Winchester Hill Area In Hampshire During Summer - oil painting

Winchester Hill Area In Hampshire During Summer - oil painting

oil painting of "Winchester Hill Area In Hampshire During Summer"

This oil painting depicts a site within the Old Winchester Hill area, situated in the county on Hampshire, southern England. The area offers fantastic views of the surrounding area, including the Solent, and the cites of Portsmouth and Southampton, and is part of the South downs national park. The area features an iron age fort, most of which has not been excavated by archaeologists.The gate leads to an area which is cordoned off from being used as it was used for by the army for training during WW2, and possibly contains unexpolded bombs.

The painting is created on mounting board, sized at 20” x 16”, and was painted during autumn 2018. It can be viewed in greater detail here.

Girl watering horror plants - WIP stages

Girl watering horror plants - WIP stages

WIP stages of girl with monster plants in garden illustration

This illustration features a girl watering some 'monster' plants. It was completed during Summer 2018 and was painted digitally in 'Auto Sketchbook Pro'. The image above shows some stages in the creation of the 'dark art' illustration. In the first panel can be seen the rough drawing, done on an Android tablet using the prevoiusly mentioned program. The second panel now show some rough painting of the drawing. As the program works on layers the drawing is held 'above' the painted layer so I can use the drawing as a guide. This second stage is still done on the tablet, so the image is a small file in reality with limited definition, but fine for working out colours and tones. Once the second stage is completed and i an happy with the working out at that scale, the entire file is then exported to a W10 desktop computer, again running 'Auto Sketchbook Pro', and in which the file is then continued to be worked on. However the file is also greatly enlarged from the small it was, so that the finished illustration can be hightly deatiled for printing etc. The third panel shows the completed illustration, which can be seen in detail on this link.

Dinosaur and son with a parasol - WIP stages

Dinosaur and son with a parasol - WIP stages

'Dinosaur and son with a parasol' in stages, based on the Monet painting.

'Dinosaur and son with a parasol' illustration was completed during October 2018. It is based on the famous impressionist painting by Monet - 'Woman with a parasol', painted in 1875 in oils. My version which has a Tyrannosaurs Rex as the mother, with her son beside was painted digitally using 'auto Sketchbook pro' software. 'Wet oils' were used to help create brush strokes that blended together almost like natural paint, and done could make the paint drier and heavier on some chosen strokes.
The first panel shows the drawing done using the software using a galaxy tablet with 'S' pen. This was then roughly painted to mimic the original painting. Then the file (in PSD format) was exported to a windows 10 machine running the same software, but the image was enlarged by about 6 times and repainted more carefully, with time taken to look at Monet's brush strokes and try to copy the general feel of the original. I did not actually sample the colours off the original, but just went by eye.
The final illustration can be seen here.

Boat Out Of Water With Dumped Parts At Marina - WIP stages

Boat Out Of Water With Dumped Parts At Marina - WIP stages

Work in progress stages of the boat yard at Northam, Southampton Art

In this WIP compilation, work can be seen on the creation of the 'Boat out of water with dumped parts at marina' oil painting, produced on mounting board. The first panel shows the drawing, painted with a dark coloured acrylic line on top of a lighter brown base. Some areas of brightness have been roughly painted in white acrylic paint, such as the sky. The second panel now shows the base under-painting applied in oils, with the third panel showing a continuation of this process. It can be seen in the foreground areas where the paint has been built up and the detail refined. Finally the forth panel shows the completed oil painting, sized at 20” x 28”. The finished painting can be seen on this link.

The subject is a marina on the banks of the river Itchen, in the Northam area of Southampton.

closeup working progress 08

closeup working progress 08

A small snippet of a horror based plant painting...

Happy SteamPunk Witch - digital illustration

Happy Steam Punk Witch - digital illustration

 A Happy SteamPunk Witch preparing for Halloween

This digital illustration was created during October 2018. It feature a happy steampunk witch going about her business of creating potions and spells at her cauldron. It can be seen that the coven has a number of technical refinements including a gas fired cauldron, a steam pump for pushing various chemicals around the area and in to the cauldron, and some evidence of electricity for various experiments. The witch still prefers to create her potions the manual way when possible. As found in many covens a black cat is a customary addition to the surroundings, and is perched up on a stool watching activities. The witch herself still wears the typical pointy hat but has a number of 'steampunk' additions in the way of goggles, corset with straps and stylized jewellery.

