You can imagine my surprise when I was in Lytham, puppy walking along the beach and I got an e-mail from the SAA inviting me to attend their "It's All About Art" event in Islington to run some Brusho workshops for them!!
Knock me down with a feather!! As many of you will know I have been very receptive to any offers of work taking me further South but wasn't expecting that one!!
Anyway a few logistics sorted, like how I was going to get there, where was I going to stay etc etc and I am very happy to say I will be at the event running 3 BRUSHO workshops on Saturday afternoon at 1.00/2.00/3.00 pm though I will be there as the event opens in the morning.
Would love to meet any of my "virtual" friends met through my blog and facebook so if you are "umming and ahhing" about whether to go to the event, make the decision now and pop along on the Saturday!! Come and see me either for a workshop or just to say hello....I don't want to be "Billy-no-mates" twiddling my thumbs!!!
As I said, I will be running 3 sessions each of 45 minutes where I will be going through some of the basics of how to use Brusho and how to get the best out of it!! All materials are included and apparently you will need to get there early to avoid disappointment if you want to book for workshops.
Now as far as I can see, you won't find my name anywhere on the SAA website or on the promotional material for the event (the SAA only highlight their "top" artists!!!) but I promise I will be there and the only one teaching Brusho during the afternoon so it's me or no-one!!!
I'm very excited to be invited to take part in the event, as you all know, I love running workshops and I love going to art events so this sort of kills 2 birds with one stone!! See you there!!
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Sunday, 24 May 2015
Book Review of Jean Haine's World of Watercolour
Having got all 3 of Jean's books and reviewed Atmospheric Watercolours here, and the follow up here I took a different approach with this one, savouring it (I tried to savour the others too but excitement made me gulp them down as quickly as possible, not always the best way though they are books to revisit time and time again!!) taking my time and enjoying every word, paragraph and chapter.
It isn't easy to paint in a loose way and even harder to teach it and once again Jean does a truly fabulous job of bringing her style of painting to the masses!! The illustrations are simply beautiful, full of life and colour and in fact this book concentrates very much on colour describing Jean's own perspective and view of how we should be excited and inspired by all the colours available in today's market. Music to my ears as I also love colour so am obviously in very good company!!
At no point does Jean assume we know what she is talking about as the text is clear, concise and explanatory, and while there are many excellent step by steps in this book, which I highly recommend you try, as the instructions are articulate and descriptive, this book is so much more than that. It is about Jean's own journey and how she has moved on in her style and ways of working, as she says, "Every artist was once a beginner"......it gives hope to all the wannabes, hope that with dedication, hard work and most importantly practice, everyone can become an artist, something we all need to hear time and time again when things aren't going well and we are getting despondent.
The book is aimed at every level of artist, and I really wish something like this had been available earlier in my own journey as Jean vocalises her thought processes and that is certainly something I needed.(still do!!). It is so helpful to understand why someone is painting as they do and more importantly making the decisions they are making and for me that is what is unique about this book and why I would recommend to anyone who desires to move on.
Finally, this is a really, really well thought out book. It takes the reader through the materials, exercises and techniques Jean uses, is filled with lots of tips and hints and then goes on to the final section "Putting it all together" which for me is the real jewel in this book. We often have snippets of skills, ideas, techniques and don't always know where to go with them so this last section helps pull everything together making sense of it all.
Finally, finally (!!) again, as in Jean's previous books, I am struck by how easy she makes things seem, but (and I can speak from personal experience here) if you do put in the practice it will also become easier for you. If you read the previous reviews, there is a general theme...... I have spent hours and hours doing little exercises, washes and generally practicing the techniques and I can assure you that is what it takes, it isn't about talent (says she on her hobby horse again) it is about practice but, and this is the important bit, its the right practice you need, which is what all Jean's books teach so if you want to pursue a loose watercolour journey (or even if you want to simply improve your watercolour painting) this is the book for you!!!
It isn't easy to paint in a loose way and even harder to teach it and once again Jean does a truly fabulous job of bringing her style of painting to the masses!! The illustrations are simply beautiful, full of life and colour and in fact this book concentrates very much on colour describing Jean's own perspective and view of how we should be excited and inspired by all the colours available in today's market. Music to my ears as I also love colour so am obviously in very good company!!
