Using Sketcher Free and Layout Apps

I use a few apps and thought I would show you a progression using them. Initially I chose a turquoise background in Sketcher Free, and using the ribbon pen and white then black colours I drew a unicorn but made it into what I called a Zebracorn, (or unizeb!)

I then changed it using a different pen to form wings, but went back to the ribbon pen to finish them off and try and lose the unicorns horn. I suppose you could call it pegazeb?

Another app you can use on Samsung galaxy tablets is Layout. It allows you to duplicate images, rotate them up or down or side to side..left to right etc. There are various options and some if them are shown below. Doubling, quadrupling or even making multiples of them.

Of course then it’s good to display them on line, so I put a lot of drawings on Instagram. That gives you the opportunity to use filters more – which is seen in the final picture, changing from turquoise to green.

So basically you can go from a finger painting to something much more complex using a couple of apps.

One word to describe my Art? “Eclectic”

Some artists have a theme they keep to, they will always paint birds or sculpt bodies, or even unmake beds.

I cannot do that, my mind jumps all over the place.  I usually paint in acrylics, but have also painted scenery, made props for plays, made pottery. I take reasonable photographs.  I recently crocheted blue squares and circles for a friends installation. I have painted murals, drawn in the sand on beaches, done digital art… I am eclectic.

Give me something to make a mark and something sparks in my brain, like a fire, and it won’t easily go out. The more I do the more I feel I can and should do better.

Isn’t it mad how a grey lump of stuff in your head can make you create?  Some people write, others make music. Something in my mind is very visual. I wish I knew more about how the mind works to explain mine. It must be something to do with memory and hand eye co-ordination. I started drawing at about 4 and I haven’t really stopped since.

So I have posted a few more pictures,  not all good, but its hard to search through so many images to find representative work.

If you want to draw, paint or create art, don’t hesitate, do it. The more you do the better you get. Practice helps, you can learn new techniques. Just don’t be afraid to try!

Illustrating cards

My friend asked me to illustrate a few cards for her because she wanted to give them to some friends who have helped her out.

I took photos of various objects in her house, then used washes of acrylic paint and black marker pen to  finish them off. I also used a photo of a train in a book as she had specifically asked for a locomotive.

The results are quite sketchy and free, I hope she likes them…

Etruria Artists are opening up again tonight

FB_IMG_1517207844064Now that we are through the worst if the winter weather  (hopefully) Etruria Artists are opening up the warehouse at Etruria Locks in Stoke on Trent again.

Situated in an old warehouse on the Trent and Mersey canal in Stoke on Trent, it is near to the Etruria Industrial museum, which sits on the junction of the Canal with the Caldon branch of it.

The sessions run from 7 to 9 pm on a Thursday evening and should run regularly except when people are on holiday. Situated along the canal towpath from the museum. Walk past the forge and a few yards further on the warehouse stands next to the summit lock (lock 40).  It can be quite dark along the path so its an idea to bring a torch. The warehouse should be lit up when you arrive. Come on in.

The idea is that you can come in and get into doing art. There us a pottery wheel and you can throw pots or hand build ceramics. There is usually paper and paints and pencils available with people from the group happy to help you create your own work.

A small charge of £5 a session is made to cover costs. So why not come along and enjoy a stress busting session at the warehouse?

EDIT: we are not meeting this week, 12.4.18 …but should be opening next week again….

So close…and now it’s finished!

After hours of work my willow pattern painting is finished.

I have finished working on it after having to have a rest .IMG_20180129_191216_656

I needed to add details in the reflection at the bottom of the painting , plus shading and highlights on the platter and behind it so it stands out more.

This is the third painting of ceramics I have done in this series.

this jug was the second acrylic on canvas I did.

and this is part way through the teapot painting, which was the first one I did. ..

Im not sure how many more I will paint.

Paintings for sale

IMG_20180130_131331_987

I have some of my tiny and mini paintings for sale at the Place to Be in Newcastle, Staffordshire.

Painted on small matchbox sized canvases, and some about 4 or 5 inches square. If you don’t have a wall to display pictures on you could choose something tiny and unique.
You will also be supporting the shop and the YMCA.

There are tiny paintings and the miniture paintings for sale.

 Find them at The Place to Be, York place, off Merril Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme,  ST5 2AH.
Facebook page @YMCANSThePlaceToBe .IMG_20171116_071646_815

I hope to produce more of these in the coming months.

I am also going to produce some greetings cards which will be for sale alongside them

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Anyone for tea (pot)?

This is a current work in progress….

 

I’m working on a painting that might be a bit odd, but as I live in the Potteries its nice to do something that reflects that heritage.

The painting is a bit smaller than A2 in size, acrylic on canvas. Although I have looked at a couple of reference photos its mostly from my imagination. I decided on a dark background to make the teapot stand out more. I need to do more work on the background wood panelling and the pot. Bringing in more reflections and light.

Work in progress

20180109_185901I’m trying to do some paintings of pottery. I know what I want to do in my minds eye, but getting it down on canvas is a different matter.

Do I copy directly from reference photos, imagine a peice of pottery or do a bit of both? In this case I have used a photo of a teapot shape, but have started to create a pattern based on a local pottery pattern, but not an exact copy. I am not sure what to do next but I’m considering adding butterflies or flowers…. I suppose I could add any additional object…. I just don’t want it looking too flat .

What else should I add?

IMG_20171123_164836_191I have so many ideas to share. I intend to add a few more pages but I need to know how much memory it takes. I just tried adding another picture and my device came up with one of those “not enough memory to continue” messages. Does anyone else have a similar problem? (As you can see I have now worked it out).

It feels like a new door is opening for me, I hope I have the courage to go through it!

If I can resolve the issue I will be adding pages about animal portraits, sketching, life studies and photography.  Wish me luck!