Bird Box

Bird Box
Papercutting
16.5 x 11.75"

     Here's a nice peaceful picture I made. I thought the idea of making the leaves from a mass of cut out paper was an interesting idea.
     I have been neglecting my blogs a little bit. It's a new year so here is an update. More to follow very soon. I need to catch you up on what I have been working on.

Morning Coffee

Morning Coffee
Graphite On Paper
16.5 x 11.75"

     I went back to a more abstract way of working for this one, but still making it recognisable and representative. I wanted to show a lot of light in this drawing and how it bounces around to illuminate and create a silhouette. 

Curve

Curve
Papercutting
16.5 x 11.75"

     More belly dancer fun. I thought I should do a closer crop for this one so I could add more details to the costume. Of course more details mean more cutting and this makes the paper very weak. I have seen some crazy papercutting though with a lot more detail in them than mine, so it's just a case of being careful when working on it and careful storing it.
     I have been thinking about adding colour to my papercutting pictures but that will take a lot of planning. I am in love with processes though so it should be interesting to figure it all out. I may also make some belly dancer pictures in other mediums to if I can ever find the time.

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.
    

Remembrance

Remembrance
Monotype On Paper
11.7 x 8.3"

     I made a picture for remembrance day last year and so thought I would do one again. I thought one of those plastic poppy's would be an ideal subject and print be the ideal medium. Originally I was going to make it using flat colours but I decided I wanted to give it some depth. I'm glad I detailed it with the shadow and highlights now as it really adds another dimension to the piece.
     So here are the results of another successful monotype. With it I give thanks to the men and women who fought and died to give me the freedom I enjoy today, and allow me to create my art. Thank you for your sacrifice and I will not forget it.

Self Portrait In Blue Shirt

Self Portrait In Blue Shirt
Acrylic On Canvas Paper
13.5 x 19.5"

     So this is me in colour. Nothing too complicated, just a head shot to help me build confidence in painting a portrait. I'm happy with my change of focus from buildings to figures but I wish I had done so sooner. Never mind though as at the time of writing this I have finished another portrait and have started a third which is more complex as it is set within a scene. So look out for those in the coming weeks.

Conisbrough Library

Conisbrough Library
Acrylic On Canvas
16 x 20"

     Another interesting local building. This time I thought I would add people as some of my other building paintings feel a little devoid of life. To be honest though they are about the building and not the people but it doesn't hurt to add a little more life. Plus I thought it would be funny to add someone at the bus stop checking their watch. That's British humour for you.