A Little Bit of Paint

At last, an opportunity to wet the brushes. The weather might be inclement but there's always the kitchen table and it doesn't take much searching to find a few suitable elements to make up a still life set up.

A really enjoyable session with my old mate Jed finishing off with the consumption of the bottle contents.

Still Life - Watercolour on rough paper 16" x 12"

Back to Basics

There's been a lull in my production over the last few weeks with the previous post being my last effort and it was that post that got me thinking about the notions in this piece.

First of all, I was embarrassed about that last post, I thought it a sub standard picture, poorly executed and demonstrating my underlying lack of commitment to it. One aspect that I found particularly disturbing was the poor draughtsmanship. The obvious reason to me is my laxity in keeping my drawing skills up to their best. Like all skills, if not practised then they deteriorate and not being naturally gifted in these matters I need to work at them on a regular basis.

So back to the sketch books to review past exercises and begin some new ones. This post then is a necessary reminder to myself that I must take up the pencil on a daily basis and find something to sketch.

My hand holding the sketch book - graphite on paper

Self portrait - graphite on paper

North Creake Abbey plein air sketch- graphite on paper

November Challenge

Well this month my friend Peter, (watercolourfanatic.blogspot.com), set a stinker or so it turned out to be for me. Being unable to paint much in the last couple of weeks I found myself reluctant to start on this piece. It all goes to show that there is so much of this activity taking place in the head rather than in hands. Everything about it became more difficult than I'm used to, the drawing had to be redone a few times, choosing an appropriate technique was a pain. I guess by now you will have discerned a little less commitment than usual. However, that's what this exercise is all about, getting into an uncomfortable area and giving it a go thereby learning a little along the way. 

Owl - Photograph

My apologies for not being able to identify the species of owl, the reference books are not at hand.

I decided to make a significant crop of the original image and treat it more like a head and shoulders portrait in an attempt to avoid tightening up and trying to get too photorealistic. I've ended up with a flawed image but one from which I've drawn a few lessons about adequate preparation and decision making.

Owl - Watercolour on Not paper 12" x 9"

Sweet Musette

A short hiatus to deal with the world and have a little trip to see some family had me returning to the brushes missing my irises. The selected bloom this time is called Sweet Musette. 

These blooms are a great subject to explore brush and paint technique and I'm learning a lot by working on them. It seems that some others are enjoying them as well with a couple of them finding new homes.

Sweet Musette - Watercolour on Rough paper 16" x 12"

October Challenge

The latest in the monthly challenge series that I share with Peter Ward (watercolourfanatic.blogspot.com). I set this one, a photograph from a recent trip to Norfolk largely because it would give an opportunity to have a go at a boat shape which I often find difficult. It would also have the challenge of capturing a feeling of light.

Old Boat - Photograph

I attempted to simplify the image, cutting out much of the impedimenta and boat fragments. My next choice was to make the buildings indicative rather than detailed. The last decision was taken after a break in the painting process. Returning after lunch with the intention of using the white of the paper on the boat deck to add other bits of detail I was struck by the way that the white looked okay in contrast with the other colours and thought that it might be an idea to leave well enough alone. I may return after  a day or two but for now I'm calling it done. What do you think?

Old Boat - Watercolour on Rough paper 16" x 12"

Aspens - WIP

An old friend of mine got in touch to chat about painting and we got to talking about his love of trees in pictures. This got me to thinking about a little project I'd promised myself a while ago. Since my last visit to the States I'd decided that at some stage I'd get around to producing some pictures of aspens. I initially became interested in aspens through the photographs of Ansel Adams. At that time I was making a lot of monochrome photographic images and I spent some time seeking out attractive stands of trees including aspens or similar species like birch and making prints of my pictures.

Since beginning painting the interest had continued and I found many images in the collection of images produced by the plein air movement in the States. The aspen is a common subject over there. So  having arrived at the notion of making some tree pictures, it wasn't a big jump to decide on aspen as a suitable subject. So I had a browse through some images on the net and found a number by the West Coast artist, Kathleen Dunphy. I selected one of these and began a painting based on it. If in doubt use the work of an expert to emulate.

The painting is not yet finished but it is getting close. Any suggestions would be appreciated.  

Aspens (after Kathleen Dunphy) - Oil on canvas board 20" x 16"

Yet Another Iris

My love affair with the Iris carries on unabated and this is the latest from my collection. I think there are a few little adjustments to make before calling it finished.

Gold Iris - Watercolour on Not paper 16" x 12"