This woodland is a stone’s throw from our house. It feels quite magical and has quite a history. Originally planted as part of the local mining industry, the trees were grown to provide pit props to use down the mines. There are humps and hillocks which is where spare earth was dumped. The woods received a community grant about 10 years ago which has been used to make the walkways safe, clear some pathways, and create a nice little children’s play area complete with a fairy ring of toadstools to sit on. There is a wetland area that is thriving with wildlife, a butterfly bank that is beginning to become established, and areas of fallen and cleared wood which has been left for the wildlife to make use of. I have spotted a fox creeping around here in the early morning, many, many squirrels and birds. There is a woodpecker who I usually hear but have yet to see. It’s a really lovely area to visit and is typical of the National Forest regeneration project. I am going to make a series of paintings from this little wood.
Forest Sunlight Painting
This piece is 100 x 100 cm I think - I have yet to measure it
I really love getting inspiration from the beautiful National Forest surrounding my home. Especially during the early Spring when the sun is low in the sky, as it makes stunning lighting effects for my work!
Update* This piece was sold, through the excellent Ferrers Gallery near Ashby de la Zouch. Please see my originals page, or join my art collectors mailing list for newly upcoming forest scenes.
A finished colourful bird painting!
Here is my ‘Springtim Chickadees’, featuring Blackcaps. Ive enjoyed painting these uplifting little birds so much!
New work on show at White Dove Gallery
Yesterday I visited this lovely gallery on one of their open weekends, and took my new Highland Cow painting, titled ‘Highland Colours, to join my other paintings on the gallery wall. I had time to have a good look round at all the new work that I havent seen before, by some brilliant local artists.
The gallery is well worth a visit, they display a really well curated collection of beautiful wall art, sculpture and decorative pieces. Part of the space is occupied by a very welcoming cafe, complete with large and gooey cakes (vegan and gluten free options). They open Saturday and Sunday the first weekend of every month, 11-4
White Dove Gallery is at: The Old Village Hall, Shenton Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Work in progress - Coonhound Mix Coda
This small oil is painted from a photo reference kindly supplied by permission of Karen Broemmelsick. I love this dog's expressive eyes. This is the third time I have painted a portrait of Coda. I have a little work to do on the feet, which I will leave slightly deconstructed so as the keep the main focus on her eyes.
Big dog portrait of four dogs on a large canvas
I really like the challenge of painting a big dog portrait on a large canvas, and this week I made a start of three of them.
1) A brand new commission, which is a portrait of a family of four dogs, two Cockerpoos, and two Border Terriers. This piece its just shy of a metre in length, and 60 cms high.
2) A 60 x 70cm painting of a running horse
3) A 100 x 100 canvas featuring a seated black Labrador
I find that I need to do quite careful 'mapping out' on a big canvas before I begin to paint. Because of the size, it isn't possible to take in the whole piece at once and draw it by eye.
Measuring the proportions, using the dividers
I use dividers and sharpie pens to mark out sections of a painting, check proportions and ensure that there is space for everything I want to include. I do a quick plan on Photoshop, by creating a clipboard that is the same ratio as the canvas I am about to paint. Then I arrange the subject matter within the clipboard until I am happy to save it and use it. I then use my proportional dividers to enlarge the photoshop image and transfer it onto my canvas. I don't put any detail in at this stage, just a rough map of where everything is going to go.
I measure and mark out blocks where the main big shapes are going to be, in this case the four dogs faces,
Here is a short video clip of the beginning stages of the above commission. I'm going to film the entire process for my client so that she can watch the painting process all the way through.
The first wash of paint applied very thinly for a soft finish. Further layers will tighten it up and provide the details but for now, it stays loose.
Portrait of a Cavalier
Portrait of a Cavalier
November 24, 2017
This portrait is one that I painted with an exhibition in mind a couple of years ago, and she now hangs on the wall of the reception in Mutley's of Ashby boutique. I used loads of 'creative license' during the painting of this piece. I referred to the photograph (below, kind permission of photographer Kerli Toode) for the main concept and some of the details , and then added my own ideas to create a piece with individuality.
Here is the reference picture that I used for the Cavalier Spaniel painting, by kind permission of photographer Kerli Toode
The finished oil painting is 60 x 80cm in oils on stretched canvas