Hares

Hi all,
I know that I should have knocked another painting out by now, but I've been having fun with the pen and ink. For a while now I've had this vision in my head that showed two hares relaxing in some long grass, so I decided to get it down on paper before it drove me mad.

Of course, the actual drawing didn't come out anything like the image that was floating around my brain because they never do, well not for me at any rate. Having said that, I'm quite pleased with the results and I'm now contemplating whether or not to give it a bit of a wash with some watercolour. My wife thinks this would be a good idea but I'm not so sure.

Anyway, here is the drawing.

I would love to know what you think of it.

By the way, I'm still working my way through Mark Crilley's realism challenge. The books is well worth getting if you want to improve your drawing skills. If you would like to see one of Mark's videos, please click here. I'm sure that watching him will get your creative juices going.

Pen and Ink

Hi all,
I haven't been doing a lot of painting recently, mostly because I'm finding it difficult to find any decent blocks of free time. Sure I could get the brushes out and knock something up quickly but that would be a waste of time seeing as I'm trying to improve my results.

However, I have been dabbling with the pen and ink when I've had a spare moment. Pen and ink is an easier discipline than watercolour painting because it is mostly repetitive marks. This means that you can pick it up and put it down at any time, which suits me at the moment.

Alfred Wainwright was good with the pen and ink, so I have been using some of the marks he made to depict boulders and stones.

Anyway, here is a drawing that I've just finished of Conniston Water. I drew it from a photograph that I took whilst on holiday there about 15 years ago.

I'm quite pleased with the results, but it does lack a bit of colour.

Part of the purpose of this post was to tell you that one on my books is free today and tomorrow on Amazon. It is called, "The Reluctant Pom" and follows 2 years of my life after my dad dragged me and my big sulk to the other side of the world.

 If you want a laugh, grab a free download by clicking on the books tab at the top of the page. The book link will than take you straight to Amazon for your freeebie.

Free Book

Hi all,
I mentioned that I had a book for Christmas that was about creating realism in drawing. The Author is Mark Crilley and I thought I'd just let you know how I'm getting on with it. Well, it's a matter of so far so good, the first couple of exercises didn't come out too good, but I think I'm getting there.

It's all about observation and how to put down on paper what you are actually seeing. I don't want to get too deep into hyper realism, but I do feel that the book is helping with my general drawing skills. It makes me draw things that, to be honest, are not that inspirational as subject, but doing them take you out of your comfort zone and makes you look and think.

The book is also a great motivational aid when it comes to painter's block. If you are anything like me, you will have several images rotating around your mind just waiting to be painted, but when you finally get five minutes to settle down with your brushes and paint, they don't appear so brightly or you feel spoilt for choice and can't decide which one to do first. When this happens to me now I've always got another exercise to turn to in Mark's book. I have only done 5 exercises so far but I can say that it is well worth the money and one of the better gifts that I received this Christmas. Mind you that shouldn't be a shock because I bought if for myself as a little treat.
 
Here is my attempt at a couple of mushroom slices.

Talking of books. The second book in my Fishing Detectives series, "Bun In The Oven" is free on here on smashwords until the 2nd of February. Why not grab a copy while you can, just enter code UM95J at the checkout to receive you free download.

Its Now Or Never

Hi all,
I mentioned some time ago that I had joined the SAA, no not the SAS that's a different kettle of fish altogether. The SAA is the Society for All Artists, and I'm very pleased with my membership. I get web space to display my paintings, free postage and a catalogue full of lovely arty things at fantastic prices. I also get a free by-monthly magazine which is full of inspiration. They have a couple of challenges each month so last month I decided to entered two.

The first was a photo that had to be turned into a painting. The image was of a boat sitting at a jetty on a lake so I thought I'd have a go.

I didn't want to spend too much time on, it but it came out as well as I could have hoped. Painting water and boats aren't subjects that I have painted before so I was happy with my efforts. The people at the magazine print a selection of the paintings in the next issue of the magazine, but sadly mine wasn't included.

However all was not lost. Another challenge in the magazine was for the reader to do a painting just based on a theme. The last theme was "It's Now or Never" which I gave a bit of thought to and came up with the following painting.

I think it fitted the theme wonderfully even if the execution could have been better. The combine harvester looks menacing in red, while the faceless driver and the black smoke coming from the chimney give the rabbit a reason to run.

On the critical side, the corn is too long and perhaps I should have shown a hint of the rabbit's body sticking through the corn. Having said that, the people at the magazine must have thought it decent enough because they printed it in January's edition. I was very pleased because the inspiration obviously worked and it gave me a chance to paint something completely from my imagination.

By the way, one of my books "Bossyboots" is free on amazon today, click on the books tab at the top of the page and grab a copy if you like a good laugh. It's a book for the boys, but open minded ladies will also be able to see the funny side.

Painting Number 11

Hi all,
Following on from the drawing I did of the dog roses, pictured below for a reminder,

I went on to paint it using a negative painting technique for the small leaves in the background. The process went like this.
I transferred part of the image onto the paper, leaving the smaller leaves out. Then I masked off the roses and the bigger leaves in the foreground and then after wetting the paper all over, I covered it with sap green lemon yellow and quinacridone gold of varying strengths. These colours would go on to be the colours of the smaller leaves in the background.

After waiting for it to dry I transferred the smaller leaves onto the paper with a pencil. I then whetted small areas of the paper and painted around the leaves with sap green, payne's grey and lemon yellow.

I have to say that this was the most enjoyable part of the process. Watching the leaves appear out of the background was great.

Once that was done I went on the paint the foreground leaves in similar colours and the dog roses with a mixture of pink, white and magenta.

 To make sense of my description above you might want to pop along and see this video clip which explains it simply and shows you where my inspiration came from. I only wish I could paint as well.
Here's my effort and I would have to say that I'm not impressed.

Score for this painting 18/20
Bad bits,
The background is too busy; should have been fewer leaves but bigger.
The main problem is the colour, it's just to bloody green. I think I might have to hide my tube of sap green or throw it out of the window and use something else.
Good bits
Some of the background and foreground leaves look quite good and would look even better if they weren't painted the same colour as the background
Oh well, on wards and upwards, well see what the next one looks like.