I was delighted to discover that this week’s challenge over at Illustration Friday is “Star Gazing”. I was recently requested to paint something similar to my “When it is Dark Enough” painting, and was part way through it when I found out about this topic.
Here’s the finished product – I’ve titled it “The Stargazers”:
This week’s topic over at Illustration Friday is Satellite.
I’ve combined this idea with a request I had for some owl paintings, and come up with this:
Satellite and Sage
The satellite is of course our moon, and the sage is my wise old owl.
I’m going to have a few more tries at some owl paintings, so stay tuned!
I love holidays! I get so much painting done 
Here’s what I’ve been working on:
“Sunset Joy”
I’m hoping to donate this painting to the Cerebal Palsy League’s ‘Art for Arts Sake‘ charity auction next month (it has to be accepted first so fingers crossed!)
“Evening Song”
This one is going to be sent to someone special
I’ve also been working on some new canvas works – I’ll post details here soon. I hope everyone had a lovely Easter long weekend!
My latest work is an acrylic on canvas, the first I’ve done since completing a commission last year. It’s taken me a few weeks to finish, because I just didn’t want to let it go – I kept adding more and more detail. I finally put the finishing touches on it today. I’ve titled it “A Winter Memory”.
In other news, my painting “Persistent Illusion” has been featured on the blog Pardalote Flits. You may remember I was paired up with Michelle from Pardalote in our most recent DUST swap. Her hand-beaded jewellery is gorgeous and I’m honoured to be featured on her blog!
I’d love to hear some feedback on my latest painting
As promised (OK, a little later than promised, but still!) here’s my step-by-step for the creation of my latest painting, “Brave”.
Step 1 - OK I probably didn't need to show you this - the blank page. I've started using watercolour blocks instead of pads or loose sheets, and they're great! You dont' have to tape them down at all.
Step 2: Using masking fluid, I masked off the edge of the paper and created three separate panels.
Step 3 - Colour washes for the background. Here I've done the first two. I tried to give a feeling of the day passing - using the colours of sunrise, midday and twilight.
Step 4: As I wanted to convey the idea of the same tree and bird changing over time, I wanted my tree to look the same in each panel. I usually paint my trees freeform, without sketching them first. This time, I sketched a tree in pencil first, and transferred it to the 3 panels so each would be the same.
Step 5 - 3rd background wash. I did this panel a little later as I was waiting for the masking fluid I used to create the stars to dry.
Step 6 - The tree sketch transferred onto each panel of the painting.
Step 7 - Trees and birdies painted in.
Step 8 - Masking fluid rubbed off, painting completed!!
Hope you liked learning about how I created this painting
It’s been a while since I’ve participated in Illustration Friday – I tend to wait until a topic really grabs me.
Last September I spent a lot of my holiday sitting outside in our patio, reading and drinking cups of tea. It was so lovely and peaceful, that I often stopped reading and just sat and took in the scenery of my little garden. In one of our trees, a baby bird was learning to fly. It was amazing to just quietly sit and watch as he (or she?) spread his wings for the first time.
When I saw this week’s topic from Illustration Friday was “brave”, that little baby bird was the first thing I thought of, and was the inspiration for this painting:
I’ve posted a step-by-step about how I created this painting – check it out here.
It’s been a productive weekend!
I’ve done lot’s of work on my lastest commission, a painting for a friend:
There is a lot of detail in this one, and it is HUGE (I can only fit one panel at a time on my easel), so it’s taking me a really long time to finish, but I hope the result will be worth it in the end.
I completed another painting this weekend, and thought I’d show you the stages it went through:
Step One: Painting taped down and ready to go. I've also used tape to separate the four panels (as opposed to wrecking another brush with masking fluid).
Step Two: Spring colours - I decided on pinks, greens and yellows to represent spring.
Step Three: Summer is orange, yellow and green. You can see the paint was still wet when I took this photo.
Step Four: Browns, oranges and reds for Autumn
Step Five: Blues and whites for Winter
At this point, I left the painting to dry before removing the tape. I painted a tree branch going across the top of the painting. Here’s the result:
I also made some more art pendants this week, but that’s a post for another day!
I love holidays! I’ve been getting so much done
Today I’m delivering a commissioned painting to its new owner. I’m looking forward to seeing it on the wall!
I have been working on a large triptych for a friend, and doing a few watercolours.
“Summer Field”
“Bright December Day”
“Growing Family”
Hopefully in the next few days I’ll be posting up some new wearable art pendants too
A new painting!
If you would like to purchase this original watercolour, it is $40. I accept paypal and bank deposit. Contact me if you’re interested!
Oh, and don’t forget about my giveaway – there’s a $25 gift certificate for KL Bailey Art up for grabs!
Could there be an Inspire Me Thursday subject more suited to my work than “Tree”?
I have always loved trees, ever since I was a child & spent most of my free time climbing the huge tree we had in our backyard. Trees feature heavily in my artwork.
I don’t really need an extra excuse to paint trees, and was planning to paint some trees this weekend anyway. I think I’ll be contributing more than one painting to this weeks theme!
My first painting:
What I wanted to do with this painting is to represent the fact that beauty does not mean looking like everyone else. Being an individual and being yourself is more beautiful than becoming a carbon-copy of the ideals projected by the media.
