"Time To Go Home"

Don,t be so hard on yourself Irene, its a lovely painting, very vibrant and alive. Regards Bill

Yes I like this very much.

I agree with the above, as I've said before you do amazing skies!

You are such a talented lady - as Bill says you are too hard on yourself. Once again you really paint the wet in wet so well. You always bring a little smile to myself when I read your little write up!

Thanks all for lovely ...comments...but i'm not very happy at what iv'e been producing lately..and am seriously thinking of totally giving up on painting for good. ! so doubt whether i shall post anymore in the near future!!! unless i have a change of heart, but i would like to say....to all on here, from the bottom of my heart...."A BIG THANKYOU" for all your encouraging remarks. i think maybe its whether you are happy in all other areas of your life, is when you can be more..... creative, as things have gone a bit ...pear shaped!!!! as they say....my creative flow has sort of disapeared somewhat.!! thanks all . my very best wishes to you all. irene.

Whoa Irene; I went through a patch like that just before Christmas. I wasn't happy with a single painting I did and I binned them all but that was also because of personal life. My motehr in law died, her sister started with dementia; my spinal problems escalated and pain went through teh roof. I can usually paint through it but I just ruined everything. This is a very good painting, full of atmosphere but I can see what you mean- it isn't as vibrant as you usually do. Don't give up whatever you do- you have far too much talent for that. How about doing what I did and try something completely new. I did Vivien's e-course on pastels then I totally changed from my usual subjects and did buildings and landscapes instead of dogs. Set yourself a challenge; what about portraits but do it for fun- have a laugh at your efforts. I'm as critical of my own work as you are. It's not good because you end up never being happy about anything. If others like it, that's enough. Hope I didn't upset you with my comment on the other one but I could see it wasn't your usual.

Hello Diana,thankyou so much for your very kind words. i'm sorry you had a tough time before xmas. and i also know what its like to lose someone, as i lost my dear father a couple of years ago, a man i loved more than life itself..i'm still finding that hard to deal with. then i lost my lovely dog...and like you i suffer with a lot of pain, as i too have an artheritic spine, which the cold weather plays havoc with. so i do so understand where you are coming from. however...there is allways..a however isn't there!! i visited your gallery today...and nowhere could i find one of your lovely paintings that could possibly have any criticall comments to be made!!! you are a superb artist, who it seems can tackle most subject matter. i loved your "footstep" on painting "you will never walk alone" simply inspirational. but my love in art, and would and do..only lies in landscapes..especially skies. i don't think i could do anything else, for that is where my heart and passion lie. i know one should not take oneself ...too seriously..and i try not to. !! but to quote "George Burns".."i honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love, thanto be a success at something you hate"!! or a quote from the fameous man himself.. "WINSTON-CHURCHILL" and the one i like the best..as seems to apply to me at the moment,..is"..success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiam"!! anyway..rest assured you have in no way offended me at all. thanks again Diana you are most kind. i will of course pop in to see you all as much as possible. kind regards...irene.

Irene you're far from a failure at something you love; you are a great success but maybe just going through a bad patch which is why I suggested trying something different, just for fun and just for yourself. Why don't you PM me through the forum if you feel like a chat or email me anytime. I haven't made my email public but if you PM me I'll let you know it. Mind you the forum seems to be broken today. I miss it. When I just couldn't get a thing right is when I tried those "odd subjects" like teh footprint. I just couldn't get going properly on my usual things and believe me I threw away far more than I posted on here. I'm now enjoying playing with the pastels but I think I will eventually go back to watercolours. I like more detail than I can do with pastels but I'm loving the colours. I'm even going to try to emulate one of your skies. Good luck and please don't leave or lay down your paints. They can be wonderfully cathartic.

Tell you what- you can teach me to do skies, I'm hopeless at them. Haven't you noticed there are only two skies in all my paintings?