At no point does Jean assume we know what she is talking about as the text is clear, concise and explanatory, and while there are many excellent step by steps in this book, which I highly recommend you try, as the instructions are articulate and descriptive, this book is so much more than that. It is about Jean's own journey and how she has moved on in her style and ways of working, as she says, "Every artist was once a beginner"......it gives hope to all the wannabes, hope that with dedication, hard work and most importantly practice, everyone can become an artist, something we all need to hear time and time again when things aren't going well and we are getting despondent.
The book is aimed at every level of artist, and I really wish something like this had been available earlier in my own journey as Jean vocalises her thought processes and that is certainly something I needed.(still do!!). It is so helpful to understand why someone is painting as they do and more importantly making the decisions they are making and for me that is what is unique about this book and why I would recommend to anyone who desires to move on.
Finally, this is a really, really well thought out book. It takes the reader through the materials, exercises and techniques Jean uses, is filled with lots of tips and hints and then goes on to the final section "Putting it all together" which for me is the real jewel in this book. We often have snippets of skills, ideas, techniques and don't always know where to go with them so this last section helps pull everything together making sense of it all.
Finally, finally (!!) again, as in Jean's previous books, I am struck by how easy she makes things seem, but (and I can speak from personal experience here) if you do put in the practice it will also become easier for you. If you read the previous reviews, there is a general theme...... I have spent hours and hours doing little exercises, washes and generally practicing the techniques and I can assure you that is what it takes, it isn't about talent (says she on her hobby horse again) it is about practice but, and this is the important bit, its the right practice you need, which is what all Jean's books teach so if you want to pursue a loose watercolour journey (or even if you want to simply improve your watercolour painting) this is the book for you!!!
Thursday, 21 May 2015
Befores and Afters!!
And no before you start thinking food (even though that is truly my other passion next to painting) this isn't about what I'm having for starter and dessert!!
Without wanting to bore the pants off everyone, you may know I am running a "Fur and "Feathers workshop in June and I have been doing a bit of prep over the last few weeks. A lot of my sessions are about giving people ideas and ways of painting things rather than doing step by step paintings (though I do those as well) but I wanted this workshop to be about how to paint fur, feathers, noses, eyes etc so that people will have the tools to go home and have a better idea than when they started.
I have acquired lots of images over the years and will be taking a wide selection for people to try and part of my preparation is to paint a good number of them so that I know what the difficulties are and how best to guide people through them. The next two pieces are paintings I have done before, the flamingo is an image by Gary Jones and the labradoodle is from an photo of Rolo, Gwen Card's dog.
This is my recent attempt at the flamingo... no predrawing (in fact non of the following paintings have been drawn first) a different composition to the other two and more texture in the feathers.
My first attempt, done about 3 years ago and I'd like to think worse than the one above!!
Much smoother version done not long after the first go... a bit boring and predictable!! Prefer the first version to this...
So I think this looks like improvement... what about you?
So Rolo next, this one is a WIP and I am sitting on it to see if I feel it needs further work, quite different to the first version I did. I do like how I have kept more white of the paper, think it may need a touch of red bottom left but will see...
Without wanting to bore the pants off everyone, you may know I am running a "Fur and "Feathers workshop in June and I have been doing a bit of prep over the last few weeks. A lot of my sessions are about giving people ideas and ways of painting things rather than doing step by step paintings (though I do those as well) but I wanted this workshop to be about how to paint fur, feathers, noses, eyes etc so that people will have the tools to go home and have a better idea than when they started.
I have acquired lots of images over the years and will be taking a wide selection for people to try and part of my preparation is to paint a good number of them so that I know what the difficulties are and how best to guide people through them. The next two pieces are paintings I have done before, the flamingo is an image by Gary Jones and the labradoodle is from an photo of Rolo, Gwen Card's dog.
This is my recent attempt at the flamingo... no predrawing (in fact non of the following paintings have been drawn first) a different composition to the other two and more texture in the feathers.
So Rolo next, this one is a WIP and I am sitting on it to see if I feel it needs further work, quite different to the first version I did. I do like how I have kept more white of the paper, think it may need a touch of red bottom left but will see...
I do remember being very pleased with the one below when I painted it and still have it framed. It was one of those painting which just "worked!!" This was also painted about 3 years ago when paintings didn't often just work for me then .......happens a bit more often now thank goodness, and I do know how to paint rough haired dogs like this now.
Looking at this on here I do still like it very much and not sure which I prefer. I think the recent one is more textured and more reliant on brush stroke rather then softer washes but I do like the colours and the reserved whites of the paper which gives it a different feel. I have always been looking to develop a style and think these two pieces clearly show a difference.
