News and snaps from my studio. Sometimes I write about new pieces that I’m working on that are not released yet. If I think of a tip or piece of advice that will help you look after your painting I’ll often share it here. If there’s something specific you want to find, there is a search box down below.
I love Kingfishers and they are a favourite painting subject of mine. This one is big at about 30” square, and very brightly coloured with shocking pink and teal blues. Im exploring acrylic painting right now, using brushes, fingertips and paint pens to add details and textures and pushing the colour to create work with a high visual impact. Shocking pink and orange work really well against the bright teal and orange of the bird, I find these colours truly heartwarming!
Look at this wonderful forest of owls, created by students at my recent Owl painting workshop day at St Helens Heritage Centre in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. Believe it or not, this was the first time that half of the group had picked up a paintbrush!
The venue at Ashby is a lovely one, a brand-new building with lovely facilities and french windows leading out to a beautiful garden. This unique building stands at a site of historical significance, as evidenced in the wall displays throughout detailing the links to Ashby’s heritage and honouring some of the historical people. This was the site of a medieval vicarage, although there are archaeological finds going back to the Stone Age
We always enjoy the painting days at St Helen’s, and I have organised some more for next year, including a two-day course on painting hares. Gift vouchers for the workshops are available to buy online for instant download. here
A new Highland Bull painting, a golden sweetheart against a bright twilight sky, really enjoyed this painting from a new perspective!
Today at the studio I hope to finish this colourful guy. One of the things that I do as part of my process, as well as creating the big shapes first, is that I work intuitively on the first layers. I don’t try and worry too much about the final result. This then gives me something to respond to in the following sessions. So I have added all the colours that I wanted to add and the wild and woolly hair. Today I will work back into the paintings and edit, tidying up some of the edges and leaving others, hopefully ending up with the final cow that I envision. Watch this space, I’ll post another photo of the final piece.
I enjoy painting on three panels, the finished effect is cool and contemporary and you get different looks depending on whether you leave a gap when you hang the paintings. I’m currently feeling very glad that I have rented this size of a studio, I remember during the pandemic, when I was painting at home and trying to create a big piece like this in the spare room - not easy!
2Absolutely brilliant day. Thanks so much Sue for your teaching style is as inspiring and fun as your art which I love. Lots of fun and laughter and art, all the art. 💞💕💞
This is a whole new medium style of painting and size for me, and you gave me the confidence to get stuck in and put my usual doubts away, not to be downhearted if I thought it was going wrong but to stand back and look through fresh eyes. I now know where I need to go to complete my handsome beast and my first set of acrylic paint are on order already. Lol
I couldn't think of any suggestions at the time but I have now... make sure we can book for the next one right there and then... I have now booked for the kingfisher... so you will have to put up with me again 😆”
“Had a brilliant day today learning all about a very different style of painting to my own. Thank you for a great day Sue.
Anyone looking for a fab day learning about painting wherever your imagination takes you should get booked in with Sue”.
Thank you Ian and Kirsty for your beautiful comments, it really made my day! If you want to book on one of my workshops in Leicestershire (Ashby) or Derbyshire (Swadlincote) check the workshop booking page here
There is a two day weekend workshop coming up in October too, for those further afield who would like to have an art mini break!
im getting ready for my Alpaca art workshop on the 13th March, this is going to be a lot of fun. Spaces available-see my workshops page.
My painting workshops are both fun and relaxing and everyone leaves with their piece of beautiful original artwork! If you are organizing a Hen Party, a special birthday party, or perhaps a team outing from work, I can design a day’s painting workshop to suit your party. Beginners are welcome! All the materials are supplied, and if required I can arrange catering, although I always keep participants supplied with plenty of tea and cake -got to keep your energy levels up after all! Just give me a ring 01283 223239 or email enquiries@suegardnerstudio.com to ask about pricing and availability
Choose from many animal and bird-themed painting days - some popular ideas are Highland cows, Alpacas, Flamingoes, Moongazing Hares, Chickens…
A recent Highland Cow themed art workshop day
My first art workshop at St Helens in Ashby yesterday. This was a fun and high spirited group, what a lovely day we all had!
I held my first Swadlincote art course on the 17th October , at Sharpes Pottery Museum. There were 5 people booked on the day and everyone turned up on time :) We began by grabbing coffee and settled in for a fun morning’s painting. I took them through all the stages that I do when Im painting a stag. Of course this was a speeded -up version of my real life practice. We had the added advantage of using acrylics so that we could progress quickly through all of the stages and finish the paintings in one day.
Georgina creating a stag full of character, in her favourite colours, orange features highly in this piece
After lunch we added the element of snow with glazing and different size and shape brushmarks.
The day went super quickly. It was alot of information to take in and Im sure the attendees all had an early night after the concentration of the day.
Fortified with cake and cups of tea, everyone succeeded in creating amazing original pieces of art and I was so pleased with them! I’ve had marvellous feedback from everybody - to find out how you can participate check this out
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
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.
This week and last, I have been getting Christmas orders for dog portraits packed up and off to their new homes.
I have had a lovely selection of beautiful dogs to paint!
This is a portrait of Gilbert, a handsome Border Terrier. And a very good boy, by the look of him .
This little lady is Lola, a young and lovely Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Poodle)
Here are a couple of the oil paintings that went to new homes this Christmas. Gilbert the Border Terrier was painted on a stretched canvas 40cm x 25cm. Lola the Cavapoo was also painted in oils, on a canvas panel 25 x 30cm
This piece is very nearly finished now. I have glazed the background in a few thin layers of Transparent Maroon (Winsor and Newton) and softened the edges on the shadow side of the dog. I like the warm effect. I have also altered the shape of his face slightly as I didnt have it quite wide enough after the first sketch and washes. I have to do a little work on his Right (our left) eye, and then he will be complete and ready to go on the wall.
'Donny' work in progress, final stages
Below is the reference photo that I took to work from for the Dalmatian painting. I cropped and adjusted the image in Photoshop first till I was happy with the composition.