The illustration is painted in 'auto sketchbook pro, initially drawn on an android 'galaxy' tablet to find the composition, with some basic colour work being done on the device too. At a later stage the file is exported to the same software running on a Windows 10 machine, where the image is greatly enlarged and repainted to a finer standard for final output, which can be seen on this link.

Working on closeup 52

Working on closeup 52

 A small snippet of a countryside scene oil painting...

Line of trees in Hampshire during Autumn - oil painting

Line of trees in Hampshire during Autumn - oil painting

Oil painting of Autumn trees in Hampshire

During September 2018 this oil painting was created, main as an exercise in [painting trees in a simpler (impressionistic) way, rather than falling in to the trap of painting each individual leaf and branch. Oil paint on a board, which was sized at 20” x 16” was used. The subject was based on a photograph taken a number of years previously, just with the intention of finding a way to painting trees in a quicker and 'slicker' way.

The finished painting can be seen here.

closeup working progress 07

closeup working progress 07

A small snippet of a funny dinosaur image...

Happy Steam Punk Witch - WIP stages

Happy Steam Punk Witch - WIP stages

WIP stages of  'Happy Steam Punk Witch' illustration

Completed during October 2018, this illustration features a witch happily working in her coven. She is dressed in 'Steampunk' attire and also has technology installed which is in keeping with the theme. A black cat is perched on the stool looking on.
The artwork was created digitally using 'Auto Sketchbook pro' software. It is begun on an android tablet where the drawing and layout are decided, followed by 'roughing' in the basic colour information for the artwork. The first two panels show this and it can be seen that a little ghost was going to feature popping out of the cauldron. The final panel shows the finished work, where the ghost has been dropped. This stage is performed on a powerful Windows computer, running the same software. The image is greatly enlarged from the original file and the subject is refined when repainted at this size.
The finished artwork can be seen here in greater detail.

Wasp Woman Insect Drinking Tea Fantasy - digital illustration

Wasp Woman Insect Drinking Tea Fantasy - digital illustration

digital artwork  - Wasp Woman Insect Drinking Tea Fantasy

A guest at an Edwardian summer garden party is elegantly sipping a cup of tea. However not is all at is seems as she happens to have the body of a wasp, complete with a stinger.
Painted digitally in 'Sketchbook Pro' during August 2018. It was started on a Android Galaxy tablet and when work had progressed to a certain level, the file, including levels, was exported on to a windows 10 machine running the same software. This means that the brushes and the behavior of them remains consistent. The file is greatly enlarged and repainted at this stage to produce the final, refined painting.
On this link the final artwork can be viewed in detail.

Working on closeup 49

Working on closeup 49

A small snippet of a marine based oil painting...

Wasp Woman Insect Drinking Tea Fantasy - WIP stages

Wasp Woman Insect Drinking Tea Fantasy WIP stages

WIP stages of surreal Edwardian wasp woman

Created during August 2018, this illustration features a creature that appears to be have human and half wasp! It, or she, is enjoying a tea in elegant surroundings. The painting was partly influence by Gainsborough and other artists of the same era, although the woman is dressed in attire from the Edwardian era.
The illustration was created digitally. Initially it was drawn and then painted roughly on an android 'galaxy' pro with 'S' pen, as shown in the first two panels. When the design had got to a working solution, the file exported and work then continues on a W10 computer. 'Auto sketchbook pro' is used on both platforms, with final grading done within Photoshop, as shown in the last panel. 
The finished illustration can be seen on this link.

Line Of Trees In Hampshire During Autumn - WIP stages

Line Of Trees In Hampshire During Autumn - WIP stages

WIP stages - Line Of Trees In Hampshire During Autumn

This painting was completed during September 2018 and shows a line up of trees in an field in the county of Hampshire, UK. It is based on a photograph taken some years previously, with the intention of using it to practice painting trees, but it has taken all this time to actually do it. Trees can be very difficult to do because of their complex construction, with all of the separate leaves and fine branches, but it is a pain recreating these items, although some artists do sit and paint every detail.
I wanted to find a way of showing the detail in a more broad and 'impressionistic' way, and not have to take ages painting the subject. As an experiment it was an interesting adventure and I got something out of it which I can put in to new paintings.
The artwork is done in oils, so drying time is also a factor in the painting process. The first panel shows the tonal drawing done in acrylic paint, with the second showing a diluted first layer of oil paint. Detail is added once the previous layer is dried as seen in the third panel, while the forth shows the completed painting, which is done on mounting board sized at 20" x 16".
The painting can be seen in detail on this link.

closeup working progress 06

closeup working progress 06

A snippet of a witch digital illustration...

