No Return 12" x 12" Oil

I have worked this up and I like it. I don't like the other two so I'm thinking of doing two others at the point of no return. Jumping off a swing, that is. Should make an interesting trio.

I didn't notice that I hadn't blended the red in the face till it was on the computer! Sorry. Well it was getting dark!

Have a splendid weekend, everyone!

Kenneth Williams by Jon MacFadyen

Please allow me to introduce my nephew, Jon MacFadyen. He is actually my great-nephew-in-law! Goodness..how old am I! I admit to a little envy. He has just started at Uni, in his chosen field, with the full support and encouragement of his parents (and family). He is always drawing but is very shy, so this is only the second piece I have seen. And I love it! He says it is not finished, but I think it is a very powerful image as is.

More 'Breakfast' + Doodles

I've done some more work on this today, mainly getting the colour of the sweater right. I will get round to painting the chair, promise!



I've also been doodling my idea for the remaining paintings for the hospital. I want to do a sequence of a child jumping off a swing, but I can't find the perfect reference photos. I might change my mind completely, but shall work these up to completion and see how I feel then.

WA

The suggestion for a subject at the WA yesterday, was to copy a famous painting. I chose 'Honfleur' by Edward Seago, because hubby likes it, and so I promised him a copy last year. It isn't famous, not like the 'Mona Lisa' and I can't even find it on Google, so I have taken a photo from my book. 

I admit it looked like an easy job...but the detail is astounding...and it looks just blue and yellow....but it isn't! To be finished next week.

PS. Jacqui made fruitcake and I am happy to report that I abstained! Everyone said it was delish! 

Me + Breakfast

I was watching David R Darrow this morning, here, drawing a charcoal portrait, and just had to have a go. Of course he makes it look so easy and needless to say I don't have little sponge caps for my palette knife. I've always used my fingers, they will do, right? No! Wrong paper, not smooth and I picked up a carbon pencil, not charcoal. Oh well.



Remember 'Stir' ? The delicate china cup and saucer and the BIG man's hand. I wondered if the incongruity would translate to a wider view, hence WIP 'Breakfast'. Of course, the star of the show is the cup and saucer, which I haven't painted yet. Watch this space!

Another point of interest is that I painted this on a cadmium ground, which is something I have seen often in others' work. I adore the flecks of red showing through. Carolann pointed out that it is the reason her landscapes 'glow'.

Also, and finally, this is the first interior I have painted. I prefer figures to stand alone and I have always found the prospect rather scary. It was easier than I imagined to place everything but I do think the painting is cluttered. Your thoughts welcome and appreciated...please.

Oops, one other thing...thanks to all my new followers, I appreciate your interest and your time in keeping up with my stuff. I shall get around to finding out what you all do very soon.

Have a great weekend!

Jump for Joy 16" x 20" Oil

Played fast and loose this afternoon! With a big brush (for me) and lots of paint, I slapped it on and had a good time. I think, with a lttle slow refinement, this will be nice.

With grateful thanks to Sallie Ryan, who agreed permission to use her delightful photograph.

Pay Attention! 16" x 20" Oil

I started this yesterday at the WA, where almost everyone else were painting sweets. I didn't take sweets...too much of a temptation to eat them! So, this, from a photograph of friends, taken on a get together on New Years' Eve. Not sure that Alan will like his arm, or Roy his hands, but Myra is the star and she's good. I am pleased with it.

Swing Jump 20" x 30" Oil

I was just getting back into my stride and along came Christmas, with Roy off work for ten whole glorious days! I had a wonderful time, but got no painting done, so was itching to get back to "Swing Jump" this morning.

And on to the next one................

Swing Jump 20" x 30" Oil WIP

I had hoped to finish this, silly me. That is a lot of canvas to cover! Lots to do yet.

I have been investigating possibilities for my three outstanding hospital pictures and came across this image and just had to paint it because it carries on with my theme of kids jumping.

Seasons greetings to you all, may you find all you wish for.

Half Empty + Still Life 3

HALF EMPTY  20" X 16"  OIL

This is finished..for now. I'm not altogether happy with the background but I have no idea how to improve it.

ROSE IN A GLASS 14" X 11" OIL

The third in the series, the rose and leaves painted with a palette knife, the glass with a brush, on a very scrappy piece of board!

Spot the Difference!

I couldn't resist carrying on with this, despite what I said yesterday. I think it is getting there.

Half Empty 20" x 16" Oil WIP

I've not abandoned my still life challenge, but I felt the need to paint this again. You may remember I did a sketch of the same image earlier in the year. Now, I need to have a break from this for a couple of days as I can't see for looking. I keep enlarging the hand but it STILL seems too small!

Bottles 8" x 10" Charcoal + Conte

Still life No 2. Well, what is there to say?

Cherries in Glass 7" x 9" Watercolour

Having complained about losing my mojo ( whatever that means!), brilliant artist and fellow blogger,  David  has set me a challenge to get me back on track, to paint 5 still lifes! Not only not my usual subject, but I decided, not my usual medium either. So here is no.1. I am so SCARED of watercolour, but I was so surprised to really enjoy this. Half of that of course is that I didn't care what sort of mess I made. My two attempts yesterday went promptly on the fire, which gives an idea what they were like. I probably won't stay with watercolour,  I don't have a suitable ground, and I have been itching for a while to get out the pastels.....do more drawing....ink and wash.....acrylics......charcoal.......flowers.....fruit......bottles...... See what you did, David, my mind is a-buzz! Thank you.

Early Stuff

I seem to have hit a brick wall, haven't been able to get going at all since the onset of British Winter Time! So I thought I would show you some really early stuff, so you can see how I have improved...or not!

