March 2018

Common Redpoll

Nov - 2017

Kingfisher

Large image on full-board (30x22 inches)

Birds of Prey - New Series

Birds of Prey

New Series 2017

European Sparrowhawk (1/12)

Eastern Redfooted Falcon (2/12)

Blackshouldered Kite (3/12)

Waders - Aug 2017 on

Waders

I have started a portfolio of 12 Watercolours based on a subject area of Waders. The prints are scaled to be mounted in a 12x16 inch frame and to be sold individually or as a collection if someone is keen enough to buy. All images are on White board so background colours are not indicative (I really should copy them correctly so they are all consistent)

Blacktailed Godwit (1/12)

European Snipe (2/12)

Wood Sandpiper (3/12)

Curlew (4/12)

Dunlin (5/12)

Dotterel (6/12)

Golden Plover (7/12)

Woodcock (8/12)

Small video of difference a Matt tone can make

July 2015

Barn Owl #3

Tried one of my favourite subjects again tonight. I love the expressions on some of their faces. The result is still not quite what I wanted but a definite improvement towards what I am trying to acheive. Painted freehand with no drawing. Main issues seemed to be the speed at which it dried, not leaving enough time to manipulate. I think I was probably using paints to thin as well. I do like the white gouache 'blush' on the wing area.

Feb 2014

I attended a wonderful one day workshop hosted by Jean Haines during the week. I have long admired the fluidity that Jean manages within her work and therefore was hoping to learn a few tricks and tips during the day. I was not disappointed. I think for me the best part was the one on one session that I got in the afternoon. During that time Jean focussed on what she had observed from the earlier demonstrations and exercises, pointing out weaknesses and potential remedies in my working practices and approach. The one to one allowed me to articulate what I wanted to acheive and she recommended a very worthwhile exercise indeed. I spent 20 -25 mins on this Kingfisher, based on Jeans direction. A very rewarding exercise! It also helped that Jean supplied samples of the two basic colours she thought I needed to add the vibrancy that my paints lacked. The difference was profound and could be seen straightaway. The Schmincke Transparent Orange was wonderful for the Kingfisher.
I would highly recommend attending one of Jean's workshops, especially if you are trying to "loosen up" and know where you want to get to.

Kingfisher

Bouyed with new enthusiasm after Jean's workshop I have produced the following 2 pictures over the weekend, one in my regular art group and a second on Sunday evening.

Puffin
Still not as loose as I would like! I seemed to struggle to put my learnings into practice, however I am still happy with the outcome. I found that my mind was still constrained by boundries, painting to the lines as such. I think the difference is that I started from an initial drawing, where as the Kingfisher was 'freehand'. Self confidence may be the culprit.

Kingfisher 2
Again, this is tighter than I wanted but it is looser than the puffin example above.

August 2013

French Doorway

Painted in watercolour based on an original done in oils - 8 x 12 inches

July 2013- Watercolours

   Aldeburgh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

London Skyline

(Painted from a photograph)  I loved the balance between night and day

 

European stairs

Based on a watercolour painting and used as a reference to allow me to work on loose technique for this kind of image. I would like to do more of these scenes from real life and the studio work allows me to practice the processes needed. Techniques include wet into wet, over glazing, spattering etc

 

 

 

Boat Demo

Bird Portfolio #3

Barn Owl - Tyto alba (#6)

Watercolour - 9 x 13 inches

I really liked the stance of the Barn Owl that I did a few weeks ago so attempted it again but with a background this time. The post it is sitting on is supposed to be snow covered on one side which is not all that successsful but it seems to hold up in the picture anyway.

Bird Portfolio (continued #1)

European Bee-Eater - Merops apiaster (#5 )

 

Barn Owl - Tyto alba (#4)

Cape Eagle Owl   - Bubo capensis (#3)

Added another watercolour bird portrait this week. Painted after huge inspiration from seeing a Cape Eagle Owl on a recent trip to South Africa. I had seen one before but this was out in the open, in daylight and was not spooked by our presence at all. Fabulous views!

Painted in watercolours, image size 16"x11"

More old work

Indian lady

  Painted from a photo I took of a worker in Pune Botanical Gardens when I visited India back in 2005. The painting is a watercolour done in watercolour pencils (monotone).

New bird portfolio

I got a little bogged down with my art in the latter part of last year, to the point that I stopped going to my usual weekly sessions from the beginning of December. However over the festive period I seem to have come out of the doldrums and have a renewed vigour (thanks to my wife for introducing me to pintrest!). To keep up the interest and to ensure I put some time in on the subject I am rejoining the local sessions again from the end of the week.
 
My artistic appreciation has always highlighted that I enjoy loose and incomplete watercolour images, yet when I have painted in watercolours I always seem to 'complete' the picture unconciously or sub-conciously anyway. I think a lot of this is down to lack of self belief in my abilities around composition, and knowing when to stop.

This year I have decided to do a small body of work concentrated on birds (another life long passion) and will try to do them in a minimalist, loose watercolour style. Here's No #1 - Barn Owl (12"x8")

Inspiration comes from work by Karl Mårtens, a Swedish artist.

Enjoyed doing the Barn Owl so much yesterday that I did the Peregrine No#2 today. I can see that I have already drifted as the Peregrine is not as loose as I would have liked, but will attempt to do it again in a more fluid style later. The 'tightness' came from working with darker, more intense colours which tended to cover more than the wash approach I intended to use. Lesson learnt.

 I think this will be a series of 15 and I will pick the best 12 and do a calendar.

Now the search is on for the next subject matter for No 3. Might start introducing some of the South African birds which I know so well. Orange Breasted Sunbird maybe!

June 2012

Another couple of watercolours painted in the last few weeks

 Festival

A view of the Thames (inspired by a Trevor Chamberlain original)

 

Arniston, Southern Cape

 

Busker, Bury St Edmunds 

 

Swellendam, Cape