"Oberon"

"Oberon"

Continuing the dog theme, my latest painting entitled "Oberon" was of a Border Terrier that was a much loved dog of a work colleague. I included some of my most delicate line work to date, purely as the brush was loosing hair the strokes became thinner and thinner, the reaction from the woman on handing it over spoke volumes to what the dog had and still does mean to her as I had captured the dogs character perfectly, I couldn't of been happier, I was really pleased how this painting had came out. 

Next up is one of "Tucker", the French Bulldog, the one that consistently distracts me from painting by wanting to sit on my lap! 

Cards have arrived!

 My cards arrived and I am very pleased with the results. The detail and colouring is the same as the original painting. Can't wait to see what some of the other paintings will look like as a card.

Two Bears and a Border. Recent Watercolours.

My painting has been pretty continuous recently, as soon as one is finished I am prepping the next one. I have completed a couple of Grizzly paintings, as always in watercolour. I really fancied trying some bear work and the first painting was a challenge to say the least with another first being fast flowing waters, the grizzly was going to be hunting for salmon. Overall I was quite happy with how the painting came out.

 And zoomed in a bit for details.

My second Grizzly watercolour painting was to be a close up detailed piece of work which I was very happy with when finished.

GRIZZLY - SOLD

My last painting I have finished was another new genre, a Border Terrier. I painted this as a close up and only half the dogs face being shown as I wanted to try for a new greeting card design where the cropped edge would form the outer edge of the card, once I have received them through the post I will show how they came out.

BORDER - SOLD

Ploughing straight into my next watercolour painting, I am staying with the dog theme for the next couple of paintings so stay tuned for uploaded images once completed.

New work despite distractions of the French Bulldog kind!

 Where has the time gone!! The last few months of 2015 just flew by and I tried to keep up with new paintings but was pre-occupied with having to look after the step daughters new puppy....a French Bulldog called Tucker. It seemed I did most of the looking after as I had more days off due to my shift work, and as it turned out whenever I decided to try and paint Tucker wanted to sit on my lap and either gaze out the window or sleep on my lap, not the easiest way to try and cope doing fine line painting! These 2 Zebra were the first to be completed.

 Next up was a request for a Jaguar cub for my youngest brothers daughter Sophie, it had to be done before Xmas as a present. A trip to Berlin with my wife in November and the years end was really approaching, I next planned a challenge in trying to paint a Silverback Gorilla, this took some time to get right and then it was the end of the year. Not having any plans on getting out birding as of yet I set about carrying on in painting mode and now into January have just completed a Rhino portrait, as shown below.

 And pictured here below is the reason for being inadvertently disrupted and delayed in doing stuff.

Tucker

Wrestlingworth Show & Sale and a Tiger Cub!

 Last weekend we had the Show and Sale in our village of Wrestlingworth. The morning brought rain and I thought here we go again, another washout! 

But by the time we transported our stuff to the show the rain had ceased and we were graced with no more rain for the rest of the day......finally thank you!

The afternoon was really enjoyable and we met a lot of friendly villagers and chatted the day away, I sold a couple of paintings and some photo prints and Tucker's Treats went down well with the dog owners....and Tucker was continually mobbed by the kids along with some of the adults, they couldn't leave him alone.

 Although I had already started the latest painting of a Tiger Cub, I was unable to finish it in time for the Show & Sale, but once I had more time thereafter I set about finishing it off. I set about the eyes first as per norm and tried to get that cute look about it. 

After around 13 hours put in over so many days it was finally finished and I put the brush down!

The Ashwell Show.August 2015.

 The time had come for the Ashwell Show and to sum it up on the day.....a washout!

So frustrating for everyone involved, but glad some people battled the elements as it rained all day long. Sales did not go to plan and would of been a lot healthier if the weather had been better. Sarah had been baking like a possessed baker getting all the dog treats ready for "Tuckers Treats" stand, they were a success and the samples went down well. Met and chatted to some really nice and complimentary public. The poor youngsters in the horse arena must of been soaked to the skin, and the field soon became waterlogged and a mud slide, but the organising was very good and it was a good experience and nice company with the other exhibitors in the marquee. 

 "Tucker's Treats" Stand.

A worn out and wet Tucker.

Portrait of "The Fox"

 This was to be the final painting before the Ashwell Show. Portrait of a Fox. On this painting I actually started by painting the tail and head before the eyes, normally I plough into completing the eyes to bring it to life but for some reason I chose not to, come to think of it I did the same with the Puffin! I think I will stick to the eyes first in future, but may mix it up if needed.