'Jackie' now complete!

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

I'm very happy with 'Jackie' now that I have completed her. I've strengthened some of the dark values in the skin tones and changed some of the surrounding area to a cooler hue.  I dislike calling it the 'background' as that makes it sound less important and it's not! I like the way she is looking out of the canvas at the audience, as if she is scrutinising us as much as we her! 

'Jackie' almost finished

'Jackie'

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

Yey...I had such a lovely afternoon painting 'Jackie'...I love it when a plan comes together! I'm pleased with my afternoon's work as I managed to arrive at the 'almost finished' stage as I hoped I would. I don't want to do much more to the painting, I just have to resolve the surrounding area by cooling the colour. I used my usual limited palette cadmium red, raw sienna, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white and cerulean blue. I wouldn't be without cerulean blue in my palette when painting flesh tones as it's a useful colour for cooling the mix and for creating a variety of greys. 

I'll post the completed painting when it's finally finished!

'Jackie' work in progress

12" x 16"

oil  on stretched canvas

This is the first stage of a portrait of my lovely friend 'Jackie'. I started the painting this afternoon and it took me the entire afternoon to get this far!! At first I wasn't capturing a likeness, then I did, then I lost it again, found it again, lost it again...and so it went on most of the afternoon until I finally began to win and was able to get it to a stage where I felt I could happily stop...phew!! The colours I've used here are burnt sienna with a touch of cadmium red and raw sienna in places and a touch of cerulean blue added to the dark values. I'm very happy now with this stage of the portrait and I'm looking forward to continuing tomorrow with colour. With luck it will be a better day and I'll be able to bring it to the finishing stage!

'Tomatoes and Garlic on a Blue Cloth'

'Tomatoes and Garlic on a Blue Cloth'

8" x 8"

oil on board

SOLD

I painted the majority of this piece on Monday and applied the finishing brushstrokes this afternoon.  I like the freshness of the cool blue of the cloth against the bright warm red of the tomatoes. I'm reminded of summer when I look at this painting...and...that spring is just around the corner...can't wait! Here's to a sunny summer this year! :) 

'Kerry' in blue

I've made a change to the surrounding area of 'Kerry'. I like the contrast that the blue creates and the way it enriches the warm colours of the skin and hairs tones.

'Kerry'

'Kerry'

6" x 6"

oil on board

This is Kerry, another of my class members. I do hope you like this Kerry! I used a slightly different process with this painting. I roughly drew the head onto the canvas using a turpsy mix of burnt sienna, but instead of continuing with the painting immediately I let it dry overnight. I completed the painting today using a limited palette of cadmium red, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, cerulean blue, ultramarine and titanium white. Faces are so fascinating to depict and to capture the uniqueness of a person is immensely satisfying! 

'Alison' finished!

'Alison'

6" x 6"

oil on board

I managed to get back to 'Alison' this morning and make the necessary adjustments. Unfortunately, the paint had dried and I was unable to work wet into wet which was disappointing. I think for a while at least, I'm going to use linseed oil again instead of the fast drying impasto medium that I have been using so that if need be, I'm able to return to a painting a day or two later and hopefully the paint might still be workable. 

Anyway, here she is all done and dusted! 

'Alison'

'Alison'

6" x 6"

oil on board

This is my dear friend Alison who is a regular attendee at my life drawing workshops.  The painting is not quite finished but I needed to take the photo before the light failed. I still have to adjust the values in the hair and I notice from the photo image that she has a blob on the side of her nose! Some adjustments seem to show up more clearly in the photographic image than on the canvas. I'm happy I've captured the twinkle in her eye. I hope she likes the painting...but knowing Alison she will soon tell me if she doesn't! I'll let you know later what she thinks! 

'High Street Shopping - Saturday Afternoon'

'High Street Shopping - Saturday Afternoon'

8" x 8"

oil on board

Click to buy

I finished the painting this morning. This might even be the beginning of a new series. I like the idea of making paintings about ordinary people in ordinary situations and recording everyday life. I just need to gather together enough images to work from. To achieve this one I went out with my sketchbook and camera. I made some drawings and took loads of photos which resulted in only one or two being suitable! Hopefully, I will get better at it!

Work in progress - 'High Street Shopping Saturday Afternoon'

8" x 8"

oil on  board

This is the painting that is on my easel at the moment. I spent one session on it this morning but I'll have to wait till Thursday to get back to it as tomorrow I'm teaching all day. I'm running a life drawing workshop in the afternoon. It's pretty much full but I could squeeze in a couple more if anyone wants some drawing practise and wishes to come along! The workshop runs from 1.30pm - 4.30pm in Sturton by Stow

Dates for your diary for future life drawing workshops in Sturton by Stow: 

Wednesday 6th March - 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Wednesday 3rd April   - 1.30pm - 4.30pm

Please let me know if you would like to reserve a place. 

Paintings with cherries!

'Jug with Lemons and Cherries'

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

This afternoon I've been busy adding cherries to these three paintings! Have a look and see what you think. In the painting above 'Jug with Lemons and Cherries' I'm happy that the composition is now complete both in terms of space and of colour.  

'Green Apple with Jug'

6" x 6"

oil on  board

In 'Green Apple with Jug' the cherry becomes a compelling focal point. And along with the two red leaves, it creates a triangle in space which again leads to a stronger composition. 

'Delicious Biscotti'

8" x 8"

oil on board

Before I added the cherries to 'Delicious Biscotti',  the biscotti looked a little lonely and were crying out for something to sit next to them! However, now I'm glad to say, all is well, and again I feel the composition is complete.