Penny Oil

Meet Penny, one of our models at HAS life drawing yesterday. Please check out my other blog to see my other drawings, if you would like too.

Andrew - Finished!

At last, Andrew is finished, although I can see things not right, so maybe I shall fiddle some more. And that is what I did....fiddled and fiddled and fiddled. I even got a magnifying glass out at one point! This was a struggle. And as usual, it is nothing like my initial vision for the painting. The photograph is a problem to start with, because of the flash. Dave Darrow is so right, you have to have good reference material. Also, Andrew is smiling, which is always difficult to portray so that it doesn't look 'pasted on' or like a grimace. It would have made a better painting, too, if I hadn't slavishly painted the shrug, as it doesn't quite read right, so maybe I will alter that.

Having said that, I am not blaming my tools, as the most difficult aspect was the emotional one.

I have found it extremely valuable, because I can now look at pictures of Andrew without feeling bad immediately. I can smile and laugh at the good times, of which there were far more than bad times.

OK enough waffling!

I have a show to prepare for, framing, labelling, etc., so no painting today probably, but it is HAS life drawing tomorrow so be sure to check out my other blog next week.

Have a good weekend, and thanks for dropping in.

Andrew

Twenty years ago, today, my youngest son, Andrew, passed away. He was nine years old. They say that time heals the pain, but it doesn't. It just helps you deal with it better.

I have been painting a portrait of him today , in remembrance of a happy, brave, very cheeky, adorable child, but I have found it very difficult, and it is not finished. I will post when it is.

The second one here is one of the first drawings I did when I started painting again, which was because I didn't have a picture of all four of us together, and I decided I would paint one.

I have still to paint that particular picture....when I am good enough!

The first one I did after a visit to the Hockney exhibition, where his coloured pencil portraits obviously inspired me.

Sad day, today, but I have to thank Dianne Mize, whose painting of York Falls, lifted my spirits.

Asleep 17" x 17" Oil

This is one of our models at HAS, who is very keen on the poses that enable her to go to sleep!
I enjoyed this, got my fingers into play again. I have discovered that I much prefer thin paint. Must be the miser in me!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 100GBP please email me.

Head Study 14" x 14" Charcoal

I'm stuck! I keep going to my studio with nothing in mind to paint, inspiration eludes me. The worst thing is that the annual members show for HAS is looming and I want to submit a masterpiece!
This is a study from a photograph of a friend. I don't know why, but I find it much harder to draw from a photo than from life, perhaps because there is NO LIFE in it!


If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP please email me.