Work in progress - Pomegranate and spoon

'Pomegranate and Spoon'

oil on board

8" x 8"

I was hoping to complete 'Pomegranate and Spoon' this afternoon but I didn't quite make it. However, before the light failed totally I took a photograph at its almost complete stage. Look out for the finished version early next week. In the meantime have a great weekend!

In the Afternoon Sun

'In the Afternoon Sun'

5" x 7"

oil on board

NFS

My apologies for not being very communicative lately, but you know how it is...sometimes you seem to take one step forward and 6 back! Last week was one of those times and less said about it the better!

This little painting was made from an image taken with my phone camera. I took the photo last summer during our visit to the Bio-Park in Valencia. It was an extremely hot day (43C) and I was properly wilting at this point! Whereas Chloe (in the painting) was still as bright as a button and totally unfazed by the whole heat thing!  Ohhh to be young!! 

Photo without glare!

'Baubles in a Dish'

6" x 6"

oil on board

Click to buy

As promised here is a shot of yesterday's painting without the glare of the artificial lamp light. I took this one in natural light although I was still restricted to photographing indoors as the teeming rain prohibited me from taking the painting out of doors which is where I prefer to photograph work. 

By the way...there were some very interesting pieces emerging from the class this morning. Can't wait to see how they develop next week! 

'Baubles in a Dish'

'Baubles in a Dish'

6" x 6"

oil on board

It's a little early for Christmas decorations I know!!..but these are some of the props I'm taking in tomorrow for my class. They will be working with a Christmas theme for the next project and exploring mixed media and as I was sorting out the props and packing them ready to take in, I had an insatiable desire to paint these gorgeous complimentary red and green baubles! My apologies for the 'not so great' photograph but because of the lack of natural light I used artificial light and the camera picked up some reflections on the paint surface. I will try and post a better one tomorrow.

Green Apple with Jug...and Poinsettia!

'Green Apple with Jug'

6" x 6"

oil on board

Click to buy

Today I made a little alteration to this painting and added some leaves of a Poinsettia. I kept noticing the empty space above the jug and felt that there was something missing in the painting. I adore Poinsettias for their colour...and the magical touch of its red brings the painting alive. 

Class drawing!

These are some of my dedicated Wednesday class members. I must say they are a brilliant bunch, they have a go at anything I throw at them!! Today we began with a drawing from life of a foreshortened hand which sounds straightforward enough until I tell you that I asked them to draw with one eye closed! (Closing one eye flattens foreshortened shapes and helps make the shapes easier to identify). We later moved on to drawing 'Feet Under the Table with Bags' with the idea of creating a long collaborative piece. You'll see images of some of the work below. (My apologies that the photographic quality isn't so great...still trying to master the phone camera!) The work had a few continuity issues when we pieced it together but with a little adjusting this could make a great painting! My thanks to everyone for a successful morning's work!

'Green Apple with Jug'

'Green apple with Jug'

6" x 6"

oil on board

I'm always impressed by the 'greenness' of Granny Smith apples, it makes them look so fresh. I used burnt sienna as a ground colour which still peeps through in places and helps to bring warmth to the painting and I introduced lemon yellow back into my palette to capture the cool greens of the apple. The uncropped 'duo' of objects standing alone and isolated from each other seems to work in this piece.  

Potted Plant

'Potted Plant'

8" x 8"

oil on board

Click to buy

I've included glimpses of this plant and its pot in previous paintings so today I thought I'd paint all of it and let you see the whole thing as the colour of the flower is such a wonderful muted pink.  I've been busy teaching this week, my regular Wednesday class, a life drawing workshop and a class with the ladies and gents at Knaith Park. Everyone has worked really hard and there's been some great outcomes! So well done to all of you.

'Turquoise and Blue'

'Turquoise Bracelet on a Blue Cloth'

6" x 6"

oil on board

Click to buy

My painting for today...'Turquoise Bracelet on a Blue Cloth'. In this painting I was exploring the 'clash' of the blues. My camera hasn't quite picked up the full contrast of the warmth of the blue of the cloth against the coolness of the turquoise. It's an intriguing colour combination because although there is a definite 'clash' between the blues, at the same time, they also each enhance the richness of the other. 

Chloe's Corner

Chloe's Corner

I've just been tidying Chloe's bits and pieces from yesterday when she was over and thought as I was putting it away how packing such an immense amount of stuff into such a small space was a work of art in itself! So here you are, a very quick drawing of 'Chloe's Corner'!