Desmond this morning going for the minimal bramble look with only a small eyebrow ornamentation! 😂 he is finding a way!!!

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Here they all are this evening starting to get used to their lack of fleece...overnight it seems Olga and Spoonie snuggled up together in the hedge bless them, so extra food this morning whilst they get used to it. Here as you can see we get our sheep in a row as we have no ducks 😂

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Poor old Spoonie has started to look a bit like a Shar Pei dog with all her wrinkles but I was very pleased to see she is not too skinny under her fleece this year ❤❤❤

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I have not succeeded in getting any good photos of the boys without fleece yet they seem to want more scratches than ever before and so mostly too close to me! ..but still trying, here they are for now...Desmond is already filthy 😂 ❤🐏🐑❤

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Lots of green and a bit of pattern has returned today work in progress having fun in the studio 😊

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I am trying to do a little review of my practice whilst recapitulating my website...there are some definite obsessions emerging Barn Owls, Crow and of course Sheep are top of the list! This one is part of the #artistsupportpledge and on my website link in my profile or https://ift.tt/3fmqGXv

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The Aesops fable about the Swallow and the Crow is part of my May bird of the month ebook free with my 'studio insights' newsletter if you would like to read it ... link in my profile or https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX

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I love painting sheep It's a while, I've been busy painting their surroundings instead but they did feature in my May studio insights, with the all NEW!!!! Desmond & Friends ebook.. if you would like it, it's all free. There is a link in my profile or you can go to the following page I hope you like it 😊 https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX

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The landscape is getting greener... finally spring is arriving in my paintings...with crows to give them an anchor...I quite like the long format of his one with the crow at the very edge of the composition.

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Aparently there have been a number of Kites around our local village, they are not normal sight around these parts, I thought I saw one a few days ago but now a few others have seen them... it must be true! This one is 21 x 29 cm on paper and I have popped it into the #artistupportplegde You can find it here https://ift.tt/3fmqGXv or there is a link in my profile

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This is one of a few Barn Owl paintings I have just popped into the #artistsupportpledge its inspired by poetry by Mary Oliver and RS Thomas about owls and the busy world they have to navigate even if it is a bit quieter at the moment. You can find it here https://ift.tt/3fmqGXv or there is a link in my profile

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Back to super blustery cornwall today, I spent most of yesterday watching crows on the recently cut field 100s of them so I will be painting more crows today I think 🖤🖤🖤. . . . . . . #crow #crowart #crowpainting #crowinthelandscape #cornwallopenstudios #openstudio #contemporarypainting #abstractlandscapecornwall #abstractpaintingcornwall #contemporaryartgallery #contemporarypainter #cornwalllandscapepainting #gesturalabstraction #artforinteriors #abstraction #expressiveart #abstractlandscape #abstracts #artofinstagram #artworkforsale #artcontemporary #artcollector #mixedmedia #interiordecor #hoteldecor #cornwallpainting #springlandscape #blusterylandscape

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How beautiful, hedgerow flowers thank you @sportybethcf ❤

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I saw 3 lovrly swallows today... if you would like to read a little about them.my swallow bird of the month ebook.is out all Free if you would like it, I enjoyed discovering stories, poems and information to include its 16 pages long and comes to you as a pdf download via the link in my bio https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX... You also get the introduction to Desmond and friends😊🐑🐏😊

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The Cow Parsley is particularly lovely this year as u haven't been out very much I hadn't noticed it springing in to bloom 🌿🌞🌻

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I have been reorganising my website and tidying it up a bit...hopefully it still works, all feedback welcome! There is a link in my profile but its https://ift.tt/2tEWeF6 if you would like to have a look.

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Not long now in those big thick fleeces... I wonder what they are like under all that!

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There must be at least 200 crows on the field just cut for silage... a veritable feast for them I imagine ...gulls joining the party too now...

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Also now on my website after hearing about the plight of the @thecornishsealsanctuary on @radiocornwall i decided that as I have a few paintings of grey seals, i will be offer them for sale to raise funds. 100% of the proceeds with go to them, this painting is 29 x 21 cm kn my website on this page https://ift.tt/3fmqGXv link in my profile Please share if you can, the seal sanctuary do an amazing job of caring for and releasing many injured wild seals...as well as looking after some who can't be released. #repost @thecornishsealsanctuary • • • • • • Cornish Seal Sanctuary We need your help. With the necessary updated extension of the Coronavirus lockdown, we are now deeply concerned about how we are going to continue to be able to cover the costs to feed and care for our animals. It costs us £23,000 a month for our dedicated animal care team to feed, provide daily care, vital medicines and equipment to the Sanctuary’s residents. . . To donate to our appeal, and help us please click the link to our Just Giving page in our bio. Even a small amount would go such a long way, and help to protect the animals at the Sanctuary that have been a huge part of Cornwall’s heritage for over 60 years

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It's a while since I have painted my lovely Desmond but he did feature in my May studio insights, with the ALL NEW!!!! Desmond & Friends ebook.. if you would like it, it's all free. There is a link in my profile or you can go to the following page I hope you like it 😬 https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX

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Now that Cornwall has brightened up a little this afternoon I noticed the Cuckoo calling, I still hear him daily so I thought I would pop this sketch into the #artistsupportpledge You can find it here https://ift.tt/3fmqGXv or there is a link in my profile

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This was one of my preliminary paintings for the #Red67book published by @btobirds i popped it into the #artistsupportpledge it's a painting of a Balearic Shearwater on the brink of extinction. The book was produced to raise fund to help the most threatened birds. You can find it here https://ift.tt/3fmqGXv or there is a link in my profile.