It is so interesting to look at previous efforts and to hopefully see an improvement but also nice to see work which I was thrilled with at the time that also stands up now. In the main, past work, even work I was satisfied with at the time, no longer pleases me as the goal posts have moved....I constantly strive to improve and what I once might have thought was ok, I now cringe at and as we have recently discussed on fb, if we no longer seek to improve as we are totally satisfied with our work there wouldn't seem to be much point... it is the constant desire to produce that touch of magic which certainly spurs me on... sometimes it is only a small section in a painting where I see it and other times the whole piece like this second painting of Rolo.
So I hope you have enjoyed this peek into my past efforts, I do keep virtually every piece of work and I can honestly say some of them are so bad I am mortified!! I never thought they were any good even when I did them btw!! I was always aware of where I was but always pleased to see progress...I would say it is good to keep past work (maybe not as much as I have) but it does help give you an idea of your improvement over the years and my efforts only serve to reinforce my mantra that painting is a skill and not a talent and can therefore be learned and I am unanimous in that!!!
Thursday, 7 May 2015
All Feathered Out!!
As many of you will know I tutor to art groups in the area and am more than happy to travel further afield if invited. At the moment the furthest I have travelled is to Leicester but am looking at one or two new places which will involve overnight stays ... exciting!!
In the meantime, I work at a lovely community centre in Wigan called Sunshine House where I run blocks of 4 week lessons and all day workshops and the next all day workshop is on Sunday the 7th June. This has booked up very quickly and I do have a few people on a waiting list... the subject is "Fur and Feathers" where I will be showing people how to paint different types of fur and feathers and we will also look at noses, eyes etc and how to make them look part of the animal's face.
I usually do a bit of preparation for my workshops and this is no exception so I have been working on a few chickens,cockerels and owls. I don't always draw them but often that approach isn't helpful in workshops as not all the students can paint without drawing and I also need to understand how difficult the drawing is in the first place.
Those who have followed me for a while will know I have an opinion about drawing and painting (well actually I have an opinion about most things!!)... I believe them to be separate skills and often students complain they are no good at drawing and it often stops them painting. I identify with this to an extent as my drawing skills have always been reasonable but when I started my painting skills were hopeless so I cannot count the number of times I ruined a lovely drawing the minute I touched with my brush!! It used to stop me painting because I hated spending all that time on a drawing to have it ruined within minutes...likewise for those who feel their drawing skills are lacking even if they can paint they feel there is no point as the drawing spoils their efforts, so what's the solution? I encourage my students to learn to draw, but not when they want to paint. Learn to draw for the sake of learning to draw and paint for the sake of painting. So I have no difficulty with students tracing, using a light box or grid to get the image down on paper as in fact a lot of the masters did. I still practice drawing skills and this is one I did of Una Stubbs during the Big Painting challenge
This took about 20 minutes with no grid or tracing etc but not always that easy to get a likeness, some seem to come quickly and others take ages and still not very successful but one thing I do know is that practice makes perfect and drawing skills can be improved dramatically with perseverance!!
On to the feathers!!
So I have drawn these but worked on them in different ways. The chicken was painted mainly positively with a few edges lost and a few found negatively.
Used indigo, Winsor Red, Burnt Sienna (really can't do without that colour!!) and touch of Raw Sienna
In my classes I am often asked what colours I am using and I am really mean and rarely tell people... why? Because the colours are not so important and I don't want people to have to go out and buy the paint I am using in the hope it will make all the difference. I invite people to use their own colours, try them out first and see what combination they might like then at least they can choose from their own palettes and not be influenced by what I'm using because next time my palette would be different too!!
The cockerel was done with the background first so all the edges were broken to start with and my job was to go back in and create them again so although the subject was drawn first I haven't slavishly followed the lines, rather used them as a guide. Colours in this, Winsor Blue, indigo, Winsor Purple, Burnt Sienna, Translucent Orange, Windsor Red.
Different again, used a bit of both methods on this and a touch of masking fluid to the head and eye. Not something I use a lot of but have got one of those ruling pens from the SAA and find I can get some really thin lines with it so I now do use it occasionally. This one is obviously more subtle but I rather like his face and may have another try using a more colourful palette. Colours used, Alizarin Crimson, Winsor Blue, Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna, Tranlucent Orange
Watch out for the next furry sketches.....
In the meantime, I work at a lovely community centre in Wigan called Sunshine House where I run blocks of 4 week lessons and all day workshops and the next all day workshop is on Sunday the 7th June. This has booked up very quickly and I do have a few people on a waiting list... the subject is "Fur and Feathers" where I will be showing people how to paint different types of fur and feathers and we will also look at noses, eyes etc and how to make them look part of the animal's face.
