Amish Boy with Sled

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I thought this little boy was the sweetest I've ever seen, with his blonde hair sticking out from under his black hat, and his big wellies clunking through the snow.I'm not sure where he was intending to use his sled though - Pennsylvania is pretty flat!

Amish Children

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This little oil study is inspired by my recent trip to Pennsylvania to visit my husband's family over Christmas. There is a large Amish community there, so you see them a lot. The Amish people shun most of the conveniences of modern life such as electricity and cars, and they also shun any form of vanity such as photographs, believing that pride is a sin which should be avoided - even family pride. This is why I have given them blank faces. From an artistic point of view this actually emphasises the body language, and I was intrigued by the visual dialogue you can create when no facial expression or eye contact is available. I'm a people watcher by nature, so I'm always mentally sketching when I'm in public places.

Pennsylvannia

I spent Christmas and New Year with my husband and his family in Pennsylvannia - if you've visited my website (www.shelleyhocknell.com)you will have seen my paintings of the Amish people who live in the countryside near the Zentner's. I'm doing more oils of them today, so I'll upload them from tomorrow when I'm happy with them. For now here's a little watercolour sketch I did between snow showers there. It's a shame I haven't been able to visit Pennsylvannia in the summertime yet, when all the trees have leaves and the flowers are blooming. The landscape does have a unique charm at this time of year though, in a stark, understated way. The umbers, ochres and siennas are evocative of old sepia photographs, wrinkled and curling at the edges.

Mulled Wine & Mince Pies

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A funny thing about living in a country I didn't grow up in, is the unexpected onset of nostalgia. I've never been patriotic, or even that enthusiastic about Britain, especially Wales - but now I'm away... wow there's so many silly little things I miss, and I find myself increasingly drawn to seek out all things British. I listen to BBC Radio over the internet all day while I'm painting, and recently heard a live session with a very talented young singer called Duffy. I was even more drawn in when she said she was from Nefyn, quite near where I come from, and her lilting Welsh accent just hypnotised me. I watched the video to her new song on Youtube, my new favourite place to watch British TV shows, and it just captures so well the Wales I remember:



Dark, and kind of depressing really - but very beautiful in its way too. There's something very earthy and authentic about Wales, and it's just steeped in ancient history the way America isn't.

Anyway, Mulled wine & mince pies remind me of Christmas in Wales. Forgetting the fact that I usually eat so many of these that I'm sick of them by December 25th, I do love them. I made my own this year for the first time, and I'm surprised to report that they came out completely edible and really quite nice.

Christmas Tangerines (ii)

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Tangerine Still Life

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I love these colours! I have a Tibetan prayer flag in the same warm colours, and it has travelled with me for many years. I have it draped over a window now, and the effect is similar to a stained glass window - orangey morning light fills the room (our 'office') and it feels very peaceful. Helpful if the computer is being infuriating!

The Ring & The Chalice

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Ah..this feels like such an indulgent piece for me - romance, mythology, chivalry...they say a picture can speak a thousand words, and I think you should invent your own story for this one. That's my wedding ring in the painting; I got married just this year so I'm still on cloud nine most of the time. I've painted my husband Taylor many times, and am in the process of painting a huge abstract piece which is a kind of euphoric celebration of love and passion - so you could say this little painting is just part of what is in the air, creatively speaking.