Untitled 18" x 19" Oil WIP

I spent most of Thursday looking through my reference material, searching inspiration and a non personal image to paint for a show at Easter. I found this, and I was away!

I was trying very hard to use brush loads of paint, as you know not my usual style. Consequently, I got in a muddy mess! I 'tonked' it three times already! It will very likely turn out fine, but John Singer Sargent, I ain't. I wish!

I shall be needing a title for this, folks, any ideas?

Thanks for your visit, I hope it was enjoyable? Please add any comment, I would love to know what you think about any of my stuff.

Nana 10" x 10" Oil

Meet my maternal grandmother, who I miss dreadfully. She lost her husband in WW2 and brought up two children on her own. She was strong and very capable and presented a stern face to the world. She kept her feelings to herself and had an opinion on everything. She has my undying devotion and admiration, for her care of me in some difficult times. She always understood.

I had to get to the studio and slap some paint around, yesterday! Brushes, fingers and kitchen roll came into play here!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Happy Birthday,Bill + Chris

These drawings are for a friend of mine, in celebration of the boys' birthdays. I determined I would do nothing else until they were done, because I had been putting them off. Normally a drawing like this would take an afternoon, but I still procrastinated, finding the washing up more exciting! I felt miserable, not painting, and it probably would have been better to have done both. Trouble is, the bread and butter stuff always gets put on the back burner until the deadline looms.

If you would like a drawing like this, for someone special in your life, please email me for prices.

sharon.wright9@btopenworld.com

Sharon Elaine

I didn't get to HAS life drawing on Saturday, so I have been sorting some old drawings to post on my Sharon Elaine blog instead. Go check it out here, please. But look what I found, a self portrait that I had completely forgotten about! Nice solid drawing, but grim looking woman, or what!

Doodle 6" x 6' Oil

I found this little sketch, done so long ago I don't even remember, but it made me take a second look. I got out my favourite colour, red transparent oxide, and doodled.
The sad thing is I can't seem to recapture that look on her face, which is what grabbed my attention in the first place! Maybe I should frame the sketch!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 50 GBP please email me. Or the sketch for 15 GBP.

Barack Obama 10" x 10" Oil

The man of the moment, well, I started this on Inauguration Day. Many rejoice and many see new hope for the future. I feel inexplicably uneasy.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Hot 18" x 24" Oil

This was a discarded life painting, done at HAS years ago. As soon as I saw it again, I knew why it had been rejected. The legs were far too small! She looked deformed, so I set to work. She certainly looks better now, although far from comfortable. How the model lay like that all afternoon, I don't know, but she did.

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

Distracted

So much for my intention of not getting distracted by the internet. I have just revisited David Larson Evans and spent an emotional, delightful hour exploring his blog. His portraits are outstanding, in fact everything is so full of life and movement and I think is a statement of David's joy of living and painting. Check out Red Slide, which had me mesmerised, and his portrait of Andy Warhol stopped me in my tracks!

Bedtime Too 20" x 30" x 2 Acrylic

Everything I have done this week has been a washout, or even a wipeout! So I thought I would show one I did earlier! It is actually two paintings and would be a shame to split them up. This is the only attempt at palette knife painting that I have kept. I enjoyed painting them, but then went on to the next thing, as I usually do, and have never used a palette knife since! I keep trying new things and consequently am the master of none. This year I am going to concentrate on portraits and figures in oil, obviously with the aim of becoming brilliant!
I think my malaise springs from the fact that we have sold our house and so we are in limbo. We don't have a moving date yet and I am loathe to start packing until we have. You would think that having the painting to do would take my mind off it. Not me, I am excited and want it to happen NOW, and I cannot concentrate. Will keep you posted.

If you would like to purchase these paintings for 200 GBP each, or 350 GBP for the pair, please email me.

Roy 26" x 18" Oil

Roy is finished! I like it. It has turned out very high key because I started on a very light ground of wet paint and couldn't get the darks very dark. I really enjoyed painting on a wet surface and will do so again, but I think I shall start darker next time, a mid tone probably, not unlike pastels on a toned paper.
I have been worrying lately about pricing, in the present economic climate. It is very tempting to put prices down, alongside houses and cars, etc, all the luxury items really, but buying artwork, I think, is something very low on the list for most people. I have decided, though, that to put my prices down would be unfair to those customers who have paid a lot of money for one of my works. I would be interested to know what you think about this issue?

If you would like to purchase this painting for 300 GBP please email me.

Roy 26"x 18" Oil WIP

Despite my good intentions I started to fuss with details, even before I had blocked in the whole composition! The darker patch is (or will be) a framed piece of Tottenham Hotspurs executive carpet, which Roy is very proud of! I might rename this painting ' They Lost Again!'. Roy doesn't look very happy, does he?

