Gnarled Tree

Gnarled Tree
Drypoint
11.7 x 8.3"

     I love trees. So much character. I might make a painting of this one later. Instead of ink I used watersoluble wax for this one. I rubbed it into the burr to create the colours. I might try and develop this technique further.

Weeping Angel Cosplay

Weeping Angel Cosplay
Wax On Watercolour Paper
18.3 x 11"

     A weeping angel cosplayer from the Dr Who TV series. I’ve never been able to get into Dr Who but I appreciate a well designed enemy and since any statue could potentially be a weeping angel that makes them pretty effective monsters.
     I tried to capture the grey colour of the outfit without making the piece too monotone so I took some liberties with this one but its the end image that’s important and I’m happy with the outcome

Blue

Blue
Wax On Watercolour Paper
15.2 x 10.6"

     I saw a Michael Carson portrait called 'Woman In Red' and it inspired me to try something similar. Another self portrait, but why not.

Self Portrait With Brush

Self Portrait With Brush
Wax On Watercolour Paper
19.1 x 14.8"

     I promise you I'm not a narcissist it's just that I don't have to pay the model. On a serious note though I do like the challenge of painting myself and its great practice. It's interesting how little we really know about the face we see everyday, especially when you have to really look at it and create an accurate portrayal.
     Though I never have paid much attention to my own face I wonder if it's different for women, and they know through putting on makeup the lines and features of their face better. Perhaps this makes women better self portraitist's.

Stuart

Stuart
Wax On Watercolour Paper
14.8 x 9.8"

     Continuing my portraiture work, this time one of my Grandad. It's surprisingly hard to even get family members to agree to a portrait but I need the work and so I will take whoever agrees to it. Older faces are more interesting and more challenging though, with their folds and wrinkles. This is exactly the challenge I need if I am to make more progression with my portraiture.
     Next comes a full body portrait as a further challenge and I hope it will be as successful as my previous ones. Though most of the subjects may be me in the next lot I do, I'm sure others will be more agreeable to have theirs done when they see the results. I hope to do some more animals pictures too soon and at least they can't say no to it.
    

Pineapple And Tomatoes

Pineapple And Tomatoes
Wax On Watercolour Paper
16.9 x 12.2"

     I struggled to get the lighting right on this one. It was very bright on the light side but using white made it look very washed out and flat. So I just worked into it with pale yellows and greens until it looked right. I'm a perfectionist so the last part of a painting always takes the longest. Making sure everything is the right colour, shade, hue as well as straight and correctly proportioned can make you feel a  little crazy. In the end you just have to accept its made by hand and so can never be perfect. Yes sometimes art can be really stressful.

Hills and Valleys

Hills and Valleys
Wax On Watercolour Paper
14 x 18"

     I wanted to create a sense of foreboding and loneliness in this paintings. The clouds are whipped up in the sky as a storm begins to form and a lone cow wanders across the scene. Its an isolated place to be and there is no protection from what's to come.

Something Different

Master And Apprentice
Wax On Paper

     Something a little different. I don't think I will be doing any more sci-fi stuff but I really like Star Wars and wax bars.

Small Cactus

Small Cactus
Wax On Watercolour Paper
14.8 x 7.6"

     As always with still life work it's a good opportunity to train the eye and paint something new. Of course this requires working from the same light source at the same time of day which isn't always possible since this isn't my only commitment. One day maybe this will be the only thing I have to do.

Spanish Jug

Spanish Jug
Wax On Watercolour Paper
18.3 x 14.2"

     I'm enjoying using water soluble wax as an alternative to acrylic especially as it is more immediate ad slightly quicker to work with. This is especially useful when doing studies from life as I have to work while it is still light (although this is getting easier with the coming summer.
     Unlike acrylic paint I don't have to mix my colours on the palette and can choose from what is already available. As with my colour mixing technique when using acrylic however I can layer the colours to achieve the desired colour and texture.

Satsuma's

Satsuma's
Wax On Watercolour Paper
9.3 x 14.4"

       I am attempting more still life pictures recently and have a few more I'm working on now. I enjoy working in such an intimate manner with the objects and can really work on the details up close. This is different from my architecture paintings where it's very much about the big picture. Its also great training from a technical point of view which is always a bonus.

Buick 8

Buick 8
Wax On Watercolour Paper
9.1 x 20.5"

      I'm working with wax again to make more resolved work that stands on its own next to my acrylic stuff. This is a possible entry into this years Derwent Art Prize. hopefully I can have the same success as last year.
     The main complaint I noticed with last years Art Prize was the lack of colour entries so I have a suspicion that this year they may want to accept more coloured works.

Sleep Together

Sleep Together
Wax On Watercolour Paper
20.6 x 14.8"

     I'm really enjoying working with the wax bars now and the flexibility they offer in terms of both painting and drawing. For this piece I opted to use only black and white for some tonal practice. admittedly the grave marker was grey anyway but it's still a good way to practice.

The Electric Church

The Electric Church
Wax On Watercolour Paper
14.6 x 17.8"

     It's funny how things transform at night, or in this case early morning. What is an unremarkable little church in the day transforms into quite a spectacle when it's dark as the red cross illuminates the early morning gloom.