Jessie Lilac Blog

Last night's sketchbook pages. Tumbling autumn leaves remind me that we're in a new season and the virginia creeper in my garden changes from green to red. One of the last blooms hang on in there! So you see, my mind is filled with the warm colours of autumn. I didn't have many flowers growing this year so not to be defeated, I've bought some bulbs that should flower in the winter so that will be something to look forward to won't it? A quick reminder to you too that the bids on my life drawings on Ebay are finishing in less than 24 hours and most of them are at 99p, almost a giveaway price! :) Please click here to see them. Have a lovely weekend!xx

Sorry to those of you who came here today to see my new autumn inspired pictures! I had a head filled with autumn leaves, golds, purples and reds...  but I had to draw a blue bike,  I couldn't rest until I did, oH and some roses too! sketchbook with fineliner pens Today I came back from the hairdressers with my youngest. She'd had her hair cut and blow dried in a style that I am apparently 'too old to know what she means.' She's happy, so I'm happy. Parents of teenagers will possibly understand. (!) note: She's the one in the foreground with the blonde hair, not the spiral headed lady behind her. That isn't either the hair stylist or me, its my artistic licence! ;)

The Nightjar The weather's changing, still sunny but a slight chill in the air every now and then. I have to finally admit it, autumn is upon us! To mark the occasion of the autumn equinox and to get us in the mood for those dark nights ahead, I'm changing the look of my blog for this magical time. I shall be using this new avatar too. Do you like her? The nightjar lives in her hair but she doesn't mind, in fact I suspect she's forgotten it's there!

I went to art college a few years ago, I'm not saying how many years but it's easy to work out if you need to! During that time and for a few years afterwards I've built up a collection of my life drawings. They've been kept in a folder, tucked away out of sight but I've decided that today is the day I let the world see them and perhaps get a chance to own them if they would like to. :) I've listed them individually on Ebay and it's open to anywhere in the world, so wherever you live, I'll be very happy to post to you! Here are a couple.... Most of them are quite big, measuring around 20 x 30 inches and are all on paper, drawn with charcoal or pastel. You can find them all  here , I hope they'll all find good homes. The listings will end on Saturday 29th September. :)

There are times I'm so excited my heart feels as though it would BURST! Burst for Illustration Friday

The garden is sparkling from rain, the sun is low. The virginia creeper shows the reddening signs. But my heart is still at the sea-side!  That's my perpetual spinach growing on the window sill, it still thinks it's summer too and you can just about make out my deckchair outside. I'm not about to take that in, not yet. My painting is finished but I'm not finished with the summer yet. Are you? ;)

I like to get the paints out, whether it's for me or a little person. Lexie likes painting too! Here is my painting I've just started. I like to do the beginning stages on the floor so I can spray the acrylic paint with water and leave the puddles to dry. Please excuse my foot, it was a hot day yesterday when I took this photo and shoes were not needed! I'll post my progress with it here so you can see how it develops. Can you tell what it is yet?" ;o)

Me standing with my painting at the 'Into The Light' exhibition at the Hotbath Gallery in Bath a few years ago! With this new term starting I've been in an organising mood. I've been having a sort out of photos I've taken in the past, of my exhibitions. I don't have pictures of all the places unfortunately but there are still a few that I've managed to find. I hope you're all having a lovely weekend, it's very warm and sunny here, long September shadows, my favourite.♥

It really does feel like the end of summer.  Although the weather is still sunny and warm, the shadows are becoming longer each day. There is a magic in the air, an aura of expectancy. Do you feel this? With this new seasonal energy I feel the need to tackle things that need tackling, like this painting. It's one I finished a while ago. The other day I was sorting through my watercolours for sale, when I came across it and realised a few more finishing touches were needed. Do you ever do this to work that you thought had been finished? I'm much happier with it now and I've relisted it for sale on Etsy . To see more details, please click  here.

When I was on holiday I bought these very jolly greetings cards. I thought they would make perfect pictures for the wall and before I knew it, I noticed some picture frames in a basket being sold for just a couple of pounds in a shop clearance.  Perfect timing, how could I resist? They needed a couple of coats of paint before I was happy with them so I used my acrylics to get the right shade of blue and now they look just right! (card illustrations by Susie Grindey.)

The Messenger, mixed media on canvas. For those of you who aren't able to get to my exhibition, here's a link for a Virtual visit... PLEASE CLICK HERE  :) Hello my new followers! Thankyou for coming here and for your support, it's the start of a new term here and I've lots of things to show you in the next few weeks. I hope to come to see you very soon. Jess xx