New paintings and regular art updates.
I’d got my paints out so I painted one of our cats on top of the washing pile. He was flat out for a few minutes. The theme is contrast, so I thought the bright colours, including the fluorescent jacket, would make a good contrast. I’m pleased with how it’s turned out.
Acrylic on cartridge paper. Its curled the paper a bit, but when the sketchbook is closed it should flatten out OK.
X
I’ve been painting a lot over the last few days. I was up till 5am, went to bed but then got up at 11am so I’m really tired. I thought I would take a photo of what I’ve been doing. You can see the contrasts in size. When I took this photo I didn’t know the kingfisher would be sold two hours later. It’s now at a good friend’s. I’ve been asleep half the evening. I wish I had more energy.
As you can see my ideas are many and varied. I was going to do a craft fair this weekend but decided against it as I don’t think it’s safe enough and I’m not happy to risk being out in public. Hopefully I will be able to do another one. Also it’s not a good idea to sell you stock prior to an event. I’m going to do some more but I need a decent night’s sleep!
I painted a dog today. 
The colours are a bit out in this picture. It’s nose isn’t that red. I might change it to tone it down a bit. It looks like it’s owned by a clown! I wanted to paint a dog because I’m always drawing and paintings cats, so it makes a change. I’m not sure if I should look at a picture of a red setter. This is from an old black and white photo that I found in a book. So the colours are made up… I haven’t used it here because it might be copyright.
Another acrylic on canvas, for the craft stall on Saturday.
X
Hard to copy, this is a small acrylic on canvas, based on the Japanese artist Hokusai’s picture of a massive wave seemingly threatening mount Fuji and boats fighting the turmoil of the water.
How does he draw that wave? Finger like curves protrude from the water, white wavelets curve all in one direction. The water becomes a threatening mountain about to collapse. The height of the wave threatens not only the people in the boats, but it even dwarfs Mount Fuji itself.
When did he draw and paint it? He was a famous artist I think for a long time. We’re there other pictures and sea in his career? I think there were.
The image is so well recognised. Type in 🌊 wave on your phone and you get an icon which seems to symbolise Hokusai’s wave and mimics it.
How do you analyse such amazing work. How can you understand it. He makes me wish I could copy his style.
My artistic block seems to have ended with a sea theme now emerging.
These are works in progress. The latest is an homage to the famous japanese artist Hokusai. Based on one of his most famous works The Wave. Mount Fuji is sitting calmly, surrounded by a stormy sea. I’ve left the boats out as this is a small canvas and I’m struggling with the breaking wave. It is not going to be an accurate copy as I say. More a homage.
So why can I suddenly paint again? I think all the art work and drawing in doing might have helped. But I think it’s the thought of having a craft stall this Saturday that I’ve been invited to display my work at. I’m hoping things will be safe enough to do it. If not I will have some new art to display somewhere else.
X
I’m not quite sure what sort of lobster it is? Maybe a blue kneed one? Acrylic on canvas. Will try and finish it tomorrow.
I was talking to someone months ago and discussed painting a lobster. But this is just a small canvas, a bit of fun. Seeing if I can capture a crustacean in acrylics. It belongs to the same family as crabs and scorpions I think?
X
Finally finished in June.
After a long hiatus, I’ve finally started painting again. Mostly because there is a socially distanced craft fair on next weekend and I need to earn some money.
This is a kingfisher taken from a shutterstock photo I think. I’ve had the photo on my phone for months.
I love the blue/orange contrasting colours. I’m going to do a few tiny canvases and then one or two nature paintings and flowers from the garden… Plus lots of college work, so it will be a busy week for me… Wish me luck.
X
I’ve just downloaded a trial of Corel Painter Essentials 7
In English I mean I have downloaded a drawing package onto my computer. I hope it will be easy to use, I have got to explore it. What I ended up with after five minutes of playing is like a cave painting! so I guess that’s appropriate as I’m learning.
There are lots of things you can set on it, various AI things (artificial intelligence) like an AI Van Gogh. But I haven’t sussed out how to use them, I clicked on the buttons but wouldn’t say that I could see any difference to the mark making.
Later I’m going to read “Where the Wild Things are” by Maurice Sendak (if that’s how its spelled). Its a book I read in my childhood and I am interested in using it as part of a case study for my course, what fun!
X
Stoke-on-Trent urban sketchers challenge today. The prompt was bottles so I went and drew the ones I have on the windowsill in my bathroom. My favourite is dark blue. Then there is a ‘poison’ bottle of perfume a glass cat with a glass goldfish trapped in it. A square small gin bottle and an old chemistry bottle with a cork… I do like collecting stuff…
I used brush pens and permanent colour pens and a fine liner. On cartridge paper in my sketchbook…
Just enjoying the challenge of drawing the fern that has spread everywhere in the bathroom.
X
I tried to draw a ‘real’ shibui. I’m not sure I’ve actually got the right idea, but anyway I started with an ink pen held lightly between thumb and forefinger. As I breathed I let the lines wander across the page. These are the purple marks. I even rested he pen on my hand and let it slide down in a wide, slightly jerky, motion…. Then I found ideas coming into my mind, faces, eyes, animals, a skull. Icecream, figures standing and crouching. I decided to add colour. I hope the drawing expresses emotion, and thought. I realised this morning that I had drawn environmental themes. These include a polar bear on cracking ice and a tree dying in the heat. A possible wolf skull and a blazing sun setting fire to the world… Its called Releasing my mind.
X
Mallaband-Brown