Jessie Lilac Blog

Thankyou you SO MUCH if you're reading this because it means you've popped over to see what I'm up to.xx I'm very sorry that I've not been here blogging as much as I'd like to, it seems that a lot of people are abandoning their blogs and spending more time on Instagram these days. I'm afraid I too am one of those 'guilty' of this! As a very visually oriented person I know the appeal of posting on Instagram. I believe it began as a photography site and for people like me who would rather look at pictures than text, it's the ideal place to catch up on what others are doing. So after a lot of thinking, I've decided to use Instagram as my main blog, so if you'd like to see what I'm up to then do please come over there and say hello. I'd be so happy to see you there! Social media is always changing and maybe I'll come back to Blogger again but for now I'm going to be at https://www.instagram.com/jessiespainting/ Hop...

We've had a lovely holiday in my favourite place, Cornwall. While we were staying there this time, I wanted to visit the Eden Project, I've never been before. The biodomes were far bigger than I imagined. Their natural forms fit beautifully into the landscape. This Peruvian wall painting intrigued me. It was inside the rain forest dome along with the words below. Make of that what you will. I liked the pattern inside this tree trunk, nature knows how to make the best shapes doesn't it? I loved the beautiful yellow prairie plants. What lovely shapes they make against the dark interior of the hut. ♥ ♥ ♥ Right across from the other side of the Eden Project landscape I could see a giant steel man sculpture. He represents 'Adam'. Apparently ' Eve ' was there too but I didn't notice her. I'll have to go again and see all the things I missed the first time! We stayed in St Ives which you'd never guess from looking...

I mentioned in my last blog post that I'll soon be bringing news of new beginnings. Well here he is! Little Ted is the newest member of the family, Middle Son's new baby son came into the world on Saturday, a bouncing 8lbs. Why do we say 'bouncing'? New babies don't bounce, or maybe they do? I hope to be able to meet him in person as soon as they get home from hospital. 😊 So, the last days of summer are upon us and my thoughts are turning to a reorganisation of my online shops. I've been with Society6 for the past few years but now I feel it's time for a change. I love seeing my designs on different items and I've even bought my own items from them to give as gifts or to keep for myself but now that I've discovered Redbubble I personally prefer it and that's the reason I've decided to close my shop at Society6 . It is still open at the moment and will stay open until 18th September so if you'd like to buy an item from my Society...

I've had a very busy summer with family visiting  and it's not over yet! We've been on lots of outings, Middle Daughter at  Totnes Rare Breeds Farm and drawing together, After everyone left, we decided to have a few days away up north.  First we stopped at The Peak District. Here are some of the cottages in Eyam, Derbyshire. This village has a very sad tale of how they were wiped out by the black plague in 1665. And the very pretty  Bakewell, Derbyshire. York was our final destination. I've been here once before and loved it, especially the Jorvik Viking Centre.  It's recently reopened after a terrible flood  and it's even better now than I remember it! I didn't take any photos while I was there. I was too busy soaking in every second of the experience but here's a short video from the web to give you a taste.. They look so real! The smells and sounds are incredible too. Final...

I've been making some crocheted bunting. It's great for using up bits and bobs of leftover wool that have lurked in the bottom of my bag for years! I've been wanting to try making crocheted triangles for ages and now that I'm between woolly projects I'd thought I'd give it a go...  and here it is ~yay! Meanwhile on my painting table there have been a few new pieces taking form.. I'm enjoying working with inks at the moment, they're so adaptable. You can use them diluted like a watercolour wash, or with a pen to make lines. I love how the FW inks are so opaque that the light colours sit really well on top of the dark ones as you can see here. This one I've called 'My Blue Cat'. Please click here to see it in my shop!  This next one is painted on wood panel. I've used collage papers as well as ink and the wood was so light in colour that I didn't even need to prime it before I started. Can you see my favourite i...

My latest new paintings have definitely been inspired by the lovely spring trees that are around at the moment. I've been having fun playing with inks on paper making beautiful textures. ♥ ♥ ♥ I love the colours but I wasn't happy with the composition. It somehow didn't seem right.... ....so I turned the painting upside down!  and drew a lady wearing a beautiful dress of branches. I call her ' Blossom in the Wind '.  She's searching for a new home so if you think you might be able to help her, please click here. 😊 I love how the little twinkles of light picks up the leaves of the trees and flowers. This new painting that I've recently finished twinkles in the light too! I've used gold paint on the bird and the fern leaves. It's a mixed media painting on cradled wood panel. The leaves are dimensional, giving the surface extra interest. I've called it ' Pink Flower in my Hair '. You can see ...

I've been busy making daily paintings and here are a few of my most recent ones. I also have some finished paintings for sale listed in my Etsy shop but more of that later. Sometimes it's nice to have a break and a few days ago we visited Tintinhull in Somerset. The house is very beautiful and because of its smaller scale than most National trust properties, very homely too.  The view from the house into the garden is very pretty. It's lovely to wander around the garden, arranged like little rooms that link one to another.  A feast for the eyes from the beautiful and delicately coloured pale lemon tulips and hyacinths  ♥   ♥ and the Heuchera Plum Royale. (I had to Google that!)  😉 How very perfect don't you think? A very pretty house and garden. So now I'd like to show you my newest paintings. This one above is called Marina and is painted on 300gsm (140lb) watercolour paper with inks. I've listed it in my Et...