Sunday, 22 December 2013

Three more sleeps!!


This is a Christmas card design that I sent out to family and friends a few years back. I did this illustration in watercolour and ink. It is a medium I really enjoy and hope to do more of in 2014.
I didn't get cards made from my recent Christmas painting in the end. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too expensive to do a small print run. I will hopefully do a few more Christmas designs and get a larger print run organised for next year.

I'm still struggling to get over my back pain. It has put me off painting because sitting is the worst position for it. Hopefully it will resolve soon and I'll be pumping out paintings in the new year!

I've been walking along the beach a lot lately and I took my camera with me yesterday. Divine conditions and looking set to be similar for Christmas day. Rather than having a white Christmas - we are more likely to have a white-cap Christmas if there's a good swell!



I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and creative New Year!
I've really enjoyed this past year of getting to know so many people on-line and really appreciate all the support and encouragement that has come with that.
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34 comments:

  1. Lorraine Brown22 December 2013 at 20:12

    Even if it is not this years I love your sheep Christmas card Wendy. I am still keen to explore my Pure Aussie Wool seriesfurther so no doubt will have more to add tomy flock in the new year. Have a great Christmas and New Year

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:00

      Thanks Lorraine, I loved your sheep card too and look forward to seeing your series unfold. Happy New Year!

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  2. Sue Marrazzo Fine Art22 December 2013 at 20:29

    NICE Post!

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:01

      Thanks Sue, I love all the collage ornaments you made this year!

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  3. juliefordoliver.blogspot.com22 December 2013 at 22:30

    I adore the card so I do hope you do more.
    What a beautiful place you live in. Those clouds are a real kick. Swooping up and having a puffball on the end!
    Hope your Christmas is wonderful.

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:06

      Thanks so much Julie! Yes, the clouds were ridiculously stunning! I took a million photos that day.
      I hope you had a great Christmas and have a wonderful year 2014!

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  4. Laura23 December 2013 at 02:22

    How cute. Bright and sunny. A bit different to our British Christmas. Hope your back gets better. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. xx

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:07

      Thanks Laura, yes very different to your side of the world. I hope you had a wonderful cosy Christmas day. Happy New Year!

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  5. Anonymous23 December 2013 at 14:35

    Hi Wendy! What a really lovely card created in a beautiful soft style, I agree with Julie; make more of them! The sheep are so funny! Too bad that your still struggling with your back, I hope it will soon get better. Love the photo's you took of the coastline! I wish you and yours a great Christmas and a happy, healthy, creative New Year! xx :)

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:20

      Thanks so much Hilje, I do enjoy adding a touch of humour into my illustrations. I was lucky that it was such a particularly beautiful day when I took my camera along with me for my walk. I got very carried away and took over 70 photos! You can imagine my disappointment when I downloaded them all and discovered that there had been a smudge on the camera lens. It is obvious in most of the photos - you can see it in the top one here. They were all so beautiful too! At least they will still make for great art reference as I can leave the smudge out! My back is still an issue but I'm hopeful it will resolve itself soon.
      I hope you had a wonderful Christmas day and all the best for a Very Happy 2014!

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  6. Celia Blanco23 December 2013 at 15:27

    Hi Wendy, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I love your holiday card, it will be fun to see more of these in the new year. My husband suffered a bad back recently too, I hope you are feeling better. Take care and enjoy your holidays(especially the beach)!

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:25

      Thanks Celia, I might post a few more illustrations I've done over the years - not sure when I'll paint again as I'm obsessed with writing at the moment. But I'm itching to paint again too.
      Sorry to hear about your husband's back, I hope his is better now. Mine is ebbing and flowing but I'm getting more used to it at least.
      Happy New Year!!

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  7. Catharina Engberg23 December 2013 at 16:34

    Very different from our Swedish christmascards that allways is full of snow. But it´s looking good! This year it will not be a white christmas here for sure. A pity I think. I like a white christmas. Anyway. Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you a merry christmas!

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:32

      Thanks Catharina. Sorry to hear you didn't have a white Christmas.
      Happy New Year!!

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  8. Robin Rosenthal23 December 2013 at 16:49

    Wendy I hope 2014 brings you health and happiness and freedom to paint. Happy Holidays.

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:35

      Thanks Robin. I hope 2014 is a great year for you too.

