matouenpeluche

The Patron Saint of Humming-birds : new print!

This is The Patron Saint of Humming-Birds. It was another exceptionally warm weekend but I managed to get this lovely lady out onto paper. I have actually been thinking quite a bit about humming-birds and patron Saints e.t.c lately and I'm quite pleased that this is the end result.

In fact I am quite fond of Patron Saints. This is the second one I have drawn so far. The first Patron Saint I drew was The Patron Saint of Rabbits - I made her into a greeting card. Here she is below.

 

(You can find her here)

I am also a big fan of Roberto Rossellini's film about the Franciscan monks and the Patron Saint of animals: Saint Francis of Assisi. It's called The Flowers of St. Francis. There are lots of delightful scenes of Saint Francis with animals - and having them gather round him in rapt attention. If you haven't seen this movie, I strongly suggest you do so as it is truly wonderful. Astonishingly, all the actors in this film are actual monks and non-professional actors. It is very touching and I think it has left a lasting impression on me.

 

(Image from here)

Speaking of flowers, a very delightful aspect of all this warm weather is my Dad's gardenia bushes. They are bursting forth all over the shop! My Dad has two bushes: one has small button hole blossoms that totally cover the bush and the other has enormous blooms that are as big as your hand! Both smell like heaven so I never mind which ones he picks for me. Below are two photos I took of some flowers from the "big" bush. They are a little yellow but they still look all waxy and fit and of course they smell divine!

 

  I hope everyone had a restful and relaxing weekend!

Palomino wall.

Shadow Shot Sunday folks! Tree leaves cast their shadow on an unsuspecting wall. It looks a little under watery to me for some reason...

Shadow Shot Sunday!! ...or SSS as we say in the trade, is a fantastically addictive meme set up by that awesome gal of Hey Harriet: Tracy! Anyone can enter. Here are the details on how to do so. But beware! Once you have dipped your toe in the Shadow Shot, there's no going back! 

 

Bonjour le weekend!

(Image from here)

Oh Happy Friday! Here's a classic cat drawing by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen called "Horrible fin d'un poisson rouge". Sometimes I feel like this harassed goldfish (but without the ghastly ending!) during the week at work and sometimes I feel like the cat. Perhaps in reality I'm the bowl - certainly by Friday I feel a little "cracked" and in need of some serious R'n'R!

I have been quite busy this week and haven't visited as many blogs as I would've liked to - so I'm sorry I've been a bit 'absent'. I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone in cyber land this weekend! 

Meanwhile, here's some more gorgeous Steinlen Art Nouveau loveliness! 

(Image from here)

(Image from here)

Thank you Diana and Emma!

(Image from here)

(Image from here)

Just a quick post here to say a huge "Thank You" to the wonderful Diana of Our City Lights for the feature and interview on her blog! Thank you so much Diana - it's an absolute honour to be part of your blog!! If you haven't already seen Diana's amazing blog I strongly urge you to check it out because it's incredibly entertaining and always interesting. Diana is also a very fine photographer and you can find her work here!

...and another big thank you to Emma for the gorgeous spread and mention she made of my work on her blog! Thank you Emma! You might like to check out Emma's blog also as it's full  of fun!

Charlotte = new print!

This is Charlotte and she loves to dance. The tango is her favourite but she's also quite partial to the fox trot, the charleston and the flamenco. She has been known to inspire the odd choreographer too and several dances have been thought up with her specifically in mind. You may recall "The Charlotte" which was incredibly popular last summer.

However, it is her dream to one day star in a Busby Berkeley musical...

(Image from here)

(Image from here)

...and I can't blame her for that!

Happy Monday all - and yes, the weather has settled down from yesterday's scorching 41.5 degrees Celsius (= 107 Fahrenheit) to a very reasonable 20 degrees Celsius (ahhhhh....much better!).

Shadow Shot Sunday!

  In honour (!) of today's predicted 41 degree heat (= 106 degrees Fahrenheit), I thought a cactus would be a good subject for today's shadow shot. I love these flowers - they have a bit of personality I think! I took these photos in the succulent garden section of Sydney's Botanical Gardens a fortnight ago.

Shadow Shot Sunday is a fabulous meme set up by none other than Tracy of Hey Harriet fame! It's open to all and here are the instructions on how to enter!

 

Meanwhile, what to do today when the very thought of thinking makes you break out in a sweat? I could either stay at home and drink iced water all day and read a book or I could go into town and hang out in the cool of the shops. Hmmmm...however, the big problem today which is a lot bigger than the dilemma of how I shall stay cool is the bush fire threat. Apparently, the bush is bone dry and there may well be a wind today - I just send all my thoughts out to those people who live in areas close to scrub and bush and keep my fingers crossed for them that today won't be as bad as predicted.

On a lighter note, happy Sunday all!

The coming of the great cat god...

Now this is an end of the world scenario I could possibly be OK with...

Happy Friday folks (or Thursday afternoon as the case may be...).

(Cartoon "The Coming of the Great Cat God" by Ronald Searle, 1968 from here)

Book covers and illustrations...

So, I have trudged up the hump that is Wednesday and I am at the summit and it's a good view from up here! My hump day was made all the more pleasant and actually thrilling due to Gabbi's posting of my work here! Gabbi's blog is one of the wonders of cyber space as far as I'm concerned so it is an absolute honour to catch her eye! Thank you so much Gabbi!

Meanwhile, I have been perusing all things book and here are a few of the goodies I found...

(Aaron Judah book cover from here)

(Charles Harper illustration from here)

(Charles Harper Illustration from here)

(Flook book cover from here)

Hope everyone's week is behaving itself - and thank you kindly for all the drawing love!!

The Girl Who Loved Birds : new print in shop!

Here is my drawing from the weekend. It's called "The Girl Who Loved Birds". I like the idea of someone tattooing their favourite animal all over their back. I think with me it'd have to be pussy cats...bien sûr!

Happy Monday all - I've actually done the hard slog and am currently relaxing at home - phew! For those of you yet to experience the full blast of Monday-itus: all the best. It'll be over soon take my word for it.

Jacaranda Tunnel: Shadow Shot Sunday

 

Every year at this time I make a point of going to this particuar road in Kirribilli. I think this photo probably explains why I insist on going there at least once! Actually, this photo doesn't really do it justice because as you're standing under this fantastic purple tunnel, the blossoms gently fall on you like rain. It's hard not to feel like you're a character out of a Walt Disney movie!

Shadow Shot Sunday is a fabulous meme set up by the gorgeous Tracy of Hey Harriet fame! Thank you Tracy by the way - as Gabbi mentioned on her post from last week - it is just so much fun hunting down a shadow shot!

Absolutely anyone can enter and here are the instructions on how to do so!

Meanwhile, it's going to be another scorcher here in Sydney today but I understand tomorrow is going to be even hotter at 39 degrees! 39!!! ...at this time of year - the mind boggles!

Happy Sunday folks!