In preparation for booking my flights for a painting holiday in France (with David Mcewan at www.paintfrance.com) I’m stoking up my obsession for white horses to practice for painting the little white Camargue horses.
Thing is my horses are anything but white!
Many moons ago, whilst attending a workshop run by The Society Of Equestrian Artists, the great Malcolm Coward (sporting and equestrian artist/guru) told me I used way too much white… I cannot remember his exact words as it is now over 10 years ago… but he said that there was only ever a ‘sliver’ of white on a ‘white’ horse, and that I had to look harder and see more colour….
One of Malcolm’s Books…..
It probably took a number of years until these wise words sunk in and I really understood what he was telling me…. In fact, I sort of wish the penny had dropped quicker for me, but everything in their own time, eh?
So, inspired to paint the Camargue ponies, hoping that whilst on my holiday I can take hundreds of my own reference photos to work from back in the studio, I searched out an image and set off working….. I have taken a number of progress shots to share my methods, procedures, mutterings and brushwork as I went.
The reality is that I will have to sell this painting to be able to fund my trip! Any takers???
Stage 1.
Working to a pencil line sketch, with tonal variations marked, I start to lay in some base washes onto the lead horse. I’m using acrylic paint as though it was watercolour…. Why? Well I find I can badly cheat on the complex watercolour rules of technique! I can lay down some of the darker tones and wash over them with a thin glaze of lighter shades, knowing that the underlayers will not move or bleed. In this way I can keep the accuracy I crave and not turn my painting into a muddy mess of layers.. all being well that is the intention anyway!
I do love the colour combination of brilliant blue alongside the warms of a burnt sienna… really does it for me!
Stage 2.
I keep on adding the base colours and looking for the shadows and darker tones. I know at this point that one major area of difficulty will be the flowing tail hairs, which I’m really not looking forward to trying to paint. The darker legs get some layers of an ultramarine and umber mix and then I glaze back over the dry paint with a weak brilliant blue to give a tint of colour, something which I wouldn’t have been able to do in true watercolour medium. The more I look at the reference picture I am working from, the more peaches, pinks, lilacs and purples I see.I’m trying to leave a minimal amount of naked white paper, but also trying to be subtle. Times like this I wish I could have a little more courage and get a stronger tone without feeling so worried!
Stages 3 and 4.
The basic colour layering and tonal work is developed further and continued into the two other horses. I want my lead horse to stand out in the foreground, so I’m hoping to make her darker and use a higher level of detail. I’m allowing the rear two horses to be lighter and more suggestive… at this point I’m struggling a little with the tonal balance.. I need a lot more layers!
I’m also considering if I am going to add a background, as I quite like the bareness of the paper.. I realise also that I will need at least, to state some cast shadows and ground surface detail, so I’m still undecided… ho hum….
Stage 5
Now I’m really pilling on the layers, steadily darkening the tones, I seem to be progressively adding layer and layer of brilliant blue, each one acting as a thin veil of colour, gradually achieving the required depth, I hope.
I’m still considering the background (or lack of!) trees, pebbles and hedgerows are not my strong point, and in fact, hedges are most probably number one on my most-hated-list. These horses are galloping in the air though, and are really in need of some grounding. Humbug…..
Stage 6 and 7
I’ve bitten the bullet and started to add a background and of course, instantly, regretted this. BLOW IT.
I now feel really harassed knowing I have to commit to hedgerow, pebbles et al….. Totally my own fault. So I head back to the easel with a very strong coffee, put some monotonous dance music on to give me ‘energy in the zone’, push my sleeves up and crack on with the job in hand.
mutter
Stage 8.
After a good few hours slog, much coffee and muttering, I think I am coming out of ‘the other end’. I feel much happier with the background and thank goodness, now feel that I may have made the right choice! I again feel I have made the right medium choice for me; I’m in acrylic and now have applied maybe 15 glaze washes over the foreground, and then a pinky-peach wash over the horses and the sky so that hardly any bare paper is remaining. In watercolour, my whole image would be swimming away like the painting in the flake advert!
Am I finished?
I’m not 100% sure. I may need gto go darker in the cast shadows, put more definition into the rear two horses, add more colour to the roadside vegetation…. But to be honest, my eyes are now too tired to keep painting and the coffee has done it’s worst, I’m yawning wide and caffine wired!
This piece entitled ‘White Horses’ will be for sale within a week. I’m going to stare at it all weekend to judge if I can improve it without spoling it or overpainting. The funds of the sale will go directly to my ‘Camargue fund’ to pay for a horseback day trip to collect hopefully, a delectable cselection of reference photos. Fingers crossed!
