I’m obsessed with blue horses
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!
Naked ladies and coloured pencils
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
Whats on the easel this week
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
New work, April 2012
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
New non-equestrian work
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….
A Tribute To Hank
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
So this 100 thing….. did it work???
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...
day 57 of 100
day 13 Dirty Paws
day 30
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
Day 100... The Ice Maiden
The Backscratchers…..
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
Black dog ( or old Jack to be precise…) Commission in progress!
My latest commission is of old Jack, a lovely chap… sadly he is now experiencing ill health and heart problems… he lives locally to me and I popped to see him for a photographic session…….
This painting will be completed this week, but i thought it would be fun to show you the techniques I use in a stage by stage photographic documentation of the progress….. I hope you find it fun….
stage 1
stage 2
stage 3
stage 4
stage 5
stage 6
The stage by stage photos are about half an hour apart..
The BIG commission…
Whilst busily working on my 100 day challenge, I’ve also been quietly working on my commissions…..
The latest of which had a few faltering starts……
It’s top secret, which often does not bode well for obtaining the best photographs available! I’ve had to take a photo of two provided photos with my zoom lens, just to get enough detail to work with… the third photo was acquired via two MMS photo to phone transfers, over a 3 week timescale, put through Photoshop and still then, provided me with only the bare essentials of the animal…. I’d waited and waited to receive the full set of photos, and with the deadline getting close, we had to just bite the bullet and get on with it…….
- first session
session 2
third session
fourth session
Dubloon
Maximillion 381
Rembrandt
Trying new techniques, my GSD commission
Whats on the easel this week?………
I’ve been busy with my 100 challenge as you know, but I’ve managed to make some good progress on my latest commission. I stopped commission work while I was ill last month, but I’ve now regained my energy and brain power, and I’m hard at it!
My first stage is to draw my outlines; I try to be as accurate as I can at this stage….. The photo is a little dark as I was burning the ‘midnight oil’. A4 photo used as reference……..
Stage 1
My next stage is where the fun starts! I start by blocking in loose areas of colour until I have the majority of the animal and background area with a basic ‘undercoat’ of colour…..
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
As yet, the nose and tongue areas need a lot more work, and I need to adjust my tones further and add detail to the neck and chest areas….I’m happy with the progress so far, it’s just that I now need daylight studio hours to complete this portrait, rather than midnight under electric lamp hours…..
Will update you on my progress…….
Am I a photographer yet???
The question is….’Am I a photographer yet??’
I was surprised to find this week that I am considered to be a semi/professional photographer…… Why? I asked…. The response was that because I am an artist (who bases the majority of her paintings on photos ) and sell my work, this means (by proxy) that I am a semi or professional photographer. Ho hum……
It was news to me!! Considering that I have never sold a photograph, period, I thought that I had amateur status when it comes to photography, I only point and press and have no knowledge of speeds, apertures and the complicated gubbins of a camera. For me its good old autofocus and hope for the best. The few good ones I may crop further in photoshop, but that’s about as far as I get…..
I thought that I would look at some professional sites, and started with some links I found on facebook…..
W O W….. the amazingness that I discovered, the layers and filters in photoshop, the complex studio lighting effects….. it was kind of a little scary to camera technology pleb me….. I’m nowhere near being a professional, and I soon realised that basically, I havent a clue whatsoever….
I thought I’d share some of my ‘lucky’ shots with you, and see what you think…….
To me, I have a good eye for composition and this linked with a zoom lens and a sharp autofocus has certainly produced a few cracking photos… but where do I go from here? I now realise I need to start to get to know my Canon 450D like I never have before, so I’d better find that unread manual and start processing the information!
I love Appleby…
What is it about Appleby Fair that I love so much? Is it the road trip with my girlfriends? maybe the crowds of coloured cobs? the frenetic action? the glitz and glamour of the Gypsy girls? or just that the whole caboodle is concentrated into one little spot in the beautiful Cumbrian hills???
I will let you be the judge…..
Please respect my copyright on my photographs, all rights reserved; I took them and made the journey and the effort and with a week old broken foot! You may use my images of Appleby to create from by accessing ‘Artist reference photos’ page on facebook.
DAY 20
100 paintings in 100 days for under £100
PERSONAL CHALLENGE
DAY 20
- Whipper In
8 x 12″” – 20 x 30 cm approx
So then Jane, do you ‘do’ cats…..?
Erm, cats, pretty, purring creatures that make my eyes water, skin itch and asthma start feeling like I’ve run on a treadmill for an hour at speed……… Erm, no, I don’t ‘do’ cats, gorgeous little beasties as they are, its a no from me….. Do I paint cats??? A big Y E S !!!
