Wednesday 24 December 2014

Happy Xmas and Prosperous New Year

To my followers and friends, and  any other visitors to the blog,  may I wish a Happy Xmas and Prosperous New Year.







The above three photographs above show Avon Valley Artists end of year `bash' in the Church Hall organized by Yvonne, Jan and Robert.  Enjoyed by all and thanks to the organizers.  No painting just eating and drinking! The new program of subjects starts on January 8th.

Sunday 21 December 2014

More Watercolour Paintings (2)

Here is another selection of watercolour paintings covering several subjects. They show many styles and techniques from artists of quality, even if individual paintings aren't necessarily to everyones taste. Some are well-known others less so but all are of interest. PLEASE NOTE EXTENSIVE INDEX JULY 2014.


Stephie Butler - Stephies work is easily identifiable with her delicacy and colour choices


Morten E Solberg Snr - a terrific American artist who produces very atmospheric landscape/wildlife paintings



Christian Couteau - His work is easily identifiable with his unusual colour choices


Charles Reid - Enough said!


Michelle Brown - I don't know this artist but like the looseness of this one.


Millind Mullick - The prolific Millind often features red and green, in this case orange and green 


Janet Rogers - an American artist who paints beautiful delicate portraits


Yuko Nagayama - This supreme Japanese artist normally paints still lifes/flowers so this is something of a change for her but equally good


Viktoria Prischedko - This one and the one below are typical Viktoria. It is amazing she produces such colourful paintings with such a limited palette (5 paints)


Viktoria Prischedko


Robert Wade- The doyen of Australian artists. I know this scene which is in Bristol. One of Roberts sons studied medicine here.

Ananta Mandel - Thanks to Alberto I now know Ananta is a man and has a Facebook page.


Orhan Gorel - a brilliant Turkish artist


Edward Seago -  A fairly simple study from the famous Seago.


I hope I have all the names right - if not I apologize to the artists concerned. Corrections welcome.

Sunday 14 December 2014

Tommy Lee Jones

Tommy Lee Jones is one of my favourite actors. My newspaper had an interview with him the other day accompanied by a full page photo so I decided to have a try at his portrait. The guide photo was black and white.


Tommy Lee Jones - 16" x 12" Arches Hot Press 140lb (300gsm)

You may notice this is hot press paper, in other words quite smooth, no real tooth at all. I was given a half used pad by Jan Weeks of Avon Valley Artists, who didn't like the paper at all. I've done one previous portrait, of an Amerindian, and it gave an interesting result quite different from those done on the normal `not' surface. I shall certainly do some more.

I made an initial drawing using rough methods of calculation regarding  proportions, spacing of the main features etc  with a Pentel 07 2B mechanical pencil. On reviewing it I used the rubber to erase and then made corrections as I saw it. The day following I made further corrections. 

As usual I started with the eyes, then the nose and finally the mouth. I then painted the rest using the features as the yardstick. After the paint was dry I put in the shadow areas. This took a number of attempts before I was (reasonably) satisfied. I say reasonably because it is easy to keep trying and risk disaster. I can see areas where it could be better but overworking is worse, in my opinion, than underworking. I didn't finish but reached a point where - faults and all - I decided I better stop.

Colours used were Cadmium Red Light, Raw Sienna and Cerulean or Cobalt Blue for the skin colours. The Cobalt Blue provided the darker mix. Brushes were the Isabey Kolinsky sables sizes 4,6 and 8. I also used the Isabey retractable size 6 mainly around the eyes.

I'm fairly pleased with it although he has the sort of face where getting a reasonable resemblance is not too difficult. I know it is far from perfect but then what is.

Friday 12 December 2014

More Portraits in Watercolour

Here is another selection of watercolour portraits in a variety of styles. The artists include some well-known, others not so well-known, but all exhibit a high degree of  skill and quality, at least in my opinion, and I realise not everyone will like all of them. However there is sufficient variety for most. Even if you are not into portraits lessons can be learned from these paintings which might be applied to other subjects.


The wonderful Stan Miller


Ai Xuang - another of these superb asian artists


Guan Weixing - The Master


Janine Galizia - Amazing


Stephie Butler - lovely use of colour


Lu Yongsheng


Charles Reid - a typical CR portrait


Gerard Hendriks - unusual for him as he doesn't do many portraits but full of life


Diann C Benoit  - an excellent artist prominent on Facebook


Ibe Ananaba - always  unusual and often provocative



Steven Scott Young - enough said!


Tong Wuy

I know some of these artists but not all by any means. They are just a few of the many I have come across in the last few years. Styles vary but I'm sure that whatever your tastes some will appeal. If I have any of the names misspelt I do apologize to the artists concerned and stand to be corrected.

Wednesday 3 December 2014

Children

This was the subject of a recent Avon Valley Artists session. It was three or four weeks ago and unfortunately I didn't record whose paintings they are so apologies to my fellow members. 
















My grandson aged 8. I tried to capture his character, a budding entrepreneur, but only partially succeeded and his face is too red. 

Some very good studies I'm sure you'll agree.








Eurasian Eagle Owl

This is my latest bird for `Paint Colorful Birds for Fun' on Facebook. Fairly simple I made a loose pencil drawing with the eye and beak the focal points, using my Pentel mechanical 07 2B pencil.  



Eurasian Eagle Owl - 12" x 9" Fontenay Rough

Colors used were Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Gold Ochre (W & N), Translucent Brown (Schminke PBr41), Ivory Black (Maimeri) and Cerulean (Daler Rowney) for the beak, and when dry liberal applications of acrylic white (Galeria Titanium White) for highlights applying it with a small stiff bristle brush, dry brushing mainly.

Apart from the bristle brush I used only two brushes, the Isabey Kolinsky sable No.6 and Da Vinci Artissimo 44 No 2, this latter for the background colour. I was quite pleased with the result. .