Thank you for joining me on my blog. I will keep you updated on any action in the painting studio!
May 18, 2012 | Categories: On The Easel This Week, Ranting and raving.... | Tags: acrylics, art, Camargue, camargue ponies, david mcewan, E J Lazenby, equestrian art, galloping horse, grey horse, horse, Malcolm Coward, paintfrance, painting, painting holiday, painting in france, pony, watercolour, white horses | Leave A Comment »
Jane lithographic print 2
This is my celebration of drawing the female form, one of the few things that keep me away from drawing and painting horses….(Which can’t be a bad thing really!)
Oh how I love to sit and stare at a naked lady…
Especially when I have my drawing pad and pencils in hand. Naked men don’t really do it for me; there simply are not enough curves.
My favourite curve is the shoulder to hip with the sweeping shape into the waist, or that lovely curve into the small of the back rounding out over the bottom, or the delicacy of the collarbone and nape of the neck, the curve of the spine and the catch of light, the cello like shape and classic hourglass curves……..
Donna 1
I have just started tutoring a life drawing group at The Cooper Gallery in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. We have a super model, Dave, and a committed band of artists who really work hard. If you are in the area and interested in joining us, please get in touch!
Partly due to finally resuming my teaching activities after a year-long enforced gap, I decided to get myself to a life drawing class and get myself up-to-speed, I wouldn’t want to draw in a group in which I was paid to tutor (I would feel that I was short changing my students). I decided this week that the group would draw on bright hot and cold coloured paper and experiment using the opposite complimentary colour of pencil…. In order to refine and confirm the learning experience, I set myself the same task in my own life drawing group, so I was teaching from experience, rather than from theory or what a book said.
blue on red
hot colours on grey
hot colours on blue
By using opposite or complimentary colours, the pencil really had a colour brightness that we do not get with white paper, I really enjoyed sharpening up my observational skills and having a good play with colour, the students had better hold on tight on tuesday as it will be a full on session with colour!
The last time I enjoyed drawing from the figure was in Liverpool, where I filmed two DVD’s on figure drawing, I’m afraid I can’t give you a link as they are subscription only and still going through the editing process. Some videos that I do have access to are posted on youtube and were filmed in 2010 and 2011, please see the below links..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CQJC4czyt0&list=PL3F9E2583B5383863&index=4&feature=plpp_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx9ilWs-6oc
I so love filming! It must be my dream job!! I have become very comfortable with demonstrating over the years, and undertake between 5 and 10 demonstrations every year to art groups.To inspire others to paint and draw is such job satisfaction.
Students watch out on tuesday, because I’m coming armed with some bright colours and a big challenge!
Natalie 3
Natalie 2
Natalie 1
Michelle
Natalie with silver leaf
Helen
- Jane lithographic print
Helen 2
May 11, 2012 | Categories: On The Easel This Week, Ranting and raving.... | 1 Comment »
detail
After my personal challenge of the 100 paintings, I really identified exactly what combination of things made my ultimate inspiration:
- Lighting effects (dusk / dawn/ against the light)
- Horses (especially their rear angles of curvaceous rumps)
- Heightened colour (orange /yellow with bright blues/ purples)
- An interesting narrative /storyline
Give me all of the above and I’m in heaven. It’s often a difficult job to create all of these points in a single photograph for a painting reference, so here is where I need to improve my photography skills (and dare to take my SLR off auto setting) and to allow more creativity to come to the fore and create the darker lighting effects through experimentation and combining a selection of reference photographs…..
The following photos document the progress of my latest painting, a 23″ x 23″ Atelier Interactive acrylic on canvas panel. I’m still undecided on the title as yet, but quite like ‘The Beachcombers’ or ‘Sea Horses’. Any better ideas? I’d love to hear them!
pic 14 tonal balancing and adding detail
pic 13-adding more detail
pic 12- more water structure and detail
pic 11- darkening tones and adding detail
pic 10 – detail on water
pic 9 – starting to structure water surface
pic 8 – refining tones on horses
pic 5- blocking in horses colours
pic 4- painting in the horses
pic 3- sky blocked in
pic 1 start point- basic pencil structure
The painting is still unfinished, I’m really enjoying departing from my reference photo and starting to really ‘feel’ the colours. It has been a super piece to demonstrate my techniques and painting procedure during my ‘Open Studio’ event (see www.openupsheffield.co.uk ).
I will post an image of the painting when completed and framed, but until then, thank you for joining me on my blog- I hope its been of interest!