I usually do a bit of preparation for my workshops and this is no exception so I have been working on a few chickens,cockerels and owls. I don't always draw them but often that approach isn't helpful in workshops as not all the students can paint without drawing and I also need to understand how difficult the drawing is in the first place.
Those who have followed me for a while will know I have an opinion about drawing and painting (well actually I have an opinion about most things!!)... I believe them to be separate skills and often students complain they are no good at drawing and it often stops them painting. I identify with this to an extent as my drawing skills have always been reasonable but when I started my painting skills were hopeless so I cannot count the number of times I ruined a lovely drawing the minute I touched with my brush!! It used to stop me painting because I hated spending all that time on a drawing to have it ruined within minutes...likewise for those who feel their drawing skills are lacking even if they can paint they feel there is no point as the drawing spoils their efforts, so what's the solution? I encourage my students to learn to draw, but not when they want to paint. Learn to draw for the sake of learning to draw and paint for the sake of painting. So I have no difficulty with students tracing, using a light box or grid to get the image down on paper as in fact a lot of the masters did. I still practice drawing skills and this is one I did of Una Stubbs during the Big Painting challenge
On to the feathers!!
So I have drawn these but worked on them in different ways. The chicken was painted mainly positively with a few edges lost and a few found negatively.
Used indigo, Winsor Red, Burnt Sienna (really can't do without that colour!!) and touch of Raw Sienna
Watch out for the next furry sketches.....
Monday, 27 April 2015
An unexpected Brusho workshop wih the lovely Joanne!!!
The second "proper" workshop (the first two were at my own group and where I cut my "teeth" so to speak!!!) I ever did was at Westhougton Art Group or WAG as it is affectionately known and since then I have been fortunate enough to have been asked back on many occasions and I am also invited to attend their sessions when they invite guest tutors... I know, am a very lucky girl!!!
Anyway this morning it was Joanne's (this is the link to her facebook page) turn to entertain the troops and I thought I would pop along, I haven't been to a Joanne workshop for a while so nice to get a "fix"....have been too busy with my own but a little rest-bite at the moment so heaven sent opportunity.
Now don't ask me why but I only took watercolour stuff and guess what she was doing... yes Brusho!!! So I begged, stole and borrowed (mostly from Joanne... thanks Jo!!) and got some equipment together so that I could join in.
With Brusho everyone produces different work which is one reason I love it and I know Joanne feels the same, as she likes to give the tools and skills to people so that they can continue to work independently. For this workshop, we had a very simple black and white predrawn reference image so not much drawing or detail, the idea being we would work to produce our own flower garden in front of cottage nestled amongst the trees.....I used some colours I hadn't tried before as Joanne has a bigger range of colours than me... interesting about the cobalt blue I chose for the sky as it was very turquoise and not at all what I was expecting. We used the medium in a variety of ways as Joanne wanted to show the group how versatile it is and how using it in different ways produces different effects.
Once again as I watched Joanne work I am reminded of how she is a master (or mistress???) of the finishing touch and how I am grateful for what she has taught me... lets face it there is no way I would be running Brusho workshops if it weren't for Joanne and the knowledge she has so generously shared both with me and her many other students.
As an aside I would never use the same images or subjects in my own sessions, that would be totally unethical (and also very lazy!!), what I do use are the tips,techniques and skills to incorporate into my own subjects and then deliver in my own way....my own work I find is less subtle than Joanne's, as many of you know, me and subtle don't get on and I think that has something to do with the fact that particulary with watercolour, my technique relies more and more on picking paint up directly from the palette, mixing on my brush and creating the wash on my paper rather than in the palette.... I never know how rich the colour is going to be but all adds to the excitement!!
Anyway here is my painting, have to say I was quite pleased as I liked the colours.....made a mistake in adding the trees to the left... thought I had sprinkled a yellow and as I sprayed it, realised it was red!!! But I actually liked it as it dried and felt it helped pull the painting together.
Anyway this morning it was Joanne's (this is the link to her facebook page) turn to entertain the troops and I thought I would pop along, I haven't been to a Joanne workshop for a while so nice to get a "fix"....have been too busy with my own but a little rest-bite at the moment so heaven sent opportunity.
Now don't ask me why but I only took watercolour stuff and guess what she was doing... yes Brusho!!! So I begged, stole and borrowed (mostly from Joanne... thanks Jo!!) and got some equipment together so that I could join in.
