Sunday 27 February 2011

Swan and duck conversation

mallard_duck_swans_christchurchSwan and duck conversation

This is an oil painting,size 20"x16", of swans and a Mallard duck, done around January 2011. It is at the Quay at Christchurch,UK. I tend to paint the water in last when painting subjects like this. The reflections can be sometime very difficult to plan, though this one was not to bad. But once the water and reflections are in place the painting comes to life! Interestingly the water is almost black.

from the website...
Christchurch Harbour, in the UK has a popular tourist spot where people gather to look at the boats and the many Swans and ducks that live in the area, and expect to be fed. The composition is based on a number of photographs. Originally there was a small boy and mother standing where the duck is, but I thought the painting would be more entertaining if the birds were having their own conversation. The group of swans were taken again from a number of photographs taken at the same location, but heavily rearranged to provide a happy composition for the final painting. The 'black' water makes a nice contrast to the bright whites of the swans.
The artwork was created in late 2010, in oil paint on a 16" x 20" canvas.

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Saturday 19 February 2011

Animal Office

cartoon_animal_office_workersAnimal Office

This was painted in january 2011, in photoshop to A4 size. I have used a horse before in this position (1 2 3) but it is always funny,but this time I have added some lipstick! The 6 key keyboard and hay sandwich add some fun.

from the website...
This was painted in photoshop in 2011 to A4 size. As can be seen in my work I like to place animals in mundane human situations. An office is a good location and I'm sure I will visit this theme again. Its fun to have such unlikley animals in these roles, such as the Hippopotamus with dress and bright red lipstick and the horse typing at the six keyed keyboard, with her hay sandwich to hand. In the background some office gossip is in progress. An image like this is drawn on the computer, then painted in a traditional, layered way similar to conventional painting media. 
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Wednesday 9 February 2011

Rockstone Lane, Southampton UK

Rockstone_Lane_Southampton_UKRockstone Lane, Southampton UK

This was painted in oils on a canvas having the size of 16"x 20". It was painted during november 2010.
This is a pretty little street with nicely turned out character terrace houses on both sides of the one way street (SO14 6JA). It is also on a hill leading down to the Bevois valley/ Itchen River area of the city. It is interesting how big the chimney stacks are in comparison the the house itself!
The photo it was based on was taken on a very sunny october morning, and the passing cyclist adds the finishing touch to the composition.

from the website...
This oil painting depicts a small, quiet road in Southampton called Rockstone Lane. The houses are all very small mid victorian examples though they all have very large chimneys for their size. The painting is based on a photograph taken in the autumn so the shadows are very long and the light bright and clear. The cyclist was added from another picture taken a few moments later on the same street. Interest to the composition is added with the fact that the lane is built on a hill, and in addition has a bend, causing the road to curve away from the viewer. It is of interest so see how the houses, originally the same, are now in different colours, and fitted with various types of windows. The normally mundane telephone cabinet and waste bins add extra interest.
This is painted in oils on a canvas sized at 16" x 20".  

Photography Prints

Saturday 5 February 2011

Two Romantic cats....for St Valentine's Day

two_romantic_cats_for_st valentine_love

two_romantic_cats_for_st_valentineTwo Romantic cats in love, by a tree.

This is obviously created for st Valentines Day.
The colour version was painted first, in photoshop to a A4 size in january 2011. I was quite pleased about the way it turned out, and looks quite cute. I think that the bows do add a lot to the cuteness and help to define the two sexes.
The black and white image was done about two weeks later. It has been done for presentation at a local arts society and needed to be B/W, with no grey tones, for easy reproduction in the news letter. It is a tracing, in photoshop again A4, of the colour image, and has come out quite well and still retains the character of the cats.


from the website...
Two romantic cats are shown in this digital illustration, sitting together by a tree. It always seems appropriate to portray a male cat as black and white in colour, and a female one as white. The coloured bows help with their sweetness and their sex identification. I wanted to have a soft feeling through the painting so it is set in the evening light.
This was painted in photoshop in 2011. 

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