Jane x
May 7, 2012 | Categories: 100 for 100 challenge, On The Easel This Week, Ranting and raving.... | Tags: art, beach, equestrian, equine, horses, painting, sea, sea side, shadow, silhouette | Leave A Comment »
I’ve just completed day 2 of my 5 days of opening my painting studio up to members of the public…. This year I am the only studio based in Barnsley, all of the other 62 studios participating are in the Sheffield area. Check out the catalogue online for a colour image of each artists work, there are 150 artists! Just click on the web link below:
www.openupsheffield.co.uk
It is now my 4th year of this event, my visitors have been trickling in to my secluded countryside base, quality not quantity I say! I can happily report that 3 originals have now found new homes. I have over 60 paintings on display and have converted my studio and dining room into gallery spaces complete with white voile drapes and matching labels (really pushing the boat out here!)
Over the course of the last few days I have completed some new works shown below…
Watching. 12 x 16″ coloured pencil. For Sale
Whizzy Woo and Ferg, 10 x 12″ acrylic. NFS
It has been lovely to open my private space to visitors and to talk about the inspiration and techniques I use, my last year’s artistic journey and also my plans for the future.
I’m a stones throw from The Yorkshire Sculpture Park and welcome you to pop into my secluded countryside base and have a cuppa and scone….. it would be great to meet you!
May 6, 2012 | Categories: Exhibitions and events | Tags: art studio, artist, Barnsley, canine, cat, dog, E J Lazenby, equestrian, equine, gift, horses, open up sheffield, painting, portrait, Sheffield | Leave A Comment »
Slashes of gold shear into the moody sky,
as the shadowy horses gallop by……
I think I must be feeling a little poetic tonight! I’ve been busy in the studio having some experimental fun with my new gold atelier interactive metallic paint… it’s not as good as gold leaf I think, but it is rather nice to smear around with my fingers and make a total mess of my door handles around the home…..
I have the Open Studio event approaching in May, and I’m wanting to create a series of small affordable originals to entice possible buyers…..!! None of us have the money to buy big pieces at the moment, so I have decided to think small and to let some creativity flow.
Getting messy
number 1- 6x8"
number 2- 12 x 16"
number 3 -10 x 12"
number 4- 10 x 12"
I’m not sure which one is my favourite as yet, nor am I settled on titles.. I’m going to let them come to me over night then I may re-blog tomorrow…. I still have a tendency to over work experimental pieces, looking back, I really enjoy some of the stages these pieces go through, and maybe I should be a little braver and stop sooner???
just starting
another beginning
It would be interesting to know what you think about stopping sooner…. could be a totally new departure for my work! As for title suggestions… all welcomed! All the above pieces are for sale, please email me for further details (arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk)
Thanks for your interest.. talk soon xx
April 11, 2012 | Categories: On The Easel This Week, Ranting and raving.... | Tags: andalucian, arabian, art, equestrian, gallop, gold, grey horse, painting, shadows, silver, silver lewaf, spanish horse, white horses | Leave A Comment »
ONE exhibition, Imperial buildings, Rotherham Open Art Renaissance (ROAR)
I was delighted last month to have a new painting ‘Duty Of Care’ juried into an exhibition in Rotherham, South Yorkshire… I trotted along to the private view to find a lovely courtyard with some great quirky arty-crafty shops and a cluster of likeminded artists busy networking away…. This exhibition continues until the 8th of April 2012.
Currently Crafted, The Orangery, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
The next planned exhibition for my work is with Pennine Artists (www.pennineartists.co.uk), 31st March till 1st April 2012.
This is at a delightful venue, The Orangery, in Wakefield, and features a number of artists from the group Pennine Artists.
These are the links to the gallery publicity… would be lovely to see you there!
http://www.the-orangery.uk.net/home/event_detail/242
http://www.beam.uk.net/events/currently_crafted/
South Yorkshire Open Art 2012, The Cooper Gallery, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
I am again enerting 3 new paintings into the submission process, fingers crossed! The exhibition runs from saturday 31st March till the 25th of May. My new work is very different to my equestrian themed work, so it will be interesting to see how they are received…..
Creative Connections, The Cooper Art Gallery.
This exhibition is now coming to a close. I was pleased to sell a piece, and also that a number of my fellow Pennine Artists we also successful in selling work… Its a lovely feeling to know that someone likes your art enough to purchase a piece to hang in their homes….
I am preparing some new work for The Great Sheffield Art Show (GSAS) in July, some horse based and I have the ideas forming to base some new work on some photographs of Highland Cattle! Watch this space as I shall be documenting their progress!
Thanks for tuning in and looking forward to blogging progress and events shortly! Ciao x
March 11, 2012 | Categories: Exhibitions and events | Leave A Comment »
Hello all… I’ve been rather quiet over the last few months.. a big sorry from me.
