New paintings and regular art updates.
Painting I did of the gaseous swirls of one of Jupiter’s polar regions. The photos were taken by NASAs Juno probe. I was amazed at the colours and patterns on that fantastic world and had to have a go..
It’s a large acrylic on canvas. I think I painted it two years ago and it was included in an exhibition called ‘blue’ at Spode Studios, Eleanora Street, Stoke-upon-Trent, which is one of the six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent.
A blue lobster I painted earlier in the year ( I used a stock image off Google to work from) I’ve now got to paint a purple crab to accompany it! I find it quite difficult holding my phone as I cant always print images off. It’s also interesting that I have reverted back to my old signature, I had started signing things “Mallaband-Brown” simply because my name is so long its not always easy to fit my full name on. Also it is meant to be my brand (my blog is called mallaband-Brown too). There are so many things I should be doing to improve the look of what I post. For instance this image is twisted slightly, so the edges of the canvas do not line up with the edges of the picture… I guess I should pay more attention, but my brain is more involved in the actual painting than being neat!
I’m doing a collaboration with the Orme art group. I have already done square 2, not very well, but I’ve also volunteered to do square 6 too. Today I went out and got some new permanent markers and some gel pens, so I will try and come up with a copy of the image. It’s a painting by Bonnard, but I can’t remember the title.
We have already done copies of a Picasso, a Monet, and a Matisse if I remember rightly. Fingers crossed 🤞
unfortunatley I only have this small file of a painting I did at college over forty years ago. It was a painting of a fellow student called Ann. I was really pleased with it and only parted with it because a friend really wanted it, I also gave my ‘friend’ a few other paintings for Christmas and birthdays. I found out later my ‘friend’ and her husband burnt them on a bonfire because he did not like them. Suffice to say I am no longer friends with her. I cant tell you how upset I was when I found out….
Oil on canvas about 1981?
This popped up on my Facebook memories from a couple of years ago. Winter blossom shows a face in profile hidden in the twisted branches. The idea of the tree is based on a tree across the road from us that actually blossoms in December. It’s just coming into flower now. But clearly my idea is a bit more abstract and surreal. I did the painting and it sold at an Orme Art exhibition in the November, where my friend had fallen in love with it.
This was a tiny painting I did three years ago soon after I got my studio at Spode. I paint small pictures so that if people don’t have wall space for anything large they could still have something, and not expensive. This was about 1″ by 2″, it was sold at a craft fair (remember the heady days when people could go out and cram into a place full of lovely crafts and art?). Maybe, one day, I can do a few more.
If you are learning to draw have you tried drawing vanishing points yet? If you draw a horizontal line along the middle of a piece of A4 paper you can work out how to do three dimensional objects. Draw a dot somewhere along that line. Use a ruler and draw lines radiating from it. Then draw vertical lines up or down to them. Instant buildings in perspective. You can even use more than one vanishing point. For curved objects like a can or a glass it gives you a clue on how to draw curves and what direction they will be in. Generally upwards if you are looking from below the rim of a can and downwards if from above. It all depends on your eye level. The horizontal line in this exercise represents that. But it’s your choice. The line can be higher or lower (think of the view for a child, closer to the ground, or someone at the top of a bus!)
I used to also have fun drawing boxes with this, or alien buildings, or anything, I tried it with a horse once! You can use soft pencil to draw in the lines so you can erase them later, or use to mark out an object before you start a painting. It helps you sort out all types of things, including portraits or figures. Just play about with it.
I only suggested A4 as that gives you plenty of room…. You can use any size or type of paper.
Looking through my photos of small paintings with gold leaf, I found this of my girl cat. I think I was about half way through this painting. I used the gold leaf to emphasise her eyes and the cushion behind her. I know I have a bit left over. I was not very good at attaching the gold leaf, its hard to stop it wrinkling and breaking up, but I would say its fun to use and have a go if you fancy it.
The first picture was drawn in ArtRage oils. The second was edited in Photodirector. Take your pick of which you prefer. I’ve changed the texture and colours in the second one. I’ve also added an overlay of grunge and some extra texture using a couple of the filters. I think although they are both digital, the first looks more painterly, the second more stylised, like a print. I could imagine both of them being used as editorial images as illustrations for a written presentation about horses? All the time I’m trying to improve my drawing and art skills….
Painted a year or two ago. The derelict pottery at the back of Portmeirion pottery. I love painting bricks. Most of the windows are boarded, and the Falcon symbol is on the end of the building. Painted in Autumn, acrylic on canvas.
It’s still standing but I think I will take some more photos of it before long, it’s worrying that it’s not being maintained or restored as far as I know. I guess it might be taken care of one day, but I’m not sure when.
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