Sunday, 12 July 2015

Egg-beater


                                                              Pen and watercolour

This is the first sketch I've done for a while so I felt a bit rusty when I got out my sketch book this evening. I went straight in with the ink pen and made quite a few false starts with the perspective. But it's amazing what can be covered up with some strategically placed rendering. This egg-beater is battered but beloved, and hails from my childhood.

I have finally finished writing the book I have been working on for nearly three years!!! I can hardly believe it as it seemed I would never get to the end of it. In recent months, every ounce of my creative energy has been devoted to working on it. The editing process has been incredibly intense and time-consuming; hence my absence from painting and blogging lately. The official publishing date is the 20th July so hopefully it will feature in my next post.

 As much as I've enjoyed many aspects of writing the book, I will be very glad to be free to move onto other projects. Getting a book over the last hurdles is all-consuming and I've really missed having a life outside of it these past couple of months.

I've barely had a moment to spend in the garden other than to pluck rogue snails from my miniature garden and re-locate them to hopefully tastier and more robust parts of the garden. They've eaten the miniature "lawn" to the roots. I hate to kill them but I may need to harden my heart. The snails I pluck afresh are beginning to look familiar. I think they are able to move much more quickly than they let on!
 
 
 
Thankfully, the snails don't like to eat moss so that is looking very lush. And just look at these  exquisite little pink flowers!(you may need to click onto the photo to get a good look!)


 
I'm looking forward to revealing all with my book very soon!!!


                                 
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35 comments:

  1. Laura12 July 2015 at 15:36

    Nice to see you sketching again Wendy. Your whisk is fab and brings back a few of my own childhood memories.

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  2. Wendy Barrett12 July 2015 at 18:56

    Thanks Laura! Your sketching output of late has been truly inspiring!

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  3. juliefordoliver.blogspot.com12 July 2015 at 20:28

    You are brave, Wendy. First time in a while that you do a sketch and you choose a pretty difficult object to do.
    I think you did an incredible job especially on those beaters with the foreshortened perspective.
    Congratulations on finishing your book. I will look forward to seeing it featured on your next post.
    Snails...you should see what happens in a fish tank!

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    1. Wendy Barrett13 July 2015 at 05:42

      You are very kind Julie - I really appreciate your comments!
      Yes, I had forgotten about fish-tank snails and how voracious they are too!
      Your latest painting is divine!!

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  4. Polly Birchall12 July 2015 at 23:31

    Well you picked a difficult for your sketch with all those angles. Great sketch

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    1. Wendy Barrett13 July 2015 at 05:43

      Thanks so much Polly! I did wonder what I was thinking once I got started, but it was too late by then!

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  5. Celia Blanco13 July 2015 at 13:17

    Hi Wendy! I'm so happy you are back sketching again. I love the wonderful details in the beaters, well done! Congratulations for your finished book!! Will be looking out for your post... the worn out travelers will be home soon too!

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    1. Wendy Barrett13 July 2015 at 18:51

      Thank you Celia! Yes, they arrive home tomorrow. I don't envy them that flight home!
      I love your wave sketches!

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  6. Lorraine Brown13 July 2015 at 14:03

    Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog Wendy, great to see you back in blog land. Congrats on finishing your book

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    1. Wendy Barrett13 July 2015 at 18:51

      Thanks Lorraine! I'm glad to be back and will enjoy keeping up with your beautiful paintings!

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  7. Joan Tavolott13 July 2015 at 18:44

    I have missed your sketching! Glad to see you back. How wonderful that your book is finished!!!

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    1. Wendy Barrett15 July 2015 at 05:13

      Thanks Joan! I have really enjoyed catching up on your blog again - always jam-packed with gems!!

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  8. Helen Cooper15 July 2015 at 01:20

    Love this egg-beater! It's sensational, you've made an everyday object beautiful. Enjoyed your grade photos too. Oh and can't wait for news about ypur book!!! XXX

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    1. Wendy Barrett15 July 2015 at 05:14

      Thanks so much Helen! I really appreciate all your support!! Love your latest sporty guy!!

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  9. Unknown15 July 2015 at 04:39

    Wendy, Congratulations!!!! So happy for you to have completed your book, it must have been a monumental effort. I have a friend here who is also an author and she has just finished her 2nd book, and my goodness I thought she was drowning in the edit at one point. Cant wait to hear more about it all. The egg beater sketch is beautiful and well rendered considering your absence from drawing, probably you just really 'needed' to do it after all the book publishing stuff. Nice to work on something from your childhood too. I absolutely LOVE your miniature garden, those sweet little pink flowers on the branch are adorable. Also the bridge and the pebble path to the toadstools, so sweet. I love how all the native plants are miniature things, something special about miniatures, they take me back to my childhood. Thanks for your helpful comments on my own blog posts lately, really appreciate you taking the time to give me your input. thanks.

