Works in Progress on the Easel
(Updated 4th September 2010 - "Ray" updated & new Cheetah painting started)
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Cheetah in Tree
Commissioned Paintng. Pastel on Hahnemuhle Velour Paper, 300x420 (A3)
With thaks to Steve Tracy for the lovely reference photo on this cheetah. I've adapted the original photo (pictured left) to include the cheetah's paw and make it portrait size rather than square (pictured right is the Photoshopped photo as a reference for my painting)
Here's the progress of the painting on Day One...
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"Ray"
Graphite Pencil on Bristol Board Paper, 150x210mm (A5).
A commission for an 80th birthday present, I love these old b&w photos. Here's the progress so far...
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"Koshka"
Pastel on Hahnemuhle Velour Paper, 230x340mm.
Koshka is a Russian Blue, a lovely loyal breed of cat, a joy to own.
Here's the progress of the painting so far...
Almost finished, just a bit of tweaking and the background to tidy up now...
Final Painting of Koshka. I will let this sit for a few days to see if there are any areas requiring tweaking.
*Click on the image to see painting at almost actual size.
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"Bella"
Pastel on Hahnemuhle Velour Paper, 320x420mm.
My friends Gwen & Rob's beautiful black labrador called Bella, I decided to paint her as a gift for their wedding this year.
Here's the progress of the painting so far...
Working up the layers of pastel colours, and decided to include the colour for some interest.
Black animals are not only hard to photograph, but difficult to obtain the right colourings in a paintng, black is made up of so many colours!
The background and some general tweaking to go now...
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" Snow Today? "
Pastel on Hahnemuhle Velour Paper, 460x330mm. With thanks to Steve Tracy for his beautiful photos of snow leopard "Mirucha" as a reference for this painting.
I obtained some Velour paper in the UK recently, as you can't find it in New Zealand. I have been itching to try a "big cat" on the paper to achieve a softer effect with an animal's fur. It has quite a different feel to the sanded papers I've previously used, being like a very soft velvet fabric paper. So far I love the feel of it and the blendability of the pastels I can achieve, and also a whole lot less dust!
Here's the progress so far on my snow leopard... with the all important eyes done first, then blocking in some French Grey pastel stick to initially lay down some pastel on the paper. Then slowly filling in the fur detailing with pastel pencils of different Umber hues, Greys and of course white.
Final Painting. I will let this sit for a few days to see if there are any areas requiring tweaking.
*Click on the image to see painting at almost actual size.
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"Strut that Swamp"
Pastel on 300gsm Art Spectrum Colourfix paper, 340x640mm.
The Pukeko, or New Zealand Swamp Hen is a member of the rail family, and is similar to other species found all over the world.
It is one of the few New Zealand native birds to have flourished since the arrival of man, and can be found in almost
any grassland area, especially in swampy locations.
With thanks to Jonathan Harrod for the use of his stunning pukeko shots as reference photos.
I have used two of Jonathan's photos here and combined them in Photoshop to attain a composition
I thought would make an interesting painting (pictured at right).
Below is the progress on the painting so far stage by stage...
The detailing of the pukeko is pretty much done now, have started the background, water reflections to go now...
Image on left: Almost finished, I will let this sit for a few days to see if any areas require tweaking.
Image on right: The water has been made a little bluer, and I've also added some subtle touches of orange pastel to the reeds and water reflections
(* click on the image on the right to see painting at approximately actual size)
"New Zealand Kiwi"
Pastel on 300gsm Art Spectrum Colourfix paper, 400x300mm.
With thanks to Kiwi Encounter for the use of their reference photo. This little fellow is named George!
Based in Rotorua at Rainbow Springs, Kiwi Encounter is the only purpose-built kiwi conservation centre open to the public in the world! To visit Kiwi Encounter is an opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes glimpse at kiwi conservation in action and their efforts to stop the extinction of a species that is this country’s national icon.
Another kiwi painting to enter into the Southern Pastel Artists exhibition in Invercargill, August 6-October 3 2010.
Here's the progress so far, working up the layers and colours on the kiwi.
A recently finished painting of a the same wee kiwi chick named George (this painting was gifted)
*Click on the image to see painting at almost actual size.
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