a couple of spiders and webs to the tree and eventually would like to add a black cat and create more depth to the scenery before it's complete. Hopefully, in the process, I wouldn't destroy it.






















REMEMBRANCE DAY NOVEMBER 11 2019


NOVEMBER 11TH / 2019 





 REMEMBER




by InspiringYoungMinds.ca


Thursday, November 7, 2019

Bewitching Moon ~ Patrizia Gattaceca 🌝

Bewitching Moon

I'm bewitched by the moon. Too often I fail in capturing photographs of the moon but this is one of the rare moments I caught the moon and its magic.







Bewitching Moon

Over the top of the mountains the moon 
Rose unexpectedly
In the sky it drifted,
A bird, a fairy!
Blown out, round and sweet
Melon-like!
It danced in the sky
Impassioned
In the fragrant night,
Lighting every road,
Making my head swim,
My senses dazed.
Did I dream?
Did I really see you?
You fell into the well
Like the declining sun.
Moon, wink at me
Bright Moon, magic moon
The mirror of the loving girl,
Peep out at the balcony!

Patrizia Gattaceca

Monday, November 4, 2019

Dead People's Stuff , Psychometry and a New Painting "Mom & Me on Halloween "πŸŽƒπŸ±πŸ±πŸŽƒ



I love hunting for treasures and coming home with a souvenir someone long ago had loved. Something old just makes a home I think. I have always believed these tokens of the heart I find on my vintage hunts hold hidden secrets and sometimes I get a picture of its old keeper especially if I bring home a group of collectibles most likely that came from the same household. I think it is easy to establish an image of the old spirit and get some inkling to their unique character. 


"Psychometry is the art of holding an object and identifying what information you receive from that object. All material things pick up psychic impressions of the people or animals that have either held or touched the object." Silver Ravenwolf





















Looking at my large collection of vintage finds I'm quite sure this house is haunted...in a good way : )


Halloween is done for another year but not for me. The spooky season never stops inspiring me so I decided to paint a tiny portrait of a mom and baby ghost cats, that sadly never made it one cold winter's night. The real story was told to me by a foster and of course, I love ghost stories and Halloween.
We have had over ten feral cats and now we are down to one who lately has been coming for 1st, breakfast, second breakfast, 3rd breakfast all before noon : )I think she is a bit confused with the cold Fall weather and time.


So with the old florentine gold gilded frame and a sad kitty cat story, I painted "Mom & Me on Halloween" 







Acrylic, Gold Leaf on wood Minature Painting 2.5 x 3.5

Friday, November 1, 2019

We Found HalloweenπŸŽƒ

On our way home from soccer, last night
we found HalloweenπŸŽƒ
It was a dark and rainy Halloween this year but someone did some magic πŸ§™‍♀️🧹and gave us HalloweenπŸŽƒπŸ‘»πŸ¦‡πŸ•·πŸ•Έ 






And I just have to share thisπŸ¦‡ Purrfect Spooky Halloween Photo of Bat taken by M. πŸ§™‍♀️
https://www.instagram.com/murtagh13/


Happy Halloween πŸŽƒ


Tuesday, October 29, 2019

πŸ•·πŸ•Έ SPIDERWOOD πŸ•·πŸ•Έ



This wood slice once was a fairy door but after my son texted me about the tarantulas he encountered at Joshua Tree National Park in California, I just had to repaint the door. Thanks for the inspiration, Ty. I know just how much you love πŸ•·πŸ•·πŸ•·πŸ˜‚
The wood slice has a hole in the middle so depending on where u place its light will shine through. A little bit of magicπŸ§™‍♀️













Wood Slice acrylic and inks 

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Bat Bat Boo ~ Happy Caturday ! 🐈 πŸ§‘πŸŽƒπŸ¦‡πŸ§Ή



BaT, Bat Boo! The spooky cute, little fella that just doesn't miss a chance at keeping my company when I paint. Do you see the cat candle ring on the taper? My daughter gave it to me and I usually wear jewelry for a few days and then eventually it gets used to decorate the house. I think I like it better on the candle than on my finger. p.s. No cat was harmed to take this photo!πŸ˜‰ HAPPY CATURDAY !!!








Thursday, October 24, 2019

Painting Cats 🐈 🐈

Painting cats 🐈. I finally got around to painting this little black cat 🐈 I have a couple of cats but can’t find them, either I donated them to the thrift store or they’re buried in the basement. Lol ☺️πŸŽƒ






Looking Spooky Cute










So, before or after?


Ooh, and the seat is a mandarin hubby and daughter dried out. If I didn’t mention it I think it could have passed as a tiny pumpkin.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Happiness is A Bat...PipistrelloπŸ¦‡πŸˆ

Happiness is A Bat...Pipistrello


I read a poem by D.H. Lawrence 'BAT', who unfortunately didn't like bats. I shared the same sentiments until my daughter got me to appreciate them on our bonfire nights. Although, I must admit I still do get a bit anxious when they fly a touch too low.

