I think this is just about finished now.  It is oil on cotton and only 12x12".  I will have to redo the background in black rather than leaving it raw umber but that wouldn't be that noticeable in a photo.  I like the flatness of the cotton but I think it's a little bit thin and, when this is framed, it will be taken off the stretchers and framed as if it were a watercolour. 

I started this new still life at the weekend, I think you should be able to tell what it is of, 2 carrots and a potato.  Really interesting subject, I thought, well interesting to try to paint.  The hardest to do is the potato, sat scratching my head for a while on that one.  It still needs some highlights putting on but I dont think I will be able to to those until Wednesday as the orange paint takes forever to dry.  Also this is not on canvas, my husband went out to by me some and came

I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year.  This is the first one that I have got started on since then mainly because I didn't really have time, what with all those preparations and celebrations.  Also I used what is normally my studio as a dining room so had to clear everything away.  Still gave me an opportunity for a tidy up which was much needed.

This is day one of this new painting so is really just the underpainting.  The usual two colours are being used (raw umber and titanium white).  The difference with this one though is the surface I am using - it is on mdf board that was prepared with layers of white acrylic paint.  I really like this very flat surface but dont like the way you have to use the paint.  I use it very thinly almost like water colour, then build up layer on layer.  Also it will definately have to be framed if it goes anyway, impossible to hang that on the wall without.