Spectres of the Past: My Acrylic Painting of The Lion Tower at Warkworth Castle, Northumberland, UK22/9/2024 I am pleased to share one of my recent acrylic paintings entitled 'Keeper of The Castle'. This piece showcases the 'Lion Tower' located at Warkworth Castle in Northumberland, UK. In this blog post, I provide historical insights related to the subject of my painting, describe the creative process involved in its development, and discuss the reasons behind my choice of this captivating theme. Additionally, this painting is currently available for purchase through my Art Store. Nestled along the banks of the River Coquet, Warkworth Castle stands as a silent sentinel—a testament to centuries past. Its ancient stones echo with whispers of battles, love, and intrigue. And there, on the little stair, a Jackdaw perches—a spectral observer bridging the gap between now and then. About the PaintingAs an artist with a focus on birds, I find myself fascinated by the rich history embodied in locations such as Warkworth Castle. The feet that have walked those steps through the centuries, and the wildlife that has traversed those grounds over time, have both played a role. It is this intertwining of history and nature that inspired the creation of this specific composition. You can read more about the creation of this painting by following this link. My goal is not only to express texture through the brushstrokes but also to incorporate detailed textures into my paintings by enriching compositions that require such intricacy. The ancient stone steps, weathered by time, were depicted with an added layer of textured medium. This technique allows you to not only see the stonework within the paint but also to perceive it through the painting's tactile, raised surfaces. The Enigmatic JackdawAnd then there’s the Jackdaw—a bird steeped in symbolism. Intelligent, curious, and mysterious, it perches on the stair, its coal-black feathers catching the light. While the bird is the central figure in the painting, the artwork primarily depicts the history of the castle and its adjacent structures. The Jackdaw appeared to trail me as I took photographs of the weathered stone steps and the window, thus becoming a symbol of a ghostly spectre of bygone days. A Brief History of the CastleWarkworth Castle, with its imposing keep and curtain walls, stands as a medieval masterpiece, perched atop a hill overlooking the River Coquet. It is one of northern England’s largest and most impressive castles. The castle’s origins are veiled in antiquity, possibly dating back to the Iron Age. The exact founding date remains uncertain, but its current form, including the 'Lion Tower', the subject of my latest acrylic painting, emerged in the 14th century under the patronage of the formidable Percy family.
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Dudley the Springer Spaniel - 9" x 12" in AcrylicsThe composition was delightful, but the small size of the photo caused pixelation upon zooming in, obscuring the details in the face, particularly around the eyes. The commissioner was delighted with the composition, which led me to request more close-up photographs of Dudley in a setting with less sunlight. By integrating all the photos, I was able to enhance the background and foreground while subtly adjusting the colors on his head, preserving the preferred posture. Despite the challenge, the composition made the ideal portrait and I was pleased with the completed painting. |
"Just wanted to let you know that mum loves her portrait and we all cried our eyes out when we first saw it. What you've done is so special and we couldn't have asked for a better painting to remember him by. It captures his brilliant personality so well. I'll definitely be recommending you to my spaniel loving friends!
Picture of framed painting to follow soon!
Andrea xx."
Diarmid emailed me an excellent photo of himself, his girlfriend Max, and their little French Bulldog, Kyla, standing in front of the iconic red phone box from the movie 'Local Hero' during their visit to Pennan in Aberdeenshire. Since the phone box covered only half the background and the rest added no value to the composition, we decided to omit the background entirely and simply inscribe 'Pennan' in the portrait's corner. The mobile phone image tended to obscure details, but the precision of the coloured pencils restored the sharpness, and I thoroughly enjoyed crafting this portrait—I always relish a challenge! |
"Hi Karen , Hope you had a lovely Christmas. Wanted to drop you a note to say that Max absolutely loved the portrait! She couldn't believe how well you'd captured the detail from the photo and was thrilled to pieces! We've already recommended you to friends and family and am sure we'll use your amazing skills again in the the future. Have a great New Year!! Diarmid"
Although the image was slightly out of focus, I discovered that by intensively working on the fur, I found that I could enhance the details by meticulously refining the fur, resulting in a final portrait that was more lifelike than I had anticipated. The completed painting was set in a black frame called Brockwell.
"I just wanted you to know that I absolutely love my painting of Kita. You have done the most amazing portrait of him, he was my best friend and my little boy. I love him so much and the painting of him has been put up in the living room so we can all admire him everyday!!!
Thank you again" xx
Rachel
Receiving such feedback is always special, and I eagerly wait to hear how my other portraits have been received this Christmas. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
How to book your own bespoke portrait:
For those interested in commissioning a custom portrait of your pet, a loved one, or any other subject, information on the commission process is available here. Feel free to explore my Pet Portraits page or Art Gallery to see more examples of my work. In addition to acrylics, I also create pieces using coloured pencils and oil pastels.
Karen, I was the lucky one to receive this beautiful painting. I can't tell you what a lovely gift it is, thank you so much for capturing Willow's character so well. I absolutely love it, it's beautiful and one to be treasured for many years to come.
Victoria D.M
Are you looking to commission a custom-made portrait?
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Karen M Berisford
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