With Brusho everyone produces different work which is one reason I love it and I know Joanne feels the same, as she likes to give the tools and skills to people so that they can continue to work independently. For this workshop, we had a very simple black and white predrawn reference image so not much drawing or detail, the idea being we would work to produce our own flower garden in front of cottage nestled amongst the trees.....I used some colours I hadn't tried before as Joanne has a bigger range of colours than me... interesting about the cobalt blue I chose for the sky as it was very turquoise and not at all what I was expecting. We used the medium in a variety of ways as Joanne wanted to show the group how versatile it is and how using it in different ways produces different effects.
Once again as I watched Joanne work I am reminded of how she is a master (or mistress???) of the finishing touch and how I am grateful for what she has taught me... lets face it there is no way I would be running Brusho workshops if it weren't for Joanne and the knowledge she has so generously shared both with me and her many other students.
As an aside I would never use the same images or subjects in my own sessions, that would be totally unethical (and also very lazy!!), what I do use are the tips,techniques and skills to incorporate into my own subjects and then deliver in my own way....my own work I find is less subtle than Joanne's, as many of you know, me and subtle don't get on and I think that has something to do with the fact that particulary with watercolour, my technique relies more and more on picking paint up directly from the palette, mixing on my brush and creating the wash on my paper rather than in the palette.... I never know how rich the colour is going to be but all adds to the excitement!!
Anyway here is my painting, have to say I was quite pleased as I liked the colours.....made a mistake in adding the trees to the left... thought I had sprinkled a yellow and as I sprayed it, realised it was red!!! But I actually liked it as it dried and felt it helped pull the painting together.
Saturday, 11 April 2015
3rd Birthday!?!?!
Well just after actually.....it was my blog's 3rd birthday on the 30th March but I have had a lot going on not to mention my son and his partner emigrating to Switzerland so no time for blogging am afraid!!
As many of you will know I have had a lot of workshops since the New Year so all is going really well with more bookings coming in each week... I was looking over the last 3 years since I retired and things have got busier and busier so I am definitely not complaining!!
I do have some really exciting news to share hopefully in the next few days, so watch this space!!!!
In the meantime just thought I would reminisce a little as as well as sharing a couple of new paintings and would post some significant pieces (in my mind at least!!) of the past!!
My last post was about daffodils and here is a new WIP
I am liking how this is progressing but still need to work on it a bit more
Then a painting I have done before of a house in Kirkby Lonsdale by the river but this time with a completely different palette
and finally we received a beautiful bunch of flowers and this was a little interpretation of them
I don't get a lot of chance to work on my own pieces when I have a lot of workshops as I spend time preparing for them and working on pieces I can deliver to 15 or 20 people.... preparing for workshops, I am constantly thinking about the best ways to share the techniques and skills and how to get the information across in the easiest way and I also need to be able to do the paintings fairly quickly as most sessions are only 2 hours.
So what about the last 3 years... I have done quite a few exhibitions including a solo one in Garstang, a craft fair, Watercolour workshops, Brusho workshops (including a fab day jointly running a session with Joanne Boon Thomas) demos, opened and judged exhibitions, I've done commissions including one for a church entrance foyer....... I have also become a PA with the SAA and had a feature published in their November "Paint" magazine.
So what for the future? Well, I have to say it is the teaching I really love. I have been invited to a lot of new places this year so I am hoping to build on that for both this year and next and travel further afield especially further South, Wales and Scotland!!! Any groups and societies out there who would like a demo or workshop... wherever you are do get in touch and I will see what I can do!!! I am about to run an all day session in Wrexham so I am hoping that will open some new doors too.
I continue to work on my style and technique learning all the time and am lucky enough to be attending a 2 day workshop with Fabio Cembranelli on the Summer... I know..... amazing!!!
Now for a few blasts from the past
I was really delighted with this, not only because I really liked how it turned out but because it also raised £100 for the Poppy appeal... I will certainly be doing something similar in the future....
This was my first attempt at all wet in wet... ie wet the front, back and front again so the paper is literally sopping wet, quite different from how I usually paint and certainly a challenge but so rewarding when it works and creates the most beautiful effects.
I did this at the joint Brusho workshop Joanne and I held near St Helen's and rather liked how it turned out... demo pieces aren't always the best but this one worked well and I liked it better than the practices I had done previously... just shows practice makes perfect!!
Finally 2 paintings of Archie, our little Grandpup who is now a little Swiss dog!! He's having fun exploring his new surroundings walking his little paws off...he's such a clever friendly boy, he will be charming all the Swiss residents and whipping those Swiss pups into shape!!!