I found out today that my painting 'Asleep' ( at least they think it was that one!) won the prize for Best in Show, at the Hertford Art Society Annual Members Show. This prize is a legacy from a very exuberant past member and is voted for by the members. I am so proud of myself. Here is the painting again, for those of you who missed it.

Thanks for your visit, happy painting everyone.

Roy 26" x 18" Oil WIP

I had a boring, tedious morning, you know, housework, paperwork and I had to wait for the car mechanic because my car won't start! Then, when I finally got to the studio, I spent an hour tidying up and wondering what to do! I have three pieces of work to do for other people, but I didn't want to do them. Contrary, that's me.
I had nothing to paint on, anyway, so I found an old canvas board with a rubbish painting on it, and painted the whole thing over with a sloopy grey mix. Normally I would wait for that to dry before painting on it, but by now I was getting the buzz. I pinned a photo of Roy to the wall and off I went. I had about an hour before it got dark and I didn't want to stop. I have never started a painting on a wet surface before, but I shall do so again. Another revelation!

Revelation

I forgot to tell you of my revelation yesterday. As usual I started fussing with details, so I moved my reference photo to the wall of my studio, about 3 feet away, instead of having it adjacent to my canvas. Well, you can't dot the 'i's and cross the 't's if you can't see the 'i's and the 't's!

Me Again 10" x 10" Oil

Not quite what I had in mind, but nothing turns out as expected or intended. But you have to go with the flow.........or not, as happened today. I must remember to put paint on the brush, or you scrape off what is already there!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Me Again 10" x 10" Oil WIP

I'm sorry but I just had to have a go at this! I'm using the Zorn palette, black, white, red and yellow, and a big brush, and I wanted to be sparing with the brush strokes, a la Carole Marine.
Well, it's not a bad likeness, but it is a mess! I hope I can salvage something tomorrow!
The problem with me is that I spend half of most mornings looking at what other people are doing. I watch David Darrow, Carole Marine, Susan Carlin, Duane Keiser et al, and think "I can do that". Well I can't! I have learned a lot about the technicalities, warm and cool colours, mediums, grounds, brushes etc, etc and I am very grateful to all those folks. But I am so easily distracted from finding my own way, and I am getting nowhere fast.
So, I have decided, that for two weeks I am not going to look on the internet, or at any of my books and paint portraits without the distractions. Watch this space!
All comments gratefully appreciated.

Jan 16" x 20" Oil Finished

A couple of very minor adjustments and a less glarey photo, and I'm happy. What do you think, Janice?

If you would like to purchase this painting for 300 GBP please email me.

sharon.wright9@btopenworld.com

Jan 16" x 20" Oil

WIP or finished? A bit hard to tell from this awful photo, my husband took th better camera to work today. Something is a bit askew, and I think it is the eyes, or it could be the nose. Or is the mouth too big?!!! Methinks there is more to do on this one.
Your comments would be very welcome. Thanks fo your visit.

DSFDF Challenge Me by Hillary Miller

The wait is over. I am bowled over by this watercolour portrait, it is an awesome piece of work.

Thank you, Hillary, you must have worked your socks off!

Making A Mark

My hugely talented blogger friend, Dianne Mize, nominated my painting 'Cool Off' for Best Portrait by Female Artist on a Blog in 2008, over on Katherine Tyrrells' blog Making a Mark! This, I was totally gobsmacked and thrilled about, but now I find Katherine has picked "Cool Off ' in her top five shortlist, to be voted on by her visitors! I have very tough competition, and am currently lagging behind, so, please, please get over there and vote for me? I would appreciate it sooooooo much.
Have a great Christmas and New Year holiday.

DSFDF My Effort

My thanks to Karin Jurick for her brilliant idea for her Different Strokes For Different Folks blog, because I had such a good time painting this portrait. And now there is the added interest waiting to find out who I have painted. What a lovely young woman! And also to see what she did with my image! So interesting, Karin, I salute you!

Jan 16" x 20" Oil WIP

I think this is getting there, although I'm sure Janice won't think so! I'm having terrible trouble with the teeth..............is it allowed to stick a photo on and paint over it? No! Oh well, persevere then!

Jan 16" x 20" oil WIP

After I cleared a path to my easel ( how does it get like that!!??) I made a start on my sister Janice. I have no more siblings, I promise. It looks nothing like her, yet, so expect a transformation.
We are as chalk and cheese. She is an accountant, can there be anything more different to an artist? I'm fat, she's skinny, I'm a dreamer, her feet are firmly on the ground, I waffle, she calls a spade a spade, she's soppy about children and animals, I'm not, she's lived in the same town all her life, I haven't ... you get the picture. We do, though, get on very well.
Roy has a couple of days off work, so I shall probably not do any more to this until next week.
Have a joyous weekend and happy painting!

