Voyage of the Mayflower in rough seas - WIP stages

Four stages of the oil painting in progress

During September through to October 2019 this painting of the Mayflower, on its voyage to the new world in 1620, was created. It is an oil painting done on a canvas support sized at 24” x 36”.

The panel shows four stages of the painting. In the first section can be seen the canvas covered with a brown acrylic base, on top of which the drawing of the scene has been down with a darker acrylic line. White acrylic paint has been applied to show tonally lighter areas in the composition. Moving to the second panel a diluted oil paint layer has now been applied. These colours are applied thinly and give an indication of colour placement and tone relevant to each other, even though overall the picture looks (deliberately) dark. This acts as an underpainting so that when a new layer is applied, using thicker paint, the underpainting acts as a good support. The 3^rd panel shows some 'proper' painting applied with details,with the last panel showing the finished painting. It should be pointed out that after the painting layer has been applied, and once dry, a 'glaze' layer is sometimes added in this case. This is like a semi transparent wash of colour (mixed with clear oil) applied over elements in the painting to emphasize colour qualities, for example adding hints of green to the blue water to give added depth.

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

Voyage of the Mayflower in rough seas - oil painting

The voyage of the Mayflower in 1620 is depicted in this oil painting. It is seen in stormy weather in the North Atlantic on its way to the New World, after leaving Plymouth with Pilgrims from Holland and England. It is a small cargo ship, about 100ft long and it would have been a rough journey for the passengers as it was not built for people. It was also quite cramped as the original plan was for a second ship, Speedwell, to have also undertook the journey but it was found that it was to be unseaworthy at Plymouth, so the Mayflower had to take the extra load. The journey took approximately 2 months.

The painting is created in oils on a 24” x 36” canvas during September/ October 2019. As no one actually knows what the ship looked like various pieces of reference were cobbled together to create the most version of the design. Composition wise the image was at first designed on a computer art program where the initial drawing was envisaged and then painted digitally to find a good combination of colours. Once a suitable solution had been found it was then redrawn on a canvas and painted in the traditional manner. It was intended for the painting to be displayed as part of the celebrations held for the event at the Southampton City gallery but the COVID19 pandemic meant that the exhibition did not take place as planned and was substituted by an online one.

The artwork can be view in close up by going to this site. XXXX

Monster Octopus attacking building in storm

Monster Octopus attacking building in storm

A giant octopus is seen attached to the side of a tall building during a stormy evening, its tentacles weaved around the office block. Lightning is flashing across the sky and illuminating the creature allowing passers by on the street to look up and be shocked by the sight of the monster. It has many sharp teeth, and will pose a threat for some time...

Painted in Photoshop to A4 size during February 2014.

http://martin-davey.artistwebsites.com/featured/monster-octopus-attacking-building-in-storm-martin-davey.html

Monster Octopus attacking building in storm

Scary Scarecrow in field

Scary Scarecrow in field

 

This digital horror illustration was drawn in Photoshop during January 2013. Depicted is an old stalwart subject of the horror world, the creepy scarecrow in a field. Naturally the scene is shown in a gloomy mode with a storm forming one late afternoon over an old, abandoned farm. The Scarecrow its self is dressed in a old farmers outfit, stuffed with twigs. The head however is turned toward the viewer and is looking straight at us. There is also a mysterious green hazy light emitting from it, in particular around the face.

scary scarecrow in field-digital painting

Frankenstein creature in storm (vector version)

Frankenstein creature in storm (vector version)

This vector based illustration depicts frankenstein's famous creature out and about in a storm. It is done to A3 size and was completed in November 2012.

frankenstein creature in storm