Monday 24 August 2015

Latest Paintings

Due to half term and hence grandparenting duties, plus the fact we are currently having  a new kitchen fitted, time for painting has been reduced. I have managed to paint the following at two  AVA sessions. Apart from the AVA sessions - weekly - I've done little else recently. I don't put these forward as good just what I've turned out recently, sometimes rather rushed, although I'm not renowned for my patience at the best of times!


Amerindian Warrior. 16" x 12"

The original guide photo was very dark with areas lacking any detail. so I had to improvise a little. I did think it was heading for a complete disaster at one stage but in the end decided to post it, Make of it what you will. 


Mother and Son (or daughter) 16" x 12"

I was moderately pleased with this one although it was suggested by one painting friend it would have been better without the cub. I can't quite see that though.


Tropical Wren. 16" x 12 "

This is a wren of some sort but I don't know the actual species. I finished the Indian painting and did this one quite quickly in the remainder of the session.

All the above were painted with my usual array of Escoda, Isabey and Rosemary travel brushes. The Isabey Size 6 is a favorite as is the Rosemary 6, much larger than the Isabey. I also try not to get into the habit of using small brushes too much so the Escoda size 8 and 10 also featured. Actually I used some Isabey Kolinsky sables as well, sizes 4, 6 and 8, slim brushes but lovely to handle. . 

Paints were my usual range with combinations of Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna or Umber for the darks, although sometimes I use the Schminke Translucent Brown instead of Burnt Umber.. I prefer this to Burnt Sienna. I also use Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, Quinacridone Gold and Quinacridone Rust. They are the main ones with Sap Green a favourite for greens, often altered a little with blue or Green-Gold. Two of my favourite colours are Schminke Translucent Orange - I rarely use Cadmium Orange these days - and  Lukas Turquoise. Unfortunately I have difficulty in finding a role for these two colours. perhaps I'm lacking in imagination. When I look at paintings by artists like Bev Jozwiak and Agnes-Cecille I admire their use of colour. Charles Reid and these artists use what he calls `arbitrary colours - that is colours that aren't actually there but it isn't an easy thing to do.

Wednesday 12 August 2015

Watercolour Paintings (7)

Here are more paintings to study and for enjoyment, even though all may not appeal - different styles for different tastes! I know some of these artists but not all. If there are any errors regarding spelling or anything else please feel free to correct me.


Gerard Hendriks - I'm a big fan of Gerard as you know. Loose and full of life!



Alain Bisoire


Christian Couteau


Bev Jozwiak


Burhan Ozer


Cao-bei-an


Burhan Ozer


Catherine Rey


Cesc Farre


Chen Chung Wei



Another from Christian Couteau


Another from Catherine Rey - wow! Good enough to eat.


David Taylor


Girish Gujar


Jem Bowden



John W Connors



Joseph Zbukvic


Kaye Parmenter

Regularly updated INDEX see JULY 2014

Wednesday 5 August 2015

Latest Paintings.

Not very active recently but did these at last weeks AVA session.  I'd made a pencil drawing of both some days previously.


Al Pacino - 16" x 12" Arches hoe pressed.

I was taken by the photo on the cover of the Guardian G2 supplement of the actor Al Pacino. He does look rather dishevelled  but as he said `he doesn't care any longer'. It isn't 100% accurate - I'd say about 80% - as I struggled to get the eyes right. The original is in black and white. I looked up other photos of him to check the eyes but that didn't help much. 

My usual colours, Cadmium Red Light, Burnt Umber or Burnt Sienna and Raw Sienna, Ultramarine Blue and Cerulean using various mixtures.

I started with the eyes, then the nose and mouth darkening the mixture of Cad Red and Raw Sienna with Ultramarine. I added the darker areas like the beard later.

Brushes were Nos 4 & 6 Isabey travel brushes, Rosemary No 6 travel brush and Escoda 8 and 10 similar


Heron - 16 " x 12" Centenaire.

I had done a loose drawing some time previously. The actual painting took about forty minutes and I'm not enamoured by it- too streaky I think - still `warts and all'. I did take more trouble  painting the head but the rest proved difficult.
.