'Three in a row'

'Three in a row' Oils on Masonite board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

Have had a couple of days away from painting while I made some new boards to paint on! Bought masonite and had it cut into squares and primed it using acrylic gesso.  This is my first painting on them so I have gone for something fairly simple again just to get the feel for them.


They behave differently and tend to 'grab' the paint more than I have been used to.  I like the smooth surface you get though.

'Pear of Mugs'

'Pear of Mugs' Oil on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

SOLD

A quick oil 'sketch' still life today.  I wanted to paint in a free way today and get a quick impression on the subject down on canvas.


Am on my last shop bought canvas board today so I will have to get out to the hardware and make some of my own......

'Breakfast Heaven' SOLD

'Breakfast Heaven' Oil on Canvas Board (30x30cm) SOLD


Oh,.... one of my all time favourite Breakfasts! Yummy!


I debated with myself as to wether to use acrylics for this or oils! It is probably the most detailed painting I have done using the oils and I am fairly pleased with the outcome! I am starting to understand how to use them.


Went to an art shop yesterday and drooled over the brushes and paints. Controlled myself though and only bought a few new brushes, three tubes of oil paint and some gesso. I want to start making my own boards to paint on. Very impressed with the brushes I bought yesterday. ProArte Tynex. Very reasonable price but good quality. I like using flat brushes for my painting and am not that keen on hog hair. Don't like the marks it leaves in the paint. These ProArte ones are synthetic but have good 'spring' in the bristles, something which I like.


For Sale £77

'In the Pink' SOLD

'In the Pink' Oils on Canvas Board (30x30cm) SOLD


Enjoyed painting something pink today! Have reworked the foreground and am much happier with it now! I liked the pink but it needed to be a bit more subtle and have some shading and highlights on it. Better I hope?


SOLD

'Plateful of Pomello' SOLD

'Plateful of Pomello' Oil on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

SOLD

It is always a challenge to get a painting done on a Saturday with the family home! But I have enjoyed painting this cheerful plate of cut up Pomellos. (What is the difference between a Pomello and a Grapefruit, I wonder?)


Yellow can be quite a difficult colour to paint with. It is the shadows that cause the problems as it is difficult to judge what colour a yellow shadow actually is. You don't want to make it muddy and still have to keep the fresh feel to the colour. I never use black in my paintings (was banned from using black at College) so I always mix 'shadows' from Prussian Blue and Burnt Umber and sometimes crimson. The addition of crimson makes it very dark.


For Sale £57

'Favorite Mug'

'Favourite Mug' Oils on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

Didn't have a lot of time today (had to take my daughter's portfolio to Cheltenham Art College for her application to an Art Foundation Course) so I did a quick 'oil sketch' of one of my favourite mugs! It is a great mug to have hot chocolate or soup in!


Liked the colours of this piece but could probably have improved the composition. Never mind, not every piece of work produced is a masterpiece and every time you paint you learn something new.

'Grandma's Spoon' SOLD

'Grandma's Spoon' Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) SOLD


This old spoon belonged to my Grandma and is perfect for measuring out batter for drop scones and filling cup cake cases! Went back to acrylics for this one today, as I wanted to catch all the detail on the metal spoon. I love that it is wonky at the tip and all scratched!


The surface texture of the canvas board made it easy to get the linen effect of the napkin!


It has been strange working in acrylics again after a week of oils! A bit like swapping between a manual and automatic car! The colours with acrylics certainly don't have the luminosity of oils. Am I become an oil paint convert?


SOLD

'Olive Bowls' For Sale Framed

Olive Bowl

30x30 Oil on Canvas Board

FOR SALE Framed - £150

Have had a few days break from painting but have not been idle! Went to London on Saturday and popped into the Saatchi Gallery. Not sure about some of the 'works' in the current exhibition but each to their own! Took some photos at Portabello Market which I want to use for paintings.


This little bowl of gorgeous shiny olives was crying out to be painted! I loved the way the oil captures the little spots of light and wanted to try and capture that. And this is in oils again! I have settled into using oils finally and learn something every time I paint with them! Might not want to go back to acrylics soon!!

'Pointy Pepper'

'Pointy Pepper' 

Oil on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

I actually painted this yesterday after the cups as I knew I would be busy today with Garden Design work. Things are looking up for the garden design business after a quiet time and work is coming on line again! Now I just need to be able to paint AND do my full time job!


I am not a great fan of peppers to eat, but, I do like the way they look, especially these pointy one! I have learnt with oils to put the white highlights on first and not after as I do with acrylics. It was important with this subject to get the lovely glossy skin right. I also prime the board with an acrylic wash as it dries quicker than doing it in oils and I can get started on the painting! Not good at waiting!

'Cup Tower'

'Cup Tower' 

Oils on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

Building on my attempts at mastering oil paints. Have learnt that you must not panic if things a re not going well. Take a deep breath and have a break, come back and you will be able to see what to do! My first reaction is to throw down the brushes and walk away!


I would never have believed that this subject could be so challenging! All those different creams and greys! I need to work on this a bit more when the oils have dried a bit. Enjoyed painting it though and love the light catching the bowls; just need to get that across in the painting better.


(I have done some more work on this painting so have rephotographed it and replaced the old photo)

'Avocado'

'Avocado' Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

Oils again! I think I am getting the hang of these oils at last! I am moderately pleased with this one. I took some advice from a contact on Twitter and he gave me some hints on how to use oils and it seems to be working.....!
I love the creamy green colour of the flesh of an avocado and the knobbly dark skin. I will do some more oils tomorrow! I am getting hooked!


I developed a simple 'logo' signature to go on the paintings today. Have to go back and sign them all now!

'Pride and Prejudice'

'Pride and Prejudice' 

Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm)

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

I have never tried candle light but it is not too difficult. Bit of a challenge getting the halo effect around the flame though. I have always loved this little leather copy of Pride and Prejudice and I loved the way the candle light picked out the burgundy leather cover and the gilt writing on the spine.