Oh Well

 

 The finest football player in the world Lionel Messi the only problem it looks nothing like him. Im calling it done even though a few little touch ups may help. Its one of those that doesn't go to plan. Still I did enjoy it all the same

Dusted off the paints

 The paints finally had a little water splashed on then this eve. Nothing tricky as I need to get a lot of practice in before I attempt anything worth while. With just over an hour to get something down on paper I went with my favourite subject BIRDS this time a Tufted Duck still in eclipse plumage preening. To be honest it was good fun.

Lord of the Rings

Life at the moment is throwing enough nasty stuff my way to prevent me getting anything arty done at all. I have managed a few minutes a night with a pencil just to try and recoup a little gusto for art. Im pretty pleased considering the lack of practice of late.

Two steps back

 

Whilst Im not a natural at art any time away from paints or pencil sets me back a few steps. This was only a quick one but I feel its more than a few steps back OH well back to the drawing board so to speak. Perhaps if I pulled my finger out and got a bit more on paper it would help :)

At Last Something on paper

 

Struggling of late to find anything encouraging with my art and just plane lack of time had put painting and drawing on hold for too long. Today saw some rectifying of that, I wasn't expected the results to be impressive I just needed to get something down on paper. A local Black Necked Grebe in stunning summer dress was the choice with the wet stuff. Good fun just slapping the paint about. Im thinking a little graphite for my next comeback.

Now in colour

 Now in colour, well not exactly the same picture as its something I cant get my head around. I find it hard to produce the same piece again even with a different media. It always seems a while since I last painted when I pick up a brush but I just loved doing our great hero Yoda with the Splishy sploshy paint. I avoided lots of detail to get me bogged down I think thats why I enjoyed it so much.

May the force be you

Of  late I seem to have been a little lazy with paint or pastels. I have just sat chilling with a couple of pencils and of course erasers. A hero of mine ended up on paper and an enjoyable few hours  were spent on this. The photo hasnt turned out too well but Im blaming the light not my poor photography skills. The next plan is to do the same picture in watercolour. Will it be succesful only time will tell.

Snow Bunting

  I finally managed to get paints out after a small pencil and pastel addiction. I wanted to  get back to painting birds and chose one of my favourite winter visitors the Snow Bunting. To see these little crackers I do have to travel to North Wales where they are very regular around Rhyl area. Im pretty pleased with it and really enjoyed playing with paint.  Perhaps the background could of been darker. The Daler Rowner paper impressed me and I can see me becoming to love it.

Lord of the Rings

  I did get the paints out but to be honest it was a bit of a disaster. My new paper shows promise I just need to get used to the texture and how the paint reacts. It was only a quick painting of tulips and one I will attempt again. 12 hours with the pencil was much more successful. Again I wanted to do a portrait but wanted challenge myself further than I previously had. It was fun for most of the time but the last few hours did feel like a battle perhaps due to the A3 size. It have a few tweeks here and there but I need a break from it for now.

Possibly the best actor

  Staying with portraits and determined to improve on my last effort I decided to draw what I think is one of the finest actors ever. Im pretty pleased with the result so it wont be the last portrait I will have a bash at. Anyway my water colour paper arrived so something with paint is on the cards for my next post. Im thinking Tulips as its a bit of a project on JWJ forum.

A Pair of Ele's

                                                    A3 Graphite


 Last night I decided to get the 2B out whilst watching various rubbish on the TV. It went very well considering it was more of a doodle than a serious effort. In fact I have strict orders off the Wife for 2 more mother and child pictures. Apparently for the walls going up the stairs. The picture does look better in real life, but most do as my little camera rarely captures well

Same again

After an enjoyable pastel session the other day I struck while the iron is hot as they say. This time with a stunning lady but not one Id like to meet on a dark night. I like the large pastels as it makes me be a little looser but sometimes I do wish for a few pastel pencils for the smaller detail, especially eyes.

