Some excitting news !!!

I am really excitted that finally there is a local portrait prize . Lismore Regional Gallery is hosting the Northern Rivers portrait prize. All entries are due by late Feb, and I have just put paint to canvas so I am really on a mission to finish my portrait and enter!!!

My entrant is a guy I have known for about 20 years, John Gift!! He is an inspirational singer songwritter with a powerful message of hope. More about this later as I need to upload some pics and head out to my easel this Sunday arvo and paint!



First stages ,
Toning my canvas with burnt umber,
transfering my sketch , and blocking in the face with Burnt Umber and Prussian blue.

Some portrait artists have everything all mapped out, at this stage I am getting a feel for colours and deciding which way I will take this, more spontanious.
Getting a feel for Johns personality and trying to portray this which is great as I saw him perform thismorning. Excellent !!


" The Enjoyable Afternoon " a decent


amount of time spent painting, and I have managed to paint as planned, spontaniously and capturing the personality of John.

Since I have known him , he has been a man with a passion for reality and truth.He has survived a very traumatic past involving drugs and alcohol with a beautiful attitude of love and acceptance. . His music on his latest CD was recorded live at the

Windsome Hotel in Lismore in honour of the
many people who struggle to make ends meet,
"The Soupies" who are regular dinners at the soup kitchen. It is an excellent CD .

This is my process, Johns face is only blocked in with burnt umber and will really pop out when I start to add colour. Right now it is blendind in with the back ground too much.
He is holding his guitar, with both hands, which gives a very strong bond, with himself and the music he loves to play.

Travailing Prayer

This is Stevie, a friend of mine from Scotland who is a pastor.


He likes to take walks to this special place to pray. I loved what this picture
stood for and had to paint !


It is a reminder to me that I need to spend more time in prayer. Life has a way of capturing us and we stray from the most important aspects of daily living. Through God alone we find peace and a reason for living. I need to remember this more each day and take that time to spend in prayer.

Painted in oils.

Glenn all finished

I had Glenn sitting on my easel for a few days and each time I looked at this portrait I knew it wasn't really finished.
It is always a good idea to let your painting sit for a few days or a week to give you a fresh approach .
I wanted to make Glenns face stand out more, and not become lost in the background. So I lightened the background with the blue, I also darkened his shirt which also added to helping Glenns face be the focus.
This also gives a great tonal variation.

Portrait Of Glenn

Once again it is time for the annual Christmas portrait swap at WetCanvas.

Glenn has been my partner and here is my portrait of him. This is oils on canvas, to see all the fun we have at the portrait swap you can view them here www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=591284

All Finished

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Lady Steampunk, she is quite a character, and has the most gorgeous set of dreadlocks I have seen. Actually I am sure they are a wig, but no matter, she still looks beautiful!!

This lady has some great reference photos, and she has an array of costume. I am looking forwards to painting more !!

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Lady Steampunk, work in progress

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This gorgeous lady is painted from a stock photo by Mizzd-stock from Deviant Art.
It is an oil on 18x24" canvas, which is a lovely size for this painting.
She is still in the process of being finished, and I am having a wonderful time painting her, as quirky as she is, I love it!!
Lots left to do though, her corset and top as well as gloves. Background and lower half of painting.

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Updates On Ted

Had a wonderful day today with just myself and my paints, the kids were with Nanna, Yeah!! So I took advantage of this time to finish Ted. I mainly wanted to correct the tonal values and temperatures in his face , he was way too warm. I also was aiming to change the colours I had blocked in for his shirt and the background.


Sometimes I need to paint the portrait more to figure out the colours of the background. I like to incorporate the skin tones as well as colours in the clothing into a background. I find this does give the portrait a harmonious finish.

Painting Ted

Today I spent my time painting Ted, mainly trying to paint spontaniously .

Ted was a fighter pilot in the second world war. He flew Kittyhawks and Spitfires in many battles, was shot down three times, and experienced many terrible conditions that war brings. I am honoured to
know and paint Ted, a real champion!!!! he is 91!!!

Portrait Of Leigh

Today I really enjoyed just spending the day painting.

Much needed therapy to stop me from going crazy, lol...

Finished, I think !

This is Leigh, a fellow artist friend from Wetcanvas, now and then we have portrait swaps where we paint each other.

Oils

11x14"

gesso canvas paper.

Let The Water Flow....

Watercolours are always fun, this was a relaxing exercise in painting flowy roses. Just letting the water and paint mix to create colours and shapes.

Sitting here painting with beautiful music and the sound of the spring birds outside, very relaxing :)

Crazy Old rusty Relics, LOL...

My dad is a member of the Vintage car Club, being an old relic car owner himself ( the car is the old relic, not dad, lol ) Each year the club has a rally where dad volunteers my time to paint a picture to raffle. It is a great idea as all the proceeds go to a nominated charity.

This is the painting , beautiful old jallopies under the gum trees, resting so peacefully .

This is my son Elijah in dads 1948 Bedford, which he took 2 years restoring. Now he has a 1928 Buick, in desperate need of some TLC, which dad lovingly gives each day in the shed. I am looking forwards to going for a drive in the Buick :) ...

In The garden

Jasmine my daughter took this gorgeous photo of the sugar snap peas growing in the back yard. They are climbing up the back fence and loaded with yummy peas.

I think she took a great pic, with the warm winter sunshine and blue cloudy sky.

Finn

Meet Finn, a cute Aussie kid with the most gorgeous curly red hair...
This is a commissioned portrait painted in pastels. It was really enjoyable getting the pastels out again to do this portrait.
Next I have his brother to do, another cute Aussie kid :)

" 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 :)

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Oils on canvas

12x16 inches.

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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!!!