ACEO Cat on Blue Pastel Paper

'Wish Upon a Star'

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I've done almost no art this last week due to a four footed addition to the family, I'll share some photographs soon.

I did have time to do this ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5, coloured pencil and watercolour on blue pastel paper.

Another Mixed Media Cat

I'm using this tabby cat to do another demo on painting cats eyes. I decided to put some fur in first round the eye to give it a setting.

As usual watercolour and colour pencil on hot press watercolour paper.

Book review: Natural History Painting with the Eden Project

I already own the two Botanical art books based round the Eden Project and am impressed with them, so when I spotted this new title I couldn't resist buying it.

Book Details

Natural History Painting with the Eden Project by Rosie Martin and Merial Thurstan

Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Batsford (3 Aug 2009)

One of the things I liked about the other books was the quality of the illustrations and again in this book they were very nice.

The emphasis is on pencil drawing and watercolour and the book covers each part of the painting process.

The book is divided into 15 chapters including 'Setting Up' which discusses materials and includes an exercise in drawing scales accompanied by some excellent drawings.

There is a chapter on colour theory which highlights colour mixing and has some examples of what can be achieved using limited colours.

As well as chapters on 'Bugs', 'Birds' and 'Sea Life'there are more unusual chapters on'Bones', Íridescence' and "Display and Mimicry'

I was a little disappointed there is very little on mammals but the rest of the content makes up for it.

I think the book will appeal to both beginners and more advanced artists as it is sufficiently different from anything else available at present.

The 2009 Exhibition of the Society of Feline Artists

'Moody Blue'

On Tuesday I travelled to London to attend the 2009 Society of Feline Artists Exhibition held at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery.

I had met up with my friend, fellow artist Katherine Tyrrell. Katherine has written an exhibition review on her blog 'Making a Mark'

My paintings were in the window and the first thing that I noticed was that 'Moody Blue' had already sold, in advance of the official opening.

The opening was exceedingly well attended and as in past years opened by the patron of the Society, David Grant, well known celebrity Vet.

As always the standard was high and the work diverse. You can see lots of photographs of the event on the Society Blog. These can be viewed as a slide show or photo album.

My personal favourite was 'Geoffrey's Cat' by Natalie Mascall, not surprisingly it was already sold.

For anyone interested in feline art the exhibition is well worth a visit, it runs until 18/09/09 and the gallery is open until 7.30pm Monday to Saturday.

I also discovered that The Cat magazine had used an image of 'Moody Blue' to promote the exhibition. The Cat magazine is the official supporter magazine of Cats Protection. That was the finishing touch to a very pleasant afternoon.

Tabby Cat in Graphite

Although I took a small set of watercolours to Canada I spent most of my time glued to my camera. By the time we got back to the room in the evenings I was ready for my art fix so I started a tabby cat in graphite.

This is about12 x 10 on Arches HP watercolour paper.

I'm going to the Private View for the SOFA Exhibition at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery tomorrow. If any of you are going to be there please come and say hello.

Home Again

I'm back although my luggage isn't.
We had a three hour delay in Vancouver and then a seven hour wait at Heathrow and now the jet lag has kicked in.
I'll be back with some new artwork tomorrow.

Black Bear at Banff

Look what appeared at the side of the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff.
I was lucky enough to see a Grizzly last year in Yellowstone but this was my first Black Bear. It was quite interested in having its photograph taken as you can see.

More from Canada

A scene and an animal.

Moraine Lake and a Hoary Marmot.

Today was warm and sunny so the water at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake was a really deep turquoise.

There were plenty of Ground Squirrels and several Marmots enjoying the sun.

Canadian Wildlife

Taking lots of photographs for future paintings including this Chipmunk who obligingly posed for me.
It is raining today but hopefully should improve tomorrow as we traveel towards Banff.

Time for a Break

I'm going on holiday to Canada tomorrow until the 30/08.
If I find any internet access I'll post some photographs, otherwise 'll see you in September. I'm hoping to take plenty of wildlife and background material for future paintings.
I'm also taking a tiny set of watercolours and my pencils to do some sketching.

Tabby Kitten finished

'Practice Catch'

I finished just in time to meet my deadline. A courier is collecting the paintings tomorrow and taking them to London to be included in the 2009 Society of Feline Artists Exhibition at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery.

Another Tabby Kitten in watercolour and coloured pencil

This is to be my final feline picture for the Society of Feline Artists 2009 exhibition. It is the same kitten as last time but in a different pose.
I only really have tomorrow to finish this one and the other watercolour portrait because I'm working next week until the courier collects them on Thursday.

Black Cat Finished

Click here to bid.

Finished.
I think I might do a dog on black, it's a long time since I did a dog.

Black Cat continued

Almost there, a couple more hours to the finish.

