The Blues

This was my first ever daily paintwork. I never showed it on the DPW site as it was entered into the SAA Artist of the year 2011 and won me 2nd place in the still-life section, it then made it into the ROI (Institute of Oil Painters)exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London; so you can see 'The Blues' has worked hard for me.

Demo at South Walsham

This demo was done during a day workshop at South Walsham last Friday. The set up was one of a few put together by the group. This is a regular venue for me and the set ups have certainly changed; there was a time they was so complex it looked as though we were setting up a stall at a flea market. Nowadays everything is pared down but not without its challenges. I was aware with this painting that the shadows on the whites needed to be strong enough to balance the strong value and colour of the plums and grapes.

Oil Sketch of Sophie

Sophie sat for us this week at the Scout Hut for our weekly session of just over two hours. I thought I had a reasonable likeness but now I look at it and think I made her look a little masculine. Sophie is also an artist so she looked at our efforts with interest!

Japanese Tea whisk and Cup 2

I hid the whisk behind the cup in my last study and thought I better tackle it head on this time, which was not an easy task with a wet in wet technique. Indirect painting has definite advantages!

Japanese Whisk and Cup

This Japanese tea whisk and cup are on loan from a friend. I have beeen avoiding painting them for several days as I knew the bamboo whisk would pose quite a challenge for an alla prima daily painting. The cup is joy to paint; the whisk is not sulking behind the cup for nothing...!

Oil Sketch of Radka

This is the first of two sessions that Radka has agreed to sit for our weekly portrait group. She is a young woman from the Czech Republic and her bone structure is distinctive making her both a pleasure and a challenge to paint.