Latest Paintings

This first one was the result of the subject `Sunshine and Shadows' at my last AVA session. I know I stretch the subject but this is allowed and I like painting offbeat subjects. I've no idea what to caption this painting!.

16" x 12" Waterford 140lb Not 

The idea is that sunlight is being caught in strips across the cats face. The lines should really be straighter from the actual reference.

WOLF - Apsaroke 1908 

16" x 12" Centenaire 140lb Not

Actually not a great resemblance. I'm getting some of these subjects from a book on Edward Curtis and many photos are quite small.I did this quite quickly in the time I had left at my AVA session. Probably foolishly I posted it on my `Portraits' group on Facebook to get the comment `this is a waste of paper'! probably right. I'm now working on another which (I hope) will be much better.

Water

This was the latest subject at my AVA group `Water'. As I've explained before we are allowed considerable licence in our interpretation of the subject.

16" x 12" Centenaire 140lb not

I don't find `water' an inspiring subject but combined with waterfowl or ducks! I made the drawing the day prior to the meeting as this gives me more time to contemplate my approach on the day. I can concentrate just on the application of paint.

The duck colours are Raw Umber and Burnt Umber in various dilutions. A little black and some Quinacridone Gold (DS PO49). The blues are Cerulean, Turquoise (Lukas PB16) and Ultramarine Blue. At the end when dry I also added some acrylic white (Vallejo). If any masking fluid is called for I use the Pebeo Drawing gum. I once criticized this product because it is lethal if you get it on your clothes. However all masking fluid is similar and Jacksons now sell a product for cleaning it off clothes and such like.

Brushes used were the Isabey retractables and sizes 4 and 6 Kolinsky, together with the Da Vinci Mop Size 2.

Watercolour Paintings (16)

Here are some more watercolours I have selected. Some artists are `regulars'  others are new. I keep finding new artists all the time and, as usual,  have picked a mixture of styles and subjects. There should be something for everyone. There are some quite complicated paintings with breathtaking vistas. I'm often amazed at how the artists paint them, quite beyond me. . I hope you like them.

The fabulous Yuko Nagayama

Gerda Mertens - strong colours

Morten E Solberg Snr 

Genevieve Buchanan - simplicity itself.

Orhan Gurel

Viktor Retuerto

John Salminen

Same Altuncu

Linda Norvelle

Hiew Yv

Ellen Brennerman

 I have to confess I don't know for sure if this is watercolour. Her website doesn't mention what medium she uses, at least I can't find anything. She certainly uses liquid paint and water. It may well be mixed media. Fabulous painting though.I have to confess I'm not sure.

Bev Jozwiak

Gerard Hendriks

Milind Mulick - rather different to his normal works

Jonathan Kwegyir Aggrey

What an impact this young African artist has made over the last few years

Charles Reid

Two Apaches from the last hostile band. This encompasses one of my other interests.

Mystery Animal

This was the latest subject at my art group. We were given the same  photograph on arriving at the hall where we paint. This turned out to be a polar bear with two cubs. 

Photo on the left. I'm afraid the drawing looks faint on here.

I made a pencil drawing, as accurate as I'm capable of with not too much detail, basically just outlines.

Initial colours. Very difficult this as the colours of the animals are various shades of (dirty) white with hints of blue and violet in the background. There are also suggestions of yellow in places on the fur.

 16" x 12" Centenaire 140lb (300gsm) not.

I think I got the basic outlines fairly correct and overpainted with the same colours, when the original washes were dry, a series of blue or yellow greys, mixed from Ultramarine and Transparent Brown (Schminke) heavily diluted then added some yellow to give a yellowish tinge in places. The background was again heavily diluted and comprised Cerulean and Violet/Mauve. I actually used some pan paints for this - Schminke I think.

The above are the work of my fellow artists. I just wonder how Gerard Hendriks or Charles Reid would tackle this in terms of colour? 

Lukas watercolours now stocked by Jacksons

I am pleased to report that Lukas watercolours are now stocked by Jacksons. I like Lukas as an excellent range combining good quality with very keen prices. I'm rapidly coming round to the view that watercolourists are getting a raw deal with the pricing structure of many leading artist quality paints. Lukas have  70 colours which is enough for anyone.. Yes, there may be colours in other lines that you must, must have but you could easily fill 75% of your palette from the Lukas range. The cost per ml is super competitive. See the full review of Lukas JANUARY 2013. If amateurs are concerned about buying such a large tube they shouldn't be. According to Daler Rowney (and others) paints are good for at least ten years. The only reservation I have with that would be with those paints containing white, like many of the Naples Yellows offered. My experience is that they go very hard after a while and are unusable. See also problems I've experienced with Mineral Violet from Graham and  Cobalt Magenta from Rowney.

See the size difference between the 24ml tube and a Winsor & Newton 14ml.

I approached Jacksons several weeks ago and asked if they would consider stocking Lukas and they were very receptive. I'm not claiming it was solely due to me but they now have them so go on the new Jacksons website and put `Lukas Watercolours' in the search box and you'll find them.

Prices are very competitive. They have only two series, as compared from 3 to 6 with most of the other leading makes,  Compare the prices with the others, mostly 15ml or 14ml for Winsor & Newton.

I will be buying more but at present only have experience with four paints, Permanent Orange (PO71), Turquoise (PB16), Cadmium Lemon (PY35) and Cadmium Yellow (PY35) - all excellent..

We now came to the really good bit  - prices! Series 1 are being sold at £7.30p and Series 2, which includes genuine Cadmiums and Cobalts, Cerulean etc are only £8.10p and this for a 24ml tube.. Compare this with other makes! I know personal preference plays a big part in choice, and some may say we prefer this or that make. That's fair enough but at the moment these are  the best prices by far for an artist quality paint, excluding Korean, Russian, own brands and other makes claiming to be artist quality.. I will continue to buy the odd paint I like from some of the others but Lukas will fulfill most of my needs. Try them and see.

Artists outside the EU do not pay VAT, so even with carriage charges - at cost - this is a very good deal.