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  9. art by Michael Perchard23 December 2013 at 17:08

    Hello Wendy!
    I so love the Christmas Card. (One of my ew of yours!) Would make an awesome huge painting! Great style! Whimsical and carefree. I am so happy you posted it! You have a wonderful and playful style! Do more! Also love the photos! You are so fortunate to live by the sea! Go there as much as possible!
    I am so very sorry about your back! Alas we both share the same issue. My pain is worse when sitting too! My heart goes out to you and to everyone in pain! Argghhh! I hate pain! So I hope you are on the mend. When my back pain is at its worse I try to gather as many funny movies and watch them as often as I can. Sometimes the laughter helps. Sometimes it hurts because the laughing hurts my back! Oh well! You hang in there buddy! Wishing you to pain free ASAP!
    USA Cobber Michael

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:52

      Thanks so much Michael! I'm glad you like the card. I have a lot of fun with illustrations.
      I am very sorry to hear that you have such bad back pain. You poor thing, how terrible to have been suffering from it for so long. It sounds like some times are worse than others for you? It seems like you have grown a lot through the adversity considering you always come across so joyful and vibrant despite the pain - and you are so prolific with your paintings (puts me to shame using my back as an excuse not to be painting haha! I confess it hasn't stopped me from writing though!). I hope you are able to get pain free with it eventually. Mine seemed almost resolved for a few days before Christmas but then I re-strained it with the exercises I was given for it. It has been bad again but it ebbs and flows and I'm still hopeful it will go away sooner rather than later. At least now that I've had to deal with it for about 3 months I've become a bit more used to it.
      Thanks so much for posting the gorgeous picture of the red cardinal in the snow. Such a stunning photo!! Happy New Year to you and your family!
      Your art cobber Wendy

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  10. Karen Johnston Daily Paintings23 December 2013 at 17:33

    Love this card Wendy...especially the hats on the sheep:) I hope you back gets better quickly and you can be painting again.

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 19:58

      Thanks Karen. I LOVE your painting of the lorikeets! Beautiful!

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  11. Unknown24 December 2013 at 05:40

    Aw, I hope your back feels better soon. The Christmas card is beautiful. I think it's extra special to bring back a Christmas card design from the past. It reminds you of past Christmases you've shared. The beach photos are gorgeous! Wow!

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 20:01

      Thanks so much Katherine! Yes, I find re-visiting old artwork is a very enjoyable reminder of the time in which it was done.
      We are very lucky with our pristine coast line and I try to walk along it as often as possible. I swim occasionally and would do so more often but I'm a bit shark phobic. Depends how brave - or how neurotic I'm feeling on the day!!
      All the best for a wonderful 2014!!

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  12. Laura Leeder24 December 2013 at 07:15

    What a fun card Wendy! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! A walk on the beach sounds lovely! Get Well!

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 20:03

      Thanks so much Laura! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you have a tea-riffic New Year! I love all your tea cup paintings!

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  13. David Teter28 December 2013 at 19:23

    Cool card, it has that southern hemisphere light to it, very Australian.

    Sorry about you back pain. I have my own if I stand, not sit, for long periods without moving around. Makes art galleries openings a challenge since I must constantly move and not stay put.
    Have you tried one of those kneeling chairs? It might help as it positions the lower back properly. You might be able to get more painting time in.

    BTW, what does the post title refer to? "Three more sleeps", is that an aussie expression?

    Keep painting...

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 20:46

      Thanks David.

      So sorry to hear that you too have been suffering from back pain. I hope yours will improve for you. It is awful when it impinges on your life. I don't know much about the kneeling chairs so thanks for mentioning them - I will do some research.

      The post title referred to how many more sleeps were left before Christmas day. I hadn't thought about it before as being an Aussie expression - but maybe it is. It is really something used for children when they are too young to understand dates but will understand how many more sleeps they will have before an exciting event like their birthday or Christmas arrives. It tends to be used light heartedly amongst adults sometimes too - or maybe it's just me!

      I love visiting your blog and look forward to seeing your new one!
      Wishing you a very happy and creative New Year David!

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  14. Unknown28 December 2013 at 19:59

    so sorry to hear that you are suffering with back pain Wendy, I hope that it clears up soon for you. Just love the little xmas illustration with the sheep, gorgeous photos of your beach. how wonderful to have a hot Christmas, i miss it very much. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 20:56

      Thanks so much Sally! We had glorious weather for Christmas day and either side of it too. Not too hot thankfully. Around the 30C degree mark and with lovely early sea breezes. Sounds like you had a very snug and snowy Christmas but sorry to hear about the power outages.
      I hope you and your family have a very happy and healthy and creative New Year Sally!

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  15. Lynette Smith29 December 2013 at 04:53

    Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Wendy! Love your paintings, and look forward to seeing more of them in this coming New Year!

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    1. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 20:57

      Thanks so much Lynette! I hope you have a wonderful time in 2014 with lots of time to paint your beautiful pictures!

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  16. Jane30 December 2013 at 08:48

    What a lovely and creative Christmas card ! Wish you a wonderful 2014 and all the best for your health. Back pain is just bad . xx

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  17. Wendy Barrett31 December 2013 at 20:58

    Thanks so much Jane! I've so enjoyed visiting your blog this past year and look forward to seeing what you post in 2014. Hope you have a very Happy New Year!!

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  18. Kaethe Bealer3 January 2014 at 08:27

    Miss your paintings but love the photos! Hope you are able to paint soon and are feeling better!

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    1. Wendy Barrett11 January 2014 at 21:31

      Thanks Kaethe! I love what you are doing in the 30/30 challenge!

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