Busy Busy through Lockdown.

It's been a long and weird time through this national threat but with the restrictions came more time to plant my butt' in the studio and get stuff done. With the hope that in the not too distant future things will return to normal, the Norfolk Open Studio's obviously got cancelled but hopefully it will be able to run later in the year, so this was a good time to get some new work completed. First up was a commission piece of 'Sam' the border collie, a coloured pencil and gouache media art. 

 I then wanted to push myself into a couple of pieces, slightly bigger than the norm and more of a challenge, mixed media again with coloured pencil and gouache.

I couldn't resist another Gorilla.

 The finished piece, I was now more into my groove ( if I have a layoff for too long it becomes more difficult to get back into a smooth flow with drawing and painting..weird but like your're back tracking and learning again??) So I moved straight onto a subject I have been meaning to try for a while now, a Peregrine Falcon.

 I got stuck in with the beak and once completed I was a lot happier to move onto the rest of the bird. 

 Happy with the finished piece, such a majestic bird and at the time the local birds were again nesting on Cromer church so I was able to watch them from the garden passing along the coast on occasions. 

 A bit behind the times but nonetheless I wanted to draw/paint a Koala. 

 There was so much hair detail to complete it seemed to take ages, after a couple of hours work I wondered if I had actually progressed at all !!!!

I got there in the end.

Bringing You Up To Date with Art 4 Sale.

These pieces of wood were bought from my local sawmill, such beautiful grains and patterning. The first piece I have completed is of a group of Long Tailed Tits, I loved the idea of using the knotted hole through the centre as a perch for the birds to be on. One of the other pieces will probably have a study of moths painted on, maybe the Hawkmoths I think!

 Turnstones at Titchwell, a common wader but one that is striking in summer plumage, the mixed  tones of brown, black and white really stand out.

 Sadly a bird you don't always see a lot, I have been fortunate to of seen a number and photograph them before moving to Norfolk.

 I love the colour and tones of the Brambling, as with the Tree Sparrow and Turnstones I kept the background subdued so as not to detract from the subject.

 Me posing with the Brambling and Tree Sparrow paintings to show the size.

 Gouache painting of a flock of Avocets, I also painted a similar group of Avocet but with just a monochrome look by only painting the black parts, regardless of no other detailing it is instantly recognisable as these iconic birds. 

This commission piece was of a much loved pet that sadly passed, it was a pleasure to paint Harry and one that had been kept quiet until christmas.