Birds, Squirrels and Creations

Over the summer we've had lots of wild birds eating their way through my wages (or put it another way, through fat balls and bird seed!) At one stage the baby starlings were going through 10 fat balls a day. Now they've slowed down, it lasts perhaps two days ;p But it's okay because there is one shop which sells them cheap (49p for six fat balls, way cheaper than anywhere else - usually they're like £1.99 for six - ridiculous really!) But this isn't a blog post about the price of bird food! It's actually about what I witnessed today. I happened to be looking out at the bird feeders when I saw a squirrel sat on the bird table. It's the first time I've ever seen one here and I really hope it comes back (after all, it's practically a rat with a fluffy tail ;)) I was concerned it might destroy my peanut feeder (it's made of very thin wire, it wasn't very pricey) as that was the only thing really for it to eat. I've since topped up the rest of the food, so maybe I'll catch sight of it again soon. I don't understand why some people hate squirrels when they feed the birds. I've often heard customers complain where I work about squirrels but they've got to eat too. Hopefully it won't freak the birds out though if it does return!

Ironically, I finished a picture of squirrels recently (perhaps my pictures act as a premonition?!) This one is in acrylics and very large. Makes me want to do another large and detailed picture but not sure what of yet.

Other than that I've arranged to have a stall at another show (hopefully). It's a dog show so I'm trying to fit in time to do some new dog related art. I'm also pondering on whether to go back to college for a part-time course in accounting. I'm really unsure whether to or not... Maybe I'd try it for a year and see what happens (it's a three year course). It's killing me to think of sacrificing art time though as that's the day I typically do art (I work full time so other days of art are limited - I could probably get away with doing more graphite work but painting I prefer to work for hours rather than stop and start. It's too much cleaning up all the time otherwise and having to remix paint which never turns out exactly the same colour again). Arrggh, what to do?!

Lastly on the art front I finished creating Arrow. I still haven't managed to get any more detailed photos yet so the following will have to do for now. He took hours! The proportions aren't exactly right but as it was a first attempt for me doing something like this I'm happy enough with it (and the fur is so lovely quality all I want to do is cuddle it hah!) I hope to try and make something else like this but only have limited fur colours (black and grey) so would have to be something those colours until I have money to spare on fur!

-The Blogging Rat

Watercolour Paintings

The last few pieces of art I've worked on have been in watercolour. It's strange, I seem to go for ages avoiding watercolour only to get addicted to it when I do get back on it. I must admit sometimes I don't feel I have the patience to use it. With acrylics my typical way of working is 'throw it all on and then refine' (basically my initial bottom layer looks like some crazy form of modern art perhaps...) With watercolour you simply can't do that. It's rather less forgiving. I've had times in the past where I've dropped a paint brush loaded with paint only to splatter it all over the lightest area. It's annoying in any medium but at least with acrylic you stand a good chance of painting over it!

But anyway, at times I really want to work in watercolour!

And onto the art:

Hooded rat pea fishing (based on a photograph I took of Jasper). It's A4 in size.

Gerbera plant. I couldn't resist buying this plant because of it's unusual colouring. I painted it over a course of days from life (desperate to finish it in case the flowers developed more!) Also A4 in size.

And this blog wouldn't be the same without a rat image! This is possibly the strangest capture I've had. I didn't even realise what was going on until I looked back at the photos once they were on my computer. Felix taking a bite out of baby Jake (not really, no rats were hurt as there was definitely no argument that day when they were freeranging). Perhaps it was just his face happened to be there, or he was going to groom Jake, who knows? As for my new rats Jake and Domino, Jake is far more social as he was when I first got him. It's strange really as they've both had the same upbringing etc. Jake will 'groom' my hand if I put it in the cage (he even went as far as licking my arm too!) It's a sign of affection in rats and I find it very cute even though others might not!

And on an unrelated note, I'm very into dreams and what they mean. However the last few days I've had quite random dreams involving the killer whale from the film 'Free Willy' (like starring in a film with him, and taking part in a video game based on the film?!). If anything, you'd think I'd dream of rats ;p

- The Blogging Rat

Lack of Updates and Ebay

Firstly I apologise for the lack of blog entries lately! Things have been crazily busy since the last update.

