THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

17 October 2012

PENCIL PONY SKETCH GIVEAWAY AND MY FIRST SALE!


I did this little pencil sketch of one of the grey geldings in the herd in the summer and it's been sitting in a drawer ever since. So, I thought it would be a nice present to thank you all for your support over the last seven months since starting this blog. If you would like it, just leave a comment or, if that's not possible, which I know it's not for some people who don't appear on the followers list, just send me an email at emparko@gmail.com. I'll put all the entries in the glass bowl like last time and will pull out a name in two and a half weeks on Sunday November 4th. The reason I'm leaving it so long is that next week Origami boy's class is doing a residential week in Brixham. Because he is so much younger than the rest of the class of nine and ten year olds, he's not staying the night and I will be taxiing him there and back every day. It's going to be a tough week for all of us but I think he'll get a lot out of it. The week after is half term so I will be taxiing again between various friends houses, so my blogging is likely to be sporadic!

This morning, when I turned on the computer, I got a lovely surprise in my email. Notification of my first print sale on Etsy! At last! I'd given up hope to be honest so it was very exciting. One picture of a Hobby is on its way to Canada so I think I'd better start doing a few more birds. 

It's been a wet and windy few days; here are a few pictures from our walks:



Foal number 10's cut is still visible but he seems perky enough, if a bit disgruntled by the rain




Lizzy sheltering from the wind



Rainbow sheep


Today the wind was so strong the waves in this puddle were breaking over the rocks!





Hope you all have a good rest of the week and I'll try and post as much as I can between trips to Brixham. Until next time....a wet Snippet



35 comments:

  1. So glad that I was able to be your first customer - I am looking forward to receiving the print - it will be one of my husband's Christmas presents (if I can wait to give it to him for that long). I love your photos - so glad I discovered your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! I hope the post gets it too you quickly and I;m casting around for some good owl references.

      Delete
  2. Em ... Congratulations !!! I am so happy for you, as I think your work is incredible and your photos all amazing ! Are you on Facebook? as there is a young gal who I would love to introduce you to her page... should you be please pop me off an email if you could so I can link you up. I will also send her your blog link too. Very happy for you .. sincerely, "Just Me"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will Cindy....is it Michelle because she's been in touch. I'll email you...

      Delete
  3. Poor Snippet. He looks like he needs a good rub down with a warm towel. I love all your photographs. They have so much atmosphere. I can almost feel the wind, and smell the country smell. So beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's such a scruff. When I brush him, he has a good shake and ends up looking like a mad poodle. Ten minutes later he's back to being a scruff. I give up!

      Delete
  4. I love your pencil sketch, it captures the pony and moors so well :)

    Beautiful photos as always~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you and I'll stick you in the glass bowl, or your name anyway!

      Delete
  5. The landscape of your photos reminds me a bit of the high desert of Wyoming--although I know the moors can't be at anything near that altitude. There is that same sense of a scouring wind under an expansice sky.
    The ability to draw is one I always coveted for myself--so frustrating that I see lovely things in nature and have no way to express my pleasure in them. At least with a digital camera I can now make a photo record of the seasons, add words and call it a journal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to go and have a look at some pictures of the Wyoming desert now. Digital photography has changed things so much - I absolutely love it.

      Delete
  6. great photos, have you thought about going in for postcards and a calender Em?
    I was very impressed to hear you had a sale and to Canada! well done you :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will definitely get organised with a calender next year with lots of warning in case people do want one. Postcards are a great idea and I'm looking round for the best way to reproduce them - thanks Kath.

      Delete
  7. Congrats! And I love your photos! What a lovely place to live!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else although it's a bit of a struggle in the depths of winter!

      Delete
  8. i love your sketches! wow!...id so love a companion to walk on Dartmoor with - always feel a bit anxious to go too far ;0) wonderful photography as always x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very sensible to feel that way. It's only because I know this area so well that I strike out on my own. People often get into trouble. If you're ever up this way, I'd happily walk with you.

      Delete
  9. Hello! Cindy suggested your blog to me and I am certainly glad that she did :) Your artwork is beautiful and I love the photographs! Looking forward to browsing through the archives.

    Michelle
    Michelle Hogan Equine and Fine Art
    www.michellehogan.ca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Michelle, lovely to hear from you. I've been to your blog but couldn't find anything on it at the moment. Having said that....I've just been to your web site and they're gorgeous. I recommend anyone else reading this goes there too! I particularly like 'shadowplay' and 'reflective' in the equine section. Once you have a 'followers' bit on the blog, I will.

      Delete
  10. You can put me down for a calendar next year Em. Every time I visit your blog, there are the most incredible photos of Dartmoor and you seem to keep surpassing yourself! The one with the rainbow and the trees is amazing (and the rainbow going onto the sheep - that will be the one with the golden fleece then!)

    I love your drawing of the grey gelding - you really capture their characters. He looks like a kindly equine uncle and the picture reminds me of one of Anne Bullen's drawings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd completely forgotten about Anne Bullen; so much a part of my pony-book obsessed childhood! He just needs a pair of half glasses to be that uncle doesn't he?

      I really will sort out the calendar and when it comes to it, I'll be asking for votes for favourite pictures.

      And....thanks for the congratulations. I don't care if there isn't another one for ages - I'm just glad to have the one!

      Delete
  11. And P.S. I meant to say CONGRATULATIONS on your first sale. First of many I hope.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the rainbow! The foal always makes me worry, he looks too small to be facing winter on the moors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know; the only thing in his favour is that he's sprouting an amazingly thick coat very quickly. I'll be keeping as close an eye on him as I can. I still can't work out who owns his mother unfortunately.

      Delete
  13. What a fabulous sketch! I have friends in Cumbria who have fell ponies and I know they would love this!

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a lovely sketch. Please enter me ~ love all the photos here.

    ReplyDelete
  15. you have a talent!!!
    wish I did!
    thanks em

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have a talent for writing John! I'll stick you in the pot....

      Delete
  16. Em, HOW EXCITING! All the way to Canada!! Loving the rainbow pic-Was there a pot of gold at the end ? Hope Origami Boy enjoys his week. I visited there a few yrs ago-It was fun x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No pot of gold....a puddle of peaty mud though.

      Delete
  17. Lovely captures! I don't blame Lizzy for sheltering from the wind ~ last time I was on Dartmoor I nearly blew away! ;)
    Beautiful art work too! Hope you've enjoyed your travels

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I often nearly get blown away but I'm getting used to it now.

      Delete
  18. Ambled over here from "Going Gently." Congrats on your first sale. Wonderful art and the photos are stupendous (the rainbow in the trees is brilliant!) I'll be ambling over here when I can. (Until I get my internet connection back up, my "ambling" and posting is limited.)

    Janet

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you ambled....I've just been to your blog and I love your header photo. Will investigate more later after I've labelled every piece of clothing my son owns for next weeks school trip. How I wish I'd bought the iron on labels rather than the sewing in ones!

      Delete

Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It's great to read them and I will always try to reply.