My general health has been poor with now 7 periods of strep pneumonia over the last year, leaving me tired and lacking blogging energy.
I’ve been under a 
lot of pressures with ‘issues’ that have stemmed from my 100 paintings in 100 days personal challenge, leaving me no option other than to close down my usual chatty productive self to a lower level of general grumpyness and disillusionment with life, art, creativity and psychological wellbeing…
I’m going to show you a new thread to my painting work, something I have created to help to release some demons and reclaim some power and self belief after I have felt stripped of my integrity and value…. Sounds serious eh? I’m not the melodramatic drama queen I could be, but I’m severely dented by the last 9 months of life as I’ve known it and I’ve managed to ‘paint out’ some off the issues and emotions that have been stopping me sleeping and allowing my ill health, depression and fragile non-immunity to continue….
I can’t explain these images further, just allow them to explain themselves to you. Some people have told me they are about broken relationships and lost love…. in some ways they are right… the broken relationship and lost love is not however with a lover or partner (I don’t have that honour) but a life betrayal, a lifestyle break, a denial of purpose and a inforced break from close personal associations…..
I soon realised that taking a photo of myself in the bathroom mirror on my mobile phone did not offer me enough detail as a reference image to paint from… so it was major hold my breath and dare myself time…..
My friendly photographer was John at Light and Dark Photography in Penistone near Sheffield…. he was so creative with the lighting and really listened while I nervously explained what I wanted…..
The second I saw the resulting photographs, I knew how and what I wanted to paint… the silver leaf is added for many reasons….. The difficult bit was painting myself, but as I progressed, my need to continue and the need to create an image with emotion and meaning became more important..
I have now had a number of these paintings accepted for exhibition through the juried process…. this encourages me, as I have been so blinkered on equestrian imagery, I at times feel that I have lost my personal soul with my art…
Can I ask you:
What is art about? What do I want to show? How do I make you want to feel? Can I draw you into my world? Can you feel an empathy for what emotions have fuelled my work? Are you picking up that edge? Do you feel that self questioning lack of love? The damage that has been inflicted by somebody else’s process? The need to value yourself because you are the ONLY thing you have that is solid??
Bird of Paradise
Under My Skin
Firing Squad
Duty Of Care
Thank you for reading my blog, it’s good to know I don’t just talk to myself…… My art therapy has really helped to lighten my heart and I am still busy in the studio and out and about exhibiting and demonstrating…. This blog post is really just about explaining my blogging gap…. I will return soon to be back to everyday….
February 24, 2012 | Categories: Ranting and raving.... | Leave A Comment »
Recently, a friend rang me and informed me that their fabulous dog, Hank, had just been put down after a very sudden and severe illness, I could hear the devastation in her voice as she told me what had happened…….
The reason for the phone call was that she wanted me to paint the dog, in secret, for her husbands up-and-coming birthday. I only had a tiny 3″ photograph to work from, but this one photo showed a proud and loyal face with such a direct gaze.
I set to work straight away, relishing the chance to work this portrait on a dark, sombre background; his outline almost melts into the darkness while his eyes follow your every move. I was very happy to say they are both utterly delighted with the completed painting and I so hope that it will keep their memories alive of this fabulous friend….
portrait of Hank
The end piece measures 12 x 12″ and is Atelier Interactive acrylic on canvas panel. I framed this piece in a heavy wide black frame with a natural linen slip, giving this beautiful dog the impact and importance that he deserves……
September 21, 2011 | Categories: On The Easel This Week, Ranting and raving.... | Tags: alsatian, dog head, dog portrait, GSD, painting | 4 Comments »
I was out and about last week demonstrating…. on tuesday evening I was in Horbury near Wakefield and on saturday, spent the day demonstrating at Penistone Show, where I had my regular trade stand….
I had asked the art group to supply me with an animal photograph to work from, and was given a shot of a border collie, one ear up the other down… I did struggle a little with the detail as the photo had been taken indoors and lacked fur description and had ‘good-old’ red eyes where the flash had caused havoc.
after one hour
I used my Atelier Interactive acrylic on canvas panel, steadily building up the main shades up to the one hour mark and coffee break……
close examination
There were many interesting questions that came from the group members which ranged from which colours and brushes I use and how the Atelier Interactive and unlocking spray worked, to how to create realism into the eyes and fur……
completed piece
I managed to complete the piece just within the two-hour timescale and was delighted when the dog’s owner wanted to take the painting home with her…..
