WIP - Kay

I've decided to upload an image of this work in progress that I've been working on for so long now that the intended recipients have probably forgotten about it. It is at the stage now where I just need a big motivational push to complete it, as I was getting frustrated with it at one point and just put it to one side - never a good idea, really!

I need to do a lot more work on the face then do the shading on the tee-shirt, define the hair and tidy the whole thing up a bit, but I thought that if I posted it "to the world"  (or at least, to the 3 people who regularly read this blog) it may spur me onto finishing it at long last.

Kay is a friend who I've known since she was 8 or 9 years old - she's now 23 and her parents commissioned the painting a while ago now. I hope they still want it when it's finished!

Peter Williams - Mighty Fine Art

Unexpected Delivery

One day last week I received a rather large, flat parcel through the post. I wasn't expecting anything so it came as a bit of a surprise to me, even when I saw the label on the back of the parcel with Peter Williams' details on the return address. A few weeks ago I'd emailed him a photograph of myself for possible use in one of his Western Art portraits. I'd thought no more about it and said he didn't have to use it if he didn't think it suitable. Therefore I really was taken aback when I opened the parcel to see this little (well, actually rather large) beauty greeting me. When I say beauty, I'm of course referring to the skill of the artist, not the subject matter!  Peter had very kindly mounted the pencil portrait he'd done and carefully wrapped it in cellophane then sent it to me. I was really chuffed to have received it. I have already said to Peter that I don't think I will be displaying it in my house, as I think it's a bit much to look at yourself that size on a daily basis - but nevertheless I am still very happy to own the piece of work. Peter just regarded it as a practice piece of work - I still marvel at his skills with a pencil, so I wanted to share this with others! He has recently been shortlisted for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Artist Of The Year competition 2010. I have a feeling he will go far in that and I wish him every success. A talented artist and a true gentleman, too. I am privileged to know him. You can read more about Peter on his website, by clicking on the title of this post, or you can read his blog here.

First painting of the year

My first painting of the year was a surprise birthday gift for my sister - a portrait of my niece, Charlotte. I hinted at this project in my earlier blog post but couldn't be specific about it in case my sister read the blog! The painting of Charlotte was based on a photograph I took when the family were here for a meal on New Year's Day - so she is seated in her high chair. I used acrylic, which I favour over watercolour, and completed the painting in approximately 10 or 12 days. On a box canvas, sized 20 x 25cm, I was rather pleased that my sister liked the end result!

Charlotte is 7 months old and really starting to take an interest in the world around her now.

The reference photo I used had a very dark background and a green tablecloth. I changed the background to a colour I thought Rachel (my sister) would like, and the tablecloth colour I altered to a deep red. I think I could have spent even longer fiddling with the painting, as perfection takes forever, but in the end I decided to leave well alone and all in all I am fairly happy with the finished piece of art.

Here's the reference photo I used: