WIP of a Commission of two cats I'm sketching

Well I've just about finished the first of two cats I'm currently sketching.

Started working on cat no.2

Practicing with pastels

Thought I would practice using my pastels before my class I'm giving tomorrow, for the reference, I used an image by the fantastic pastel artist Nathalie Picoulet. 

Although loads of fun using pastels, it quickly becomes messy, creeps all over your clothes, face and the whole studio 

Snow Dog - Acrylic

SNOW DOG

Medium: Acrylic
Canvas: Boldmere stretched canvas
Size: 40″ × 50″ (1016mm x 1270mm)
Duration: 4-6 hours over two days

Finally finished this mini epic of “Snow Dog” (on a 40″ × 50″ stretched canvas) which took me about 4-5 hours over a couple of days. I ended up building myself a bespoke larger easel just for this project, which was fun and very much a requirement to complete the task at hand.

Photographer Grant Glendinning kindly gave me permission to use one of his photographs as the reference for this painting.

I thought I was fortunate to be in my local art supply store when they were having a sale on their canvases, they were practically giving away their larger canvases, so muggings here thought I'll have a few of those, so two 40 x 50 inches and on 32 x 40 inch canvases later I managed to get them into my art studio  despite the wind trying it's damnedest to get this aspiring artist and his canvases airborne. A couple of hours later I finally got the endeavours of my bargain hunting safely to my studio.

I decided today was the day to try out one of the new canvas and unwrapping one of the large 40 x 50 inch ones, I suddenly realised that this was indeed a very large canvas and it dawned on me that the size was far too big for any easel I possessed, what to do?

Well bot giving up I rummaged through my tool shed and came across some wood from an old children's bunk bed and an old terrified telescope tripod lying in the corner (the telescope had long vacated this mortal realm for pastures new, but thankfully I kept the legs!)

A good hour or so later, I somehow managed to create for myself a new easel, which, I hoped, would be future proof, and would enable me to paint on larger than normal canvases.

Just christened one of my bargain canvas and am using the easel on top of a table, it seems, I like standing (I happily found out) when painting on large canvases! I could of used this new easel on the floor but found that it was more comfortable to raise it onto my studio table.

 A work of art in itself,if I do say so myself!

Those old telescope legs really came in handy!

Yes? Can I help you?

Just one last bit over here...yup! that'll do it!

She was becoming really irresistible, and always looking for attention...

As you can see, I just about got it outside my studio!

I'm starting drawing and painting classes in my art studio in Stannington

Made it to the short list for the Ken Bromley Catalogue cover competition

Yippee! I've made the short list for the Ken Bromley Art Catalogue cover competition, voting is free for anyone, you can see my entry here and vote for it:
http://www.artsupplies.co.uk/covercomp/

It must be true, I read it in the newspapers...

Good morning...

Good morning people onboard the spaceship Earth, travelling through the cosmos at unbelievable seeds, we do hope there is no turbulence today. The temperature outside (in space) is freezing, I advised that you stay within the confines of the surface underneath the protection of the magnetic ionosphere and enjoy the duty free heat of our local sun until we arrive at each of our own life destinations. A drinks trolley service will be along shortly serving peace, prosperity and happiness. Stronger beverages including war, crimes of humanity, chaos and general depressions are available on request. 

Thank you.

Picasso the painted Mustang(Acrylic)

Medium: Acrylic (Mostly Cryla) 
Paper: Acrylico Pittura Gold Pressed 400mg (185lbs) paper Size: 15.3/4″ × 13″ (40mm x 33mm) Duration: 6 hours over three sessions. 


Original For Sale

This is a painting I worked on whilst teaching a student, during a one to one painting session on my current painting techniques using acrylic paints. Really enjoyed painting this beautiful horse as there was a variety of bright colours involved in it's creation. I also showed my student how I used a palette knife to give me textures on the waters edge. I also found that as the colours are so rich, they really help one another to stand out against each other in the bright sunshine. Might return to doing more of these beautiful animals. This handsome chap is called Picasso, suitably apt name I thought. 

 
For the reference, I used a photo taken by the photographer John A. Wagner from Dinosaur, Colorado, who gave me his permission. Thanks John.