Southampton Northam summer evening across the Itchen - WIP stages oil painting

Southampton Northam summer evening across the Itchen - WIP stages oil painting

WIP of southampton River Itchen landscape oil painting

This landscape painting features a view in Northam, an area of the east part of the city of Southampton, during a summers evening. It is mainly an industrial area that has been marine based for a number of centuries. The river flowing through the scene is the River Itchen, which goes on to and runs through Winchester, another city a few miles away also based in Hampshire. It is late summer and the tidal river is at low tide revealing the mudflats covers with abandoned boats. In the distance can be seen a small scrap carrying ship, a dry stack for boats, and in the extreme distance is the suburb of Bitterne, with houses going up the hilly landscape.

The painting is created in oils, and the support is primed mounting board, with an image size of 20” x 28”. It was completed during June 2018, and can be seen here.

Working on closeup 51

Working on closeup 51

A small snippet of a woodland based oil painting...

Count And Countess Dracula During Halloween Evening - WIP stages

Count And Countess Dracula During Halloween Evening - WIP stages

Count and Countess Dracula 'cute' illustration in WIP stages

This 'cute' portrayal of  Count Dracula and his Countess wife was completed during September 2018.
It is digitally painted in 'Auto SketchBook pro', on an android tablet with 'S pen' to being with, and after a certain stage of development, it is exported to a W10 computer, running the same software. However at this final stage the artwork is far larger than the initial sketch thus allowing the painting to become more refined. Photoshop is used for the final colour grading. The panels above show the sketch, followed by a colour rough and lastly, the final and finished colour artwork.

The count was based to a point on the Christopher Lee version of the character, in particular the costume. The countess is based on Lily Munster, from 'The Munsters', who with that streak of sliver in her hair has some of the 'Bride of Frankenstein' character, taken from the film of the same name.

The illustration can be viewed at a greater detail here.

Village Of Axmouth On The River Axe - oil painting

Village Of Axmouth On The River Axe - oil painting

oil painting titled 'Village Of Axmouth On The River Axe'

The subject of this 20” x 16” painting is a peaceful and beautiful view of Axmouth, a small village to be found along the River Axe, in Devon, on the southern coast of the UK. 
The church tower, dating from the 15^th century, is the focal point within the composition and other building contained in the village can be seen dotted around. The river in this summer scene is tidal, so it can be seen that the tide is out revealing mudflats and marsh land. The view itself is from the Seaton Tramway, a preserved railway line that runs parallel along the river, and is named after the larger coastal town very close by.

The painting is done using oil paint on mounting board sized at 20” x 16”. It can be seen in greater detail here.

Happy Halloween Witch - drawing vs painting

Happy Halloween Witch - drawing vs painting

drawing vs painting of the Happy witch

This illustration of a happy surrounded by her graveyard friends was done during 2012, and was painted digitally in Photoshop. The drawing it was based on was also done in Photoshop and is shown as a comparison between the sketch and final art. There is no 'refined' sketch or drawing, but instead the painting is done directly from the rough sketch and 'drawn' as it is painted rather than spend time just on a neat drawing.
The final art can be seen here.

closeup working progress 03

 closeup working progress 03

 A small snippet of a surreal Edwardian lady illustration...

Count And Countess Dracula During Halloween Evening - digital illustration

Count And Countess Dracula During Halloween Evening - digital illustration

digital illustration - Count And Countess Dracula During Halloween Evening

This horror character based illustration features Count Dracula and his wife out for an Halloween evening stroll. Their castle can be seen in the background. The characters are designed to be 'cute and friendly'. Inspiration was taken from Christopher Lee, partly with his look and also for the costume. The wife was loosely based on Lily Munster, from 'The Munsters'.

A loose sketch was initially done on 'Sketchbook pro' during September 2018, using an android tablet. The file was later exported on to a more powerful desktop computer running the same software, where the painting was enlarged, repainted and refined.
The final digital illustration can be seen here.

Steam Punk Cherubs stages WIP

Steam Punk Cherubs stages WIP

Stages of steam punk Cherub artwork

This illustration was completed in July 2018, and features two steam punk inspired Cherubs, based on classical renaissance design. It is digitally painted using 'Auto Sketchbook pro' software through out, with some Photoshop work at the end for colour grading purposes. The first panel shows the rough drawn as done on a 'galaxy' android tablet. depicted in the second panel is the same document with painted elements added to try out colours and forms. These are still roughly done at this stage. Lastly the third panel show by comparison the final artwork. It should be noted that the original document as seen in panel 2 is enlarged by a factor of 6 and then repainted with refined details etc, so as to produce a good quality print.
The final image can be seen here in greater detail.

