St Ives ~ Artist J.C.Lawtey

St Ives, Cornwall - Artist ~ J.C.Lawtey

Well..yes...it seems my seriously untalented Mum has been at it once again..however this time I think she is actually proud of this one. And it's about time let me tell you lol as I have spent many...many...many years trying to boost her confidence about her work. My childhood bedroom was covered in drawings by her lovely hand and my shelves littered with her creations from the pottery school. OK there was also a Fonz and Bionic Woman poster or two..lol 

Last year ML and I were lucky enough to go to Cornwall on holiday and our apartment balcony overlooked the entire bay of St Ives and although the scene was never as dramatic as this one..it was beautiful. This is my Mums interpretation of the postcard that we sent her. I love extreme weather (unless it's flowing through my house!!) and so the sky and the waves really appealed to me. I think I enjoy Mum's version a lot more than the original postcard and I can say that without any bias as she knows me and my honesty gene well enough by now..lol. 

I am away to the hospital with ML and little Layla and then hopefully to have some fun afterwards so I hope you are all having a great Friday...

Thanks for stopping by and keep smiling folks..

~Red~ 

NB: This artwork is the hard work and creation of J.C.Lawtey and her alone. 

Art: Abocet and Great Tit by J.C.Lawtey

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Glenn Fry ~ Smuggler's Blues
Slash's Snakepit ~ Doin' Fine
The Eagles ~ I Can't Tell You Why
AC/DC ~ Shot Down In Flames
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band ~ Live On
Seasick Steve ~ St Louis Slim
KT Tunstall ~ Paper Aeroplane
JET ~ Rip It Up
Pearl Jam ~ Why Go
Kaiser Chiefs ~ What Did I Ever Give You?
The Eagles ~ Heartache Tonight
Foreigner ~ Urgent
The Union ~ Sawtooth Mountain Ride Pt 1
Thunder ~ I Hear You Knocking (Live Acoustic)

You know all those sleepless nights, temper tantrums and general devilment of being a small child stuff you put your parents through back in the day? You do? Right be warned they will indeed get you back one day. lol.

As you know my lovely Mum is a very talented artist and of late her work has been on one track...birds. So for her birdphobic (well anything with wings...hush! I can't help it! lol) first born daughter it's a little traumatic. And it seems that it will not be going away anytime soon as she turned up this week with two more of them. *insert screaming in my head here* lol.

Now in an act of justifiable self preservation I could say how awful they are and steer her on a new subject track. But as ever her results are beautiful...so I swallow my hebejeebe screams and nod out of respect at how talented she is. And besides I am no liar so I encourage her to keep going. So here are her two latest pieces...

Abocet ~ Artist J.C.Lawtey 2013

And yes...we did have a chuckle when taking the shot of the next one...haven't we all got that child inside us that snickers at silly names??? Oh! Just me and Mum then...lol Ah well...

Great Tit ~ Artist J.C.Lawtey 2013

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Friday is a great one....

~Red~

Art: Bohemian Lapwing ~ J.C.Lawtey

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Marilyn Manson ~ Tainted Love
Adele ~ Someone Like You
Sting ~ All This Time
P!nk ~ Sober
Sting ~ Desert Rose
Newton Faulkner ~ To The Light
The Black Keys ~ Gold On The Ceiling
Holly Williams ~ He's Making A Fool Out of You
Stevie Ray Vaughan ~ Life Without You
Clare Teal ~ Messin' With Fire
Brandi Carlile ~ Dying Day
The Kinks ~ Victoria
Sheryl Crow ~ Strong Enough
Usher ~ OMG

I know, two art posts together..but I had no other choice today. My dear Mum visited yesterday with her latest completed piece of art. And yes she still believes her work to be 'not good enough'! However for the first time I saw a spark of....pride?..in her eyes. She held it up for me to look at and although I'm not into the subject of the piece...even I had to say that I thought it was great. (If you knew me away from here..you would know I have a Bird/anything with wings phobia! So this was huge...) Anyway...here is the piece...

Bohemian Lapwing ~ Artist J.C.Lawtey

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Thursday is a great one...