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Trying to get a photo of Desmond this evening but hes just a bit too close 🤣

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❤❤❤ Bless this beautiful little creature I feel so honoured to have it nesting in my garden ❤❤❤

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I love this vista ...and Saus of course 😍

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Ohhhh... my garden is growing, isn't it wonderful 😍🌿🍃🥬😍

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Here is the finished Barn Owl painting... seems a long time since I painted it. I really enjoyed making paintings related to poetry... thus one a Mary Oliver poem ...The Owl Comes. 30 x30 cm acrylic on canvas . Part of the #artistsupportpledge

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My swallow bird of the month ebook.is out all Free if you would like it, I enjoyed as usual discovering stories, poems and information to include its 16 pages long and comes to you as a pdf download via the link in my bio https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX... You also get the introduction to Desmond and friends😊🐑🐏😊

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Missing the birds in my landscapes with or without?

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Another little blustery landscape.... I must admit I am loving this process, trying to communicate a sense of the landscape that surrounds me at this time of lockdown in my stay at home residency, it is something I have wanted to explore for many years but only now have had the opportunity to focus on it. 😊

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Here is another picture of our lovely Luna on her first day out, Olga was a perfect and very protective mum ❤🐏😍

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I almost forgot to post this HAPPY BIRTHDAY Luna!!!! 🎂🎉🎈🎉🎂It was a huge full Supermoon 🌚 on the night she was born...in 2012 this photograph was the first time I met her ❤🐑❤

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Although I am really late to this party i have now finally organised myself to take part in the #artistsupportpledge this painting is part of you can find more here it.https://ift.tt/3fmqGXv also link in my profile. I have been getting an increasing number of enquiries about work I have for sale as many people dont want to or cant go out to buy gifts etc. But want something a little different for a special occasion or person straight to their door. 📮💌📦 If you have not heard about it this is how the idea works: (some of the funds raised will also go to charity) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists around the world have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support, gallery work, exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress @matthewburrowsstudio has instigated the #artistsupportpledge The concept is a simple one. You post images of your work to sell for no more than £200 each (not including shipping.) Anyone can then buy the work. Every time you reach £1000 of sales you pledge to buy another artist's work for £200. @artistsupportpledge Stay well and live generously.

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I think we would all like to know what happened to spring 😒

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Also now on my website after hearing about the plight of the @thecornishsealsanctuary on @radiocornwall i decided that as I have a few paintings of grey seals, i will be offer them for sale to raise funds. 100% of the proceeds with go to them, this painting is 60 x 60 cm on canvas and I have a couple of smaller one on my website on this page https://ift.tt/3fmqGXv link in my profile Please share if you can, the seal sanctuary do an amazing job of caring for and releasing many injured wild seals...as well as looking after some who can't be released. #repost @thecornishsealsanctuary • • • • • • Cornish Seal Sanctuary We need your help. With the necessary updated extension of the Coronavirus lockdown, we are now deeply concerned about how we are going to continue to be able to cover the costs to feed and care for our animals. It costs us £23,000 a month for our dedicated animal care team to feed, provide daily care, vital medicines and equipment to the Sanctuary’s residents. . . To donate to our appeal, and help us please click the link to our Just Giving page in our bio. Even a small amount would go such a long way, and help to protect the animals at the Sanctuary that have been a huge part of Cornwall’s heritage for over 60 years

via Instagram https://instagr.am/p/B_z6VhbHVin/

My May studio insights, bird of the month and ALL NEW!!!! Desmond & Friends is now out... if you would like it, it's all free. There is a link in my profile or you can go to the following page I hope you like it 😬 https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX

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Blustery painting from yesterday, from my stay at home residency project... dies it need a bird? 🤣

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Well what a storm last night, popping into my studio this morning the paintings I was making yesterday were certainly inspired by it I think... more later... this one was made at the weekend, still in my autumn colours.

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This is one I haven't posted for a while but I was just watching #graysonperry and he said about animal art " we are never more human than when we make art about animals" he described it as a "noble subject" 👏🙌🙏 I think this now seems like a good image for our time in lockdown... previously called interior goat and about the way we see everything, particularly animals through human eyes and through a lense (more so now) of our own domesticity.