My last encounter with a pussy (he was a ginger Tom) was with Mr Tibbs. Yes he was great, in fact he was gorgeous! But the after effects lasted hours, so I will not be drawn any further into the pussy cats cuddly, hairy, love me and love me NOW domain……. I will keep my distance, thank you, and learn not to touch…… just to paint with the brush from a photo untouched by cat paws……
Pan
Lucy and Arthur
I do enjoy painting a cat, their eyes hold so much expression and their features are so dainty…. Often, when you specialise in one animal, people presume that you don’t (or can’t) paint any other…. I think I can speak for many artists here when I say we can paint just about anything, given good, clear reference photos, or to be presented with the real animal to do our own photography from….. I was threatened with a camel painting a while back, and I’m still waiting for the photos…….. I’m up for a good challenge!
Herbie
this space if you are a cat obsessive, forgive the horses rumps and look out for the pussies………
Boddington and Carling
All that glitters is not gold (or silver for that matter…)
Well, earlier in the week I said I’d blog about when and why I use metallics in my paintings…. It all started in 1990 when I was an art student at The University Of Newcastle Upon Tyne……..
With Florence (detail)
The Goody Two Shoes
Detail from The Goody Two Shoes
Sketchbook work
Sketchbook work
I have since revisited my love of the shiny, and started again to use silver in my work. Nowadays, inspired by my student Beryl Brown’s purchase of a large wad of imitation silver and gold leaf a few years ago, I have tried to allow the metallic to create the bleached out brightness of sunlight within my work, see ‘Silver Leaf Black Stallion’, 2011, and ‘Silver Leaf Welsh Cob’ 2011 below…….I still find that a small amount goes a long way, too much looks too ‘crafty’ and not enough looks like a mistake… I suppose it’s all about finding the right balance……
Silver Leaf Black Stallion
Silver Leaf Welsh Cob
In desperate need of a photographer…..
It was one of those days, I’d had an email that the image I had sent to a newspaper was blurred once they had enlarged it ( argh, I had rushed and not checked!! ), and please could I supply another for the next day…..
I had no images suitable that hadn’t been used already, and with my studio in exhibition mode for my Open Up Sheffield event, it was a case of get the camera out, quick hair brush and slap of lippy, stand in front of a painting, and ask, borrow or beg someone to take a few images in the rapidly failing light ……
cunning use of autofocus....
Due to not having a tripod, and the only other adult in the house being one-handed with a newly broken arm, this duty fell to my daughter, Lena. Fine, you think. I thought it could work. The problem, if you can call it a problem, is that she is only 4 years old, and the canon camera I have is heavy and precious……..
So with the promise of a treat from the treat box coupled with the last remaining Easter egg (a smarties one,always save the best till last) I showed her how to steady her hand, use the auto focus, and put my trust in God (or rather the hands of a 4 yr old gripped around an expensive camera) and did my bestest set of poses……..
Junior artist AND photographer, and yes, her nose is green as she put on her own photo session make up without a mirror........
I’m very proud of her efforts, and yes, I think that the cunning and desperate plan may have worked! I’ve tidied up the images and cropped them in photoshop, but I thought that after we had eaten that last Easter egg tonight, I’m going shopping tomorrow and buying her another…… Wether the newspaper can use these pictures with their article is to be seen, but I’m an even prouder mother now!
How I love a shiny coat and a big, sexy neck……
Welsh champion, GYS 2009
I’ve been meaning to paint this gorgeous Welsh section D stallion for 3 years now, and yesterday, it was his turn on the easel! I had no preconceived picture in my head as to how he was going to turn out, I just wanted to enjoy the depth of shine to his cresty neck and celebrate his colour and curves.
Initial blocking in stage 1
I have taken a number of ‘in progress’ shots as I worked on him. He may yet be changed still further; darker eye, more shine on muzzle, shadow added to his chain……. but only time will tell……..I shall stare him out this evening with a fresh eye, and digest the fine tuning needed…..
Background in, detail starting to build.
This stallion was the Welsh Supreme Champion at The Great Yorkshire Show in, I think, 2009. I was lucky enough to be at the ringside with my new camera, as he performed his lap of honour with his enormous rosette and sash flapping (I removed these in my painting as they obscured his eye and neck).
I am developing ‘a thing’ for blues and oranges used together (I used to have a purple ‘thing’ going for a few years, so its nice to have a new colour mixing obsession!) and have tried to paint very loosely to keep a freedom and energy in my brush strokes………
The painting is 23″ square on canvas board, a size which is larger than my usual pieces.
Almost finished, only time will tell....
Neck brush work
Pencil hunting scene
Raring To Go, Frickley
I’ve been busy doing something that I don’t usually do………. drawing……… I often draw to sketch and plan my paintings, but rarely complete a detailed, time-consuming work in just pencil. I treated myself the other day to two ‘black onyx’ pencils. They carry less of a metallic shine on the paper surface and give a very satisfying ‘black’.