Thanks again Diana, i doubt very much if i .....could teach you to do anything,..more the other way round.! as for skies....they are very simple to do! they sort of paint themselves in a way, it takes more time to work out your colours...the strength of colour....and how you want them to blend, this is done mainly by tilting your board with the paper on. plenty of water...and splosh away. the one thing i'm guilty of ....is fiddling with it!!! thats an absolute...no-no! as you create back-runs...hard edges..where wet meets drying paint...and blooms!!!! or in more arty speak "cauliflowers. i haven't put my art stuff away just yet, as it took me long eneough to get it all out and back into my painting space. so maybe i will try and get myself motivated soon. so all i can say..is just watch this .....space! kind wishes. irene.

Hi Irene I've read all the way through here and I can feel your troubles! We all have those times when nothing is right and we get fed up with ourselves for not being able to produce what we want (as Diana says - I have many paintings sitting around that would not see the light od day) What I usually do is move away from painting - and although you say you don't want to clear you painting stuff away it might be just what you need. I have done this whenever gloom has struck and as soon as the last piece or brush is back in it's storage I regain the urge to paint - must be all in th mind - you give yourself permission not to paint and all of a sudden you want to - what a strange bunch we are. I also read a book called "The artists way" - which tell you to fill up your creative well on a regular basis - i.e. do something different go somewhere new, soak it all up and it comes out in your work - maybe that's an idea? I have also used Bach Flower remedies for this state - seemed to work - here is a link to a website that helps you choose the right ones http://www.bachshop.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=32 Anyway - I do hope you get youreself through this time (as I don't think anyone esle can get you out of it if you are anything like me) and don't forget we are all here for you x

Carol thankyou so very much for your kind concern,...and yes we are a strange bunch! we all beat ourselves up..on a fairly regular basis! must be to do with being an ..or in my case..trying to be a artist!! you are all so very kind and thoughtfull folk on here, ..and thank goodness for you all. what you said about putting your paints away...did make sense...but i fear they might never come back out!, as prior to this episode..they were in storage for well over a year. and to go back to one of my favourite Quotes (i have many!) "The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost" ! another is, and feel it's rather fitting..for all on here is," Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them" ! i'm so very appriecietive for all your kindness, and encouraging words. best wishes. irene.x

Irene my dear friend & leading groupie...sorry I do not have the time or inclination to read all of the words written by both you and all these good people that have replied to you here. They too are my virtual friends, here...so many so, that it has become very difficult just to find the time to keep-up a regular ongoing dialogue with them all...I regret to say that I have let you slide down my contacts...It is serious painting time at the moment. Now don't you dare even think of giving up now or ever on either the paintings, the photos, the messages, etc. I will send the boys [and Hector] round...Why bother with trying to be an artist...just B*well do it with passion, panache & spirit [sends virtual ouzo...Meltemi's best sipping grade]...life is too short to throw wobblies...it is not the rehearsal...get goin' girl..

Phill, what would we all do on this site ! if not for you and your infinate wisdom..allways delivered with such humour! well i surpose you are right, and as for the " ouzo" if i threw eneough of that down my neck.. i may well be less critical of myself.. lol. and most certainly ..would not be in control of my paint brushe's. me thinks thats a very good idea!!! perhaps thats the way foward. lol. new qoute of the day..."By trying we can allway's endure adversity, as long as it's somebody eles's.!!! lol. no i will try and " get going again" ! thats a promise.( just as you made a valid point re...not a rehearsel.) thank god for that!!! would hate to do this all over again!!! lol. thanks Phill.x bye the way...no one makes me laugh as much as you do, especially in your forum which i love to read. thanks for that. kind regards irene.

at-ta girl, that's it, go for it throttle wide-open. I have just spent 2 & 1/2 hrs drafting out a 'new Greek Church' all stones...if it works it will be different...the ultimate is that if it does not...then it will be a simple whitewashed job...Infinite wisdom? are you sure it's not bull-manure? That I make you laugh especially in the forum is my pleasure...I trust you have seen my Blog PK?

Looks good to me Irene you have a good control of the strong colours well done

Now Irene, after all these lovely comments, perhaps you,ll believe me! Much love, Bill