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LAST DAY!!! If you would like to read my April bird of the month...on Lapwings! Today is the last day to get it FREE! 😊 it comes as a link to a pdf download when you subscribe to studio insights via the link in my profile or using https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX You will also get next months tomorrow and my introduction to the all new Desmond Diaries ❤📖 🐑📖❤

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Today I have been looking through some of my smaller paintings for the #artistsupportpledge this one is 30 x 30 cm and it has a pair with a Jackdaw... I will be making a page on my website for the paintings which will go out to my newsletter subscribers on the 5th May all bring well if you would like to be in with first choice you can sign up via the link in my profile or going to this web page https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX . . If you have not heard about it this is how the idea works: (some of the funds raised will also go to charity) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists around the world have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support, gallery work, exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress @matthewburrowsstudio has instigated the #artistsupportpledge The concept is a simple one. You post images of your work to sell for no more than £200 each (not including shipping.) Anyone can then buy the work. Every time you reach £1000 of sales you pledge to buy another artist's work for £200.

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Gathering some colour information this morning so that I can get put of my autumn colours ...

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This beautiful Blackbird is enjoying a lovely food mix from the @gardencrowd whilst I upload my @btobirds garden bird watch, which seems to come around so fast at the moment! (who else is taking part?) I recorded the following Robin 2 Black bird m + f Great tit Blue tit 2 Goldfinch 1 Chaffinch 2 Dunnock 1 Sparrow 6 Rook 5 Pheasant 1 Jackdaw 6 Magpie 2 Wood pigeon 1 Carrion Crow 1 Cuckoo 1 Also a few bees and butterflies this time. Loving the bird song just now too. 😍. . you can get a 10% discount from garden crowd using suzysharpe_gc10 if you would like to try it.

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Another little abstract landscape (without a bird!!!) 18 x 18 cm

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One of the poems in my April bird of the month ebook about Lapwings. I am just now putting the finishing touches to my May ebooks which will be out early next week. If you would like to read April's you will have to be quick...it comes free when you sign up to my studio insights...link in profile or find it here https://ift.tt/2OAUfYX Two Pewits Under the after-sunset sky Two pewits sport and cry, More white than is the moon on high Riding the dark surge silently; More black than earth. Their cry Is the one sound under the sky. They alone move, now low, now high, And merrily they cry To the mischievous Spring sky, Plunging earthward, tossing high, Over the ghost who wonders why So merrily they cry and fly, Nor choose 'twixt earth and sky, While the moon's quarter silently Rides, and earth rests as silently. Edward Thoma

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Now for something a little different Happy May Day or Beltane....or Spring...or however you would like to think of it. I read a while ago about the possibility of green men in churches being an enduring symbol of resistance secretly included by the masons and carpenters of the time. This is a particularly lovely example of a green man in Altarnun Chuch in Cornwall. . . This is a short extract from a much longer very interesting article by Paul Kingsnorth titled the old yoke. "relics of pre-Christian religions that have been incorporated into churches. I have heard, variously, that the green man represents the spirit of the greenwoods, the rebirth of nature, a rebellion against Christianity, or a symbol of the constancy of nature." ... "The Normans called the guerrilla movement that resisted them after 1066 the ‘silvatici’ — the men of the woods. The English, it is said, called them the same thing in their own language: green men. In that greenwood rebellion against unwanted masters, we perhaps see the origins of the Robin Hood legend — and of those carvings in the old churches. What would you do if you were an English stonemason in the 1070s, required to help construct an alien church by new masters you despised? How would you show your loathing of them without attracting a penalty? Perhaps you would carve the face of a green man inside the church: perhaps you would bring the spirit of the silvatici into the temple of the enemy. It could be that what adorns the roof beam of my room is not a wistful old nature spirit, but a symbol of resistance to the crushing of a people"

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I had a bit of fun with a few more little paintings on paper today this one is only 18 x 18 cm and more landscape than abstract...not feeling the need to add a bird yet either 🤣

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Strips of collage today with Crow 😊

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I am really late to this party but I am going to take part as its a great idea and I can also support a couple of struggling charities #artistsupportpledge... I have been getting an increasing number of enquiries about work I have for sale as many people dont want to or cant go out to buy gifts etc. But want something a little different for a special occasion or person straight to their door. 📮💌📦 My newsletter out in the next couple of days will have a link to my first few. so watch this space or subscribe to my newsletter (link in profile) If you have not heard about it this is how the idea works: (some of the funds raised will also go to charity) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists around the world have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support, gallery work, exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress @matthewburrowsstudio has instigated the #artistsupportpledge The concept is a simple one. You post images of your work to sell for no more than £200 each (not including shipping.) Anyone can then buy the work. Every time you reach £1000 of sales you pledge to buy another artist's work for £200. So make a pledge and post your work with the #artistsupportpledge and follow the #. keep updated on news and further opportunities @artistsupportpledge Repost and tell your friends, colleagues and collectors. Stay well and live generously. #covid19pledge #coronavirussupport #charityfundraiser #livegenerously #artistssupportpledge #artistspledge #ipledge #charitysale #lockdownart #supportartists

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I started my journey with abstraction a while ago but it gain pace this time last year when I discovered I loved the way with this collaging process I could work out possible compositions... I still feel like this is very much in the beginning stages of this new project and I am still struggling with my inner need to include birds but my enjoyment of abstraction as an intuitive process as not diminished 😊 . . . . .

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