~Red~

Art: Pen and Ink ~ J.C.Lawtey

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Robin Thicke ~ Blurred Ways (addicted to this tune!! lol)
Joan Jett ~ Fun, Fun, Fun
Mr Buble ~ I'm Your Man
Audioslave ~ Jewel Of The Summertime
Lydia Loveless ~ Learn To Say No
Tina Dico ~ Haunted
Billie Myers ~ You Send Me Flying
Idil Biret ~ Chopin: Nocturne 21 in C Minor
Thunder ~ Gimme Some Lovin
Tim McGraw ~ Please Remember Me
Sarah McLachlan ~ Fallen
Pat Benatar ~ Promises In The Dark
Roy Orbison ~ You May Feel Me Crying
Nickelback ~ Another Hole In My Head

Packing up the house update: Well...lol. It seems my mind is packing boxes and my body can't keep up. So I am managing one full of packing..oh ok...supervising...(thank you A! You rock!) and then I'm out for two days recovering...which is frustrating to say the least. But I do now have an entrance hall that someone could actually live in quite comfortably. We had completely forgotten just how large it was. So one room completely packed up and others are well under way. So it's looking good folks.

Today's post is brought to you by my very talented mothers latest piece of art work. Yes this piece was shown to me in a very blasé manner..."Oh this is the piece I've worked on this week...just a piece of Pen and Ink..." It's at this point my head explodes because the woman isn't faking at all by this statement. She truly does not realise how good she is...and it makes me crazy. lol. So here is her new piece...

Untitled Pen & Ink ~ Artist J.C.Lawtey

Now I am happy to admit any negative aspects to this drawing is solely my responsibility as I took the photo using my phone instead of my camera. And I have to say the detailing would have been more clear if I'd used the latter but it was the other side of the house and I was on rest! Dammit But I hope you get a good idea of how awesome this piece is...

Thank you for staying loyal folks and coming back everyday as you do..and I hope your Friday is a great one...

~Red~

Art from my Mum

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Maroon 5 ~ Tangled
Beth Rowley ~ Oh My Life
Todd Rundgren ~ Can We Still Be Friends?
Bruce Springsteen ~ Thunder Road
Natalie Imbruglia ~ Wrong Impression
Jewel ~ Absence of Fear
Garbage ~ Shut Your Mouth
Thunder ~ Higher Ground (Live)
Joan Jett ~ Don't Abuse Me
Beth Hart ~ By Her
Leann Rimes ~ Please Remember
VAST ~ Everything Has Changed
Shania Twain ~ It Only Hurts When I Breathe
Rodrigo y Gabriela ~ Juan Loco

The art that I am sharing today is the latest piece from the wonderful artist that is my Mum. And for once she actually had to admit it was a good piece. lol. Those who follow this blog will known just how big a deal that is. She is her own worst critic and never believes that her creations are any good. So I will leave it for you to enjoy....




Untitled ~ Artist J.C.Lawtey

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your day is filled with happy moments...

~Red~

Art a la Mum: Hydrangea 2012

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Doris Day ~ Fly Me To The Moon
The Eagles ~ Guilty Of The Crime
Don Williams ~ Crying In The Rain
Missy Higgins ~ Set Me On Fire
Shelby Lynne ~ I Only Want To Be With You
Dean Martin ~ Hold Me
Joe Nichols ~ Brokenheartsville
Deacon Blue ~ Fergus Sings The Blues
Janet Jackson ~ Together Again
Maria McKee ~ Show Me Heaven
Rob Thomas ~ Falling To Pieces
Heart ~ Back To Avalon
Tim McGraw ~ Where The Green Grass Grows
All Saints ~ Bootie Call

Regular readers will know that I love art and often share with you art that has had some effect on me. One of my favourite artists is my Mum...some of my first memories are filled with watching her sat with her large pad..busily sketching away...whilst I was supposed to be falling asleep on the bed next to her. lol. We shared a room at the time so my bedroom walls were covered in her drawings. Oh and my Fonz poster...lol. Back then she stayed with pencil drawings and pottery. Its only since her retirement that she has experimented with all the mediums that she always wanted to try.

This piece came about because the Hydrangea bush in her garden was far and beyond the most beautiful bloom in her garden this year. And she wanted to record it's vibrant colour.



Hydrangea 2012 by J.C.Lawtey 2012 ©

Safe to say that Mum loves the colour pink so it wasn't a huge shock when her favourite bloom was this intense shade of pink..lol. I think the colours all pop and work well together. Her art tutor loved it...and for once my Mum believed what we were all saying about her work..and she quite proud of this one..lol. About time..eh? I hope you enjoy it too...

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Thursday is a good one...

~R~

Art a La Mum: Copenhagen Little Mermaid

Rocket & Roses HQ Play List:

Dani Wilde ~ Falling
Bobby McFerrin ~ Circle Song 6
Sugarbabes ~ Stronger
P!nk ~ Bad Influence
Pixie Lott ~ Nothing Compares
JET ~ Kings Horses
Santana ~ Primavera
Def Leppard ~ Bringing On The Heartbreak
NIN ~ Reptile
Gina Sicilia ~ Allow Me To Confess
Marvin Gaye ~ Let's Get it On
Alannah Myles ~ Hurry Make Love
Radiohead ~ Creep
INXS ~ Mystify

Today's post is based around another one of my lovely and talented Mum's pieces of artwork. This time the medium was Pen & Ink work and the subject the Little Mermaid bronze in Copenhagen. ML has been to Copenhagen a couple of times through work. Last time, Mum asked for a postcards from ML's work travels, so ML brought back a mermaid one from that trip.

