#13 Boats in Marsaxlokk

Here's a view from the Marsaxlokk bay, in Malta's south east coast. That was fun to paint, especially the Luzzu boat on the right, I'll definitely be painting more of those!

Acrylics on canvas board - 8x8 inches (20x20cm) - $90

#12 Vallon Pont d'Arc

Here's a plein air pastel drawing I did today in Vallon Pont d'Arc (Ardèche, South of France). Funny how I never really found inspiration in my own region of the world when it actually is a nice looking place! 

I so have to quote Marcel Proust: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes".

Soft pastels on pastel paper - 9 x 12 - $50

#11 Barooga State Forest

I've been having quite a hard time finding inspiration lately, hence my lack of updating...

I went back to pastels, which I find so versatile. I hadn't really considered them for landscapes before but they ended up being the perfect media for loosing up my style.

Here is a pastel drawing of the Barooga Forest and the Murray river. I spent about two months in Cobram-Barooga and used to spend the night in my car at this exact spot, waking up everyday to see dozens of kangaroos grazing around! 

Pastels on pastel paper - 12 x 9 in - $50

#10 Red Capsicums

Here's today's painting, red capsicums in watercolours.

Writing this entry, I've discovered these are called differently according to the part of the world you're at. I have "always" called this vegetable (or fruit, as it is in fact a fruit) "capsicum" as I've learnt what the English term was in Australia. I think it's a great word. But I've just discovered that if you are in the UK you will call it a "pepper" and if you are in the US, you will either call it a "bell pepper" or a "sweet pepper". You might even call it "chilli" in the UK, or "chili" and even "chile" in the US. And you will use the term "capsicum" in Australia, New Zealand and India.

Considering we only have one word for it in French ("poivron"), I find it quite amusing to have so many different terms to call it. And some say the English language is not a rich one!

So, how do you, English speakers, call this particular veggie?

Watercolours on acid free paper 9.4" x 9.4" Not matted Nor Framed - US$ 40

And here's how it may look once matted and framed.

 

#09 Bunting street

Here's another painting from my time Down Under, Bunting street in Cairns in Queensland's tropical north.

Acrylics on cold pressed paper 8 x 8 in (20 x 20 cm) - USD100

#08 Bird of Paradise

So, it's been a long time since I have posted a painting, I guess I am really not good at keeping a blog updated... During all this time I have been away discovering the beauty of Malta, from which many paintings are sure to follow as I have been sketching a lot while on this mediterranean island. So be sure to come and check out this page soon to see all the beauties (or at least some of them!) Malta has to offer!

For now, here's a painting from a photo I took in Bundaberg, Australia a few years back. Birds of Paradise are such beautiful flowers, the only problem is huge and ugly spiders seem to love them as much as I do!

Acrylics on cold pressed acid free paper 8 x 8 in - USD100

#07 Song Thrush II

Here's another painting of the birds I spotted the other day; here trying to grab some food :)

Acrylics on cold pressed paper 8 x 8 - $75

#06 Teddy Bears

Acrilcs on cold pressed paper 8 x 8 - $85

#05 Australian Ibis

Australian white ibis spotted in South Bank, Brisbane, Aus.

Acylics on canvas board 8 x 8 - 100USD

#04 Song Thrush

I spotted this bird out of my window this morning. There were actually several of them looking for food. Birds are one of my favorite subjects to paint so I'll probably be painting a lot of them. I'll actually be painting more of this song thrush the next few days as it was striking heaps of great poses for me to photograph!

Acrylics on cold pressed paper 8x8 - 75USD