So onto the typical topics, rats and art ;)

On the art front, lots of new pieces done. I've been working on a lot of rat related art as I have booked a stall at a rat show in a few months time. I'm hoping people will like them. Here's just two of my recent drawings, one in acrylic and one in watercolour as I hadn't done anything in watercolour for quite some time.

I'm also working (not to sell) a rat sculpture doll. I'm not sure how it will work out, I've already realised I should have done one thing differently but hopefully I can get round that little hitch. It's taking forever so can't say I'll have an upload of it anytime soon unfortunately! (One leg took me about an hour! Although it is a rather large rat!)

I'm also trying to sell a few slightly older pieces on ebay.

Oh and also have recently signed up to having a Facebook page (so any social media fans please take a look!).

And onto rat related chat! A few weeks ago Jasper had a run-in with Seth. Seth was sat on me and Jasper lurched down from the bed quicker than I expected. I grabbed him before he could get down but unfortunately Seth also grabbed at the same time getting hold of Jasper's tail. To cut a long story short the result was two vet trips, one on emergency time and then a bandaged tail (rats definitely aren't inexpensive pets if anyone is wondering...!) It was a horrible week as I kept thinking Jasper or Felix would chew the bandage off whilst I was at work. Luckily Jasper left it alone but Felix was more of a problem - I'm sure he thought he was helping when he yanked at Jasper's tail every so often. Jasper wasn't very tolerant of such behaviour and started to do exactly the same thing back to Felix (not intending to cause damage, just to show his annoyance I'm sure).

Luckily the bandage is off now and tail pulling has ceased. However, Seth's bad temper hasn't - I think it's because he's getting older and his sight isn't as good as it was. He also seems to be developing the problem Arrow had with his back legs and unfortunately there's no cure to that :/ I'm also a lot more careful to make sure Jasper doesn't say hi to the older boys anymore.

More recently I acquired two more rat boys. At first I resisted but that night I dreamt about them so took that as a sign (that or I'm too addicted to rats...) They are currently undergoing introductions with Jasper and Felix (and definitely not ever meeting Seth or Levi...!) Their names are Jake and Domino. So far I think Domino is sure Felix is his mummy (I think he's a little confused ;P) and Jasper is more interested in their cage than these new, tiny little shapes!

- The Blogging Rat

Rats and Butterflies

Again, been busy with art since my last update. I've been working on some rat related pictures and art for pendants as I'm hoping to have a stall at a rat show in a few months or so.

The first was a stretched canvas piece, a rather large piece at 20' by 8'. I just love working on long pieces of canvas, unfortunately I've used them all up now (came in a three pack) and I've told myself to stop buying more stretched canvas until I sell some things! (I've still got lots of pieces of 'normal' shaped canvas to get finished so it's not like I'm in desperate need of it...)

I wanted to go for something more symbolic. However, to make a clean line down the middle was a nightmare! I do like the final outcome though although it took far longer than I expected.

The next piece is a scratchboard based to some degree on one of my own rats, Felix (although I've purposely changed his markings on the final thing as I never want to sell art of my own rats!) He gave me this typical 'oh leave me alone' look whilst I was sketching him sleeping in his litter tray (a favourite place for some reason!).

Lastly, and not rodent related, a butterfly piece. Same size as the painting above and also in acrylics. The idea came to me at work but never did I think of how long it would really take. Butterflies have far too many details! Again, was meant to be a more symbolic picture than what I typically do.

Unfortunately I have to leave on a depressing note this blog entry. Last week one of my older rats Fergus died. I'd taken him to the vet the day before but never thought he was that ill. It was a rather horrible shock. He was the youngest of my old ones so if anything, I thought he'd outlive them. The remaining two seem to be sticking together a lot since his death.

