" Red Wool Cloche " self portrait

One of my favourite things to wear, especially on a cold winter day is my wool cloche. I love the 1920's flapper style, with gorgeous art deco prints.

I was rather nostalgic and dreamy painting this one :)

***

Oils on canvas

12x16 inches.

***

Now For something Completely Different :)

This is Ursula, a cute pomeranian. A commissioned pastel painting of a much loved doggie ...

It has been ages since I have done a dog portrait, and ages since I have had my fingers in the pastels. Don't say I miss the pastels :)

Now .... lets get my oil paints out!!!

Cutie Patootie :)

Jasmine, my gorgeous daughter.

I took a photo of Jas last winter and have

always wanted to paint it, now after some time I

have managed to :)

Here she is looking very peaceful and relaxed,

Just how we love our kids :)


Painted with oils on stretched canvas,

40x30 cms.

Portraits from life - A wonderful Experience!

Last Friday I visited the local retirement village to spend time with some of the residence. I took my pastel pencils, canson drawing paper, and had a really lovely time .

This lady to our left is Melva. She was so happy to have her portrait drawn, she even slipped away before hand to put some lippy on :)

Using a soft grey Canson paper, indian red pastel pencil for the darks and a white for highlights.

Joycie was all comfy near the warmth of the window reading her book, her face moving from left to right with each page she read.

I chatted with her about the story she was reading and about her life as I sat and drew her portrait.

***


Mary is such a sweet lady with warm eyes and a big smile. As I started to draw her she told me she was very tired and might not be able to stay away. "That's fine" I told her as I had a smile to myself at how gorgeous these ladies are.
I love this drawing of Mary, it captures so much character , a beautiful lady...

I look forwards to my Friday afternoons with the residence from the Nursing home. They tell me there are 50 all together and they all want a portrait done :) So I am in for a lots of drawing practise and some great conversation with people who we should spend time with a whole lot more!!!

***

Johnny

This is Johnny, a fellow portrait artist who is from brentwood , TN, USA.

He and I have done a portrait swap!
Johnny had finished mine earlier in the year, so it was about time I started his portrait.
Portrait swaps are great fun, and you end up with a portrait of yourself :)

Johnnys Website

http://www.johnnybone.com/

This is an oil 12x16" painted on a canvas covered board. I tried a new palette for the skin tones and am really happy with how this is turning out!

My palette for the skin tones ;

Cad Red, Burnt Sienna, Prussian Blue , Raw Umber, Titanium White, Italian Pink and small amounts of Alizarin Crimson and Terre Verte.

Reflections

Reflections finished! She had a makeover last week, giving her some depth , although I am not sure whether to add more warmth to her face or not. I quite like the cool tones as it suggest a winters afternoon as she is snuggled up in her shawl.



This painting is for sale
$250
plus postage.

"SELAH" painted a second time...

A friend of mine wanted "Selah"

to send to his Fiance for mothers day.

This time a soft grey matte finished her off.

here she is, sealed in plastic ready to send.

Charcoal ,white pastel and a range of grey pastels were used.

***

Drawn on a new pastel paper by an Aussie company called Art tec. I found this paper quite good to draw on. It has a textured surface for the pastel to hold onto.

The house is a mess, but this is the result ,lol....

After pepairing my board with gesso, I toned it with a wash of terre verte and turpenoid. I have my reference picture and then proceed to draw the portrait, brush in hand with thinned down Terre Verte.
I am really stretching myself here, wanting to become much more loose with my style and not so boring with my portraits.


I really love the loose impressionistic style, with a touch of realism. Something I think you can only achieve with excellent drawing skills.
The under painting gives me a solid start to work on.






So yes, I did spend the entire afternoon painting and enjoying myself.

She still needs some eye work, as the terre verte under-drawing is showing,
and I am sure the shadows in her face need to be darkened.
Best thing to do is let this lady dry and sit for a few days...

While I do this housework!

Nearly Finished

"Vintage Dreams"

There is something really romantic and meloncholy , (maybe mostly girly) about chaise lounges swirly flower patterns and Old World Style clothes :)

This is an oil painting I am working on, still playing around with the background and more refining to be done here and there, but!!!

This is in essence ME!! you know we all have a dream somewhere inside that relates to ourselves, lol... wierd, I know!!
Meloncholy artist
style.

Flower Fairy

Cute little darling in the flower garden :) Matisse Acrylic paint 12x16"