Something in common

Today's pic is a small portrait I did of my dogs and friend's dogs. The line up is left to right: Oscar, Gordon (Gracie & Chilli's daddy), Ruby (mommy) and Grace the little one. Oscar's mum bought it and took it to Spain so I won't see it anymore :( That is the difficult thing about selling your work but the good thing is that she really likes it and I would only pick it apart eventually if it was here.

Today I need to drop by the studio and pick up the board for the roosters. I need to transfer the sketches to the board so I can begin the painting. I have done the sketches and I love the way one bird came out but I'm not so sure about the second. I originally thought it was great because it had so much movement but now I think it looks unreal (even though that is the one I took from a photo). It doesn't read as real anyway. It was a moment in time that will be difficult to paint as convincing. So I will rethink that and try to find another pose.

I also found a bird that I may try a dry brush technique a la Andrew Wyeth. I still can't get the Dulwich show out of my head. It was so amazing. I wish I could paint like that but I don't think I have the patience never mind the talent! I would like to try to capture a bit of the (loneliness, space, vertigo) that Wyeth uses in his composition and style. I would like to paint the daughter of a friend of ours but I am always shy to ask. I could paint her in Richmond Park (I would love to paint her in the lake district or Scotland but Richmond will do). I will leave all of that until I get started on the bird painting.

I have so much going on sometimes that I struggle to get anything done and I am trying not to overwhelm myself. that said, I would really like to get some felting done and I have to change utility suppliers as well as finding out what the hell is going on with our package delivery as we don't seem to be able to get anything through Royal Mail (the bastards). I also need to go for a run and eventually watch some Flash videos for next term... breath!

Till next time... x

Holham Fun

So here is another painting I used the Holkham photos for...

I am actually working on a visual reference for a new painting. I am using Photoshop today to put together some different things to look at for my composition.

I have also been studying the 7 layer method on the internet to get some basics down.

Things to remember from this exercise are:

• make sure the canvas is as smooth as possible.
• begin with an ink drawing or use acrylics to "confirm the drawing". (Acrylics can be used for the first layers for quickness but I am not sure I want to do this as I am trying to learn the method)
• First paint layer is the medium tone of the largest lightest feature.
• Second and third layers are shadows in burnt umber.
• 4th layer or "dead layer" is a white/olive colour. (Acrylic method this is the first oil layer and you paint in basic colour thinly so as to see the shadows)
• The rest of the layers are thin paint and medium (liquin or linseed).
• Use light refraction when considering colours. (Van DYck used this called "scrumping")
• use transparent colours such as alizarin or zinc white or use opaques (cadmiums or lead white) with more medium.
• don't use turps on brushes... change brush if you need to clean it.
• wait for layers to be dry before next layer... this is the hardest part so I may need to start other paintings at the same time.

So now all I have to do is make some sKetches to transfer to my vision to the canvas. Off I go then :)

Horses at Holkham one year on...

I haven't blogged in almost a year... It is finally my few summer weeks off so time to start again so I keep myself artistically active. I do find it helps but as you can see by the pic today, I have kept myself active. I have been painting a lot this year and the results are getting better and better. I feel like I am gaining confidence in my natural style. I will put various paintings up in the coming weeks to show what I have been doing but I would also like to show my big summer project as it goes along.

I am going to paint some photo-realism using the old masters' techniques. There are 7 stages or layers and I will begin as soon as I finish the sketches.

I also have to finish my painting of Shea as I am STILL working on it!! He is basically finished but I can't seem to sort out the background. I need to do it on the mac first and then I will transfer that to painting.

Some other pics I may share are the balloon girl one year on and some doggy stuff.