Painting exercise

'Pineapple on Plate'

10" x 12"

oil on canvas panel

I finished off a painting exercise today that I began last week. In the first session, I made a rapid underpainting which I needed to dry completely before continuing. I used cadmium yellow in the underpainting along with titanium white. These pigments have a slower drying time, but luckily the pineapple survived the drying time :) and I carried on with it this afternoon. I gave myself no longer than 2 hours working time from start to finish. The first session last week took around 45 mins and the second session an hour. The result is fresh and energetic, and unlaboured, which was the kind of result I was looking for :)

'Man Studying Painting'

'Man Studying Painting'

12" x 10"

oil on board

This painting took me most of the day to complete, only because I seemed to be on a go-slow today! I took my time, enjoyed the paint, stopped for a cup of tea or two, hardly looked at the clock because I knew I had all day...brilliant!  I'm enjoying these gallery paintings, I have one more planned. The subject in this painting is one of my class members and this was just after we had hung the work. 

'Man Studying Drawing'

'Man Studying Drawing'

10" x 12"

oil on board

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 One of the first visitors at the exhibition when we opened on Monday, was the man in my painting. He took alot of time going round and studied each piece with great interest and intent. I loved the way he was standing with his foot turned inwards and head tipped to the side at the same angle as the image in the drawing. I decided then and there that he would become my next subject! 

'Tomatoes and Pan'

10" x 12"

oil on board

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I painted 'Tomatoes and Pan' this afternoon. It took approximately two and a half hours to complete. I imposed a time limit again and didn't go over it and I'm happy with the result. It's certainly not overworked and that's the way it's going to stay, and to make sure, the things have been put away and the tomatoes will be eaten within an hour! 

'Pots with Pear in Dish'

10" x 12"

oil on board

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I set a strict time limit for this painting. I didn't want to spend too much time on any one part and end up putting in too much information and subsequently tightening up. My time limit was two hours which was easy to set as two hours was the only amount of time I had to work so I couldn't go beyond it even if I wanted to...this seemed a good plan. All went well and I was just giving myself a pat on the back for achieving what I'd set out to do when I realised I'd left out the reflection of the blue and white pot! Duh...! That was yesterday afternoon. Today I painted in the weird and distorted abstract reflection and strengthened some of the values. 

I don't think it's important what objects you paint, the importance lies in the way in which the light falls on them. Sometimes you can suddenly notice something that you've passed many times previously which had stayed invisible until that moment just because the light is falling on it in a different way. Changing light alters our perception of what is around us and provides an opportunity to translate that visual excitement into paint. Sometimes I feel very privileged and lucky being an artist.

'Alexander' revisited

8" x 8"

oil on board

SOLD

The last few days I've been busy on a commission in between working on a painting for a future exhibition. This morning I've been varnishing paintings and I've reworked the right eye and eyebrow (on the right as you look at the painting) in 'Alexander'. It's something that's been bugging me for a while so today I decided to put it right and be done with it!   

'Pot, Apple and Very Old Spoon'

10" x 12"

oil on board

This is my afternoon's work after teaching this morning. The light coming through the window in my studio was just right for a still-life set up on the floor. I'm pleased I've painted this lovely patterned pot at last...it's been waiting its turn in my studio! 

Portrait of 'Giles' finished!

10" x 12"

oil on board

SOLD

I managed to complete 'Giles' this afternoon, though things didn't go quite to plan as I ran out of light AGAIN before he was ready to photograph. So this is another photo taken in artificial light. If you compare this finished version to stage 2 in yesterday's post, you'll see that I've altered the shape of the face slightly. I decided it was too chunky with the chin too square. I also strengthened some of the dark values and added a little coolness to the shadow areas. With 'Giles' finished I'm ready to start the next one tomorrow! 

'Brush, Paints and Picasso'

'Brush, Paints and Picasso'

10" x 12"

oil on board

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Since posting the first stage of this painting I've been able to spend a further two sessions on it. The bulk of the work was completed on Tuesday and finishing off was done this morning. I will, as always, look again later (tomorrow) to decide whether it is finished or not. An important element in my still-life paintings are the abstract shapes within the composition. Abstract shapes become more obvious to the eye in a cropped composition.  Interesting spaces and shapes are created where the objects slice through the picture plane and off the canvas. Picasso is one of my heroes and the printed image that you can see in the book is 'The Weeping Woman' which is one of my favourite paintings by him.

'Chloe 10yrs 3mths'

'Chloe 10yrs 3mths'

10" x 12"

oil on board

NFS

Aren't I lucky having such a lovely grandaughter to paint! I've spent three days on this portrait of Chloe. I made a drawing of her when she was over on Monday...to expect her to sit for the whole painting would be asking the impossible as all those of you with 10yr old children or grandchildren will know! For the painting I worked from my drawing, colour notes and a photograph. Making portraits is fascinating. It can be the smallest of marks made on the canvas that transforms the portrait and achieves the likeness and uniqueness of the subject. Capturing something of the character and nature of the sitter is what most portraitists strive to achieve but often that elusive 'something' is so subtle that it's hard to pin down. But oh how exciting it is when it happens! In a way portraying someone you know well is often more difficult to bring to a satisfying conclusion. This is precisely because you do know them so well. You know different aspects of their personality and different sides of their character. It would be impossible to sum up in one portrait such a complex creature as a human being so I find that what helps is to keep focused on a specific aspect of character or personality and stick with that. 

Just to change the subject for a minute...I have a Facebook page now, the link to which you will find below. Please take a look and if you like the page please 'like' the page. Thanks

http://www.facebook.com/annistoker

'Poinsettia'

'Poinsettia'

10" x 12"

oil on board

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In celebration of Christmas I have painted my Poinsettia. It feels almost indulgent painting such wonderfully rich crimsons and cadmiums and so beautifully accentuated by the deep complimentary greens...a vibrant contrast and a perfect combination! I scaled up a little for this painting so that I could portray the leaves life-size. 
It's a busy busy week but I won't be hanging up my brushes until Thursday evening, then I will have to get down to the Christmas prep!