Working on closeup 50

Working on closeup 50

A small snippet of a Devon landscape oil painting...

Southampton Northam summer evening across the Itchen - oil painting

Southampton Northam summer evening across the Itchen - oil painting

oil painting 'Southampton Northam summer evening across the Itchen'

East Southampton (UK) is the subject of this oil painting. It shows a scene at Northam, an area dominated by the marine industry, and with the river Itchen shown running through the industrial landscape. The tidal river is quite wide here, so on low tide the mudflats are exposed hosting many old wrecks of boats. On the far side of the river can be seen some smaller ships and in the extreme distance is the suburb of Bitterne, shown as houses on the hilly landscape.

This oil landscape painting was produced during June 2018. It is 20” x 28” in size and uses primed mounting board as its support. Using this link takes you to a higher resolution image of the finished painting.

Steam Punk Cherubs - digital illustration

Steam Punk Cherubs - digital illustration

digital illustration 'Steam Punk Cherubs'

Mechanical little cherubs feature in this steam punk interpretation of a classical renaissance icon. Both are playing musical instruments in a cloudy, almost heaven like location with mechanical landmarks dotted around, one being a 'sun' like object.

This fantasy digital illustration was done in 'Auto Sketchbook Pro' during July 2018.
The illustration can be viewed in greater detail here.

Steam Punk Girl with space ship - WIP stages

Steam Punk Girl with space ship - WIP stages

A female steampunk pilot has found that her small space shuttle has broken down on this possibly hostile planet...
This illustration was done during the winter of 2018, and was created in 'Auto Sketchbook pro'. It was roughed out on an android tablet (galaxy) using an 'S pen', and that is the stage shown in the first panel with the line drawing, followed by the second panel which indicated the rough colouring of the scene. The third panel shows the finished artwork which has by this stage been exported to a W10 computer, running the same software, but using the benefit of the more powerful computer to enlarge and refine the painting.
The finished sci sf illustration can be viewed here.

closeup working progress 05

 closeup working progress 05

A small snippet of a cute, vampire based illustration for Halloween...

New Forest Path In Summer Evening - oil painting

New Forest Path In Summer Evening - oil painting

oil painted artwork - New Forest Path In Summer Evening

Created in June 2018 this landscape oil painting shows a path in woodland leading in to open countryside. The location is the 'New Forest', situated in Hampshire, on the south coast of the UK. It is based on a photograph taken during a late afternoon one summers day, so the long shadows play a role in the look of the picture. The painting is sized at 28” x 20” and is painted on primed mounting board. It can be seen in greater detail here.

Death Queen On Throne With Skulls - wip stages

Death Queen On Throne With Skulls - wip stages

working stages of 'Death Queen On Throne With Skulls' illustration

Finished in July 2018 digital illustration features a queen of some mysterious fantasy underworld. She sits on a stone throne with two unknown creatures as guards. She holds a spear with a skull dangling on the spike.
The initial sketch was done on an electronic tablet, often just by scribbling, when an idea may pop out. The sketch is developed as in the first panel, followed by the second stage which is to find a way to paint the scene, and look at colours and tonal values within. The second panel shows colour notes applied to the drawing, so that I now have a good model from which to do the proper painting. The next stage is to export the file out of the tablet in to a windows desktop machine, where the file is enlarged (from 768px x 1024px to 3000px x 4000px) and the fantasy illustration is repainted and refined to greater detail, still using auto Sketchbook pro as before but in a w10 environment. One good thing about the software is that I am able to work on different layers, and these layers are retained. The final stage is some tweaking within Photoshop to get to the final image, which can be seen here.

Working on closeup 48

Working on closeup 48

A small snippet of a marine based oil landscape...

Boy With Airplane On Hilltop - digital illustration

Boy With Airplane On Hilltop - digital illustration

illustration art of  'Boy With Airplane On Hilltop'

Created during July 2018, this illustration features a boy standing on a hill top imagining himself as a pilot flying through the air and zooming upwards at fantastic speeds. He has a helmet and wings made out of cardboard. Behind him a large, powerful (but impossible) airplane suddenly roars past him, pulling up grass and flowers from the hill.

