Moving paintings

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I really must get all my paintings stored down at my studio. These are a tryptich of Jupiter. I need some work doing on the house, but I’ve got things hanging around that could be put away safe, they are up in the bedroom where I’m doing college work and everything is crammed together on one side of the room. Plus I actually have a commission. Someone contacted me. My first real job this year! I need to start getting things sorted out…. Spring cleaning – in late July. Perhaps I will get it done by September! In the meantime I need to get the college work done. The date for handing in work is soon. Help!

After Hokusai

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I painted this small painting a few weeks ago. I was seeing if I could even get close to the great artist Hokusai’s work. If I’d painted on to paper I might have added the fishing boats that are being dragged into the great wave while the fishermen in them try and row away from it. It was so hard to get the fingerlike protrusions that show the wave breaking. The colours are not too far off. I think the sky is greyer? When you try and analyse a picture its hard not to miss the the mistakes you have made. Being self critical is important because you try and improve each time.

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Triangle

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Not my favourite challenge, but I looked out of the window and saw various triangles. I rearranged the clothes on the airer so they made definite triangles, and the coats on the cupboard were hanging down in a triangle. I left the standard lamp out because it didn’t help the composition. The acrylic paint I used is quite opaque and as the group I’m in is called Urban sketchers Stoke-on-Trent I felt the sketchy feel was OK. If I had been doing a ‘proper’ painting I would have done a more realistic, painterly I ture. But I was concentrating on the triangles….

Finished Lobster painting.

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On the easle, I used a bit of gold paint in the background to give it a bit of sparkle. I hope the recipient will be happy with it. It’s acrylic on canvas, about A4 size. I did the background with very thin paint to start with and lots of water so the paint spread out and looks blotchy. Like a rough stone surface with bits of weed floating with it. I also tried to get the shadow underneath it to make the body stand up away from the ocean bottom.

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Almost finished Lobster

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Work in progress, about A4 size, acrylic on canvas. I’ve got to work on the background. It’s now a commission as someone saw the start of it and liked it. I’m not sharing this on my Facebook page because I want it to be a surprise. I don’t think I will do a lot more to it. I want to resolve the head though. The photo I’m working from has a lot of dark rock and patterns around its head and its hard to see what’s happening. That’s why a lot of the surface is on is light so the lobster stands out a bit more.

I’m trying to make it look like it’s almost floating. I might add some light and dark bands, like ripples of light and shade being reflected down from the surface.

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Playing with paint

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Oh I do like playing with paint. For example this is a little canvas I’m working on, it’s a WIP, (work in progress). I was thinking of adding some patterns and decorations to it. Maybe in the sky. Some stars, a comet, maybe a pattern in the glass. I haven’t decided yet. It’s another acrylic on canvas. I was trying to make more of a stylised character out of it.

Better get on and do some more work on things.

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USK challenge, contrast

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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.

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Tired from painting

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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!

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I painted a dog today. _20200629_173337

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.

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Started painting a lobster

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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?

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