First time with Pastels

 Inspired by a chap on a beginners art forum (JWJ) and a couple of  blogs I follow. I finally unwrap my Santa present. A box of pastels not the pencil type but the square sticks. Thinking what should I attempt with these little beauties, I chose the Wolf. I found them extremely great fun if a little messy but attempt again I certainly will. The Wolf its self went much better than expected for my first time. ps I have no fixative would hair spray sort of do the job

Water Rail

 As promised, I got out the brushes and the splishy sploshy paint. With not playing with paint for a while I decided on a quick painting to try get my eye in. I was reasonably pleased with the Water Rail but the back ground didnt work as well as Id hoped for. Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. I did enjoy the painting non the less.

TIGGGGER

 At the moment Im finding it hard to get motivated with the paint. So I sat down with David Attenbourgh on the TV and scribbled away at a Tiger. This was probably my longest project with a pencil taking 4 or 5 hours. Im pretty pleased with the results although the photo of the picture isn't great it seem to of lose a couple of tones. If another graphite picture appears here before a painting please leave abusive comments

Another Dog

 

Last night I was supposed to be doing a little watercolour practice but for some reason the drawing side just wasnt going well. I just couldnt seem to get my Buzzard beak looking just right. I packed it up and got out the sketch book whilst watching penguins on the TV. The result a German Shepard dog begging for a biscuit. I will perhaps battle with the Buzzard this evening

Jack Russle Pup

 

A recent addition to the Mother in laws family was an 8 week old pup. Last night sticking with pencil I scribbled away to try and capture the nature of the beast. I think I have managed to potrate the cute little thing as I wanted, again may tweek when its been stood for a while.Thats enough tame wildlife and pencil work, back to the drawing board so too speak with the paints.

Terrier

 A rather challenging mini project for myself having done nothing with pet portraits. Its my 7 year old nieces dog and a cracking Cairn Terrier. I asked her the other day what she wanted for her birthday. A picture by me was her reply. She is my biggest art fan but not a great critic. Not a lot of time was spent on the picture and I have captured much of his quality's so all in all Im pretty pleased for my first attempt at a Dog.

After some helpful advice I had done a little messing around with the picture. Im calling it finished now

Graphite Seal

 

After I trail run with different types of paper a few weeks ago. I went out and purchased another sketch pad that perhaps would suit my style. A practice with it last resulted in a Grey Seal. I was impressed with  the paper and pencil was a nice change from water colour.

Bearded Tit

                                                   Water colour 13/10 inches

My van has broken down yet again so to try while away an hour before it goes to the garage,I got out the paints. Considering little time was spent painting the Bearded Tit it came better than expected. I really enjoyed it too.I may have a little tweek with it when time allows.

Kingfisher

A rather talented photographer gave me permission some time ago to paint any of his photos. Today I decided an attempt at a rather dashing Kingfisher. I do prefer to paint from my own photos. although my photos are far from as detailed, it does feel more original when splashing paint around. I hope one day to complete a painting from field sketches but I feel Im some distance away.

First Bloom

With only a little bit of time on my hands I had a play with the paints, a flower the chosen subject. It is something I hadn't tried before. The flower itsself took no time but the black back ground seemed to take for ever. All in all I quite happy with the end result. Im sure with more experience  the overall finished piece would be more eye catching.

Sparrow Hawk

 This is the second attempt at this painting, the first was tackled in Acrylics and too be honest it was as far from pleasing to the eye as it should of been. This attempt was more successful even on some cheap paper I had lying around. Ill save up for better this week

Cat amongst the Acacia

  A quick watercolour to keep me out of mischief whilst the British weather prevented me working. Its is times like these you realise how much there is to watercolour  painting, Although its a reasonable effort for a novice there is also so much wrong. It was a pleasure to paint from my 7 years olds photo (he is quite handy with a camera) I decided slip him onto an Acacia to give it a wild feel.

Buzzard in Graphite

Graphite (A4 size)


A trip to the local reservoir birding left me with a passable photo of a Buzzard. I didnt have time for any painting so began to throw a few marks on paper with a pencil. It was more of a trial trying out some smooth paper I had, Compared to the medium and heavy toothed paper I had been using I kind of liked it

Teddies

                                                                Water colour (A4 size)

  Ok its not what im used too but as a member of a Beginners art forum Jwjonline they regularly have projects to tempt you away from safety. This one I really enjoyed and im not even sure why, perhaps things went more smoothly than I imagined. Anyway back to the drawing board I have a Sparrow Hawk to be getting on with.