"Bats, and an uneasy creeping in one's scalp
As the bats swoop overhead!
Flying madly."


Lawrence also states in his poem that in China the Bat is a symbol of Happiness.Bat after all is a cat we must not forget but sometimes we do! I suppose half cat and half bat counts for all the happiness he's brought us πŸ¦‡πŸˆ





















Along came a bug on October 27th who almost didn't make it. The little bug though looked very much like a tiny bat and so he got the name Bat. Of course, we all have since gone batty ^..^



Couldn't wake up Bat but this other little witch-bird should be sleeping by now.








Love Bats, Cats, and Halloween πŸ¦‡πŸŽƒπŸ§ΉπŸˆ


The Bat by: Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943)


Airy-mouse, hairy mouse,
Keen-eared contrary mouse,
Come from your cavern--a star's in the sky!
Fluttering, flittering,
Eerily chittering,
Swoop on your quarry, the dusk-haunting fly.

Airy-mouse, wary mouse,
Witch-bird or fairy-mouse,
Soft through the shadow the dawn-glimmer steals;
Night's your carousing-time,
Day brings your drowsing-time;
Hence to your hollow and hang by your heels!

Thursday, October 17, 2019

A DARK AND DREARY OCTOBER SKY πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸŽƒ

Black Bats, Werewolves, Pumpkins & Cats & Haunted Trees *** 

Under this dark and dreary October sky, an otherworldly atmosphere occupies my space. Still painting but the light is escaping the room or maybe it's me : ) Love this little black velvety /rusty pumpkin I made using vintage fabric and a real pumpkin stem. Most of what you see on display are vintage treasures I collected on my country road trips to my favorite haunts. The German Werewolf Beer Stein is a recent find and the spooky cute haunted candlestick is even more adorable because it holds a wine cork candle with my birth year 1957 @ ghostales1957. The black velvet glass dish fits perfectly under the mini pumpkin. Love collecting the vintage Velvet glass and it doesn't look black in the light but sometimes it's purple or red when you place it in the light...bLACK mAGIC!





The old haunted tree candlestick and German Werewolf Stein also found treasures @ Sally


Found these sparkly bats and the starry candle votive @ Sally Ann


Something about this room, the cats just can't keep out. This time it was Maggie's turn to keep me company. 

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

CASTEL BOUS πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸ‘€πŸ§ΉπŸˆ


Urban Dictionary

Bous is a term used to define any: thing, feeling, emotion place, person, situation, experience or comment that is highly positive or loved by an individual or social group. 

'Castel Bous'
This Halloween Mixed Media Painting is done in 
Acrylic and Ink on small miniature wood panel. 
Still working on a fence for the front of the Castel : )










Can you spot the skair-ee cat ?









Boo came to mind because of the peeking ghost so when I asked hubby for help with a title he sent me the above definition and in the subject wrote "Castel Bous" misspelling 'Castle' with Castel.
The name Castel to me sounded like a wine,  which turns out there is a wine from France called, Maison Castel. Of course when stringing the two words together Castel Bous you immediately think booze :  ) I found it kind of funny so I kept the title ...'Castel Bous' * Hope you like it. 

Anna πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸ‘€πŸ§ΉπŸˆ

Saturday, October 12, 2019

A Mostly, Ghostly Night 🐺🐺🐺 πŸŽƒ πŸ‘€

"Listen to them,
Children of the Night. 
What music they make."

Bela Lugosi  Dracula 1931


PHOTOS BY M www.instagram.com/murtagh13/

Inspired by an old flick from 1931, 'Dracula', starring without a doubt the best Dracula ever, Bela Lugosi. I have always loved his line about his pet wolves so I thought why not make 3 little scary cats afraid of Dracula and his furry kids. 


 ' A Mostly, Ghostly Night ' is a  Halloween painting done in acrylic & ink on a wood slice and features a clowder of three ghostly cats, Ghost, Spooks, and Boo @ The Castle By the Sea.

When Ghost, Spooks, and Boo are invited out to the Castle for the October Halloween Ball their plans quickly change when they realize just who lives in the Castle by The Sea.

*****

~ They could hear a strange and haunting melody carried across the sea only soon realizing the music was the sound of howling wolves and they knew that only one could be their keeper, Count Dracula. 














And so, they sat on the mooring posts wondering if wolves and the vampire hunted Ghost Cats.



And when I went to paint the driftwood mooring post for 'Ghost' the cat,  I remembered a scene from my very favorite Ghost Movie, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" 1947. If you have seen the movie you know the scene I am referring to but if not, it is where 'Lucia's' daughter, 'Anna' played by Natalie Wood writes her name on the driftwood log. 





It is my name, after all, Anna. 

How could I not? Purrfect! 
I hope you like the painting and of course Bat.
Happy Halloween ~ 
🐺🐺🐺 πŸŽƒ πŸ‘€ A Mostly, Ghostly Night πŸΊπŸΊπŸΊ πŸŽƒ πŸ‘€

Anna

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