Amber.......

Amber  40x60 cm   Oil on Canvas

My friend, Rachael, admired a small painting of a puppy that I did some months ago.  I suggested she give me a photograph of her old dog, Amber, to paint.  I painted this very quickly.....one morning and then an hour or so the next day.  I am pleased with it and so was Rachael.  She is a lovely old dog.

Exploring......

Gilly  20x30cm Oil on canvas

This a relatively new path for me.  I would really like to explore portraiture more but it is a big ask to expect someone to sit for you for 2 or 3 hours.  Photographs are just not the same.  This small portrait is an image of my youngest daughter.  I read somewhere that if you can get the eyes, nose and mouth in correct relationship and proportions then you have the face.......everything else is extraneous.  

 I have painted this from a photograph, thinking that the handicap of doing so might be offset by my familiarity with the face.  It was a good exercise.

Mary's kitchen paintings.....

    

These two small kitchen paintings, oil on masonite 20 x20cm, are for my friend, Mary.  She has recently bought a new house and these are to hang in her kitchen.  She was keen to have an old eggbeater in the second.  It was a difficult subject.

A very new development.......

Moi     Oil on canvas   40x40cm

This is a new avenue for me.  I did this from a photograph and am reasonably pleased with it. I think it would be much more interesting to work with a live model but it is a big ask of somebody.  I heard somewhere that if you get the eyes, nose and mouth in correct relationship then you really have the face.  I think it was Richard Schmid who said this in a portrait painting demonstration.  I thought that I would try it out with photographs of my own youngsters.  Even though photographs are a handicap, at least you are very familiar with the nuance of your own youngsters' faces.........we'll see!!

Guarding.........

Taking Care    Oil on Board 30x30cm - Sold

This is a bit sentimental but I actually enjoy creating these illustrative images of animals, (although looking at this, that hen's leg is a very solid grey!).  A friend is forwarding a photo of her ageing dog for me to paint.  I am looking forward to painting it.

A popular subject.....

Two on the Side  Oil on Board 20 x 20 cm  Sold

I have painted cups and saucers a number of times now.  They are always a challenge and I enjoy painting them.

A Return....

Apple Blossoms

Oil on marine ply  30 x 30 cm

Well, I am back again after quite a long period.  This has been a strange year.  I have not spent as much time painting as I have in previous years.  Instead, I have spent many hours in the garden.....thinking about painting.  And strangely, I think that has been exactly right for me!

The painting above is painted on marine ply.....a very pleasing surface to work on.  I have used it material before and find it better than masonite particularly in one respect: if you accidentally drop a masonite painting and the corner is bumped the masonite crimps.  And it can't be fixed.  Marine ply is much more forgiving.

I don't think I have quite finished this little painting but I am sort of pleased with it.