Peace and Kisses

Now I don't do Christmas, but for all of you that do, my wish for you is peace and lots of kisses under that mistletoe! Or, at least, to be surrounded by love, not only for this season, but always.

I wish to thank everyone who has visited, and those who continue to visit, and leave those wonderful comments that keep me going. There have been times when, without your support and your inspiration, I might have given up. So, a big heartfelt THANKYOU.

Brothers Too 20" x 16" Oil

This has to be a finish! It started as a fast, loose sketch, but has taken ages! At last, Andy looks a bit like Andy, and I like the greyed tone of it and the tension. No prizes for guessing what they were doing......watching TV. I think Arsenal were playing, hence the clenched fist!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 120 GBP please email me.

Reading 24" x 24" Acrylic

I have not finished Brothers Too to my satisfaction yet and I am also working on a couple of other things, that I can't post here.......so.......here is another one I did earlier. A self portrait, working primarily with a palette knife, and a very limited palette of colours. I was very happy with this, and someone liked it enough to give me money! Mixed feelings about that!

Brothers Too WIP

Happier with Andy, today, well, I have left him there! They don't fit together yet.

That Letter! Acrylic 24" x 24"

Today was a wipe off! I was painting my other brother, Andy. I couldn't get a likeness and the colours were all wrong. It might have been all right in a different painting. I do have some really BAD days. Tomorrow will be GOOD!
Never mind, here's one I did earlier! This was at HAS life drawing 5 or 6 years ago. Very different to my work now. This won 'Best in Show' that year at a local exhibition.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 200 GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Brothers Too WIP

I have been working on Steve, although I'm not sure where! I took this photograph while it was still daylight, which was about halfway through my session today. Trying so hard to keep it loose, but it is not happening. Fiddle, fiddle, fiddle, drat it!
I don't know if it is the cold, but I had to keep nipping indoors to pay a visit! Not good for concentration!

Brothers Too 20" x 16" Oil WIP

I decided to show you this because I started differently to usual. I have been following Susan Carlin and David Darrow ( and learning a lot) and drawing the composition first, as they do. But I watched Rolf Harris paint the Queen again and he paints the whole canvas, blocking in big shapes and then makes finer and finer adjustments. So that is how I have started this.

Man + Boy 20" x 30" Oil Finished

All it needed in the end was a little refinement on the boy. I like this a lot.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 400 GBP please email me.

Interspect 24" x 24" Acrylic

I have started another double portrait today, but it is in no fit state to view.....it hasn't got faces yet! So as not to show favouritism, it is of my other two brothers, Steve and Andy. Coming soon.... and then of course there is my sister, Jan.
I thought I would show one of my personal favourites, so far. I love the composition. It reminds me of myself at that age, sitting, isolated, at a party, far away in my own little world. The original was sold, but I missed it, so I painted this one for me. Having said that, if you really like it, I am not averse to selling it!

Have a good weekend, as I shall, because it's HAS day tomorrow! Check my other blog next week!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 300 GBP, please email me.

sharon.wright9@btopenworld.com

Christmas Gifts

It is only four weeks to Christmas! I know where you can get that perfect gift for someone special in your life. These drawings are fun, personal and very affordable. But email me now for more info, time is running out!

sharon.wright9@btopenworld.com

Premio Dardos Award

Today, my amazing blogger friend, Dianne, has given me an award.

This award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing and art work ...that's the general idea. I am really thrilled to receive it. Thank you for your unwavering support Dianne.

The rules of this award are as follows:

*Show the image of the award on your blog.

*Link back to the blog that gave the award.

*Nominate 15 other blogs that you consider deserving the same. (How Many?)

*Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve selected.

OK, here is my list of fabulous bloggers:

Dianne

Susan

David

GMComicz

Vicki

Beverly

Pattie

Martin

Carol

Bill

Karen

Justin

Edward

David

Nicole

Today I have been painting. A friend gave me some freesias ( my Mums' favourite flowers) and I thought 'great, good subject'. Well, three times I wiped it off, and then gave up. I have usually painted flowers with watercolour and found oils just don't convey the delicacy I was after. No awards for my efforts today, Dianne!

I carried on with 'Man + Boy', but I won't post that again until it is finished.

Thanks for your visit, don't forget to comment or, at least register your 'reaction'.

Happy painting.

'Man + Boy' 30" x 20" Oil WIP

Roy went to work today so I could do some more to this. Comments always very welcome and I don't know if you have noticed the 'reactions' part at the end of each post? I would love some of those too!

'Red Pepper' 10" x 10" Oil + 'Man + Boy' 30" x 20" Oil WIP

Just to show you that I did darken the background on 'Red Pepper'. I am happier with it now.

