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...

 

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…..

 

 

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

 

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….

DAY 100

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.

Text:  07974 404765     email:  arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk

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……..

 

 

DAY 99

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.

Text:  07974 404765     email:  arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk

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……..

 

 

DAY 98

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.

Text:  07974 404765     email:  arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk

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……..

 

 

DAY 97

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.

Text:  07974 404765     email:  arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk

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……..

 

 

DAY 96

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.

Text:  07974 404765     email:  arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk

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……..

 

 

DAY 95

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.

Text:  07974 404765     email:  arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk

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……..

 

 

DAY 94

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.

Text:  07974 404765     email:  arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk

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……..

 

 

DAY 93

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.

Text:  07974 404765     email:  arrkidd@yahoo.co.uk

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……..