A few days later I set up my trade stand at Penistone Show. I’d been moved last-minute into the demonstration marquee, and set up a painting to last me the whole day. I chose an image from my photo session with Lorenzo at The Great Yorkshire Show this summer. In my speed of packing that morning, I’d forgotten my white paint, so it was an interesting painting of 4 white horses not using any white paint! (Malcolm Coward would be proud of me!)
The painting was left incomplete.. I’ve now worked on it a little further, but I feel that there is still a way to go…..
further progress..
September 19, 2011 | Categories: 100 for 100 challenge | Leave A Comment »
Exhibition Invitation
I’ve not exhibited with The Society Of Equestrian Artists in a while, I’m an Associate member of this fabulous collection of equestrian specialists…… Many of their events are held in London at the Mall Gallery, and I have found it too far to drag my little one to submit, drop off and re-collect, so have sadly had to miss their summer exhibition out of my schedule.
I was delighted to find that this year that a Northern exhibition was to be held in Nottingham at the prestigious Sally Mitchell Gallery in Tuxford.
The submission of paintings was held last weekend, and I’m delighted to report I had 3 of my 4 paintings put forward, selected!! One of my favourites ( to give him his pet name ‘Mr Sexy Neck’ ) was selected alongside two of my ’100 day challenge’ paintings…..
To say I’m very happy is an understatement… I hope to give you some good news on the sales front! Fingers crossed!!
September 19, 2011 | Categories: Exhibitions and events | Leave A Comment »
As you all well know…. I completed 100 paintings in 100 days. My goals were to strengthen my technique, to use more colour, to become more creative and well.. erm…. to know myself better ( in the true artistic meaning! )
SO, DID IT WORK ??
You are the better judge of this than me…..
I can see for one thing, I’ve learned to paint faster! That art will hold me together through times of great personal stress, mishap, loss and duress….
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PAINTING?
I painted this image almost a year ago……
Turned Away...
I used my same photo reference (from Madeira of all places! ) to complete my DAY 57 piece….
day 57 of 100
I see more accuracy, more looseness and more confident handling…. The story is not the same for all of the pieces… I have found it hard to break out from copying the reference photo… to become more intuitive and creative…. my ‘commission’ style is a gremlin on my back with a loud voice that shouts “COPY..COPY..COPY!!”
Great when you want it, but the Devil itself to shake off when you don’t….
day 13 Dirty Paws
day 30
I have had a go at previously untried media… a new set of Atelier Interactive acrylic, which has turned out to be my new best friend, coloured pencils with monochrome underdrawing, using silver leaf rather than kit-kat wrappers. I’ve revisited graphite drawing media… I find I adore this… and also pen drawing which I haven’t done for almost 20 years…..
Day 1, with daughters monkey! My first go at Atelier Interactive paints...
Day 43, Armchair Ride, coloured pencil
Day 9, Black Stallion with silver leaf
Day 67, Lead four, graphite pencil
Day 57, Tessa, pen and ink
I can see that being able to work without a rule has done me a service… I’ve tried different approaches and styles, images that I have been drawn to paint without being requested to, media I have never tried before………
What am I most proud of?
completing 100 days….
What could I improve on?
being more creative and throwing my accuracy copy gremlin out of the window….
which painting is my favourite?
my day 100…. It was a wrench to give it away for free and I hesitated as I gave it to the post office… almost like sending a favourite child to boarding school… ( I can only imagine…)… but I am donating its ‘cost’ tomorrow and will smile..
What do I regret?
The timing of the 100… the most family accident prone, illness fuelled, work striffed period of my life….
My day 100… the end ( yet now a new beginning ) to the journey…
Day 100... The Ice Maiden
Can I say an ENORMOUS thank you for the support I have been given through my 100 days….. I am still painting, slightly less furiously, but I would really value you looking in on me and seeing how I’m getting on with ‘normality’ now my challenge is completed…..
August 22, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100, Ranting and raving.... | 3 Comments »
After a brief break (at pony club camp with Junior Artist ) I decided it was time to get back to painting! While ‘at camp’ I took a few photographs of a couple of horses, obviously stablemates, indulging in a spot of mutual grooming… the light was just right and I knew immediately, that this was going to be the next thing on my easel….
Due to the speed ethic of my 100 days challenge, I waded in with a big brush. My immediate thoughts were that this painting would be all about colour and I would keep the shapes bold, allowing the darker horse to become almost abstract with minimum detail.
Again I have taken a number of progress shots… My working time was under 4 hours for this piece, and at 16 x 20″ I have opened up the scale from my 100 pieces and decided to have a little fun!
stage 1
stage 2
stage 3
completed
This painting is now off to the framer, the lovely guys at Impact Framing, and is then destined for an exhibition in Nottingham, if I can get it through the selection panel… fingers crossed!
