I enjoy using oil pastels to create portraits in addition to coloured pencils and acrylics, and I find it to be one of the most versatile mediums available. When it comes to creating beautiful and unique works of art, oil pastels offer an unmatched finish that can be applied to any subject with ease. One of my latest portraits is of our late black Labrador Haze. When creating my oil pastel paintings, I use professional pastel brands such as Sennelier and Caran d'Ache. One of the most significant advantages of using Sennelier and other soft pastel brands is their superior coverage and pigmentation. These pastels offer a rich and vibrant color that makes each stroke stand out and come to life. On the other hand, harder pastels such as Neopastel enable me to produce fine lines, which is essential when creating intricate details and textures in my portraits. When it comes time to store or frame my oil pastel portraits, I always take great care to ensure that they are protected. Since oil pastels never dry, it is highly recommended to store them in a secure location until they are framed. When framing, I highly recommend using glass to prevent debris such as hair and dust particles from damaging the painting's surface. Improper removal of debris can damage the painting's surface, but utilizing glass can prevent this from happening. Upon completion, this portrait will be framed and an image uploaded to this blog. Overall, oil pastels are an incredibly versatile and beautiful medium that can create stunning works of art. Should you wish to inquire about ordering an oil pastel portrait, please get in touch.
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Hi All! It's been a while since I've updated my news page. I've been swamped with work here in the studio. In August, I wrapped up my last art workshop of the year. Today, I'd like to share some of my latest acrylic paintings with you. I have a list of paintings I need to start and some to finish. I recently added more shelves to my studio to accommodate all my portraits. I like to work on multiple pieces simultaneously and switch between different mediums, which works best for me. Currently, I have many paintings at various stages of completion, with more nearing the end than just starting. I want to share a couple of recent uncompleted works that I have been working on recently. Amethyst Sunbird on Red Hot PokerI recently discovered Scotch Macaskill's Reference photos website, which has reignited my passion for bird art. Scotch, an amateur photographer based in South Africa, captures stunning photos of the country's wildlife during his safaris using whatever camera he has available. I have collected many reference images from the photographer's website because he has some stunning wildlife portraits.Check out one of my latest works, a male Amethyst Sunbird feeding on a Red Hot Poker flower (also known as a Torch Lily). Haze the Black LabradorJohn and I love to take our four dogs for a stroll on the weekends. Seeing them frolicking in the local lake is always fun—an excellent opportunity to get some fantastic pictures of them. I've decided to convert some of my photos to paintings. With four cherished reference photos, I've already completed a portrait of our Springer Spaniel, Casper. My primary objective is to craft a vibrant representation of our beloved Labrador, Haze. The slideshow below showcases the evolution of this painting in four distinct stages. When it comes to creating my art, I always begin by carefully crafting the background first. This sets the tone and provides a foundation for the main subject to come to life. Once the background is just right, I shift my focus to the subject, ensuring that I perfect the fine detail and that the overall composition is balanced. This methodical approach has proven highly effective in producing captivating pieces that stand out.
Thank you for taking the time to view my post. If you found it interesting, please feel free to like it or leave a comment below. I have begun a couple of new Acrylic paintings to join my ever growing collection. After painting our Springer Spaniel swimming, having 2 Labradors also I wanted to create a trio of paintings of them and after thoroughly enjoying painting the water in Casper's painting, I decided that this would be the theme of the trio and so went off to Woodhorn's QEII park here in Northumberland to get some photographs of him. Haze is rather excitable and went off jumping in to the water on numerous occasions, which caused him to sprain his tail! poor boy! Luckily, it was ok after a few days and it did not bother him much, so I got a lovely, natural photograph of him enjoying his swim on a sunny Sunday! Here is progress so far of the rough base layers, this is also a 11" x 14" on Gessobord. This is the initial stages, where I apply the contrasts and loosely mark out the detail around the face and in the fur.
If you wish to follow progress of this painting, click the link below to visit the dedicated page. Here is one of the new style Acrylic paintings that I have been working on the last few days. An Acrylic painting can look rather untidy during the creation process as Acrylics can dry so quickly. Once the Canvas is fully covered I then move on to defining the detail which softens the looser application of the underlayers. My new style Acrylic paintings use a selection of mediums mixed with colour to create a very Individual painting and for this portrait I have mixed the Acrylic paints with a Heavy Gel to create a texture to the Artwork. The next stage is to refine the painting, working with an ultra thin brush and applying the paint using a 'wet in wet' technique to ensure the edges are smoothed out more and the final look offers vibrancy, strong colour and realism.
Feel free to like, share or leave a comment! Thanks for stopping by! For the last few weeks, I have been working on a few acrylic paintings and thought I would share with you progress so far on them. An acrylic painting begins with a tonal base layer, which primes the canvas, ready for the addition of detail. Every painting is individual, as I sometimes include mediums, providing additional texture and colour. Here are some of the subjects I am currently working on. There are more portraits planned for 2016 and I will add more to this news page as regularly as possible. If you would like to book your own acrylic portrait, you can find out more on my ACRYLICS ART GALLERY page. I have also recently introduced a FRAMING service alongside my paintings, to provide customers with the full package. You can be sure that your painting has been created, using the best quality, lightfast products and the frame is safely & securely applied, allowing you to enjoy your portrait for many years to come.
If you wish to ask for a no-obligation quote or book your portrait, a form can be found at the bottom of the acrylics page. Simply fill in the form and get a reply within hours. Any questions, please get in touch! Karen |
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