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!