So my art journey is taking lots of twists and turns and I no longer worry, think or concern myself with the destination... I soon came to realise it is the journey which is important and as long as I am loving every step I don't need to worry about where I'm going!!
On a final note... thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog, the numbers are constantly climbing though for the best part unless people leave a comment I have no idea who you are but thank you anyway and I hope you enjoy and continue to follow me on my path.
As many of you will know I have had a lot of workshops since the New Year so all is going really well with more bookings coming in each week... I was looking over the last 3 years since I retired and things have got busier and busier so I am definitely not complaining!!
I do have some really exciting news to share hopefully in the next few days, so watch this space!!!!
In the meantime just thought I would reminisce a little as as well as sharing a couple of new paintings and would post some significant pieces (in my mind at least!!) of the past!!
My last post was about daffodils and here is a new WIP
Then a painting I have done before of a house in Kirkby Lonsdale by the river but this time with a completely different palette
So what about the last 3 years... I have done quite a few exhibitions including a solo one in Garstang, a craft fair, Watercolour workshops, Brusho workshops (including a fab day jointly running a session with Joanne Boon Thomas) demos, opened and judged exhibitions, I've done commissions including one for a church entrance foyer....... I have also become a PA with the SAA and had a feature published in their November "Paint" magazine.
So what for the future? Well, I have to say it is the teaching I really love. I have been invited to a lot of new places this year so I am hoping to build on that for both this year and next and travel further afield especially further South, Wales and Scotland!!! Any groups and societies out there who would like a demo or workshop... wherever you are do get in touch and I will see what I can do!!! I am about to run an all day session in Wrexham so I am hoping that will open some new doors too.
I continue to work on my style and technique learning all the time and am lucky enough to be attending a 2 day workshop with Fabio Cembranelli on the Summer... I know..... amazing!!!
Now for a few blasts from the past
So my art journey is taking lots of twists and turns and I no longer worry, think or concern myself with the destination... I soon came to realise it is the journey which is important and as long as I am loving every step I don't need to worry about where I'm going!!
On a final note... thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog, the numbers are constantly climbing though for the best part unless people leave a comment I have no idea who you are but thank you anyway and I hope you enjoy and continue to follow me on my path.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
A Lonely Yellow Daffodil
I have learned from a number of artists (Jean Haines being one) to paint in the seasons and this post embraces just that ....
Our garden is very much a Spring garden with lots of daffodils, tulips, forsythia bushes, azaleas etc and though we have done the trick of visiting the garden centre each month and buying perennials in flower it still remains at it's prettiest in the Spring. However, we never seem to have as many daffs as the previous year and keep having to plant more.....our neighbour says it is because hubby is such a "tidy gardener" he displaces the bulbs as the Summer and Autumn progress, but can hardly give him a slap for that!!
Anyway all this is a roundabout way of telling you how I came to paint my one daffodil... the winds arrived the other day and flattened one lonely daff which we brought in and popped into water.... it was making the garden untidy so had to be removed!!
Here are some of the sketches, again I am working here to give myself a sort of "template" for painting them, so I used the method of painting (which I have learned from Jean and Joanne Boon Thomas) where I paint some of the flower then lose it (not all) but enough to give a loose feel then working back in to add some of the edges I have lost. I think I have given myself enough to work on to produce a full piece.... I have painted two face on and one to the side but you really don't need a full bunch of daffs (or any flowers for that matter) to give yourself a composition for a full painting... just use the flower you have and paint it from different angles. I would add some buds as well if I was doing a full painting so would maybe use 3 flowers, a bud, half open and fully open to create a full bunch of daffs. As to composition, might be an idea to draw a quick sketch, could be an "s" shape, a "v" shape, "l" shape, whatever you feel works and I will be having a go in the next few days
I decided the colours were bit boring in the first two so added some purple and turquoise in the last one which I really like and that's the palette I will work with when I do a full piece.
Our garden is very much a Spring garden with lots of daffodils, tulips, forsythia bushes, azaleas etc and though we have done the trick of visiting the garden centre each month and buying perennials in flower it still remains at it's prettiest in the Spring. However, we never seem to have as many daffs as the previous year and keep having to plant more.....our neighbour says it is because hubby is such a "tidy gardener" he displaces the bulbs as the Summer and Autumn progress, but can hardly give him a slap for that!!
