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.