My Latest

 Here are my most recent efforts. 

"Robin"

"Male Bullfinch"

"Amerindian Man"

A Study in Pink"

"Red Crossbill"

"Buffalo Headdress- Amerindian"

"Greenfinch"

Greenleaf & Blueberry

 I recently came across an interesting - indeed fascinating - small producer of 'artisanal watercolours' and other artists materials including 'hand carved brushes". It seems to be a two person operation , although I may be wrong here, described as 'artist and chemist owned'. They describe themselves as 'producing handmade supplies for the travelling artist". I might add only for very well-heeled ones! It's American and all prices are in dollars. The website is beautifully produced and highly professional. The effort and range of products  is extraordinary given the small size of the operation. They have a blog and also run workshops and other things.

All paints are single  natural pigments, lightfast with no added fillers etc. They are ;artist and chemist formulated:. The intention is 'for people looking for something different'. This is no two people producing stuff in a small backyard shed. The paints are produced in small batches and several were out of stock so somebody is buying them. Would I like to try them? I certainly would but while I don't plead poverty these are paints for millionaires.

The paints are produced in half and full pans and here comes the intake of breath bit! Prices of full pans  range from $21.60 to $53.50! Half pans range from $12.00 to $27.90. Would I like to try these paints? I certainly would but I'm afraid the targetted customer is obviously someone who is far, far  more wealthy than I am. Not for hobby painters. I have just received a Jacksons order comprising 7 tubes of paint, 6 Winsor and Newton 14ml and one Lukas 24ml together with a Saunders Waterford 16" x 12" block (now over £37!). This little lot cost just over £100. Fortunately my Xmas and birthday requests included Jacksons vouchers. 

Out of pure interest the website is well worth viewing. It is .greenleafblueberry.com so do have a look.

Latest Paintings

Here are my latest efforts. All 16: x 12 except where stated.

"Lord of the Savannah"

"Lord of the Plains"

"Hellebores"

"Hare"

Amerindian Man

"The Hare has it"

"Perky" 12" x 9"

Watercolour Paintings 74

 Here are the latest batch for January. Apart from a couple more subdued colours this time but wait until you see Februaries! After such a dreadful year in 2020 let us look forward to better times!

Michelle Lim

Michal Jasiewicz

Jan Weeks

Bev Joswiak

Janine Galizia

Susan Crouch

Kwan Yeuk Pang ???

Galina Gomzina OR Javed Chowdbury

Misulbu Atelier

Surut Pengkalan Kelibang

Milan Jovavovic

???

Janine Galizia

Sejal Mitra

Agnes Geets?

Silambu Silambu

Hia Thida

Hoshino Keiko

Kwan Yeuk Pang

Bev Jozwiak

Rae Andrews

Wijit Saekoo

Lisa Wang

Alvaro Castagnet

Robert Wade

Hope you like them folks.

Happy Xmas and a Much Better New Year!

 

To all my friends, followers and all the visitors to my blog may I wish you all a Happy Xmas - and hope you can put aside what  has happened in 2020., at least temporarily.

New Schminke Watercolours

 Schminke, spurred on no doubt by Daniel Smith, have increased their range even further and now offer 150 plus paints. The latest are 15 granulating paints. These are called 'Galaxy, Glacier,  Deep Sea, Forest and Tundra. This isn't a comprehensive review as I haven't tried these paints and at £13.80 for a 15ml  tube - the only size available - it costs over £200 for the full set! As one of the  leaders of the campaign against extortionate watercolour prices I wouldn't would I but apparently enough do to justify them. These paints are all of two or more pigments. Many - not all - are fairly basic pigments with  various blacks in many and also Ultramarine Blue. This is described as a 'limited edition' which always seems to be the excuse for increasing the prices. I haven't given all the names as I became confused  (83 next week 😄) when trying to sort them out and not wanting to print misinformation so suggest , if you are interested and they do look interesting, go to Jacksons art blog. There is a good article profusely illustrated by a Russian artist called Anna Zadorozhnaya.  It's an excellent piece but a caveat - she is a 'Schminke ambassador' -and is effusive in her praise. I think Schminke are one of the best ranges of watercolour paints but again are now very pricey. I might be tempted at some stage with one or two. The swatches on the art blog are much larger and give a better impression of the paints. I like the look of some but not all.

Glacier Black

\

Galaxy Green

 Forest?

Galaxy Pink

Glacier Blue

Glacier Turquoise

Glacier Green

Glacier Brown

'

Some of the ones immediately above have a pronounced pattern I find odd.

According to the art blog the previously introduced 'Dusk' series, again higher priced, have been so successful these further series have been developed.