Back after a short break with a small 10’’ x 8’’ oil on board. Not sure why I was so reluctant to start painting again. Probably lockdown: got me beat down. I got my hopes up for some bright light inspiration and I realised I […]

Still Life, January 2021
I’ve just finished working on a much larger still life in oil on canvas and I’ve been sharing the process on my Instagram account (@durfun). It’s not perfect. There are composition, colour and other issues I’d like to change, but I don’t want to dabble […]

Marmite, and other objects
A fairly quick sketch completed in between working. I’m looking to develop and push more in this direction.

Trying to relax
Lockdown 3.0: it’s been a bit tough so far. My husband has kidney stones; my son isn’t dealing very well with the pressure of home school, and our puppy is now a teenage ‘home wrecker.’ So, I’ve turned back to my oil sketches. I’m trying […]

Chinese Sandals and Pot
Not much to say about this one. 12’’ x 10’’ on canvas board.

Including the ‘duds’
There are aspects of this sketch that I like, but other parts unresolved or over-painted. It’s all a learning process and that’s all I’m doing. Sharing the learning.

Small woven basket
Freezing cold but still managed to do a daily oil sketch. I’m enjoying this!

Sheep skull
It’s freezing in the studio today. We’re waiting for logs to be delivered for the wood burner so I’ve resorted to biting scrap frames abs what-not. Just about warm enough to paint this oil sketch of a sheep’s skull. Some of it is not quite […]

Back to basics
A bit of repetition on a theme here (sorry), but I really need to get back to basics. In fact, calling it ‘basic’ is a misnomer. Getting back to the ‘hard’ is more like it. Observation. Painting what I see (what I actually see). It’s […]

Oil Sketches
Anybody that knows me will know that now and again I struggle with confidence. This is particularly apparent when I’m painting, or more to the point, not painting. It’s about connection. Sometimes I ‘get’ the connection and everything buzzes along for a while. Other times, […]

Someone I used to know
Feelings of sadness, loss and grief. Sitting on a hill. Unsettled. Held up only by this chalky grass-covered slope’s strength. Lifted into the sky. Crows and a Raven. The constant wind. Where is my friend? Where have you gone? I want the earth to bury […]