A new 'coo' this week
This big lady gave my arms a really good workout yesterday, needless to say I used a big brush. I have to use an easel with ratchets to help me lift these heavy canvases high enough to work on. There is nothing as thrilling as painting this size, with the added advantage that you get your steps in. She is 120 x 150 cm
Back in the studio again
It has been a diffucult week or two and I havent been able to work as much as I would have liked, but yesterday I was back at work finding my mojo as I always do when I paint. These two gentle souls are part of a commissioned painting Im working on this week. Who could be glum with these two around? So I decided to take this photo entitled ‘Three windswept beasts!’
My most recently completed commission
A wedding present to themselves from Sam and Jess, this was the most delightful commission to work on, enjoyable from start to finish! Taking attributes from three of my previous paintings and meshing them all together to create this 80 x 100 cm canvas. I’m so pleased with how she turned out.
Big Cats Workshop at Sharpes Pottery Museum - a 'Roaring' Success
This was a good day, with a full compliment of ‘ workshop repeat offenders’ :D and amazing results! It particularly tickled me that the vigorous brushwork was triggering peoples' personal exercise monitors into asking 'Are you working out?'
Adding the block colours and then the markings, one step at a time
Beginning with the simple shapes - building a framework
The end of an era for me.
Thirty years of care, cuddles, sweet kisses and awful faces drew to a close this week. He was just a small brown horse, but he had a lot of friends.
You give them the commitment, make the sacrifices, and mould your life around their care. You don't always get it right but you do your best.
It's only at the end that you realise it was really them looking after you, the whole time.
I wish I could say, just once "Thanks for everything, my friends"
Holly, Humphrey and Moonie
Little Grouse
I am using a new painting technique to create a grouse oil painting.
I can’t believe this sweet guy is my first-ever grouse! I’m using a new technique that I have adopted recently for smaller details. Because I cannot really see well enough to paint in the old way, instead, I put the paint down in the general vicinity and then push it into place with a dry brush. I took a video of me doing a few last bits in this way, yesterday, it is nice because sometimes you do need a little bit of detail.
Backlit Highland Bull
Highland Bull Painting
A new Highland Bull painting, a golden sweetheart against a bright twilight sky, really enjoyed this painting from a new perspective!
Original cow paintings for sale
Colours inspired by Harris Tweed, this time its the orange plaid!
I'm having such a wonderful time with colour this week, on a selection of new paintings that are nearing completion. Using the beautiful colours of orange and maroon Harris Tweed as inspiration.
I am producing fewer really big Highland Cow original paintings for sale on my website. This is simple a practical decision for paintings which will need to be safely dtored until purchase.
However, if you would like to discuss a painting created just for you please get in touch, i can create pieces up to 150cm wide
Colourful Cow Painting
I got such a good feeling using these glorious colours that I am going to keep doing it. Here is another feel-good Highland Cow piece in the most delicious colour palette. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I feel the need, the need for pink!
'Wearing Bracken'
Check out my new prints here
A New Stag Canvas Print has been Released This Week
The original oil painting has sold, but I have released an open edition print, on canvas as shown here, and also on best-quality fine art paper. I am working with a specialist printing company that makes the prints to order and ship them directly to the customer from their premises. This helps me offer efficient shipping times, particularly as they have centers worldwide, so international shipping is economical too.
Highland Bulls - a couple of smaller works in progress
Sometimes I like to go through my pile of unfinished canvases and turn them into something new. So this week I started these two young Highland Bulls in a similar palette of rust and stormy blue. The guy on the left is 50 x 60 cm and on the right 70 x 70 cm. Both of these will be available for sale when they are finished.
A highly textured cow painting takes time to dry!
You can see how thick the paint is, on this piece. The first full layer took two weeks to properly dry, and this is another layer of bright oil paint - I like to use contrasts and hues to create the illusion of depth, and to make the entire surface of the canvas interesting to look at. This is a cow with a sweet countenance and a little attitude in her stance. Looking forward to getting her finished this week.
Hares today
Wildlife Paintings for Sale UK
I have been working on some wildlife paintings, beginning with these new hare paintings. I enjoy the challenge of trying to capture their expressive faces. These most recent hare paintings will be available on my website in a few days. They are smaller pieces at 45 x 65 cm and 50 x 60 cm.
A new hare on my easel yesterday
I spent the afternoon with this lovely hare, reference is courtesy of Frances Cricklow Photography. I will add whiskers when he is dry.
A painting course in Derbyshire.
Derbyshire Art Workshops
This was only the second art workshop to be held in the new space at Creative Melbourne Gallery. Upstairs above the main gallery floor there is a mezzanine that runs all the way around. This is a light-filled area ideal for painting in. We had a lovely day, everyone was very friendly and chatty with each other and it was a mixed-level group, with half beginners and half improvers. Everyone left with a beautiful and very colourful painting in their own style.
I have had some very nice feedback about the workshop and the venue, and hope to hold another one there in 2023.
“Such a fab day with lovely people and loved our Highland cow herd”
“Just a short note of thanks for a most enjoyable day.I felt that I learned so much. You really are an excellent teacher.Time went so quickly.
Nearly forgot the cake was delicious.
Thank you again.”
“Very enjoyable day, many thanks Sue”
A trip to Urban Clay in Aylsham!
Meeting up again with my first Highland Cow original painting!
And admiring a beautifully painted mini-coo!
We spent a couple of days in Norfolk this week, visiting family. I wanted to visit Urban Clay run by the lovely Jo and Liz (my sister) . It is a beautiful place! People paint pottery here and eat cake, what could be better? Mark took the opportunity to create a 360-degree walk-through photograph tour that they can use on their website, while Liz and I sat on the floor behind the counter, hiding, and enjoying a natter.
Liz and Jo (above) are the brains and beauty behind Urban Clay Aylsham
Painting Birds - art workshop
A Wonderful Art Retreat, Painting Colourful Woodland Birds
What a lovely weekend spent painting with such a nice group of artists! Sharpe's Pottery Heritage and Arts Trust We were very nicely catered for by Sweet Caroline on both days with a super buffet, and toasties. And of course, there was plenty of cake - artists need to keep their strength up after all. We tried a variety of different acrylic painting techniques. The group all have different levels of expertise in different media so it was a really interesting weekend. Everyone got on really well and gave help, support and encouragement to one another. There was a lot of laughter and joking around, and everyone ended up producing 3 beautiful small paintings (apart from John who was on a roll on day 2 and painted two or three more!) Everyone took a paint kit home with them so they can carry on painting straightaway. I'm hoping they will keep in touch, and show me the results.
Painting Barn Owls
Barn Owls are some of my favourite birds to paint!
Paint with me and create your own owl at my next owl workshops. Beginners and improvers welcome. More info here
If no owl workshops are currently scheduled, I can offer small group workshops, just get in touch
Cow Painting with Flowers
Highland cows and flowers- what a combination
I have just rediscovered this collage I put together of my first four Wildflower Cow paintings. I just love the combination of the gentle cows and the tangled nature around them. See my latest available cow paintings here, or get in touch to commission a bespoke Cow Painting with Flowers
A new stag!
Artist who paints animals
As an artist who paints animals and birds almost every day, I like to see them looking somewhat contented!
One of the visitors at the festival last week told me that all my painted animals look happy. It was the most perfect comment because that's exactly what I work towards! I don't know whether this new guy looks cheerful or slightly smug. Perhaps there is a hidden hand back there giving him a bum scratch.
