This is the next stage of a painting I started over a month ago. Still a long way to go. But I thought I'd better show up here before the algos forget about me! 😊

I'm still in my hibernation mode, but here's the same spot as I sketched it a couple of months ago and this morning

With my unexpected trip to Italy and then Christmas I have been a little absent here lately. Anyway, here's some of my favorite pieces I painted this year. Happy 2026 x

#flowers #painting #MelissaAHP #art #WatercolorOnPaper

Another made up forest, this time a digital version

I've been missing the forest here in Turin, so I made one up… #sketch #forest

Taylor Square oil paints and oil pastels #UrbanGaze #painting #art #urban #Sydney #mixedmedia #Darlinghurst

At my mum's I'm in pretty much all day. Here's a sketch of a still life painted by my great uncle 40 years ago #sketch #stilllife

Here is my Sketchbook n°146, much of which was done while visiting Baton Rouge and Little Rock, USA this summer Sketchbook nº146 (31 May - 21 July 2025: wander far in safety) #sketchbook

So…this is supposed to be my nephew. Well not quite, but I guess he looks human.😅 #sketch #drawing

On Friday I had to travel all day for an unplanned trip back home. Nothing too exciting just trains and buses…all went smoothly until I got to Italy and found there were no trains due to a national strike. Nephew to the rescue! #sketch #travel

Once again the first layer is done. Pretty much a mess at this stage, but I'm hopeful…. #landscape #acrylics #vosges

The most intimate chapter in the book...and the second last! #gay #lesbian #fiction #LGBTQI

And it's done! Le sentier des Roches. #Vosges. Acrylics on board #landscape #mountains #art #gerardmer

Little sketch: Gérardmer under a gloomy bank of clouds #sketch #landscape

#MixedMedia #painting #watercolour #acrylic #emulsion #art

Once again, the first layer of paint for my next baby. This is the Sentier des Roches, arguably the most beautiful, albeit vertiginous, path in the # #Vosges #landscape #acrylics

Two more chapter two go! #fiction #LGBTQ+

This plein air oil was done on Mt. Diablo in the Bay Area in 2002 #oilpainting #pleinair #textural #expressionist

And here’s Le Valtin finished ( I think…I might still play with the clouds). Acrylics on board #landscape #art #nonai #vosges #acrylics

So, this is an ancient tradition (2007). I took this photo of my mum—don't worry, she's still alive— under the hairdryer, serving up the best Italian fashion has to offer. This has been my December profile pic on my Meta accounts. Since I'm no longer on Meta, here it is, just for you!

Beautiful

This is Youkie a friend’s dog. We've been looking after her for the last few days. I drew this sketch a few years back. Let's just say that she's fond of food. She's also one in a million…not necessarily in a good way 😉, but you got to love her. #sketch #dog #illustration

Very quick sketch: khakis and kiwi fruit. Well done you if you guessed that was a kiwi! Oil pastels and watercolours #sketch #stilllife #art

Mother and daughter, face to face

This is the town's underground water reservoir, right in the middle of the forest behind our house. On the L last week after the first snowfall. I liked how the grass was still peaking out. In the middle is my attempt to sketch it, on the R as it was yesterday during a heavier fall #snow #sketch

Sunroom gouache and aquarelle pencils #art #mixedmedia #drawing #artistsonbluesky

New arty post on Substack. Cheers

We have three vases full of white hydrangea cuttings. In theory they should root and be ready for planting next spring. The flowers are drying out and turning reddish and pinkish colored. We'll see. #flowers #sketch #art

This is the first layer of paint for the new landscape I'm working on. It's a summer view of the Valtin valley just a few Ks from where I live. Let's wait for it to dry… #art #landscape #vosges

Revelations... #fiction #lesbian #gay

Today's offering is a bowl of fruit. I love this bowl that was left here, like everything else, from the previous owners. A masterpiece it ain't, but here it is anyway #fruit #sketch #watercolour

Another little sketch made with leftover paint from the Beech trees painting #illustration #sketch #flowers

In the end I decided to add branches and leaves to the foreground. Not sure if it was the right decision…too late now! Also not oak trees but beech. My fault. #acrylics #art #landscape

That's it, the party has started #fiction #gay #lesbian #LGBTQI+

This is the result of two separate events: a forest of high altitude oak trees, we came across last week during a long walk. And the sky that, two days ago, turned yellowish pink. I'm not sure it's finished: I think I need something in the foreground. But here it is anyway #landscape #art #forest

Old stone stairs, Elizabeth Bay pen and gouache #art #pleinair #painting #Sydney #colorful

On this day, 7 years ago we visited Neist Point on Skye ( Scotland). It was just amazing. This sketch that I have just done doesn't do it any justice. But here it is anyway. #skye #watercolour #landscape #sketch

I rarely sketch buildings because I'm pretty s#it at it 😀 but voilà a quick one. Gérardmer town hall. #sketch #france #gerardmer

Everyone is in the square!

I want to get into the habit of drawing/ sketching more regularly. And since I have hundreds of pictures of Nitro ( usually sleeping) I thought it would make the perfect subject. It's far from perfect, but an enjoyable exercise anyway. #dog #watercolour #illustration #sketch

I'm really loving working with the palette knife at the moment. This is one of my favorite local lakes: Le lac des truites #acrylics #illustration #art #vosges #landscape

Nitro sleeping by the window on a rainy day. Fine liners #dog #illustration #fineliner

Things are starting to kick in

let's make a toast

The Hohneck in blue. #art #landscape #vosges #acrylics #alsace

First page of my new sketchbook. We used to call this place Dark Wood because the trees had been planted in rows so close that virtually no light reached the ground apart from where a path used to run through it. Most of the trees have been cut down now, but that's Ok. Felt pens #drawing #art

The Lookouts press conference!

Chapter 11, the threads are coming together!