The Red Dress

Acrylics in watercolour sketchbook 12" x 10"

Seems I am inspired by trees and woods lately. Asked if I could paint fairies I said no, I am no good with fantasy although I wish I were.

Anyhow this is it and I wish I had left off the wings but you live and learn!

I do like the sunlight captured here so all is not lost as I think I may be able to do something in the future with strong contrasts of light and shadow.

That's what sketchbooks are for, isn't it? Playing around and learning through play.

Child in the Woods

Acrylics in watercolour sketchbook 12" x 10"

Just playing around with acrylics, trying to get texture and colour with daubing the brush around.

Turned out much better than expected but failed to capture much light.

I think I am liking figure work even though I am not too good at it. My landscapes just don't seem alive without people in them and I do love people even though they are complicated and complex and at times frustrating, somehow deep down inside we are all very similar.

Australia

Acrylics in watercolour paper 12" x 10"



I am having some difficulty in getting back into painting and so I look to find some interesting challenges to inspire me.

WetCanvas is a good place to start and this challenge is about Australia - my thanks to Stacey for the use of her photo as reference.

I enjoyed doing this and hopefully I will soon rediscover my artistic muse.

Couple Dancing

Another small study of a Renoir painting, this one was wonderful painting the dress and I think I could make it better if I spent a little more time on it.

Studying Renoir

Quick study in acrylics on canvas. Renoir's paintings are so beautiful, I love the colours and the subjects. Painting these were much more difficult than I expected, but probably due to the small size I chose.

I used deep canvas and continued the paintings around the sides which looks quite cool in real life.

Colour mixing can be frustrating, but surprisingly I really enjoyed myself. Discovered that I need a much smaller brush for detail, i.e. facial features. I may have to steal one of my small watercolour brushes for use with the acrylics.

The Three Bears

60 min Ink and watercolour on HP paper 12" x 9"

This was a study of the three bears from an illustration by Arthur Rackham. I just adored the hairy Papa Bear.

I find it easy to do inkwork and it's definitely fun to use along with the watercolours. They can be intriguing and finished quite quickly, it makes a refreshing change from the large oils I am working on right now.

I am enjoying trying the challenges posted on WetCanvas especially the ones in the Classical forum and Arthur Rackham is the inspiration this month, his illustrations are becautiful and I find them very interesting so expect to see more soon!

Downham Station, Bill Peet style

Pen and watercolour 12" x 9"

I have wanted to paint Downham Station for some time and there are better views of it, but I thought I would have a bit of fun and do it in Bill Peet style illustration. Of course this would have to be my idea of Downham in the early years :)

The train would have been brighter but I foolishly used non-waterproof ink... and of course it ran!

I just couldn't resist incorporating that lovely horse and cart. Just love this kind of fun work.... it's sort of where my art journey began when I started drawing pencil cartoons for my kids. Fond memories.

Pirates

One more After Howard Pyle - Ink and wash

Really had fun with this. I must admit there is something about ink and wash that is really compelling and this is all helping in my practice.

Sorry about the image, the sea is actually not pink in the real painting, but the scanner is not too good at keeping the colours true.

Searching for treasure is quite appealing, but true treasures are often found in unexpected places and not at all what you might think - for instance they have nothing to do with financial gain. Look harder for the things that truly warm your heart and make your soul sing.

Lady of the Lake

Lady of The Lake after Howard Pyle

I really enjoy inkwork, there's something so relaxing about inking... its really me!

Teddy's Surprise

60 minute study 10" x 8" oils on deep canvas

It was evident that Teddy was surprised. He had thought there was nothing in the world that could surprise him anymore, he had seen it all. But this.... was something else.

Teddy in Sienna

60 min water mixable oils on canvas paper

Used limited palette of raw sienna, burnt sienna, ivory black and titanium white.

I rather like Teddy's new look and I really enjoyed the challenge of using such a limited palette. It freed me from worrying too much over colour and gave me the opportunity to concentrate more on moulding the form, getting the light/dark contrasts and having a whole lot of fun!

I will be using this palette again I think in a larger work on canvas.

After Howard Pyle

Ink on HP paper

Howard Pyle was a children's book illustrator and amongst other things he illustrated pirate and adventure stories. I just love a good story and as I also love inkwork I couldn't resist having a go at this one... tells it's own story, doesn't it?

These little studies are all drawn freehand in ink and then ink washes applied. I find working in ink much easier than working in paint. Perhaps it's because I am not worrying so much about colour and concentrating more on values.

After Wanda Gag

Ink on Hot Pressed paper 12" x 9"

A project on Wetcanvas is looking at children's illustrator, Wanda Gag and it inspired me to paint this little sketch in ink. I just loved painting the cat.

Waterfall

Ink and watercolour 14" x 10"

Be like the waterfall.... overcome all obstacles in life to reach your destiny.

Teddy with Sunflowers

60 min Ink and wash

This is one of the preliminary studies I did in ink and wash before working on a similar set up for a large oil painting.

I really like teddies and this is one of my favourites - of course the had to be teamed with my favourite flowers too.

The Bandstand

60 min Ink and Watercolour

During a day of freedom, took the sketchbook to the park and spent a wonderful hour painting en plein air. Such an exhilirating experience to have so long to enjoy my sketching.

The bandstand is on a little island in the park and I was attracted to it as I thought it would be a challenge since buildings and such are not my strong point!

I rather like the little sketch and hope sometime to be able to make a real painting from it.

First 60 minutes

Watercolours and ink experiment.

This began as an ink wash using just black ink. Then I wondered if it were possible to paint watercolour over the top. This is the first 60 minutes of my little experiment. I will do more later.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!