Mum came round for her usual Monday evening visit last night and handed me this lovely pen & ink drawing of the famous mermaid.

Little Mermaid by J.C.Lawtey

I love the colour my Mum chose for this piece.  And I really enjoy the detailing.

Close up on the lovely mermaid...

Below is a photograph of the real version and I read up on the Mermaid when I decided to do this posting. I was shocked by the things that had been done to this statue in the name of politics..in fact it disgusted me.

Little Mermaid Copenhagen

To read about the charming Little Mermaid for yourself..please click here...it's a very interesting read. However if you want to read about what has really happened to her over the years click here...I know it's Wiki lol.

A postcard version..but not the one Mum worked from..

We are having good temperatures today and blue skies..so I am off to enjoy some of it...lol Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Tuesday is a fantastic one....

~R~

Art a la Mum: Sky Reflections

Lounge Play List:

Natalie Cole ~ So Many Stars
Squeeze ~ Labelled With Love
INXS ~ What You Need
K.D. Lang ~ Crying
Neil Diamond ~ Face Me
Stevie Ray Vaughan ~ Texas Flood
Melissa Etheridge ~ Please Forgive Me
Within Temptation ~ Forgiven
Shania Twain ~ Not Just A Pretty Face
Them Crooked Vultures ~ Elephant
The Police ~ Message in a Bottle
Maroon 5 ~ Better That We Break

Yes..my very untalented Mum has been at it again..lol And..yes..that was very heavily undisguised sarcasm. lol. During her visit this week..she handed me a slightly sticky canvas (nice! lol) and said that this was the piece she was handing in for grading for her Art course. As usual being her own worst critic..she wasn't sure what she thought of it...and yes..once again I was staggered that she really can't see her own talent. I think it is beautiful and for her worst medium of painting I think she is definitely taming the beast that is Acrylic..lol So I give you Sky Reflections..



'Sky Reflections' 23.5.12
(another awful one eh? lol)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Tuesday is being kind to you...
~R~

Art: Moon Over the Ocean

Lounge Play List:

Nickelback ~ Here and Now Album

Today has been a rubbish day in the Rocket and Rose household. And it doesn't look like it's going to get any better..Urgh. However I did have the most wonderful surprise from my lovely Mum. She is a life long artist and I have blogged about her work on here before under the Art a la Mum label.

She arrived for her regular Wednesday afternoon lunch and catch up. As she breezed into the lounge she was very distracted with pulling something out of her large over sized bag. She looked up and smiled and said "Hello.." and then promptly flung a A3 sized piece of paper at me in disgust. She attends a regular art class and this week their given medium was Acrylic..her most loathed medium. lol. The subject had to be Moon based...and as my Mum is her own worst critic of her own work..she completed the assignment..took it in to be told it was fantastic by the tutor! But in my Mums eyes..it wasn't 'good enough'..lol

So I unrolled this piece of paper and was completely sickened bowled over by the talent this woman has but just doesn't see it!! I love the moon over the ocean art...photos, paintings..and any medium it comes in. But as my own worst creative critic..I tend to be on the 'too' honest side of opinions with others too..lol...so when I said that I loved it..Mum huffed and said "It's not good..but if you think it is..keep it!" That is a win for me because I love it! lol.

Moon Over The Ocean ~ Yeah she's awful isn't she??? lol

So that is it for today..I intend on spending the rest of the day..with music and words..and maybe the odd movie. lol.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your Wednesday is being very good to you?

~R~

Early Birthday Surprises..

Workroom Play List:

Bruce Springsteen ~ Jungleland
Bing Crosby ~ Just An Echo in the Valley
Def Leppard ~ When Love and Hate Collide
PCD ~ Beep!
Natalie Merchant ~ King of May
Kanye West & Jamie Fox ~ Gold Digger
Randy Spendlove ~ Moon River
Thunder ~ Welcome to the Party

As you know I am almost 40..and I make no apologies for clinging to the almost for as long as I possibly can. lol. At least until midnight the night before my birthday...and then I shall become 18 plus 22 years experience. lol. Anyway...

