Next update, still not completely finished, and as usual working on this one has started me on another, which you can see below. Weather is still bloody cold, so I'm working in the sitting room - where there is heat.

A quick update on this oh so slow wip. The sun is still out but it's really cold in the studio, so still I'm rushing in slapping on a few glazes and rushing out again. Hopefully this weekend I'll finish it

The sun's out again yay. The gesso has finally dried. So a new WIP for a new year.

This painting is heavily influenced by the pastels. I've used the acrylics almost like watercolours using thin washes of colours.

The graffito was really satisfactory to do. It released a lot of pent up feelings, so all in all I'm happy with this so far.

I've really been on a roll with these pastel/charcoals. The only thing that I'm having trouble with is keeping the outer areas clean, well that and the fact that I tend to wipe my hands on any available surface.

The smaller ones are on acid free A4 paper, the originals are for sale for 30 EUR plus shipping.

The large ones are on semi rough acid free paper 36 by 48 cms and are 45 EUR plus shipping.

You can view larger images in the new pastel section in my gallery(Click here to view).

I'm having so much fun with these pastels and charcoals, they are in my hands every spare moment, I even found myself fiddling before work the other day. Not a good idea as I am so easily carried away, and I don't think my boss would be impressed with me turning up late saying "sorry I was playing with the pastels."Our sitting room is now covered with a fine layer of dust - hey ho.

Fiinally got some pastels a few days ago, haven't done anything with pastels for years. They are such fun to work with and even messier than charcoalwhich I've also included in this piece.What I hadn't realized when working on this was that I was automatically stroking Ralphy (our dog) and when I looked at him in the morning light I realized that he is now sporting various patches of reddish pink pigment - very attractive

Been playing with charcoal again, ooh I do love to get messy ha ha, anyway here is a  drawing of pears

and here is a close up

It's independence day today here in Malta, so it's a public holiday whoopee - finally I'm in the studio for more than five minutes and have managed to complete two small paintings that have been staring accusingly at me for the last month. They are both  heavily textured, a result of slowly built up layers on 30 by 40cms gallery wrap canvas.

Close-ups:

Close-ups:

Here is the latest update of the wip I started a couple of months ago - not quite finished yet, but getting there

Close-ups:

We'll be here selling prints and a few originals.

I've been AWOL for a couple of weeks due to the fact that I've started a new job teaching in a language school. It's the first time I've taught so as well as getting used to trying to teach others I'm having to do quite a lot of homework to brush up my grammar skills, It's all good, after all life is one long lesson. The first few days I was a bit like a deer caught in the headlights but it's getting better.

Anyway I've managed to finish this piece which is  altered charcoal on paper, and I'm pretty pleased with it.I've also started another one today in between reading language books so hopefully I'll be able to get some more work done on it in the coming week

These paintings are part of my Valletta series, they are all textured acrylics and found objects. Size 30 x 40 cm. I'm offering the originals at the sale price of €50 each, shipping to be paid by the buyer, or you can come and pick them up from our place in St. Julians