If it is still with me in October, I shall be putting it on public sale, so if you are keen, please let me know if you are interested and I will contact you if it is available….
August 21, 2011 | Categories: Exhibitions and events, On The Easel This Week, Ranting and raving.... | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 100
- The Ice Maiden…
9th August 2011
10 x 14″ – 24 x 35 cm approx
atelier interactive acrylic on canvas panel
reserved
Personal challenge completed… here is day 100….
I have looked for so long over a length of days at the reference image….. This hasn’t been a hard or a long job to produce… it’s been the exact thing I have chosen to paint, given over 150 images to choose from ( a massive thank you! ) tonight has been pure, concentrating pleasure..
Thank you for your support over my last 100 days of artistic struggle and production.. It’s been a very winding path!
I will muse over the 100 and my real progress in my next blog post… but for tonight, I’m now just going to relax and put the paint brush down….
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 9, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, coloured horse, dapples, drawing, gypsy pony, head, horse, horses, painting, pony, portrait, snow scene, stallion | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 99
The Falling Leaves Of Time
8th August 2011
7.5 x 10″ - 19 x 25.5 cm approx
black onyx pencil on paper
S O L D
This image gives me a quiet serenity to my soul……the tones, the curves and the fabulous interaction between the three (have you spotted little Hushpuppy under the donkey’s belly?)
I have needed to draw this piece, it’s eaten away at me,…. again the second I first saw it, I needed to absorb it…. this is the 9th image from my top 10 competition… I feel very lucky and honoured to have the chance to create from such quality images…..
I’ve used my black onyx pencils tonight, they give a lovely velvety denseness without the metallic glare of graphite pencils and are comfortably ‘fat’ in the hand… I’ really looking forward to tomorrows painting, I don’t really want to stop this 100 days journey, yet I’m aware that if I continue at this breakneck speed I will burn out and falter…..
After my 100 I shall continue to blog my work in my ‘on the easel’ section, and will post regular painting progress updates… I’m really enjoying talking to you, and would like us to continue our blog relationship! x
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 8, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, Beauty, black onyx, dapples, donkey, drawing, graphite, head, horses, mare and foal, painting, pencil, pony, portrait, shadows, Skewbald, stallion, vanner | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 98
7th August 2011
10 x 14″ – 24 x 35 cm approx
acrylic on canvas panel
reserved
This photo really caught my eye…… strong sunlight, beautiful horses, unusual composition and the thing that nailed it for me; the colour in the shadows and blocks of cast shadow…
This would be a piece I would like to work on much larger, I felt that it became quite fiddly on the smaller scale…… I’m back in my usual acrylics…. I can see I am starting to prefer the chunkier more opaque Atelier Interactive acrylics now infront of my old trust friend, the Liqitex acrylics…. I have almost run out of some colours, so I shall replace both brands and continue to use both….. Internet shopping here I come!
The light is well and truly at the end of the tunnel now for my 100 days…. this is just as well as I have a 4 day pony club camp starting tomorrow, so my final painting may have to be started at the field and completed after midnight… then there’s no celebration of completing the challenge! I have to shut up, get my head down and lead the small fat pony in circles!!!
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 8, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, Beauty, coloured pony, dapples, drawing, gypsy pony, head, Herd, horses, mare and foal, painting, piebald, pony, portrait, shadows, Skewbald, stallion, vanner, wild horses | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 97
- Johnny
6th August 2011
10 x 12″ – 25 x 30 cm approx
atelier interactive acrylic on canvas panel
S O L D
This dog’s eyes say it all…. he is a ‘foundling’ but he has the look of love in those beautiful eyes, I’m sure you agree?
I ‘needed’ to paint this image the second I saw it… golden light, dark background… a truly beautiful dog!
The painting itself was very relaxing to create, the brush almost seemed to guide itself… leaving me time to pop out to do some photography, and later arrange to meet up with friends..I’m ready for the final 3 days of intensive work now and feel happily recharged…..
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 6, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, beagle, Beauty, cob, coloured pony, dapples, dog, drawing, foxhound, gypsy pony, head, horses, mare and foal, painting, pony, portrait, shadows, stallion, vanner, ypsy-cob | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 96
- Family Outing
5th August 2011
10 x 12″ – 24 x 30 cm approx
atelier interactive acrylic on canvas panel
reserved
What I loved about this image, donated to me for my final ten paintings was the super shiny coats and the fact that this composition of the three horses couldn’t possibly be posed… it is just a photo of a perfect moment!
This has possibly been the most difficult of the paintings so far… a complicated composition with 12 legs .. to say the least… I’ve completed about 6 hours solid work before having a break to pop to the dentist and shampoo the small fat pony in preparation for ‘pony club camp’ next week….My eyes are so tired now, the concentration needed to work on the detail has been enormous!