Anyway all this is a roundabout way of telling you how I came to paint my one daffodil... the winds arrived the other day and flattened one lonely daff which we brought in and popped into water.... it was making the garden untidy so had to be removed!!
Here are some of the sketches, again I am working here to give myself a sort of "template" for painting them, so I used the method of painting (which I have learned from Jean and Joanne Boon Thomas) where I paint some of the flower then lose it (not all) but enough to give a loose feel then working back in to add some of the edges I have lost. I think I have given myself enough to work on to produce a full piece.... I have painted two face on and one to the side but you really don't need a full bunch of daffs (or any flowers for that matter) to give yourself a composition for a full painting... just use the flower you have and paint it from different angles. I would add some buds as well if I was doing a full painting so would maybe use 3 flowers, a bud, half open and fully open to create a full bunch of daffs. As to composition, might be an idea to draw a quick sketch, could be an "s" shape, a "v" shape, "l" shape, whatever you feel works and I will be having a go in the next few days
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Working from my own Photos!!
I have been using my new camera more and more as we walk in the Pennines and am finally getting a few images together that I am inclined to paint and who knows what will happen now I have my new lens!! This is a photo of the Pigeon Tower in Rivington, built on the edge of the Japanese Gardens where Lord Leverhulme had his estate..
This is an interesting one..... it was a snowy scene but hasn't turned out like that....oooops!! But it is a landscape and one which I am not too unhappy with, well if you take the people out!! Trouble was I didn't draw anything and the tower became decidedly wonky and I kept painting over the people, so next time, there will be a teeny bit of sketching!!
Building is a bit overworked but had to correct the lean!! Anyway this is showing promise so I will work on it again. Quite big too, done on 140lb extra rough half imperial Bockingford, might even be tempted to go full imperial next time... trouble is frames are just so expensive for that size and often people don't have space to put them.
This is an interesting one..... it was a snowy scene but hasn't turned out like that....oooops!! But it is a landscape and one which I am not too unhappy with, well if you take the people out!! Trouble was I didn't draw anything and the tower became decidedly wonky and I kept painting over the people, so next time, there will be a teeny bit of sketching!!
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Alpine Glow
Hope you like the title... pinched it from my friend and fellow blogger Polly Birchall...
I have just returned from 6 days in the alps having been given an offer we couldn't refuse... an invite to stay in a chalet in the beautiful alpine resort of Megeve.
We got really cheap flight flights to Geneva and arrived during the evening to a lovely well equipped chalet...... sauna, games room, use of car you name it we had it!!!
As an aside my brother in law John Robinson had called the day before we left to drop off one of his mega lenses for me to have on "permanent loan" and when I said I didn't think I would take it he assured me he had brought it for me specifically to take to the alps and am so glad I did!!
The first day was just stunning and having had one ski holiday previously I was tempted to have another go but thought I would perhaps leave it for a couple of days... big mistake as after the first day the weather turned and we didn't see the sun again until the final morning!! As I am a novice skier I did feel I needed to be able to see where I was going rather than get lost in the clouds and snow!!
My husband hasn't skied and as you may remember had a hip replacement 2 years ago so he was never going to attempt it but we had hoped to do a bit of walking which was also difficult as the snow was so deep in parts and not really conducive to walking. As it had snowed so much, the piste bashers hadn't been around and we were knee high in snow at times so mind and spirit willing, bodies definitely failing!! But we did get lift passes and found our way up and down the mountains in the snow and clouds, enjoying savoury crepes, hot chocolate, cakes and pastries along the way.....
The apres ski was of course to die for and the first gin and tonic barely touched the sides slithering down far too easily ... we had wonderful food , beef wellington, confit of duck, lamb, pates, fish, cheeses, french breads and beautiful wines so the weather didn't matter too much!! I did take my paints and sketched a couple of mountains not exactly en plein air as I was inside the chalet, log fire blasting away but painting from the view in front of me... that counts doesn't it?
We spent time visiting the really pretty resort of Megeve which is an old ski resort with a reputation for being expensive but I think we were spared the full force of that as the pound is currently so strong against the Euro and having recently been to Copenhagen it was comparatively reasonable!!!
We also visited Salonches, Combloux and Saint Nicholas, small resorts around the area.......
It wasn't until the final evening that the clouds started to lift and the camera with my new lens came into its own!! My brother in law noticed a view had developed from our chalet, which was simply amazing with the sun causing a magnificent glow on the tops of the mountains the like of which none of us had ever witnessed before... here are a few of the images
All taken with the original camera lens and below with the biggie!!