Yesterday I went to pick some Bilberries which grow on the edge of the moor. It's been a good crop this year with plenty of sun and rain to encourage growth.
Some of the larger ones are now very squishy, you touch them and they explode in a purple red mess. After a few minutes I looked like I'd been the victim of some horrible crime, even worse Roxie and Clinton had been helping so they had red stains all the way up their white legs. Walking back to the car we met a party of walkers who took one look and increased their walking speed.

Work on Black

To bid on the ACEO click here

I've been working on black paper in watercolour and coloured pencil.

First a small one, ACEO size 2.5 x 3.5 inches, then I started a 4 x 6, guess what they are both cats.

I'm going to Canada in a couple of weeks and discovered today that the flights have changed I now only have just over an hour to transfer flights at Heathrow. Somehow I don't think I can manage that, especially as I have to reclaim my luggage and transfer it to the Vancouver flight. Fortunately I have managed to arrange an earlier flight from Manchester, I now leave at 6.30am rather than 8.30 am, I'm just wondering if can stay semi asleep!

Watercolour Cat Continued

I'm still enjoying the watercolour and still hoping to get this done in time for the SOFA exhibition.
For the third year running one of my paintings has been included in the SOFA brochure, this year it's 'Moody Blue'. My friend Katherine has gone one better and had her painting included on the front page.
Here's the link to the post Katherine wrote about the 2009 SOFA exhibition.
"Meet the Kittens" on the SOFA front cover

Full Moon Cat

To bid click here.

I decided to do something that was fun, this is Full Moon Cat, coloured pencil and watercolour on Pastelmat, it's 7 x 9 inches.

Christie's on the iPhone

We bought my younger son an iPhone for his birthday in the hope that he'll keep in touch when he starts studying medicine in London later this year.

I knew he had a lot of applications on it and have been quite impressed with one or two of them.

Last night he showed me that Christie's Auction House now have a free application available.

It's pretty amazing as it features catalogues with high quality images. I looked at several pieces of artwork and was able to rotate them and zoom in without losing detail. It also gives an estimate of what the piece is likely to bring at auction.

Eventually they hope you will be able to bid at auction using the phone.

Link:- Christie's iPhone Application

Watercolour Tabby Cat Continued

I'm finding that using watercolour is adding a softness to my fur, probably because the strokes are less defined.

Tabby Cat and Robin

I've continued to work on my Robin and started what will probably be my lkast cat for this years SOFA exhibition.

Both pieces are watercolour, including watercolour pencils and both are around 12 x 16 on Arches paper.

National Exhibition of Wildlife Art - NEWA

'Intensity'

The NEWA Exhibition takes place from Friday 17/07 to Sunday 02/08 at the Gordale Garden Centre on the Wirral

The list of selected artists is here, and the online gallery will be available to view from Friday (17th).

Two of my pieces have been selected, 'Hidden' (Mallard) and 'Intensity', it is a real high when you open the envelope and see that you have been listed as a selected artist.

If you like wildlife art and live near enough to visit then there is something for everyone at the exhibition. The online gallery is excellent for those that can't visit, the images are a nice size and the details are clear.

Robin in Watercolour

The mallard was completed and delivered to NEWA, it's now a matter of waiting to see if it gets selected for the exhibition.

Following completion of the Mallard I've started a Robin in watercolour. This time I'm going to paint in some branches, fading them out towards the edges and leave the rest of the background white.
This is only part of the painting, the part that fit on my scanner.

Female Mallard

Back to the Mallard, just the bottom right to finish and a little tweaking.

Fox Finally Finished

Apart from a few tweaks that is.

Now I need to finish the Mallard, I have three days and I'm working two of them.

Red Fox continued

Just a quick update.

Red Fox - Take 2

I have been getting more and more disatisfied with my fox. I'm not sure if it was the ear, the muzzle, the colour, I just don't know what it was I didn't like about him. He looked more like a Corgi than a fox to me.

After spending several more hours on him I did what I should have done when the doubts set in, I started again. I know paintings go through an ugly stage but I'm usually right when I decide it's not the ugly stage, it's the terminal stage. So he was terminated and I started on Arches paper rather than board, same size, same reference. I'm much happier with him, I will add the dark background, probably after I do the eyes. The fur this time looks more like my work and he is already looking more 3D.

By the way you aren't seeing things, I'm still having trouble with his ear, I'm thinking of making hiom a battle scarred fox :)

Rather than doing another post I thought I'd just add the update. You can't really see the colours in the background, but they are there, honestly.

Fox and Kingfisher

I'm starting to build some depth in the coat with layers of acrylic, still a long way to go. I'll add some glazes next.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to capture a pair of Kingfishers with my camera. I've never before been close enough to get usable photographs, yesterday I got around 100. Some are a little blurred but all are usable. Here are a couple.