This illustration was painted digitally in 'Auto sketchbook pro' with final details added in photoshop. It can be seen as a larger, more detailed image on this link.

closeup working progress 04

 closeup working progress 04

 A small snippet of a cherub fantasy illustration...

Death Queen On Throne With Skulls - digital illustration

Death Queen On Throne With Skulls - digital illustration

digital painting - Death Queen On Throne With Skulls

During July 2018 this fantasy illustration was created. The image contains a 'Queen of Death' sitting on her large and ancient throne. Either side of her are alien bodyguards in armour. The malevolent queen herself is adorned with fine jewellery and clothes, and is holding a spear with a human skull perched on the end, and thinking about her next victim. The location is some old temple, hidden from the real world and daylight.

The painting was produced digitally using 'auto Sketchbook pro' software. It was started on an android tablet and after a small period of development is then exported to a W10 computer where the file is enlarged, repainted and refined to create a high quality image.

This link takes you to a high quality version of the image for closer inspection.

Tea Set Monster Spiders Fantasy - digital illustration

Tea Set Monster Spiders Fantasy - digital illustration

Tea set spider monster fantasy art

Depicted in this digital illustration are the unusual subjects of two creepy and monstrous spiders which happen to also look like a tea set. One is a tea pot like creature with green goo emerging from the spout and the other is a cup and saucer combination. Both are sitting on a web which includes some cocooned tea spoons, awaiting their fate in this nightmare web scenario.

The digital illustration was painted in 'auto sketchbook pro' during July 2018, initially on a android tablet and the later exported, enlarged and refined on a W10 computer.

The spidery illustration can be seen in greater detail here.

Sleeping Cow On Grass On Sunny Day - oil painting

Sleeping Cow On Grass On Sunny Day - oil painting

painting of a Sleeping Cow On Grass

This oil painting features a cow relaxing and falling asleep while resting on grass, during a hot summer in Hampshire, UK. It is based on a photograph taken in the small town of Lyndhurst, deep within the New Forest national park It is painted on stretched water colour paper and the image size is 20” x 16”. The painting can be seen at a larger scale on this link.

closeup working progress 02

closeup working progress 02

A small snippet from an underworld darkly themed illustration...

 

New Forest path in summer evening - WIP stages

New Forest path in summer evening - WIP oil painting stages

'New Forest path in summer evening' - painting in stages

The picture panel shows the progression of a painting featuring a scene of a path in the New Forest, Hampshire, winding its way through the countryside on a sunny evening during the summer.

It is painted in oils on mounting board, which has been primed with 'gesso', basically a sealant to make sure the oil does not soak in to the paper fibers of the board. The image area is 28 x 20”.

The first picture shows the scene drawn in 'paynes grey' acrylic paint to put down the composition and indicate the tonal values (light and shade) within. White paint washes have been used to indicate bright areas, such as the sky. The second image now shows an oil wash has been applied to build up the base colours, to help indicate the overall placement of colours. In the third panel further details are added as well as more refined colour application. The last panel shows the final painting of the scene.

This painting can be viewed here on this link in greater detail.

Boy With Airplane On Hilltop - WIP stages

Boy With Airplane On Hilltop - WIP stages

digital painting steps - 'Boy with Airplane on Hilltop'

During July 2018 this digital stylized illustration was created. Depicted is a kid on a hill top wanting to be a pilot, and dons wings made of pieces of cardboard. Behind him a large jet aircraft swoops past.
The panel above shows three stages in the artworks creation. In the first can be seen the rough drawing done on an android tablet. The drawing does start up as very much a scribble, but gets refined as as time goes by. This is the finest it needs to be for my purposes. In the second panel the drawing is used as a guide while the picture is roughly painted and to find a pleasant set of colours and tones, but is still done on the handheld tablet and a small size. The last picture shows the completed picture. In this, the image file has been taken and exported to a w10 computer, running the same software but with a lot more power. In addition the picture has been scaled up so that when it is painted it will be painted with fine details and print well at a larger resolution.
The finished artwork can be seen in full detail here.

