Boy King 4

Because the theme of shades of grey was already in my mind from the previous painting, it was continued into this one.

The first wash is a pale grey, just to fix the Boy King into the painting.

Boy King 3

Now the painting is the right way up - and I did add a second "touch up" wash onto the sand to give it a little more punch.

Next, painting the Boy King will begin.

Boy King 2

Stage two of this pouring.

Paper was wetted on the top edge as you look at it - paint poured into the wet and paper tilted to make the paint run in one direction only.

When the paint got near the bottom of the page, I propped it over the sink, so that any run offs could run straight into the sink.

Pouring The Boy King

I'm experimenting again with the pouring technique, so I get it firmly fixed in my brain. This time using a painting done some good few years back as a reference.
The original Rest In Peace, I painted many years back, when all things Tutankhamun were very popular. His mask got painted in shades of black and grey, with the only recognisable blue and gold on his face, being the tear he wept.  A tear, because he would never rest in peace.

 
So, here is the new drawing, complete with some masking.

At this point I don't have a definite idea of how this will turn out, but I am trying to make the effect of a sandstorm brewing up around the Boy King.

And something for Missy

Yesterday, you saw me swap a painting for a book, to help the dogs at Battersea.

Today, I want to show you what arrived in the post for Missy.
Sharon had two of my pen and ink drawings and in gratitude, she sent some toys for Missy - and some chocolate for me!

for me?

I'm not going to show you photos of me eating chocolate - but you can see some of Missy - my Battersea girl - enjoying her toys.

where to start?

the squeaker gets it

followed by the Flea

why did you train me to wait for treats?

A Home of Their Own

Anybody who knows me, knows how much I love dogs.
I am delighted whenever a rescue dog gets a chance of a new home.
I am a proud supporter of the work of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

Recently a friend fell in love with this painting and asked if she could buy it:


so I asked her if she would mind buying this book for me and we would swap..


This book tells all about Battersea's 150 year history, from its humble beginnings in Holloway, through the diabolical way society treated animals at the time of Charles Dickens - and how Dickens visit and support helped turn the tide in favour of the Home.

Its a heart warming read - and best of all, all royalties go to Battersea to help further their work on behalf of homeless dogs.
Click here to buy - shop for book



And here, for those who love her, is my own Battersea girl, Missy.



Two years safe in Battersea waiting for us, they kept her that long, trying to find her a home.
Four and a half years, safe in our love.


To see Battersea's site, read their current news and see dogs available for adoption, please click the link on the right under Favourite Sites.

The Three Muses

here's the finished painting. I do hope you've enjoyed the journey - and are maybe tempted to give it a try on a photo of your own.

The Three Muses



This painting will be added to my gallery site:

Pat Elliott Paintings

Click the link to go have a browse.

Pears Four

Now I'm removing the masking fluid.
This is where I found out using a powerful sprayer is not the best idea .
It took almost half of an eraser to remove it, as you can see!

I don't use my fingers to remove making fluid - after the time I got a blister doing just that!

Here's the painting after the mask was removed


and here it is when I have enhanced the lower half to look like marble and painted a first pale wash over the pears.

All I have to do after this stage is paint one more wash on the pears, and she's done.
You'll see the finished painting tomorrow.

Pears Three

Once the poured painting was turned the right way round for the pears, the lower half reminded me a little of marble, so once the masking fluid is off, I will enhance that to look more like marble.



Missy is reserving judgement on the whole painting!

Pears Two

Here in this first picture, you can see I have propped my drawing board up - on the sink.
This is important, because if you use pouring as a technique, it is going to be messy!
And as I am the one who clears up after myself - I try to make life easy.

I wet two thirds of the paper from left to right and poured my colour on, so it runs down the page, like so.


Then I pour my second and third colours on, so I have some contrast in my background to these pears. I haven't said which colours, but you can see roughly which - this way, if you are tempted to play along, you can use whatever you have in your palette and not be worried about having the "right" colour.


Here is what the painting looks like the right way up once it has dried - and before I do any more to it.
If you leave your painting to dry on the board, make sure the bottom of the board is dry. I had to wipe mine down with kitchen paper.



and here is how messy the kitchen sink got! So this is why I say use the sink - easiest place to clean up from afterwards.

An experiment with Pears

I'm having an experiment with pears. which also involves some masking and some pouring.

Come along with me and enjoy the fun of playing with paint !

In this first stage, I make a drawing of some pears. Thanks to Tricia from Painting Friends for the photo. I like odd numbers in a painting, they seem to sit better for me than two.

Once the drawing is made, I took my trusty water sprayer ( recycled as you can see) and wet the paper completely.



