The Virtual Paintout - November Challenge

I loved the idea of painting Rio de Janeiro and I was hoping to send in three paintings being my usual over-ambitious self, but after flopping on the first one, I decided to take the plunge and do this gorgeous window at Louis Vuitton. I was going to do it in oils but I am so glad I used gouache because it is so much faster and I sent this in at the last minute. I chose a window again, because I just adore painting them. They are often works of art in themselves and the reflections are a major challenge, but massive fun. I've shown the screenshot below my work which gives an idea of what inspired me. And to think I was giving up on challenges. It just goes to show one never knows what will happen.

"Window at Louis Vuitton - Ave. Garcia de Avila, Rio De Janeiro"
Gouache on Watercolour Paper - 11.5" x 11.5" (Approx.)

All scenes painted from Google Streetmaps with permission.

Twitter Exhibition in Moss, Norway - SOLD

A few weeks ago, one of my Twitter artist friends, David Sandum, decided to stage an exhibition in Moss, Norway, to raise money for a children's library. Via Twitter he invited everyone with a Twitter account to send in a postcard sized painting on paper to be sold off to raise funds for this library. I thought this was a super idea and sent in the painting below. I based it on the photograph I used for one of my favourite asparagus paintings in July earlier this year. (Holy mackerel...was it that long ago?!) I had started out with a painting of a tube of oil paint standing on its 'head' but that didn't work out with gouache for some reason or another, hence the asparagus' emerging again. It is more simplified than the oil painting, but it was fun to paint and include the colours of the beautiful Norwegian flag. I haven't been painting for ages due to time constraints, but now that I have absolutely no deadlines to meet, or paintings to send into a challenge, I am going to paint and draw completely for myself. I look forward to seeing what crops up in my work as I also feel a new creative energy rising. I'll let everyone know if this painting sells. They are going for about $20 so there's hope that someone might want this. I hope so anyway.

"Asparagus for Norway"
Watercolour and Gouache on Watercolour Paper - 6.5" x 5.5" (Approx)