So long 2009...

Well here is my last painting of the year. Despite a two week break over Christmas, I was able to dive back into painting and complete this image in 4 hours.
The red squirrel is such an adorable animal, and has so much more appeal than the grey. I wanted to do that red fur justice, and so used a mixture of orange, red-pinks and browns to give the rich hue seen on the paper. The tail is very dense, and so a dark shadow and layers of 'splattered' red and white inks helped give the fluffy texture.
The only problem I see with the image is the ears. I may have overdone the tufts a little. I think the image could have also benefited from a seasonal touch, by adding a sprinkling of snow and some pine cones to the branch. That will be something to bear in mind for a future painting.

So, aims for next year? I would like my paintings to gain more notoriety. I will enter more competitions which will hopefully help achieve this. I will also look into including more backgrounds. Nothing detailed, just expressive colours and brush-strokes so as not to distract from the main image. Lastly, I will aim to improve my photography, so I can collect a valuable library of reference material. See you in 2010....

Badgers

It is always difficult at this time of year to find the time to sit down and concentrate on painting. I actually began this painting last weekend, but Christmas shopping and the shorter hours of daylight got in the way of completing it. Luckily, working in a school means I had a 'half day' on Friday, and I was able to race home and put paintbrush to paper.
I have attempted Badgers before, without success. Being nocturnal, it is very hard to collect good reference of them. Their lovely black and white faces are surprisingly difficult to get right. When I initially completed this image, I had got the white central stripe too thin, and as a result the eyes were too close together. Luckily, my artist parents were on hand to point out this mistake, and with a clever use of black watercolour and white acrylic, I was able to reapply the eyes and widen the stripe.
What I like most about this image is the fur. I layered flicks of black, brown, dark blue and white watercolour/ink. The result was a dense and textural covering.
When I eventually get the time to sit down with my paints again after Christmas, I will probably attempt another beautiful mammal, the Red Squirrel.

Foxy Loxy

Veering away from the festive theme this week, I have instead enjoyed returning to the subject of British Mammals. The first fox I painted was at university, when I was illustrating the story of Chicken Licken. Foxes certainly seem to have a crafty reputation, which is highlighted in that children's book. They are however one of our most handsome residents. Living in London means I see them sneaking about most evenings, and they often stop to take a brief glance at you before disappearing, much like the dog fox in this painting is doing.
What I love about painting foxes is the great contrast between their rich orange and black fur. While painting this image I just let the black ink run into the wet orange. I also made sure his striking eyes where bright and full of curiosity, with a crisp white highlight.
This painting will most likely end up in the Haddon Gallery in Devon. Paul and Fiona Haddon have just signed me up to exhibit in their reputable gallery, which is really exciting for me. Hopefully they will also produce some prints of my work, which of course will help spread the word about my art.

Festive Spirit

With less than a month to go until Christmas, it's time to try and get into the festive spirit. What better way than to design some festive looking paintings. This is my first edition, but I do not think it is my best. You would think Geese are a simple subject, but believe me it is harder than it looks. I have trouble getting their overall shape correct and I think this image demonstrates that. They have unusual shaped beaks and lower bodies. The first two on the right look fine, but it is the one to the left which seems a bit plump and 'squashed' to me. One thing I am pleased with is the background. I have created quite a lovely snowy atmosphere. Dropping water onto the slightly wet paint made the snowflake effect, but I could definitely use more practice with this method to get it perfected and a little less messy. I also enjoy the overall feeling of the painting. It is serene, and the Geese look thoroughly happy to be enjoying a walk through the snow!

Grasshopper

Well I did say I was going to attempt something a little different, and here is the end result. Insects like grasshoppers are very rarely portrayed in art, but I find them endlessly fascinating.
This little guy was a real challenge to paint. The bodies of insects are so intricate that watercolour does not really do them justice. However, I am quite proud of this piece. I think the shadows on the blade of grass/leaf are the most successful areas.
With Christmas on the horizon I think it is time to return to designing some festive images. Robins are the most obvious choice, but I may try a mammal, such as a Red Squirrel. Watch this space...

A taste of Summer

Now that the Autumn chill is here, the last of the butterflies have disappeared. I am hoping that the dense cover of Ivy and other vegetation around the shed at the bottom of our garden will provide shelter for some to hibernate.
As mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to try painting something different that I have not attempted before. Therefore last weekend I created this little number. At first glance the form of a butterfly may seem simple to recreate. However the intricate curves and patterns are actually a real challenge to draw. I think I also struggled to portray the vibrant orange on the wings, such is the nature of watercolour.
I am proud of this first attempt. I rarely paint flowers but I think the buddleia here is colourful enough and the basic structure fairly accurate. Above all this painting makes me look forward to next Spring/Summer, when the butterflies grace our gardens once again.

Weird Feet

I have taken advantage of not having to work during the half term, and got stuck into another watercolour. Recently I have moved away from using the inks which I relied on during my early work. I worry that they are just not lightfast enough, and I have to say the Windsor and Newton watercolour set I have, produce such rich and vibrant colours.

Earlier in the year my Mum and I took our cameras over to Regent's Park in London. Apart from a huge variety of waterfowl, the lakes there are absolutely teaming with Coots! They are such funny characters, and I find their weird feet fascinating! They are certainly not just black blobs of feathers. I emphasised the deep indigos in this painting to make the overall subject more eye-catching. It also contrasts really well with the jet black head and bright red eye.
So, what next? I have dug out some great photographs of insects, so watch this space for something a little different.