Hunca Munca - after Beatrix Potter

Ink and watercolour wash 7" x 7"

I really enjoyed reading the stories of Beatrix Potter to my children and now I enjoy painting some of her little animals just for good practice. They are so delightful and Hunca Munca is one of my favourites.

Here she comes with her dustpan and brush to clean up the dolls' house.

Feeling the Rhythm

Acrylics in sketchbook

Thanks to my friend, John for the loan of the photograph - I was struck by the sunny atmosphere and hope that I have captured some of that here. It is unfinished but then, that's what a sketchbook is for isn't it? To practice technique etc... not to finish. I could work up a painting from this and may do so in the future - I think it is worth exploring further.

I think the acrylics are growing on me. Surprisingly, I find I am using them more just lately.

Music has rather a magical effect doesn't it? The beat of a drum, the strumming of a guitar or the sound of a piano... all do something to the soul, lift the spirits and make me want to dance. You feel your foot tapping to the beat and it's hard to ignore... it's irresistable. Even for me, someone without any real sense of rhythm but who nevertheless loves to dance.

Thinking Time

30 min study in acrylics (in sketchbook)

Quick study of Sargent's "Miss Eliza Wedgewood". Sargent's work was in watercolours but I have used acrylics just sloshed about in my sketchbook. I rather like the looseness of this. Sargent's is better of course, but I am secretly pleased at how this has turned out considering the very small amount of time spent on it.

Thinking time is needed when painting. I find I spend an awful lot of time just thinking about what I am going to paint, how I am going to paint it and even when I have painted it, time to reflect on what I have accomplished and how to move forward. Art is not just about action, but also about thought.

When the sun is shining and I feel its rays warm upon my head, it's easy to slip into daydream mode and then I find my thinking works so much better. During cold spells it's much harder to get the brain working properly. :) Roll on Summer!

Evening Beach

Self Portrait in Acrylics

14" x 10" acrylics on paper

This is the finished self portrait in acrylics. See below for the process of how I got here.

This was a challenge on WetCanvas to produce a self portrait in acrylics and not to display until 20th February, which is why I had to wait until now to reveal!



First the pencil drawing from which I have worked - made myself look chubbier than in real life, but who cares. I will chisel it down a little when I paint.

Transferred the image to watercolour paper 14" x 10" and I also printed the line drawing on a piece of acetate to help later when I need to check if my placements are still correct. When painting I often lose sight of what goes where and the acetate is a real boon when re-establishing the features. When placed over the painting you can see exactly where you went wrong and get back the likeness.

Then painted in acrylics, using the paint very dilute and building in thin transparent layers, which gives a very soft translucent effect very similar to watercolours. Had sooo much trouble with the area under the nose and the neck, but I have to post this image so you can see... it looks so funny. I feel I look like the poisoned dwarf with facial hair - not a good look! LOL. Oh it's good to laugh.



Then I worked more on it, darkened the background, fixed the mouth, lightened the neck and under nose area getting rid of the facial hair and produced the final painting, which I hope is a little better. :)

After Edward Lear

Ink in A4 sketchbook

Had great fun with this one. I really do enjoy inkwork.

Abstract Landscape

Acrylic on Paper 12" x 9"

This is an experiment in abstraction... not sure if it works, but I liked the colour combination. May try this again 'cos it was fun!