WA - Continue From Last Week.

 

 

 

Mo  10" x 12"  Oil

 

Well, David wasn't there, so I painted Mo instead. Or at least sketched her and I have taken a photo this time!

WA - Woodland Wildlife

David   12" x 16"   Oil

Woodland wildlife....no, of course I didn't! There were some lovely squirrels and hedgehogs and various birds but I opted to paint fellow WA-er David. Good practice and I am very peased with my two hour-ish effort.

Five 16" x 20" Charcoal

 

A re-visit. I painted this back in 2009, see here, and I had forgotten that I had drawn her in charcoal before, see here. I like her with more space around her....if only I had looked back before I started. I am happy though with the afternoons' work.

WA - Demo by Paul Seymour

 Rather than paint a picture, Paul opted to show us a few things he has learned to make things easier for himself, like how to simplify people and animals, paint trees and boats and birds. It made for a very interesting afternoon, which I spent mostly nodding as he reminded me of things I didn't know I knew. It made me want to reach for the watercolours.

 

A simple graded wash used to stunning effect.

 

An example of work that Paul brought along to show us.

 

 

 

HAS Submission Day

 All the work is in, preparations well underway, with judge Brian Innes taking a sneaky preview.

 The judges, L-R, Brian Innes, painter and printmaker, Ian Macdonald, graphic designer and lecturer, Tim Benson ROI, portrait painter.

 My favourite piece of mine getting scrutinised.

 

Stopping for a very well deserved, (and utterly scrumptious!) lunch is the man who gets us started and keeps us organised throughout the day, Michael Radley. His organisational skills and very loud voice is a power to be reckoned with!

 

As usual I had a brilliant day and I am hopping up and down, big cheesy grin, chuffed to tell you that I got all six pieces accepted! Yay!

 



Submission Day Tomorrow

 

Decision made! These are the paintings I shall be submitting to Hertford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition tomorrow. I really hope I don't have to bring them all home again. Aaarrgghhh! Don't say that! Don't jinx it!

WA - A Building

 

Hunstanton   18" x 24"  Mixed Media

BP Portrait Award 2013 - The Shortlist

BP Portrait Award 2013 - The Shortlist

Boy Busker 12" x 16" Charcoal

I have decided that two of the pictures I wanted to submit to Hertford are way too big to manage on the train. If I take the car it means that Roy would be grounded...not fair. So I did this, which is a much more managable size! And it is all framed and ready to go!

 

I also tiddled this again, but I fear you would be hard pressed to see what I did. I'm happier though. Roy thinks it looks like I have had a stroke so maybe I shall be tiddling some more and putting in the other eye! What say you?

Talking 16" x 20" Oil

 

Been tiddling again, and framing. This, I think is finished and I also noticed that my 'winking' SP was too lopsided so have been putting that right. I didn't take a photo of that though.

Work has to be submitted this Saturday, to Hertford and I am still prevaricating! I shall have to get a new form because all the crossings out have rendered it un readable.

 

The Delta Pilots 10" x 12" Chinagraph

 

 

I have been framing again today, but then I wanted to draw. So I scribbled away to my little hearts content and this is the result.

 

All about the Delta Pilots can be found here. One of the guys is a chap that my husband used to work with, and he gave it all up to follow a dream!

WA - Historical Figure

 

Baroness Thatcher   12" x 16"   Charcoal

 

Well, who else, today? RIP Maggie.

Gardening!

Fabulous day for digging the garden - so here are a couple of pics I did 10 years-ish ago.

Busker Boy 12" x 24" Charcoal

WA - Charcoal or Graphite

 

Winker  24" x 24"  Charcoal



Studies

I need two more pieces for the Hertford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition ready for end of April submission date. As usual I waded in with no prep with an idea of putting together three shots of Bekah, our American cousin.

 

 

 

This wasn't ever going to turn into something spectacular so I tried again with a single shot.

I like this one.

 

Funny  16" x 20"  Charcoal

Talking 16" x 20" Oil

 

Maybe this is finished....maybe not. I shall spend awhile just looking at it. Love that red!

Busker Boys 20" x 16" Oil WIP

I cannot believe we went to Wells-next-the-Sea on Monday and I didn't take any photos of the boats! I cannot believe we went to Wells-next-the-Sea on a bank holiday Monday! Especially Easter. Not surprising we couldn't get near the fish restaurant and had to eat take away in the car....still delicious though ......and a better view!

I DID take photos of these glorious busking boys and also of the beach huts in Old Hunstanton, both with a view to painting.

This is absolutely nothing like what's in my head, so maybe I'll be doing a few from this reference. Thank you boys!

Hertford Art Society Life Session

 

I got to Hertford on Saturday the resulting work of which can be seen on my other blog here. This one here is the best thing I did, so only go see if you really want to!

Talking 16" x 20" Oil WIP

 

 

 

 

If you fall off, get straight back on that 'horse' ! The bad news today, was that they didn't like my face at the BP Portrait Awards, so I thought I better paint a portrait. This is, or will be, my wonderful sister-in-law Mavis.

For Joy........Finished

For Joy  23" x 35"  Charcoal

 

I really like this image of my niece, Kathryn, jumping on a trampoline....but I just love what I have done with it! And enjoyed doing it too. There is something free-er and more expressive about charcoal that I don't feel with any other medium.

For Joy Progress

For Joy 23" x 35" Charcoal

 

Initial blocking in. So far so good.

Doodles

 

WA - Hat

 

SP with Scarf  16" x 20"  Oil

 

Ise a bin mostly tiddlin'! The above face was a wipeoff, so I took it along to the WA, as the brief was 'hat', which this is, sort of,....um..... in high hopes of making a good portrait. I got in a right pickle taking off my specs to see what I was painting! Then an intelligent member of the group suggested I paint said specs and....voila! I have to recommend it as an easy way to paint eyes.....must get a better likeness though, tomorrow.

 

Cap  ( no idea of size but estimate 30" x 20") Charcoal

 

Was tiddling this yesterday, in the absence of inspiration, but I am really enjoying charcoal again and so maybe will do more.

Oils, Charcoal

 

White Friends  12" x 10"  Oil

 



 

Profile  12" x 16"  Charcoal

 

Both works in progress, doodling really.

Esmeralda 12" x 12" Oil

 

Finally finished Esmeralda at the request of her Auntie Judith, who was very pleased with the painting. As am I. Isn't she utterly delightful? I shall miss her watching over me in the studio.