This is the painting I am working on, of my brother Jeff. I was going to present the boy as a photograph, but really, no-one has a photograph of themselves that big! Do they? So a painting, then? In a different style, perhaps? More colourful? Looser, tighter? A la Van Gogh? Help! Suggestions fully appreciated, please.

Roy has a week off work, so I shall be playing for a few days, no painting. Back next week!

If you would like to purchase 'Red Pepper' for 70GBP please email me.

TAGGED!

I have just been tagged by Dianne!This is a really fun way to get to know your blogger friends! The rules of this great game are:-
1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you.
2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 other bloggers at the end of your post and comment on their blogs to let them know.


I have read what others have written about themselves and I am just so boring! This is really difficult, but here goes:
1 I adore and cherish my husband, Roy.
2 I love naturist holidays....the freedom, which is very important to me.
3 I was a doctors' receptionist for 16 years, and I was the nice, helpful, happy, one.
4 My favourite food is fish and I love them all except squid, if that is a fish, because I had the screaming abdabs cleaning one once. Never had oysters or lobster, something to achieve before I die!
5 I was expelled from school for swearing at a teacher and making him cry. I was an awful child.
6 I canoed on the River Nene from Wellingborough to Peterborough, it took a week, with 6 teenage boys, camping on the banks. Where do you pee? As the only female it was excruciatingly embarassing.
7 I adore and cherish my husband, Roy. I know, I know, but really there is nothing else!
Well actually, there is something else, I 'ran away' from home when I was 21, to escape a tyrannical, abusing father.
How could I have forgotten that I appeared on national television! A program called 'A Brush with Fame' which aired about three years ago. 75 artists converged on Cambridge for a regional heat. The first thing was a 1/2 hour self portrait, after which 50 of us were sent home again. Next was a 3 hour portrait of a celebrity, after which 10 artists were left standing, me included.

Then another 3 hour celebrity portrait. I didn't win the heat, but was thrilled at how far I got and enjoyed the experience immensely. The processes of filming were fascinating. I painted Barry Norman and Lord Charles Brocket.

These are the three judges, Christian Furr, an artist who painted the Queen, David Lee, art critic and editor of the art paper The Jackdaw, and Gerald Scarfe, caricaturist.

My 7 bloggers of note, just because I love their paintings, are:

1 Michael
2 Theresa
3 Qiang
4 Marc
5 Nigel
6 Greg
7 Michael

Enjoy!

Red Pepper 10" x 10" Oil

My painting of my brother is progressing oh - so - slowly and not up to scrutiny yet. I had to do something else, today, so I did this.....fast! I am a slave to what I can see and painted the background as it was. A little thought might have suggested it would be better dark. Try that tomorrow.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Remembrance Day

I know I painted this in the summer, but I thought it appropriate for today. It is for my Granddad, who died, fighting to preserve the freedom for me to be able to paint this, though during the second world war, not the first.
Rest in peace, Hugh Felce.
I have been thinking of the unimaginable horrors he must have endured and the worst thing is that it still goes on. So this is for every serviceman, too, in heartfelt gratitude and admiration. And for every woman who has lost a grandfather, father, son, nephew, cousin or uncle.

Cool Off SOLD

Here is 'Cool Off'' again for those of you who haven't seen it or have forgotten what it looks like.

May it live forever in a happy home!

I've done no painting this weekend because I am trying to improve the ref photos for the painting I have started of Jeff. Photoshop is completely alien to me, but I am trying. Perhaps I should stop listening to other folk, I was quite happy working from rubbish photos before! No...I shall persevere for I have to make better paintings. Onwards and upwards!

Adolescent 30" x 42" Oil + Brothers 4 3/4" x 9" Oil

To redress the balance, this is an early portrait I did of my eldest son, Richard. He was about 15, and I had to make a note of how awkward and unsure and gawky he was! I did a smaller pastel version of this, which won a prize in a local show! I remember how thrilled I was, and there was money involved, and I'm sure it encouraged me to carry on.

I found this photo, of Richard and Andrew, when I was looking for the one of Andrew that I wanted to paint. It struck me how similar a composition it is to my painting of 'Sisters' that I did back in July.

I'm very into 'family' at the moment, painting wise, that is, because I have started a new larger painting today, of one of my brothers, Jeff. It's to be a double portrait of how he is now and also of the boy. There, I shall have to finish it now that I have told you all!

I sold ' Cool Off' at the show at the weekend! Yippeeeeeeee!!!!!

Sorry this post has been a long time coming, but I have to change my routine now the clocks have gone back. Getting to the studio with lots of time to paint, in daylight, has been nigh on impossible! Got to get my act together!

Happy painting, thanks for your visit.

If you would like to purchase 'Brothers' for 70GBP please email me.