Friday 17 April 2015

Woman in the Blue Dress

Woman in the Blue Dress
13" x 12"  -  acrylic on acrylic paper
Each winter I usually get to an Open Life Drawing session and come away with (I think!) some interesting drawings of the female figure. Then I look at them and wonder what else I can do with them. Some become studies for small paintings on canvas, some find themselves worked into collages. This one of 'Molly' was one such drawing that I came across recently while cleaning up my studio, and I decided to just paint away and see what happens. This is what happened; good fun.

Wednesday 15 April 2015

Think Spring: two versions

I love hyacinths in a pot, especially the purple ones - their fragrance fills a room and reminds one of earth and spring. However, I have never painted them as the small individual florets that make up the flower head seemed too detailed for me, until now. I actually enjoyed drawing the floret details, which became somewhat obscured in the painting, but provide enough to suggest the flower. As the thick flower stem usually falls over with time, I managed to get to it before that happened and chose a close-up and looking down perspective, contrasting the vertical leaves with the strong stem diagonal. Whenever I work on paper I have the added bonus of being able to crop the finished painting if I think I can find a better composition - and below you see the two versions - the whole composition including some lemons, and a cropped version. Unfortunately, I can't make up my mind as to which I like better, so I will just leave it for now. Think Spring!
Original Version 1 -  21" X 17"
'Cropped' Version 2 - 18" x 15"

Wednesday 8 April 2015

Feeling a little 'Sheepish'



A sheep photo in my collection, caught my eye, especially its 'dreads' (or is that 'dreds'?) and inspired today's easel offering......... 
Sheepish
10" x 10.5"  acrylic on archival paper  $45


Tuesday 7 April 2015

Jack, another rabbit

I have gone through 'animal painting phases' - featuring cows, sheep, dogs, even a few chickens - and now have discovered rabbits - not the cute cuddly ones - but hares and jack rabbits - like this one. I love the ears on these guys, and the opportunity for palette play.

Jack
12" x 10"  acrylic on archival paper  $45


Saturday 4 April 2015

Happy Easter


Hippity
8.5" x 8"  -   watercolour & pastel on watercolour paper  -  $25

Hop
12" x 9"  - watercolour& pastel on watercolour paper - $25