It's sad to have just two adults left in that cage as I know one day one will be on his own. I've always usually added more rats having a never-ending cycle but with Levi and Seth I can't introduce anyone else (after what happened with Jasper I'd probably end up with three cages!) They still dislike him, Seth seems to loath Jasper even more than Levi does. Jasper has a rather naughty trick of jumping from his freerange area, onto my shoulder and down to the adults (or more like onto the floor, me grabbing him, back up to his area... and repeat many times!) One time Seth lunged thinking he was going for Jasper (who I'd put back) but actually took a piece out of my hand instead (I must have smelt like Jasper, but Seth quickly apologised by grooming my hand once he realised!) - The Blogging Rat

A little more art and etsy!

I've been a little neglectful of my blog again having been too busy with art. 

 

One of my most recent paintings, a wolf on stretched canvas. I originally planned this to be a watercolour piece but it didn't work out that way. Instead I scraped it to work in acrylics (which I'm addicted to it seems).

This was another piece for the exhibition I spoke about in my last blog entry. It's a very small piece on stretched canvas, based on one of my previous cats. She'd always lie in very tightly curled positions, or when not doing that she'd sit with her paws completely tucked under her like a teacosy.

As for other arts, I've got one more to upload shortly that I've recently finished. I'm also working on a rat piece - I'm hoping it has a rather interesting concept behind it but I'm not sure how well it will work in practice! Hopefully it'll turn out okay. Following that I'm planning a butterfly piece too :) I've got to work on a few pendants/rat art as I'm hoping to attend a rat show in a few months time to sell. Should be fun!

As for my other pendants, I've now listed them on Etsy. I need to create a few more as my shop looks pretty empty at the moment! So far from early experiences I'm feeling Etsy may hopefully be a better choice than trying to sell on Ebay.

And this blog wouldn't be complete without something rat-related added to it! Jasper and Felix during free-range time!

- The Blogging Rat

A week full of art and exhibitions!

I realise I've neglected my blog the last few weeks, so today's blog will be full of art to make up for it!

I've been working on a lot of new pieces in preparation for an art exhibition that began today featuring both my art and Beki Warren's art. It's running from today until the 20th June at Leominster library so if you happen to be in the area please have a look, we'd love to know what you think :)

And onwards to the art!

Firstly a tabby cat on stretched canvas painted with acrylics (quite small, about 20cm by 20cm at a guess?)

Secondly another little seaside scene (as I really love the sea!) Stretched canvas, painted with acrylics again. I just loved the sizing of this canvas, was so much fun to work with.

And onto my most time consuming piece of late, a border collie, A2 in size on stretched canvas. This took an insane amount of days but I'm glad I finished it on time!

Lastly another scratchboard piece (not actually at the exhibition but completed very recently). I bought some gold scratchboard and wanted to try it out. This was the result. At first I wasn't too sure about the gold colouring, I'm not sure how much I'll use it (I do prefer silver). I would love to try inking over silver scratchboard but I'm a little uncertain of how well it would go. Maybe I'll have to try it on a piece I'm not bothered about so it won't matter too much what happens!

That's it for new art at the moment!

- The Blogging Rat

Stretched Canvas Art

It feels like I haven't updated in ages, but really it's only a week! I've recently tried painting on stretched canvas and I'm finding it quite addictive actually (although the only problem is they take up far more room... At the moment they're all stacked on my scanner for lack of space!) The seascape one was drawn when I needed a break from fur! I actually really enjoyed creating it, it's a more simplistic style but not having to focus on tiny details was a good break from animals.

This one was based on a rescue dog called Rosie. She's a lovely natured dog and walks beautifully. Plus, I just love German Shepherds! This picture took about eight hours in total with many moments of 'arrgggh I want to give up!' I like the end result but the beginning... well it was a fight to stay and carry on (I must have changed the background and fur colour uncountably times!)

This one was based on my own cat (although she looks brown tinged in the summer, maybe due to the sun!)

All of the above were painted in acrylics. And to leave you with some rodents, the adults as they pea-fished the other week.

Oh and also, last few hours for some of my original art/pendants on eBay! Click me! - The Blogging Rat