Red Fox continued

I've had very little time this week but am managing to put in a little time on the Red Fox.
Some of it is looking a little flat bgut that should start to improve with the next layers.

Further Foxy Fun

After struggling with the ear I've now struggled with the muzzle. It looks a simple shape, it is a simple shape, could I draw it, no.

I resorted to blue as have so many half removed white lines, no wonder he looks miserable.

Notice how I'm avoiding the ear.

Fox part 2

I thought I'd better do the background next. I put a layer of Neocolour ll down then started working in coloured pencil. So far I've done the left hand side, you can see the line where I've got to.

Fox on Ampersand Pastelbord

I sometimes take a drawing to work if I think I might have a lunch break. I try to take something that doesn't tear, or bend, or crease in my briefcase. Ampersand pastelbord is ideal, it survives the journey intact, of course getting coffee tipped on it is a whole different thing.

This fox is on the sand colour, it's 11 x 14 and up to now I've just used coloured pencils, that however could change any second I can feel the call of the acrylic.

I didn't get work on it at lunch by the way, I remembered had to pick some frames up from my local art shop.

Another Miniature Cat on Hahnemuhle Paper

To bid on this cat click here.

I've finished another ACEO size cat.

This time I used Hahnemuhle Hot Pressed watercolour paper, I'm not sure if I will use it again or not.

The advantages were:-

It is a white paper, whiter than Arches which I usually usually use

The acrylic went on smoothly

The disadvantages for my technique were:

I found it to be quite textured for a hot press paper, this affected how I drew my fur

If I had a sharp point on my pencil it lifted the fibres in the paper meaning I couldn't achieve a smooth finish

I adapted how I worked, using more acrylic and less pencil which helped. I also used a slightly blunt pencil and blended my layers using a very light touch.

I'm pleased with the final result but it was a lot more work to achieve the finish I wanted

Crowned Crane

I went in search of some young Tawny Owls today, I didn't see them but I did see this beautiful Crowned Crane. I couldn't resist photographing it for future reference, I can't wait to paint that hairstyle.

I also took some nice photographs of Black Tailed Godwits, the males look really showy in their Summer plumage, they're one of my favourite birds.

Little Owl Continued

I've been asked a lot of questions about how I combine acrylic and coloured pencil on drafting film. All will be revealed, but it will have to be later I'm off to catch a train now as I'm not in a driving into city centre mood.

Little Owl on Drafting Film

A different subject and a surface I haven't used for a long time, drafting film. I'm working mainly in coloured pencil with touches of acrylic.
This is just part of the whole image, it will be around 20 x 16 when finished and include the whole of the owl.

Another Watercolour Cat finished

Worked on this one last night and finished him. I'm moving on to a different subject now, will it be a fox or an owl? it really should be the mallard.

All my dogs have decided to shed their coats which means an extremely hairy house and no shows, unless I enter them in the Smooth rather than Rough Collie classes. This is rather disappointing because I enjoy the summer shows. We could still go without the dogs but I always feel wrong without at least one dog.

Another Watercolour Cat

I'm getting ready to do a larger work in watercolour but decided to do another small one first.

Again this is 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I have to say that the more I use the watercolour the less I'm reaching to add something else to the mix.

Tabby Cat in Watercolour - Finished

Click here to bid on this painting.
I've completed the little cat in watercolour. This time I added very little coloured pencil and really enjoyed the painting.

Tabby Cat in Watercolour

This is another small one, a tabby cat in watercolour.

We bought a new desk today which my eldest son assembled, this meant that the computer had to be disconnected and moved. It was touch and go whether the Internet ever worked again when the nest of cables was revealed for the first time in years. He put sticky labels on each cable as he undid it, unfortunately one of his helpers didn't realise the significance and followed behind removing them.

Ginger and White Cat ACEO

Click here to bid.
For the last couple of days I've been working on a ginger and white cat, it is 2.5 x 3.5 inches on pastelmat. I find it easier to concentrate on a small piece when I'm tired so the poor Mallard is still waiting for my pencil, maybe tomorrow.
On my screen it's a little larger than life size.

Wildlife Artist of the Year

I have made very little progress, in fact my art has suffered over the last few days, due in part to the hot weather and in part due to work commitments.

Yesterday we went to the Private View of Wildlife Artist of the Year. The event was in the evening at the Mall Galleries. It was really well attended and the 'red spots' indicating sales were appearing all over.
The Wildlife Artist of the Year award went to Pamela Conder for her mixed media work of Chimpanzees 'Reflections on Ageing'
I thought all the work was of a very high standard but my personal favourite had to be the work of Darryn Eggleton, Achromatic and In Motion. All the short listed paintings can be seen on line.
The exhibition runs until the 06/06 and is well worth a visit if you like wildlife.
For a much more comprehensive version of the evening see Katherine Tyrrell's post over on her blog 'Making a Mark'