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    1. Wendy Barrett15 July 2015 at 05:25

      Thanks for all your great comments and support Sally! How exciting for your friend to have just completed her second book - congratulations to her!!
      I very much enjoyed catching up on your blog - your artwork is wonderful and I always enjoy reading about the thinking behind your paintings! Very happy to offer input anytime - for what it's worth! I'm always in awe of your vast body of knowledge when it comes to technique and theory.

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  10. Barbara Muir15 July 2015 at 10:53

    What a super drawing and post Wendy. Thank you for your kind comments. You are really a superwoman aren't you -- coming out with a book, and still managing to do a gorgeous drawing! The garden looks lovely.
    You always make me feel fantastic when I see your work, read your posts, and read you lovely comments on my blog too. You rock girl!

    XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

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    1. Wendy Barrett16 July 2015 at 23:24

      You are very kind Barbara and have put me to the blush!
      Your blog is an ongoing inspiration!

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  11. Lisa Daria15 July 2015 at 14:21

    I love the line work and the color palette of this sketch - it looks so confident, not at all like it gave you trouble at the beginning of it! Congratulations on finishing your book!

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    1. Wendy Barrett16 July 2015 at 23:25

      Lovely to hear from you Lisa! Thanks for your encouragement. Your daily paintings are a source of constant inspiration and awe!

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  12. Karen Johnston Daily Paintings15 July 2015 at 18:33

    Love your eggbeater, you did a great job of a difficult subject! So pleased you finished your book, what a wonderful accomplishment! I can't wait to see your next post. Your garden is a delight!!

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    1. Wendy Barrett16 July 2015 at 23:25

      Thanks so much Karen. Loved catching up on your latest work and seeing your new studio - very exciting!

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  13. Diane Mannion16 July 2015 at 08:35

    Fine job on that complicated eggbeater, Wendy! Looking forward to hearing about your book. Congrats!

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    1. Wendy Barrett16 July 2015 at 23:28

      Thanks for visiting Diane! I appreciate your kind comments and have very much enjoyed catching up on your blog!

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  14. Unknown19 July 2015 at 04:53

    Love you painting! And the book.... wow! That's wonderful! I want one!

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  15. Wendy Barrett19 July 2015 at 05:42

    You are very kind Katherine!! Your latest creative exploits have been very inspiring. Your illustrations are stunning!

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  16. Debbie Nolan19 July 2015 at 16:30

    Oh Wendy - what a tremendous accomplishment. So glad you are now finished and ready to move on with another project or two. Hope you will take some time out to sketch and enjoy a bit of relaxation. Your garden is wonderful and I love your sketch of the egg beater. Isn't it amazing what we prize as we age? I have a metal spatula that was my grandma's and lovingly use it often. Hugs - will email you soon!

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    1. Wendy Barrett21 July 2015 at 20:59

      Hi Debbie, thanks for all your lovely comments! Unfortunately the paint on this egg-beater peels off too easily so I don't like to use it for fear of getting paint in the food. Yes, I have already caught up on a few smaller projects since finishing the book and it's been great to have a change in focus.
      I love seeing your photos of what is happening in your summer garden and kitchen!

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  17. David Teter19 July 2015 at 22:22

    Congrats on your book completion Wendy! I look forward to your post on it. Great sketch, you really did capture that battered quality of the egg beater, your beloved egg beater! I do love these old things we artists paint.
    Projects like books are always more work than we think in the beginning aren't they? But you did it!
    Oh... and the snails, Yes they are the same ones! The modern snail drives a car around, sooo fancy!... S-Car-Go! ; )

    Keep painting and sketching...

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    1. Wendy Barrett21 July 2015 at 21:18

      Thanks so much David! Yes, it's fun to capture the character of an old object! I'm impressed with all the great work you've been creating for your Art-Affair exhibition!
      Very amusing about the snails!!

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  18. Kaethe Bealer20 July 2015 at 21:17

    I think you have the Midas touch! Your garden, food, photography and art! Really, is there anything you can't do? Truly amazing...can't wait to see the book!

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    1. Wendy Barrett21 July 2015 at 21:22

      You are very kind Kaethe! Creativity is fun in every guise isn't it? - there just isn't enough time in one life-time to indulge in every interest unfortunately! Food is not my forte though - you are probably admiring others' creations that I have photographed!:)
      Love your recent cat portraits!

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  19. Haddock21 July 2015 at 06:26

    The egg beater has come out perfect. Reminds me of the one we had at home many decades ago.

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    1. Wendy Barrett21 July 2015 at 21:22

      Thanks so much for visiting and for your very kind comments!

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  20. Rosemary28 July 2015 at 04:13

    Dear Wendy - the egg beater is like the one my mother had too - I don't expect there was much choice in their day - it was most likely a case of one size fits all.

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