Wilted Daffodils
I painted this a few weeks ago as we moved towards the end of Spring. I spent several days trying to capture these same flowers when they were freshly opened, but couldn’t resolve the composition, and regardless of paint passages…
Floral Painting
I find flowers so difficult to paint. They can be structural, but delicate; with light both reflected by, but also travelling through, petals and leaves. To achieve true softness and believability is such a challenge. In many ways, I don’t…
Bergamots on a Delft Plate
In more palette experimentation, I didn’t use any earth colours in this painting; relying on a palette containing Cadmium Lemon, Cadmium Red Medium, Alizarin Crimson, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue and White. I again used minimum medium and found the texture…
Beacon
I used a more subdued palette for this painting of a lemon, where nonetheless, the subject seemed to shine out of the darkness. I made a conscious effort to use little medium, put down thicker paint and not fuss the…
Yellow and Green
A little citrus still life with some stronger colours than those usually found on my palette – namely Viridian and Pthalo Blue. I was particularly interested in the light shining through the glass bottle and reflecting its beautiful green on…
Back to Drawing
These studies were a result of feeling that I just wanted some straightforward sight-size practice to get my eye in, so to speak. Both took 4 or 5 sessions each, which is relatively rapid for this kind of exercise. I…
Catching the Snow
Here’s a quick post showing the plein air paintings I completed during the very short burst of cold weather we’ve recently experienced. These mark the first time in many, many months that I’ve ventured outside to paint. I find it…
Figure Painting
A couple of little figure studies from before Christmas. Fairly pedestrian in nature, but I quite like them.
Close-up Portrait II
Another close-cropped portrait. This time of the lovely, glamorous Jo; such an engaging and interesting lady. This was painted very broadly, and my panel was in shadow for most of the sittings. It was a bit of a shock when…
Close-up Portrait
Here’s another small portrait that I completed before Christmas. I’ve had quite limited studio time lately and this scale isn’t too big a commitment – usually meaning that each project will (for good or bad) reach a conclusion. I didn’t…
