My friend Veronica that paints cows

A present for an artist friend, well known for her large watercolour portraits of the cows next door : )

Four acrylic paintings on my wooden panels

I primed and underpainted these panels a few weeks ago, and managed to paint one, the girl on the bike. Now I have finished the other four. Having spent a long time painting my pubs, I needed to do something a little different before I start my next detailed commission.
I had intended to glaze these with a gloss resin again, but now I like them matt, so i will probably just protect them with a matt varnish instead (to prevent the pencil from rubbing away)

A Big Birthday painting

for a friend, that has just had the big one...but she definitely is not over the hill!

Family and dog by the fireside - portrait

Here is one I couldnt share earlier! Actually, I subsequently added a clock and some flowers to the background of the picture to add a little more colour, but I didnt take another copy!

Bringing in the beer - John Harvey Tavern, Lewes. Finished!

Here is the finished painting of the John Harvey Tavern, featuring Knots of May, Ditchling Morris, Brighton Morris, Chanctonbury Ring Morris, Lewes Glynde Brass Band, Jamie & Jimmy with Huckle my Buff, and of course Monty and Winston the shires. There are also two dogs called Barney, a westie, and John Harvey himself!
I had fun with this one, and have now had a giclee print made too. Both the original and the giclee print will be at Chalk Gallery next week : )

Sketching on the train again

I was London bound last Thursday, off to meet my daughter and see a couple of exhibitions, so I was looking forward to getting the sketch book out again. As it turned out, with it being half term, the trains were busy and it was tricky to get a decent sketchy spot!
I have decided that it is much more difficult to sketch people to my right. Must remember to sit on that side of the train next time!

Painting stages at the John Harvey Tavern

the base layers of paint are on, and the picture looks a bit cold and dull.
I have used masking fluid to preserve some white sparkle for the flint wall.

That's better! The sky is blue and brighter colours liven up the picture. 

here is a closer look at the first layers on the horses and the pub. Lots of windows to fill!

Next painting session I will work on the windows and people inside the pub. Shadows to go on everything will help to give the appearance of a sunny day, too.

John Harvey Tavern ready for colour

all drawn out and ready to go!
And here is a closer look at the Morris men, and a little Jamie Oliver with his Huckle My Buff!

Colour tomorrow!!...

Drawing up the John Harvey Tavern

Here is muy desk this morning.  I have been selecting my lines in pen from the lightly drawn pencil, the paper is nice and strong and allows me to rub away the old lines, bringing a nice fresh image for painting.

Sketches for the next painting - John Harvey Tavern, Lewes

I have wanted to paint the John Harvey Tavern for some time. I kept on wandering round to it, and looking, but not really feeling it.
Then, the Harvey's Dray started making deliveries and I knew this was just what I needed!
So here is the first sketch...but it is still a bit, still.
Then I started thinking about what goes on at the pub. Lots of music...and then of course, Morris dancers!

Now it's happening! Music, dancing, jingling bells and beer! I enjoyed sketching this, and it looks much happier!

Off to the heavyweight paper now... time to draw it out again!

Cats in the desert

Here is a little detail from a commission that I was working on yesterday. Sunny and hot to cheer up my wet day. No blue skies yet though...I have run out of blue paint!!

A day spent Life Drawing

I spent a whole day life drawing yesterday, using lots of styles, speeds and equipment!

My favourite pictures were the result of a ten minute session (or maybe it was five) at the end of the day, when we were all very confident with the body. I produced these 3 pages of very quick studies of the moving figure. They make a good design in themselves, and give me ideas for producing a painting.

Some other work of the day includes this comparison, a twenty minute pose, I spent 15 mins on the picture with the graphite, and then less than 5 on the charcoal quick drawing. It is amazing how easy it was to draw the second image, having studied it already for the longer time. the resulting quick picture is much more pleasing. they are so similar, but I didnt trace it!

and finally, here are a couple of other drawings in a different style again, where I was trying to use colour and water wash

all in all a good day, and a great help to me for when I am drawing my little illustrative people... even if some of them are only a few cms tall!!

published in Leisure Painter, March 2014

two magazines in the same month! The Leisure Painter like to know about success at Art Club exhibitions. This painting of the Cockpit was voted favourite at the Chailey and Newick painting group exhibition in November 2013.

experiment with acrylic on wood panel

well, one of my little drawings made it on to one of my blocks.  Had fun doing it, not sure what will go on the next block at the moment!

thinking of new work - line drawings

having fun drawing ... using line only for a twitter project. I am also thinking of experimenting with little pictures on the blocks.
will try with the bicycle, as it has lots of movement. The gate image is based on my memory of standing on my front gate when I was little, watching the world go by.

Playing with acrylic on wood panels

I have been playing... priming some wood panels with layers of colour. I just want to carry on painting on them now! Going to try with pencil and think acrylic or ink... and then maybe some collage ....and maybe some resin. watch this space!