On Monday I had a lovely surprise..my Mum, who is a very talented artist, came round for a cuppa and had a big cheeky grin on her chops. After greetings were over and drinks orders placed with My Love..lol..she brought in a bag and took out a couple of framed paintings. This is nothing unusual as she often brings down the pieces she's been working on..for my opinion and thoughts. I am one of those honest types..lol. But the surprise was on me as she brought them over to me and with a big grin and wished me early birthday wishes. Apparently her and My Love had been in cahoots over the last month..lol

She handed me two paintings that she had been working on for the last month or so. I was delighted...

Moonlight Lady

Sadly my camera and photo skills don't do them justice but this one is such a deep midnight blue with silver highlights. And the detailing on her gown hasn't shown up much..which is a shame as the detailing is just beautiful. I love the artist Mucha and the silver framing surrounding her is a tribute to his work. I find the night enchanting so this midnight painting is just lovely.

Sunshine Lady

There were a few inspirations for this piece of work. I love Art Deco artwork and the sun rays in particular. The rosebuds surrounding her are symbolic of the rosebuds that were growing outside the hospital window when I was born. Daffodils are one of my favourite all time flowers and she is carrying a small bunch of them..again the photo doesn't pick that up. Also in the grass there are beautiful little sprouting flowers...

Paintings of women have always been my favourite artwork and our house is covered in them. Especially my workroom..lol. Apparently my little niece Noo saw this when my Mum was working on it and declared it beautiful and wanted it for herself. And apparently told my Mum that is was me in the painting...the fact that I haven't straight auburn hair or brown eyes were lost on her. She's only 3 and not an art critic..lol But she was determined it was me..lol.

So maybe becoming *cou-40-gh* isn't going to be so bad...I have two new paintings to add to my collection and they are always treasured. It reminds me of being very little..when Mum and I lived with my Nan and Grandad and we shared a room. It was always covered in pencil drawings..and some my earliest memories are of her sat with her sketch pads.

I wanted to share them with you as they are too lovely not to! lol.

Thanks for stopping by..And I hope your Wednesday is a good one?

~R~

Mother's Day 2012

Workroom Play List:

James Morrison ~ Fix The World Up For You
The Eagles ~ Peaceful, Easy Feeling
Shakira ~ She-Wolf
Thunder ~ Once In A Lifetime
KT Tunstall ~ Another Place to Fall
Edith Piaf ~ Non je ne regrette rien

Happy Mothers Day to all the well deserving Mothers in the UK

Here in England it is Mothering Sunday and it is a day that should be celebrated. But then I have a Mum who is lovely...and my sister is also a great Mum too. So the two of them should be spoilt rotten as far as I'm concerned. But then I also hold with not just showing your love and thanks on one day of the year but all year round and I do try to do that.

So what did I buy as a gift for my lovely Mum this year? Flowers? Like the virtual bouquet above? Nope. Chocolates? Nope..Mum's not that big on chocs. I bought my Mum three bottles of drawing ink..lol.

Windsor & Newton Drawing Ink ~ We bought the requested black, brown and metallic gold/bronze

I know..sentimental eh? lol. Well actually it is for me because my Mum is a very talented artist and having recently retired, has taken back the 'art love'. As a small toddler many of my first memories are of my Mum with large sketching pad sat on her knee as she was lost in drawing whilst she thought I was asleep. We had drawings all over our room that we shared. My Mum is also great at pottery and I have a few of her pieces around my house. She also made a lovely glass window hanging for me and one for my sister a few years ago..mine hangs proudly in my workroom window. It seems the woman can do anything she turns her hands too. Me? Did I pick up the arty gene? Nope..can't draw for toffee! lol.  I have very fond memories of her making up bedtime stories about Flinglebunt the pixie and then drawing some of the illustrations. Sadly though when she later remarried she virtually gave up her artwork as she raised my sister and brothers. So when she started to slowly pick up the love again it was a moment of great joy for me. It felt like she was becoming the Mum I knew again..silly isn't it? lol. But find the love she has indeed now and she is going from strength to strength. The passion to learn more and try new methods is a wonder to see. I have one of her paintings hung in my house and would happily display more. So we were very happy to buy the requested inks.

This was a commission piece..the first time Mum had ever drawn and painted a horse!

She made a fantastic 10 year anniversary card/painting for me for My Love. My Love is obsessed by the VW vans. And we also have that framed too. The woman is silly talented. lol. (Can you tell I'm a little proud of her? )

So Happy Mothers Day Mum and may you continue to spend many years enjoying the passion you have for artwork. We are all very proud of all your creations...and always will be. And Happy Mothers Day to my lovely sister who has spent the last 5 years exhausted and sleep deprived..lol. You are also an amazing Mum and don't you ever forget that!

Thanks for stopping by...and I hope your Sunday is a very good one...

~R~