Illustration and More

Well I may have been away from here for a while, but believe me I've been busy!

These are my latest musings... quite a diversion from the oil paintings you'll be used to.....

Pink "Baby Bear" Download

"Peek a Boo" Download

"Cute as a Button" Download

Find these and lots more on my Etsy shop.  I am really enjoying creating these bright lively images and expect to have a lot of new additions over the coming weeks.

Girl by a Blue Washed Wall

You may remember this - I originally painted it with soft pastels.  This is a cropped version and painted on canvas covered board.


I am trying out various different grounds and can't say I really like this one (Loxley Canvas Board).  There isn't nearly enough tooth.  It was actually just right for the charcoal underpainting, but too "smeary" for a pleasant painting experience.  The result is a vibrant painting though and I do like it a lot. I hope you do too.

Girl by a Blue Washed Wall
Oil on Board
30cm * 25cm

Available to buy on Artfinder for £280: View on Artfinder

Brothers

Two Boys, One Shadow

Oil 18cm x 24cm

This was painted from a photograph I took at the weekend whilst walking on Clapham Common - my two boys engrossed in conversation (no idea what they were talking about, no doubt Pokemon or computer games).  I have been experimenting with different techniques and painting surfaces.  This was painted on Jackson's Clear Fine Linen on MDF.  I covered it in a coat of OMS before painting and then painted with no medium.  I actually really love this picture and am certainly going to use this technique again.

So Many Things

Well, it's been a while since I've posted.  I have been VERY busy on my website and pastel pencil drawings so apologies for the radio silence.

I have so many plans for so many things that sometimes the only things that get done are things in my brain!  However, I have been experimenting with all sorts of techniques and methods in oils.  I have a strong idea of the kind of thing I like and the kind of thing I'd like to produce, but at the moment I have so many ideas, I'm like a kid in a sweet shop (although I always preferred the stationery shop - oh those rows and rows of felt-tips and crayons do so much more for me than haribos and black jacks.)  I guess we all need to experiment, it's what keeps it fresh.

So, here are a few I've painted over the last couple of weeks.

Royal Gala Apples

Why did I choose Royal Gala apples?  Oh the complicated layers of reds, pinks and yellows.  I'm always up for a challenge, but as this was the first oil I'd done in a while, that was challenge enough!  I am really not happy with certain aspects of this and I went from precise, to impasto knives to medium, to no medium, to dry to Oh I don't know what.  In the end I was reasonably satisfied. At least it's the best of all the versions I wiped.  And I do like the way the light breaks through between the middle two apples.  I expect to use this in future compositions - look out for it.

Tuscan Trees and Fishing

Two little (6 inch square) ones.  I really loved painting both of these and found them so do-able in just a few small hours.  In fact these have inspired me to paint a lot more in oils.  I will keep you updated!

Hippo Love

Hippo Love

For Sale on Art Gallery for £1050.

This took around 3 weeks to complete over many sessions.  There are several glazes and all sorts of textures, which you can see a hint of in the close up below.

Girl by a Blue Washed Wall

Girl by a Blue Washed Wall, Soft Pastels on Sennelier Pastel Card
Size 11 x 15 inches
£85 / $120



Another in my cropped soft pastels series. I was attracted to the original photograph by the blue of the wall against the deep red/brown shades of the little girl's skin. I also love the way the blue reflects on the skin making the shadow around the sides of the face glow.

Kitten's Wonder

Tilly, Pastel Pencil on Strathmore Paper
Size 40cm x 30cm
£250 / $350



This little kitten seemed to have such a huge collar in relation to its head, so compared to the original photograph this collar is much smaller. Even so, I was worried it might overwhelm the tiny creature. However, I think the huge eyes and whiskers grab enough of the limelight that we overlook the dark collar.

Extra care was needed with the white whiskers - when you have to keep a pathway clear it's a little harder to be expressive with the fur. But, perseverance paid off and my reward was in the eyes and the soft fur around the chin.