Tea Set Monster Spiders Fantasy - WIP stages

Tea Set Monster Spiders Fantasy - WIP stages

WIP digital painting stages -Tea Set Monster Spiders Fantasy

This digital illustration was completed during July 2018. It features an unusual design of tea set which happens to be in the form of monstrous spiders. The first panel shows the drawing as done on an android tablet using 'Auto Sketchbook Pro' software. Once one gets an idea from just scribbling around it does not take too long to start to produce an actual working drawing. The second panel shows a rough painting, still done on the same android tablet in which the colours and values are experimented with. The final panel shows the completed illustration, which is achieved by exporting the file in to a W10 computer, on which the file size is greatly enlarged and the scene is painted 'properly', but using a desktop version of the same program. Finishing touches and final grading are done in Photoshop.
The finished fantasy horror illustration can be seen here.

Working on closeup 47

Working on closeup 47

A small snippet of a woodland based oil painting...

Women Texting On Christchurch Station - acrylic painting

Women Texting On Christchurch Station - acrylic painting

Women Texting On Christchurch Station - acrylic painting

This acrylic painting was created during June 2018. It is sized at 16” x 12”, and done on stretched water-colour paper. The subject is a number of women, and one man, all busy texting while waiting for a train to turn up at the station. Christchurch, on the south coast of the UK, is the location of this brick built, Victorian station, set during a sunny but cold afternoon one December.

The finished painting can be seen in greater detail on this link.

closeup working progress 01

closeup working progress 01

A small snippet from an aviation themed illustration...

Steampunk Hover Rolls With Queen - WIP stages

Steampunk Hover Rolls With Queen - WIP stages

digital art stages - Steampunk Hover Rolls With Queen

A hovering Rolls Royce type of vehicle pulls up outside a mansion. It is transporting a Queen Victoria like character, sitting on her throne in a high position so that her subjects may view the monarchy. The Queen is protected by a very large windscreen and is sat at the back of the vehicle. Seated at the front is the chauffeur, behind a smaller, but still large windscreen.

This digital illustration was done in July 2018. It originated as a small sketch using the 'auto Sketchbook pro' app on a tablet. at a later stage the file was exported to a W10 computer where the image was enlarged and refined.

The illustration of the 'Royal Hovering vehicle' can be seen here on this link.

Twin propellers on blue boat - acrylic painting

Twin propellers on blue boat - acrylic painting

acrylic painting - 'Twin propellers on blue boat'

This marine based piece of artwork was created in May 2018 and painted in acrylics on stretched water-colour paper, sized at 16” x 12”.

It is based on a photo taken one morning at a local boat yard, and the subject was a boat resting on jacks out of the water awaiting refurbishment. The blue hull, which was rusty, and the propellers showed lots of deposits from marine life living on the boat exterior, and gave the propellers an interesting blue cast. The day was sunny some it was interesting to see the light playing over the complicated forms of the propellers blades.

The picture can be seen here on this link.

Women texting on Christchurch station - WIP stages acrylic painting

Women texting on Christchurch station - WIP acrylic painting stages

stages of working on 'Women texting on Christchurch station' art

This painting was produced during June 2018, and shows passengers on a station awaiting a train. They are all busy texting while awaiting transportation during a sunny winters afternoon.

The panel shows four stages to the creation of the painting, which is sized at 16” x 12”, and painted on stretched water-colour paper. In the first panel the drawing is shown, done in brown acrylic paint. A wash with the same colour paint is applied to show the shadows. Unusually in this case I did not do a coloured 'ground' over the paper, normally a yellow ochre or red, but just kept the paper 'white'. In the second panel dark base colours are applied, to help establish positioning of colours and act as an under-painting layer for when future paint layers are added. The third panel shows progression on the details and layers of paint being built up to there intended tonal values, which it turn leads to the finished artwork as shown in the forth panel.

The painting can be seen in detail on this link.

Sleeping cow on grass on sunny day - WIP stages

Sleeping cow on grass on sunny day - WIP stages

Sleeping cow on grass on sunny day - oil painting stages

The above panel shows stages of a painting, the subject of which is a cow dropping asleep in a field.

Basic photographic reference was obtained on one of my trips about in the area of Lyndhurst, situated within the area of the New Forest, UK.

Stretched watercolour paper is used as the support base, which was then given a coat of 'gesso' to seal the paper from any leakage of oil paint, to be placed later on top. Once the gesso was dry an orange acrylic wash was applied on top, after which the drawing of the cow scene was done on top using a brown acrylic paint and fine brush, and white paint to help indicate blocks of light for the tonal values. Following this, diluted oil paint was then used to place down the initial base colours. This 'under-painting' layer provides a good key to the last stage, which is when the oil paint is applied thicker to provide the final details and colours within the artwork.

The finished painting can be seen on this link.