'Thelma'  Pastel on Canson Mi Teintes 

'Andrew' Pastel on Paper  One of the very first pictures I made.

'Jim'  Charcoal on paper. Done during my week with Ken Paine. Blimey...was that eight years ago!

'Stella'  Oil on canvas board.

'Dr I M K Hiscock'  Acrylic on canvas board. 

'Jan' Acrylic on canvas board.

'Blue Mood' Acrylic on canvas board. Also done under the watchful eye of Ken Paine. I've done nothing like it before or since!

'A Good Joke' Oil on paper. 

'Interspect' Acrylic on canvas board. One of my all time favourites.

'Knife'  Mixed Media on canvas board. One of my very few still lifes.

'Apple Sauce' Acrylic on paper. One of my favourites, just because I get a kick to think of a pig watching!

Can you see him?

I hope to get back in the swing of it very soon....or maybe just show you some more oldies!

WA

The brief at the WA this week was to finish what we started last week and so I was in a quandary as to what to do, spending time surfing the www for inspiration for an hour or so before I had to get to the meeting.  Jackie came to my rescue with a photo of her granddaughter, so what better time to start.

I did some more yesterday......

And hoped to finish it today.......

But I see it still needs some work.

WA

The brief today was pointilism, and of course, me being me, didn't do that! Everyone did a really good job and, I think, surprised themselves. I thought I would compromise and do a painting using square brushstrokes, but along the same principals. Well, you know me and colour? Can't do it! I did begin with purple but I don't know where that went! This portrait was started at the last life drawing session at Hertford Art Society and I liked the composition and the pretty face so had to finish it.

Brenda + Douglas 20" x 16" Oil

It is very evident, in these two paintings, the difference between digital and non digital photographs. I prefer digital, as they eliminate minute detail, and as I HAVE to paint what I see, I feel I paint better paintings from them. What do you think? Having said that, nothing beats painting from life, but who has the time or inclination to sit?
 So here we have Brenda + Douglas. I do hope they like them.
PS. How do you post pictures side by side?

Punt 10" x 12" Oil

I needed a break from faces today so was pleased that the brief at the WA was 'messing about in boats'. I enjoyed slapping on the paint, shame I forgot to paint the pole in properly!

Douglas 20" x 16" Oil In Progress

Meet Douglas, a fellow artist who goes along to the WA with his wife Brenda, who has asked me to paint their portraits. I hope 'Brenda' goes as well as 'Douglas'. I'm enjoying it immensely, I think because he is such a lovely man, it is an honour to paint him. Very quiet, ( well you would be...surrounded by women!) when he speaks it is usually a very funny observation or helpful advice. 

I started this yesterday morning and took it along to the meeting, although the brief was to make Christmas cards. Should have taken some photographs.....they were very good and interesting.

Doodles

I have agreed to provide the hospital with three more paintings for permanent display, to hang along the main corridor, round the corner from 'Balloons'. My idea is to do a sequence of three or four paintings of a child at play, jumping off a swing, cartwheeling, gymnastics...or something. So today, at the WA, I doodled. My eye is drawn to the middle sequence......what about yours?

Stir 10" x 12" Oil

In such a rush to post before Roy gets home, I only now see that I didn't finish the handle! More to do on the hand too, but I like this!

First Marks

I spent most of the afternoon tiddling up 'Penny', amidst many suggestions and good feedback from the girls and boy, and Penny was delighted with the finished painting. I love a happy client, thanks Penny.
Which meant that I only had time to sketch in my next painting. This image intrigued me because of the incongruity of the masculine, hairy hand and the delicate china teacup. Stay tuned...you'll see.

Penny 16" x 20" Oil More Progress

Penny 16" x 20" Oil In Progress

I have been working on this portrait of Penny and there is a long way to go yet, but I am enjoying the sparkly bits....not something I would normally bother with.

Wonky!

WA day today, the brief was spoon in a glass. As you may be able to tell, I spent most of the afternoon chatting, and was not concentrating on what I was doing. Its wonkiness has a certain charm, though, don't you think?

Balloons

 

So all the elements are in place , all I have to do now is go back in and refine it .... mainly all the hands, I think. Or, I could put in more balloons over the hands......

 I couldn't get far enough away from it to take a decent photo, and to crop it would lose half the image, but I thought it good to leave in the door so you can appreciate how big it is!

All suggestions and comments gratefully received, thank you.

Happy painting! and have a great weekend.

Yet More Balloons

One more figure after this, and then I can show you the whole thing.

Penny

The brief at the WA was to paint a clock, paying particular attention to depicting the space between glass and dial. Good subject for watercolour and ink, which is what I took. Penny, however, asked me to take on another commission and presented me with a photo of her glamorous self. Brilliant....I get out of the clock thing by doing a preliminary sketch of Penny. All well and good.....but....watercolour! Bear in mind I have not touched watercolours for YEARS! But I had a go, actually inspired by Sadami, who is the reason I had dug them out of a box in the shed. Check her out, she is cool.

Stephen Fry 9" x 12" Oil

I am a creature of extremes. Mostly, I will scrub out as much paint as possible from the brush, wearing it out, rather than squeeze out or mix any more colour. I am also very lazy and very miserly! Today, I had so much mixed up paint left over that I painted this.
I have been sorting out paintings for another exhibition, this time in Swaffham at the end of October, tiddling up a background I wasn't happy with.

Breather

I packed up all my stuff ready for tomorrow and found myself with ten minutes to spare so I drew this. OK, half an hour! Should have got the hoover out!