Wreck 0r Wrack & Ruin

This was the subject at Thursdays AVA session. Only ten members were present due to various reasons, including dislike of the subject. Some of the weekly subjects don't appeal to me but I`ve never stayed away because of this and usually finish up having enjoyed the challenge.

Robert

Jan

Gerald

???

John

Angela

Peter

Lots of variation as you can see. In my case I'm doing another piece on the Airacobra as there is an interesting and historical story attached to it. It won't appeal to everybody but connects with another of my interests.

More Paintings I like

Just to lighten the mood while I await the next  onslaught from `anonymous' (just joking) here is another selection of paintings that caught my attention. I'm sure some may not be to everyones taste but there is sufficient variety, apart from super realistic as I prefer looser more impressionistic paintings. 

from the delightful Stephie Butler

Vickie Nelson  - an excellent artist

Morten E Solberg Snr - another terrific American artist

John Yardley - still one of the best British watercolour artists.

Viktoria Prischedko - amazing talent

The prolific Milind Mulick

Burhan Ozer from Turkey

Yuko Nagayama from Japan - amongst other things she uses ten different varieties of salt!

Henry Arafin

Alvaro Castagnet - the well-known workshop artist

Winslow Homer - legendary American 

Finally Robert Wade - the doyen of Australian watercolour. This scene above is in Bristol where one of Roberts sons was an intern at the main hospital.

I know most of these artists if not all. Once again the different interpretations and use of colour are worth studying. 

Birds & Butterflies (2)

The subject for `Paint Colorful Birds' this week was the Song Thrush, one of my favourite birds. Unfortunately there has been a large decline in numbers in the UK in recent years. In my previous home at Saltford in the early years we had Song Thrushes in the garden regularly, and even nests on occasion. In the last ten years or so it was rare to see one although I occasionally saw thrushes in the fields or community wood close to my home. There are different theories as to why this is but one of mine is that the rise in blackbird numbers is one possible cause. Blackbirds are very aggressive and bully thrushes. Both birds have similar territories and blackbirds won't tolerate thrushes, driving them away and putting them under severe stress. 

The above drawing was based on a photograph showing a thrushes nest with young, on a branch of what looked like some sort of fir. I decided to concentrate the drawing on the birds. Small amounts of Pebeo Drawing gum was put on with a ruling pen, mainly about the heads. This was done the day prior to the AVA session. I find by doing this one is able to approach the painting in a more considered way. Many of the others are doing something similar as we only have two hours in total and it is surprising how quickly this passes. 

Song Thrush with young. 16" x 12" Waterford High White 140lb (300gsm) not

I am fairly happy with the result although I realise the back of the adult is too dark. This is again my fault for following the photograph too closely, although the surroundings have been depicted very generally. I've since looked at Gerard Hendriks painting of a Song Thrush and admire his interpretation.

Butterfly - initial drawing with masking fluid applied in small amounts for highlights.

Butterfly - 15" x 11" paper (?)

This was a loose colour study in less than 40 minutes.. The reds are Quinacridone Coral (Daniel Smith PR209) and Translucent Orange (Schminke PO71). The greens are Sap Green (Graham), Green-Gold (Rowney PY129), Phalo Green (Maimeri PG7) and Green Apatite (Daniel Smith). Also Ivory Black (Maimeri). The purple is Quionacridone Purple (Daniel Smith (PR255). 

My brushes a mixture of Escoda, Isabey and Rosemary retractable or travel brushes.

Self Portrait

I'm quite interested in self portraits and have attempted one or two in the past. So far they have reflected me in a rather dour (or sour) mood and this one is similar - perhaps showing the strain of my recent travails. 

My setup - the guide photo on the ipad

The initial drawing - not too detailed

The initial washes together with the basic features

Self Portrait - 16" x 12" Waterford High White 140lb (300gsm) not

I used a Pentel mechanical pencil 2B 07 - back to my bad old ways! As usual I had to make a number of corrections with the eraser coming into play but I was fairly happy with the final result even if the likeness isn't perfect. The flesh colours were a combination of Cadmium Red Pale with a little Raw Sienna, Cerulean Blue to darken and for the cool areas. The hat is mainly Cerulean with some Ultramarine Blue. A little red for the badge - not sure which one either Quin Coral or Quin Rose.

Only three brushes all Isabey Kolinsky sables, including the small retractables for the detail. 

Latest Birds

The following are the latest birds I've painted for the `Paint Colorful Birds for Fun' community on Facebook. They are basically cameos completed in a short time so I'm not suggesting they are good. Excellent practice though for the serious stuff. I usually paint them on odd bits of paper, sometimes the reverse of failed or discarded paintings.

 Green-headed Tanager

`Rooks'

The colours here are mostly Ivory Black and Turquoise (Lukas). Probably too much Turquoise, especially on the lower right bird. It works better on the others but I think I should have introduced some Ultramarine Violet or purple. 

Saffron Toucanet

This is only interesting in that I painted it on a smallish piece of 600gsm Hahnemuhle Andalucia - the paper Gerard Hendriks uses - given me by Yvonne Harry. I first applied small touches of masking fluid, let it dry then painted. That was my first mistake. The fluid sunk into the paper and wouldn't come off. It didn't seem to take the paint well either yet Gerard produces the most amazing paintings using this paper exclusively. The hand that wields the brush..... 

More Paintings

Not mine I might add (I wish) but a selection of those I've gathered, like and admire. Some of the artists I know others not. What continues to surprise me is the wonderful number of asian, eastern and far eastern artists , many virtually unknown in the West. There are flourishing watercolour communities in countries like Turkey and they don't seem to be recognized outside their own areas. They are getting increasing recognition  now through Facebook. 

Gerard Hendriks - The wonderful Gerard, bird and animal painter (and other subjects) par excellence and a charming  and generous man. He's coming to the UK in 2015.

Zhou Tianya - another of these fabulous Chinese artists.

Two from Bev Jozwiak. Terrific artist, really nice lady.

Steven Scott Young - a wonderful people painter.

Brent Funderbunk - Amazing name but superb artist

Fernando Pena - a very well-known artist. How is this for a minimalist painting.

 

Andy Evanson

??? Dont' know who this is unfortunately but love it. I've been advised this is Janine Galizia - a very well known French artist.

Burhan Ozer  from Turkey - Brilliant.

Charles Reid - something a little different from Charles

Aleksandr Zybin- a Russian artist

Bijay Biswaal - an excellent Indian artist - one of many 

Mahmoud Sandarian - another brilliant artist.

Something different from Yuko Nagayama from Japan. usually she paints still lifes including flowers. 

I hope I have all the names right. This is a selection of different styles and different subjects but they are well worth studying because there is a lot to be learned from them. More to come.