Only 4 days to go in the 100 day challenge…. have you guessed which photo will be the winner???
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 5, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, cob, coloured pony, dapples, drawing, gypsy cob, gypsy pony, head, horse, horses, mare and foal, painting, pony, portrait, stallion, vanner | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 95
First draught
reworked final image
4th August 2011
10 x 14″ – 24 x 35 cm approx
atelier interactive acrylic on canvas panel
S O L D
What I loved about this image, donated to me by the fabulous artist Anne Barron, was the warmth of the tones, the beautiful far away expression of the Haflinger pony… and those brief but gorgeous blue shadows…..
My first draft I was happy with, but when I returned from my evening yoga hour, I had a fresh pair of eyes and could see a number of corrections I needed to make … The shoulder and leg area was too much in highlight, the brushmarks in the background conflicted and competed with the pony… had I got my highlights bright enough?
I spent a further hour fiddling and faffing, and yes, I’m now satisfied with what today has produced…..
The atelier acrylic paint is beginning to win me over, it’s pigment is stronger and the consistency drier than my usual liquitex paint… I’m finding that I am actually using less yet being braver with my colour….
Only 5 days to go in my 100 challenge…. I have 5 of the most fabulous images to paint (or draw) and everyday is going to be a pleasure…
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 4, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, chestnut, dapples, drawing, fiiyord, haflinger, head, horse, horses, painting, palomino, pony, portrait, stallion | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 94
- Osiris
3rd August 2011
8 x 8″-20 x 20 cm approx
atelier interactive acrylic on canvas panel
reserved
I’ve used a similar technique as my day 5 painting today, finding that the paint flowed easier and the painting progressed quicker…… I’m also finding that exhaustion is setting in… my head feels very heavy; my eyes are fine and I’m still really enjoying the creative process, but after 94 days solid I can feel the need for a day off becoming more and more urgent! My only worry is that I will let the quality slip on my last 6 paintings- I’m determined not to do this!!!
Today’s piece is of a lovely horse called Osiris, it’s been a pleasure to stare into his eye for hours!! He is based in Argentina, and is the fourth donated image I’ve painted in my final shortlist of ten…..
I took a few work in progress shots of the painting as it developed….
stage 1- blocking in main colours
stage 2- refining colours
stage 3- adding detail
stage 4- fine tuning
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 3, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, bay horse, black horse, cob, drawing, head, horse, horses, painting, pony, portrait, stallion | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 93
2nd August 2011
10 x 12″”-25 x 30 cm approx
acrylic on canvas panel
reserved
Today I’ve painted the third of my final shortlist of 10 paintings……. The winner of the magic 100th (free) painting will only find out on August the 8th, as I whittle my way through the ten!!!
It’s so totally inspiring to be allowed to choose my favourite 10 images from over 100 submitted, to create as I see fit…. choose my own media, scale and technique without constraint!…. Yesterday’s painting, Fintel, required subtlety, accuracy and lightness of touch…. today’s has been more about pure light effects and chiaroscuro (colour in my dusky shadows…)…. I can almost feel myself sat behind Apollo in the trap and hear his hoof beats clip clopping as he walks off into the sunset. I know how great the feeling is to be behind a familiar pair of pricked ears… I’ve worked in a more textured, layered technique and managed to complete this painting in daylight hours…. and I’m confirming to myself how much I adore blue shadows!!!
Original reference
after a bit of photoshop
I did a bit of sly editing to this image before painting it…. I dabbled with the brightness and contrast in photoshop… just so I could see more structure and detail… not being familiar with driving harness, I didn’t want to make any silly mistakes with the leatherwork! I feel that different takes on the same reference picture has helped me to create a more ‘informed’ painting….
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 2, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, cob, coloured horse, drawing, driving, gypsy cob, gypsy pony, hack, harness, head, horse, horses, painting, piebald, pony, portrait, Skewbald, spots, stallion, trap | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 92
- Fintel
1st August 2011
12 x 16″-30 x 40 cm approx
acrylic and indian ink on 300 g/m rough watercolour paper
reserved
I love this horse!! He has been very difficult to paint though, even from just getting the correct placement of his spots!! His name is Fintel and he’s a stallion…. by the looks of the few photos I’ve seen of him, he moves like a magic carpet and jumps like a stag, as well as being terribly handsome!
I’ve been through a bit of banging head against the wall with this one… originally I was going to leave the background white…… but this didn’t work, the horse overpowered the background, as I soon realised….! argh!!!