My drawing inspiration was a fabulous grey cob I saw at Badsworth and Bramham Moor’s meet at Frickley. He was a smashing type and I’d caught the eagerness in his expression as the field moved off; I knew I had to paint him. I challenged myself to a drawing as a heavy cold had made my eyes tired and lacking the concentration to work for long stretches.
2 hours in....
It started quite slowly, the drawing expanding to take in 5 more hunt members as I went. This drawing was very much a learning curve. I give the onyx pencils full marks, but soon realised that I needed my paper surface to have no texture and be exceptionally smooth. After purchasing some heavyweight cartridge paper, I continued steadily, adding more mid tones, strengthening the darks, softening the mid tones with my fingertips.
6 hrs in ....
I really enjoyed the trance like drawing state I entered; no dipping in water and considering colour mixes to disturb my vision, just the steady build up of pencil lead on paper- totally refreshing and totally absorbing………
- 8 hrs in …
On your marks, get set, G O ………………………
At 4pm yesterday, I had an emergency commission phone call………… Half an hour later, the dog arrived, photos were duly taken and printed, the small one left to go swimming with Grangran, and painting could start……..
Little Lucie, a very busy Jack Russel, bounced about my front room as if on springs, razzing up the resident hairy doodledog Tessa. Both managed not to pee on the rug, which was a relief.
2 hours in, main colours in, now for the details....
The painting started quickly; I’ve been trying to use a looser technique and draw more with the brush. Lucie had a complex mix of beige, tan, warm brown and black coarse hairs and the most beautiful deep brown eyes. I’m very happy with the resulting portrait, especially in the timescale (I normally take double the working time). I have been doing a couple of ‘dry-runs’ of single session paintings/drawings for my personal challenge, 100 for under 100 in (possibly) 100 days, starting on April 1st…… so the challenge was there, and I didn’t stop till she was completed……
Completed portrait, 11 x 14", acrylic on dalerboard.
Detail close up
The owner is arriving at 3.30pm today to pick up this special, secret 40th Birthday present, I hope that Lucie’s dad is bowled over by his portrait of his adorable, happy little dog…..(and that I don’t have to do any more 24hr turnarounds! lol.)
Off hunting…..
I tootled off this morning to Frickley to take a few reference photos for my paintings….over 500 photos later, Id met some lovely people and now don’t know which photo to get more excited about!! I’ve at least 10 ‘got to paint’ images…..I’m going to find it hard to sleep tonight as I’ll be painting them in my dreams……
I thought I’d share my favourites with you, and hopefully share them on canvas with you at a future date………
Hope you enjoy the photos, it was the last meet of the season…….great that I can paint hunting scenes now for the whole of the summer!
Still on the easel-progress update
The hound canvas is still on the easel this week, it will be a few more hours painting and many more in contemplation before its finished. I’m really enjoying this one! The closeness of colours, the jumble of backs and legs, the concentration in the dog’s eyes as they wait for their signal to go……..
Hounds, pass 3
Here are some progress photos as the layers of paint are steadily built up, darker shadow areas first, then the mid tones, the lighter tones and finally layer upon layer of fine detail. There is probably another 4-6 hours painting time left.
Hounds, pass 4
It’s a good time to contemplate composition, structure and colour balance when studing photographs of work in progress; I often can pick up on more adjustments to be made, formulate my painting ‘action plan’ and correct any inaccuracies when looking at the photographs. I’m still wondering if the right hand dog is a little cross eyed…………
On the easel this week
Or for a better title, whats on the living room floor…….. the beginnings of a hound study on canvas. I’m just completing the first pass by blocking in the main colour areas and adjusting the proportions and placements of the three main hounds. I took the reference photograph a number of years ago of my local boxing day meet. I’m hoping to paint two more evenings this week and move this picture on quite quickly.
The start of my new hounds painting
I have a painting demonstration next week for Dinnington Art Society, they have requested a horse, so I’m going to share the progress of that painting also………
On the teaching side, I’ve just written a new course looking at WW2 poster art, getting the kids to think about their own personal ‘call into action’ slogan and image, and a nifty origami treefrog (which I have yet to try and make!! argh..) to tie in with one school’s topic of the rainforest. The idea is parents will make it and the kids will decorate, methinks I need to ‘dry-run’ this idea with the junior artist to see if it will work in a classroom setting….ho hum……..
Little Ballerina
I’ve been busy planning and muttering in the studio…..this weekend I couldn’t resist painting my beautiful daughter, only a small study, but the seeds are growing now for a series of sombre studies with light filtering through net skirts…….
Small study of Little Ballerina. Now, do I take it to be framed??
The little one, ‘The Junior Artist’ to give her a title, has been busy herself…she cannot resist seeing someone drawing or painting without joining in (now where does she get that from??). At 4 years old, shes developing her skills nicely…even tho its hard for interfering mother not to interfere….
Lena's cockrel.... Feb 2011
