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.

Back again.....and again...

It seems I've been years away from painting.  But really it has only been four months.  I have had a painful knee injury......a medial collateral ligament tear.  It took absolutely ages to heal and I think that standing at the easel for hours on end may have caused it.  I have my palette on my right and turn/twist towards it when I want to apply paint to my brush.  I suspect that it has been like a repetitive strain injury......but this was my knee that was gradually being damaged....not a wrist or elbow. 
Anyway enough of ailments. A friend of mine, Kerry, gave me a photo to paint.  The subject was her partner's dog, Sasha, when she was a puppy.  The mature dog lived to a ripe old age but finally had to euthanized late last year.  Her partner really misses the old dog and Kerry thought a painting of Sasha at her cutest would be a heart-warming birthday present for her

Almost in line.....

Almost in Line  20x20cm Oil on Board Sold

Have only just returned to painting.  I have been catching up on the garden after a couple of years of neglect.  It is a very forgiving business......things perk up in no time with a bit of tender care.  Am hoping to gather a small collection of kitchen paintings so that I can concentrate on a couple of larger works.  I am currently doing a bit more work on the table below.  It is a big painting and I am experimenting with working by palette knife.  It uses gallons of paint!

Waiting.....

'Waiting' ...20x20cm....Oil on Board  Sold

I think I have a little more to do on this.  I only see the shortcomings in a painting when I put it up on the page.  The actual reference has a lovely golden glow which I seem to have missed.  Mushrooms have a wonderful lustre and pearliness - difficult to capture.

Together.....

These are the two together.

The other half.....

This is the other half of the small diptych that I have just completed.  I have enjoyed painting it.  Will try apple blossoms for my next one.  I remember having an apple tree in my garden in Canberra some years ago and the blossoms were just exquisite with a touch of pink around the outer rim of the petals.....very delicate.

The First of Two....

This is the first half of another small diptych that I have almost completed.  I had a bit of trouble photographing it although I did it in good fresh morning light.   

Seasick.......

 

 

Table 3





This evening was the last opportunity to photograph this painting.  Unfortunately, the chair I stood it upon was on a very slight lean.  When I straightened it with the photo editor, the floor line took on the lean.... of course! The setting sun didn't allow for a second try! This aside, I really enjoyed painting this table.  I hope soon to do another of a small, simple but elegant bamboo and ply table I have on my verandah.

 

Variation of the same theme.....

Bed of Roses....Sold

This painting is detail of a larger one that I painted some time ago.  I actually enjoyed painting the fabric but I don't think the composition works as well here as it did in the larger work.  Am still working on another table and will post it when it is complete. 

A Crowd of Plums...

Plums....Sold

Have been painting a couple of small paintings in between trying to complete a larger painting of a table....another one.  It is very helpful to have 2 or 3 paintings on the boil at one time.  Recently I rearranged my studio area so that I can have two easels operating.  This was actually a feat of genius since my studio space is fairly restricted.  But it really makes a difference and was worth the upheaval. The advantage is that when I am painting a larger work I find that after around 3 hours work I begin to feel stale and start to find the task laborious - not good for a creative endeavour.  However, if I switch from one painting to another I tend to develop fresh eyes and can return to the larger work within 30 minutes or so with new vigour. 

Tentative....

 

More than a Pair.....





Am not certain that I have finished this small painting.  I think it needs a little more light in the foreground and bit more texture in the background.  One change triggers another!  Will sit on it for a day or too and have another look.

Together.......

 

The final result.......Sold

Spring+.....

This is the other half of this small diptych.

Spring.......

This is one of a small diptych that I have completed.......just about. I will post the other half and then the two together.  They are fairly loose and simple and I enjoyed painting them.