The following photos were taken the morning we left and as you can see we left glorious blue skies!! These are taken from the top of Mont d'Arbois and as you can see, there are trees all around!!
The mountain I have zoomed in on in the background is Mont Blanc and you can even see the wind blowing the snow off the peak!! I have tried to find out how far away it is but can only find a road route which is about 43km
Another view of the Mont Blanc...
So a really pretty area and though I haven't much experience of ski resorts (the other one I went to was Alpe d'Huez) I would return here as for non skiers there were other things to do and quite near other resorts like Chamonix and also only an hour from Geneva... skiing isn't necessarily a relaxing holiday but this certainly was for us... we had been looking to get some Winter Sun but this turned out to be an equally lovely Winter break!!
I have just returned from 6 days in the alps having been given an offer we couldn't refuse... an invite to stay in a chalet in the beautiful alpine resort of Megeve.
We got really cheap flight flights to Geneva and arrived during the evening to a lovely well equipped chalet...... sauna, games room, use of car you name it we had it!!!
As an aside my brother in law John Robinson had called the day before we left to drop off one of his mega lenses for me to have on "permanent loan" and when I said I didn't think I would take it he assured me he had brought it for me specifically to take to the alps and am so glad I did!!
The first day was just stunning and having had one ski holiday previously I was tempted to have another go but thought I would perhaps leave it for a couple of days... big mistake as after the first day the weather turned and we didn't see the sun again until the final morning!! As I am a novice skier I did feel I needed to be able to see where I was going rather than get lost in the clouds and snow!!
My husband hasn't skied and as you may remember had a hip replacement 2 years ago so he was never going to attempt it but we had hoped to do a bit of walking which was also difficult as the snow was so deep in parts and not really conducive to walking. As it had snowed so much, the piste bashers hadn't been around and we were knee high in snow at times so mind and spirit willing, bodies definitely failing!! But we did get lift passes and found our way up and down the mountains in the snow and clouds, enjoying savoury crepes, hot chocolate, cakes and pastries along the way.....
The apres ski was of course to die for and the first gin and tonic barely touched the sides slithering down far too easily ... we had wonderful food , beef wellington, confit of duck, lamb, pates, fish, cheeses, french breads and beautiful wines so the weather didn't matter too much!! I did take my paints and sketched a couple of mountains not exactly en plein air as I was inside the chalet, log fire blasting away but painting from the view in front of me... that counts doesn't it?
We spent time visiting the really pretty resort of Megeve which is an old ski resort with a reputation for being expensive but I think we were spared the full force of that as the pound is currently so strong against the Euro and having recently been to Copenhagen it was comparatively reasonable!!!
We also visited Salonches, Combloux and Saint Nicholas, small resorts around the area.......
It wasn't until the final evening that the clouds started to lift and the camera with my new lens came into its own!! My brother in law noticed a view had developed from our chalet, which was simply amazing with the sun causing a magnificent glow on the tops of the mountains the like of which none of us had ever witnessed before... here are a few of the images
All taken with the original camera lens and below with the biggie!!
The following photos were taken the morning we left and as you can see we left glorious blue skies!! These are taken from the top of Mont d'Arbois and as you can see, there are trees all around!!
So a really pretty area and though I haven't much experience of ski resorts (the other one I went to was Alpe d'Huez) I would return here as for non skiers there were other things to do and quite near other resorts like Chamonix and also only an hour from Geneva... skiing isn't necessarily a relaxing holiday but this certainly was for us... we had been looking to get some Winter Sun but this turned out to be an equally lovely Winter break!!
Friday, 6 February 2015
Is it finished?
I have had this image from Alex Lee Johnson saved for a while and as I am having an urge to paint portraits at the moment I decided to give it a go..the reference was a monochrome... my favourite sort of image which then frees me for the colour.....am not quite sure if my composition works as I have chosen to do quite a harsh abrupt bg while keeping her image soft and enigmatic. I have used 1/4 imperial Bockingford rough and colours are
Raw sienna
Cad Red
Ub
Cobalt Blue
Winsor Violet
I am not sure if this is finished or if it needs some creative cropping but I have enjoyed doing it and may decide to have another go but bigger 22x15 (half imperial)...
I quite like the stylised look as it is but wonder if the abrupt edge is a bit jarring?
Raw sienna
Cad Red
Ub
Cobalt Blue
Winsor Violet
I am not sure if this is finished or if it needs some creative cropping but I have enjoyed doing it and may decide to have another go but bigger 22x15 (half imperial)...
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