interactive painting commission

I'm currently working on a commission-long distance. To keep my client involved, I'm posting up-to-the-minute photos as I paint, so they can chip in with how they want the work to progress. Do join the journey...
simply click on the link below

www.portraitofapainting.blogspot.co.uk



the painting so far....3 hours in



Duck in a flap v black swan: yup, painting birds again!

One of the ways I take the fear out of starting on a bright white blank canvas is by giving myself permission to mess it up.

I just launch out, no drawing or plan, massive paint brush in hand [you know, the type for painting walls] and let myself go. Yes, my goal might be to eventually paint the whole thing, but I'm not going to do that neatly. Not when I can mess about creating new compositions first!

And that is the story of how these birds came to be. That and my antique book of animals. I propped the hefty tome open, hoping to avoid covering it in paint, and used the illustrations as a springboard for the swan. As for the crazy duck-she just came from a strange corner of my head.

 'Duck in a Flap' is extra special because I finished him off with a gold leaf beak and a black freshwater pearl eye. A little experiment. I'm not sure whether jewellery and paint will ever sit easily together, but its the contrast and the unexpectedness of it that brings this little quacker of a painting to life.

As for Black Swan,[my version of Chinese art] - I've hung him above my desk and would quite happily keep him, but I think I might sell him online at £60 when my business launches, maybe to the Queen, who seems partial to a good swan. 

Cold Snap - Polar Bear

Brrrrr. Cold snaps a-comin'. I'm British, so please excuse me whilst I talk about the weather. I'm a little excited about the prospect of the freezing cold as I need an excuse to wear my 8 pairs of gloves. On a rota, not all at once (I know my limits). Also, its the ideal moment to show you this-my bear-ly there polar painting. 

A postcard sized canvas, acrylic under household emulsion. Off whites, a lone silhouette of a bear walking through an arctic blizzard. Half seen. Close encounters and near misses. The silence and noise of the storm. Isolation. Enchantment. 

Feeling cold yet?

Tidings of Great Joy: Peace on Earth. Dove Art.

One thing I'd like to try more of is art that reflects my faith. It'd be a pleasure painting about the things dearest to my heart. I had a go last week, and came up with a triptych of doves. Birds are among my favourite things to paint anyway, and doves seem to encapsulate so much of the peace, lightness and freedom I find in living for Jesus.

I painted quickly, trying to avoid the laboured overworked stuff that is so easy to produce when you're pouring your heart into something. I painted wet into wet, which is tricky with fast drying acrylic. I'm pleased with the result, and, oddly, they work best under artificial light, which is a bonus in an English light-starved winter.

The next challenge would be to try the same subject matter, but in oils.

Stretch the greyhound

The first painting l ever did in York is of a greyhound; stretching as luxuriously as any of Degas' women and in a strict monochrome palette (mixed from colour rather than a tube of black acrylic to make it sing), this hangs in the house of a very chic friend, and I get to visit it from time to time.

A Christmas Craft Fair at Garland Street

On thursday, the lovely Nick and Gillie Clarke are throwing a craft party-its open house so you are all invited: 4 Garland Street, York. I've done a little mock up of the stall I'll have there...

There will be animal cards I made yesterday, painted in acrylic and Tippex on Grimm's fairy tales. Don't really want to part with them, as they'd make great xmas cards for my family.

                                                

Looking forward to eating my first mince pie(s) of the season, as well as peddling my wares!

Art In The Heart Of York

Here is my stall at York market. I bought my painting gear ready for any emergency commissions!

       The Long View

 Setting up

The market was super quiet (perhaps because of the gale force winds) so l set about painting the amazing view from the end of my stall...

And also did a quick paint sketch of the stall opposite, manned by an inspiring entrepreneur called Richard who gave me some handy tips!

By the end of the day l was painting fruit- perhaps being behind a fruit stall had something to do with it.... who knew that a market stall would make the ideal pop-up studio!

This Little Piggy Goes to Market

Tomorrow is the day of the art stall, forecasted gales permitting. I shall be nestled between the Fruit and Flower stalls like Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. "Get your art, luverly art" I shall cry in a Cockney twang. The plan is to advertise my art skills so as to get some commissions. Maybe l will sell some art on the spot too.

Some would say this is taking 'doing my market research' a bit too literally, but hey, at least l will know whether those 'wot shop local' also want local art. Art from the heart of York.


The ultimate result would be, as well as a few good commissions, that l'd be painting while-u-wait. The canvases are primed and ready. Just need the customers to dream up the image or indeed words. This is where it crosses into performance art. Art for all. Its a little bit Pure Communism in that way. Might nod to that with a red beret.


Of course, having a loyal workforce really does make the difference. Introducing Gigi-model, muse and sometime minion. Here you see her willingly sawing wood for my shop signs and reluctantly posing with her portrait.

        

Being an exhibitionist

I am delighted to announce an upcoming exhibition at the Bar Lane Studios in York. Best get painting then!

A little sneak preview...at the moment l'm working on a bird and collage themed exhibition.