Hours on the Canvas

I can't believe it's been five months since I posted here! It's not good - I really should do better. Don't worry, I haven't lost my way and have been producing artwork consistently, improving my painting skills, searching for the next step - the next rung on the ladder.

My big commission paid off - a lovely Swiss client who communicated wonderfully and gave me the foundation of what she wanted, allowing me free reign to express myself as an artist. I think actually she was the perfect client. Communication was fast and clear and I briefed her on every step of the painting's progress. It was packed professionally and shipped off and she was really delighted with her painting. I was really lucky there, especially after hearing about some of the difficulties other artist can face with clients not being clear and then ultimately rejecting the work once it's finished.

'Fog On The Loch' - A commissioned Oil painting 84 X 59 cm

I was really proud of this painting and spent a lot of time designing the composition so that the eye moves in a circular motion between the horse and the castle to the reflection in the loch and back up to the horse, sketching and painting various horses, playing with the colours, trying to ensure the distant hills looked distant by experimenting with the drop off in chroma. It was a big leap forward in experience and a big step forward in understanding shipping to a foreign country. I can't wait for my next big commission.

In October, I really looked hard at improving my painting of animals and began painting smaller 10 X 8 inch works - to try and get into my thick skull the proper process for building up an oil painting. These are what are known as Alla Prima paintings, meaning they are painted all in one session. The smaller size means I can get a painting done in a single day. I began learning from an amazing American Painter, Mark McKenna who is well known among Western artist for painting animals. I loved his style and the depth of his paintings and so joined his 'Skool' community to see how he produces such strong work. It was really useful and so I began doing different paintings, using a palette knife to add texture. I painted a doe and was really pleased with the result. He works in a different way from me, beginning in detail with the eyes and working his way outward, in much the same way that I use pastels.

Painting of a Doe - Oil on canvas board 10 X 8 inches

It began a few paintings, starting with the eyes and then working my way outward, using the palette knife to add texture and vibrancy. Then I had a great idea - as Blackadder would put it - 'A cunning plan'. If I did twelve paintings, I could make a calendar - I could find an online publisher and print a load and then it would be a relatively inexpensive way of sharing my work with family and friends. So the mission was on - twelve paintings in a month.

It was wonderful - I realised that I should probably choose British wildlife and I should probably choose wildlife to match the month - so I started in earnest, finding decent reference materials and ploughing ahead. I mean there were mistakes and about three paintings blessed the bin - but any spare time in November was used in my shed beavering away. My aim was to complete all the paintings by the last day of November to give me enough time to design and print the calendar.

It was a great accomplishment and I managed to get my calendar out and for sale before Christmas. It was also wonderful to be able to give friends and family copies too. I think its definitely something I'll do every year.

It's all hours on the canvas - time put into honing my craft - teaching my brain how to use my tools - which are the best tools - how to add depth and vibrancy to the paintings and I tell you what - there's nothing better than listening to a bit of hillbilly country music (oh yes! Check out 'Watchhouse' on Spotify!) and painting. Its a little battle that goes on between me and the paints - like a complicated puzzle where I'm constantly talking to myself about colour mixes and value, about brush-stokes and building up layers - where I'm wrestling with a palette knife - wiping back mistakes - muttering to myself then stepping away to refresh my eyes, then stepping back to see what looks off. I feel like I'm winning. I'm pretty proud of a lot of them but there's always room for improvement.

Something else I've been doing is running a small charcoal portrait drawing workshop with a group of Deaf ladies in Bristol. We call ourselves the Bristol Deaf Art Group - BDAG and they're keen to learn how to draw better. Its a fantastic little group and we meet once a month where I teach them what I know about drawing. I mean - I'm no expert but I'm fluent in British Sign Language and for these ladies, they've never had the opportunity to be taught directly in their own language. Whenever they've attended art classed, they are normally run by hearing people who provide an interpreter. Its a wholly different experience - and mainly aimed at other hearing people. With our class, I understand their language and have been part of their community for over 30 years. This means I can relate to them really well and teach what I know directly. They're a great group and are not shy about asking questions or getting stuck in. It makes me really happy to be providing something of value.

So what now? Well my efforts are fourfold. I will continue to work on and improve my animal and pet portraits - it brings in much needed commissions, I will keep working on human portraits - the biggest and most difficult ambition - the skill needed to create meaningful paintings that capture likeness and character is immense but worth it. Thirdly, when the weather improves I will work on landscapes, specifically urban landscapes - I love the idea of natural reclamation - that the world continues despite the efforts of mice and men. Stroud and the five valleys has a history of our industrial past, which nature is slowly devouring. Its both beautiful and sad. I'd like to capture that somehow. The fourthly, I'd like to expand on my teaching and begin to teach the fundamentals of oil painting. There are plans afoot to set up a weekend course based in The Black Horse Inn in North Nibley. I'll keep you posted about that one.

I promise I won't leave the next blog too long.

Please do comment if you enjoy my content. Until next time!