- stage 1
I then decided to add a dark background ( as my Day 6, 34, 48, 55, 62 and 63 pieces ). and all seemed lost… the background overpowered the horse….. there is no change in the shading on the horse, but now it looks so weak when before it was too strong…… H U M B U G…….!
- stage 2
I added indian ink to the background to get the density of finish I wanted….. now what was needed was to build the tonal colour layering using a combination of orange, ochre, violet, ultramarine and umber until I was satisfied that I had the required 3d effect…. I then needed to repeat the darker colours in all of his spots….. 4 coffee’s later and I think I’m finished!! I will scrutinise in daylight and take a better photo… these photos are off my mobile phone so that the flash does no bleaching out of the more subtle shading…..
- final piece
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 1, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, acrylic, appaloosa, cob, coloured horse, drawing, Fintel, hack, head, horse, horses, indian ink, painting, pony, portrait, sire, spots, spotted horse, stallion | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 91
Taking A Break
31st July, 2011
10 x 12″ 20 x 25 cm approx
acrylic on canvas panel
S O L D
I’m into my last 10 day’s of painting… the time has flown… This personal challenge has kept me on track and established a new routine… The things that have happened over the last 90 days have been something akin to a movie!: 3 accidents with broken bones (one mine, two my mothers), strife at work, pneumonia and ill health… I am now declared disabled due to my asthma… (this still scares me somewhat…)
I have found that NOTHING will stop me painting… It is a major need in my life, something which keeps my stress down and my true being ‘up’… My 100 days challenge has kept me together and given me purpose throughout….
My latest daft idea is to run a competition through facebook.. asking my friends to donate images for inspiration… over 100 photographs have been uploaded, and today I made my shortlist of the 10 most paintable ones!! I decided to paint all 10, offering the last day’s painting to the ‘owner’ for free and donating £50 to their specified horsey charity…
I’m going to have my work cut out as I’m teaching, dealing with the horses, looking after my little one, looking after my mum who is unable to cook, drive, walk or shop…..doing my little ones dancing class and swimming commitments, not to mention pony club camp as the major leader of small pony and horse box driver!!! I just hope I can fit in the studio time to make the last 10 paintings a fitting finale!
Here are all 10 photographs that will inspire days 91 to 100. I thought you’d enjoy having a preview!! I’m not doing my ‘commission style’ of painting, but just letting my brush flow and allowing the paintings to evolve on the easel!
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
August 1, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: 100 days, appaloosa, cob, coloured horse, drawing, grey, hack, head, horse, horses, painting, pony, portrait, Skewbald | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 90
30th July, 2011
8 x 8″ – 20 x 20 cm approx
acrylic on canvas panel
S O L D
Today my feet have hardly touched the ground,,, a painting almost didn’t happen, but here it is, dedicated to Danny who passed away today……….
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
July 31, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: dapple grey, drawing, grey, grey horse, hack, hacking, horse, horses, hunter, irish draught, painting, pony, portrait, riding horse, show jumper, show jumping, thoroughbred | Leave A Comment »
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 89
29th July, 2011
I’ve torn myself away from a growing fetish for Lorenzo’s grey horses… to paint another lovely grey… This is Seb… I’ve used my Atelier Interactive acrylics to achieve more of a blended surface today.. the reference photo had no sharp detail so I’ve tried to paint in a softer manner adding lots of colour..
A big thank you to my facebook friend, Ann Savage, for allowing me to paint this beautiful horse….
I’m really feeling more confident with my colour mixing now, and can get what I want quicker and with less frequent mutterings and cups of coffee!!!
Lorenzo is now going to have to wait till after my 100 days…..
Purchases available through Paypal or by personal cheque.
Deposit secures. Installment plan available.
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact me either by text or email.
Paintings are sold on a first come, first served basis
Low resolution images are used for each painting day, this is to help to prevent unauthorised usage and downloading, hence the colours may vary slightly from that of the original.
A higher resolution image is available to view if you may be interested in purchase.
Please contact me for further details.
Thank you for following my progress on this creative journey,
all comments and support gratefully received……..
July 30, 2011 | Categories: 100 for £100 | Tags: dapple grey, drawing, grey, grey horse, hack, hacking, horse, horses, hunter, irish draught, painting, pony, portrait, riding horse, show jumper, show jumping, thoroughbred | Leave A Comment »
ONE exhibition, Imperial buildings, Rotherham Open Art Renaissance (ROAR)
lot of pressures with ‘issues’ that have stemmed from my 100 paintings in 100 days personal challenge, leaving me no option other than to close down my usual chatty productive self to a lower level of general grumpyness and disillusionment with life, art, creativity and psychological wellbeing…
