10″ x 10″, oil on canvas I took the reference photo for this painting at Valle de Bravo in Mexico after we had been to see the Monarch butterfly migration (Unbelievable sight!). These two young girls were dressed in traditional dresses and sitting in the dappled shade of the trees, embroidering. I have to admit…
Read MoreI came back to this reference today to put into practice some things that I have been reading about. Slightly different crop this time. I’m much happier with this version and feel that I am beginning to make a breakthrough with bringing my foregrounds forward and pushing back the background. The tree also seems to…
Read More10″ x 10″ (Lousy photo I am afraid, despite my best efforts and it being daylight)Another experiment – battled with this – but its definitely an improvement on my last try of white on white. I can see that I am having problems with the deepest shadows. My instinct tells me they are the same…
Read MoreGenalguacil is another of those gorgeous Andalucian pueblos blancos and an artists dream. Within this small village is an amazing art community who show their work throughout the village and once or twice a year hold an exhibition with their studios open to the public. I’ve not been fortunate enough to have been there at…
Read Moreoil on canvas, 20″ x 16″ I had all sorts of intentions today to go and paint plein air. I spent at least an hour yesterday evening packing up watercolours, brushes (both oil and watercolour0 pencils, drawing pens, water, jam jars, plastic plates to act as palettes, kitchen towl, an old tea towel, two canvases…
Read MoreThe name is a misnomer – it was two o’clock but I prefer the play on words! We have a covered back balcony (the sides are just wooden bars with netting) and in the afternoon the sun shines through and makes wonderful shadows with the bars. Ever since we arrived here I have wanted to…
Read MoreIn an attempt to get more painterly with landscapes I have started by painting from a photo I took in Missouri a couple of summers ago so that I can get to grips with the main concepts. Stage one, draw in your main shapes and block in the colours being careful about values. Stage two…
Read MoreSpent a few hours this morning putting on more colour on the chair – begin to feel it coming out of the grisaille now. I’m experiencing something quite strange here – the colours should be the same value as the grisaille – and when you get it right its like there is no colour because…
Read MoreToday I wanted to experiment – not really sure what I am doing when it comes to watercolour. I know the background isn’t quite the way I want it but will wait until it has completly dried before I decide if i will continue deepening the background. I’d really like to have puddles of colour…
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