After that, I put some blobs of masking fluid on the paper in a random fashion , got down to paper level and squirted the masking fluid with my sprayer so that it moved around the paper. This is the result.


I found out afterwards, that using the sprayer to move the masking fluid was a mistake! The spray was so powerful it blew fluid into the valleys of my rough paper. If you do want to try this, only use the sprayer to wet the paper. You'll see why later.

Thrilled!

My art club started up again this week after a two month holiday.

During that time, I had been painting and experimenting, using North light's Big Book of Painting Watercolour Flowers for inspiration, and some non flower photos too :)

Whilst the tutor did his tour of the class, he came to me and asked how much I had painted during the holiday?
I had printed out little postcard versions of the 16 paintings I had made.

He looked through each one and then told me it was a fine body of work - and he could really see where I'd improved over the summer.
here is a small selection:





I was thrilled that he commented on my improvement. Just as I am thrilled to read your comments when you make them.
So thanks to all of you who take the time to comment . I do appreciate it.

Desi

here he is - the finished Desi.




I can only hope this humble painting can bring as much comfort to Barbi, as she has brought to so many dogs in need.

It will be added to my permanent gallery site, Pat Elliott Paintings, as a lasting tribute.

Desi IV

I loved Desi's ears - so expressive, so adorable.
They were next to be painted, along with a little shadow.

Tomorrow you will see the finished painting.

Desi III

Desi was a tricolour jack.
That means he had white, black and tan colouring.
A beautiful boy.

For the painters amongst my followers, the tan is burnt sienna.

Desi II

Eyes and nose. You knew that's where I'd start, didn't you?

Did you know though, that each time I paint a dog, I sing to them softly?
My painting is so much better when I feel a connection .

This time I was singing to Desi.. " the charm about you, will carry me through.. to Heaven. I'm in Heaven"

A happy song for a happy little dog..

The stages of Desi

By now you all know how much I love dogs. My particular fondness in the terrier line is the russell (parson or jack).

Today I begin a new jack painting, that of darling Desi, who recently passed away.
His mom, Barbi, is a very special lady, always out rescuing dogs, giving them life and hope, and finding them new homes. She is another I know through the good offices of Bill Tomei (may he rest in peace).

So to paint her own Desi , in the hope of giving her some comfort, is a real honour. This is on behalf of all the dogs who owe Barbi their lives .
Thank you.

First, the pencil drawing


and then the sky...

On a Creative Path

My mummy says she's on a creative path - that is why she paints and doodles with ink - a lot!

Me, I'm on a creative path too.. here it is..



see.. aren't I cool?



and on the days you can't decide to go left or right, take a break!



Here, I sneaked a photo of one of mummy's artistic doodlings for you all to see...

Keeping the World Straight

This is the painting I talked about in yesterday's post.

Keeping the World Straight

The day before yesterday, I was in the summerhouse reading a book of short stories by Stephen King. "Just before Sunset"
One of the stories inspired me to paint this picture. It told of a man who had seen some standing stones in a field . Upon closer inspection he saw faces in the stone and when he touched them, he heard voices. In this place the fabric between our universe and another was thin .. and as long as there were eight stones in the field.. it kept the world straight and free from monsters. Sometimes, though, the eighth stone disappeared.

Now that I've painted the scene, it can't disappear - and so the world is kept straight. I almost feel like Superman :lol:

I think I'll pop this in my permanent gallery Pat Elliott Paintings ... so we can all sleep at night :)

Down in the Summerhouse

Now that the summerhouse is finished, that's where I paint. Its a lovely spot, sheltered from the wind, but lots of natural daylight and very warm, thanks to the fact that hubby insulated walls and floors.




Once the doors are open, Missy comes down the garden with me and watches me intently for a while - just in case I should feel the need to play basket ball with her.


Once my kit is spread out and ready, I do play ball with her - afterwards she settles down nicely.


Regardless of what I paint and how well it goes - its a lovely way to spend a few hours.

Wherever you create, I hope you get just as much pleasure from your space!

Tomorrow I will show you the painting that was created on this sunny day .

Roadside Flowers

So here's the finished painting:

Roadside Flowers

I hope you've enjoyed watching the step by step of this painting.
It will be added to my permanent gallery. Why not go over and take a look around. Pat Elliott Paintings

flowers four

Now the background gets deepened and you can see the flowers really stand out . Its a very simple subject, but a very interesting one to paint. Not always are the big showy plants the ones that call to me - the simplicity of this one is something special.
Tomorrow you will get to see the finished painting .

flowers three

Once the centres were in and I was happy, I moved on to the next stage - which was a loose washy background - this helps fix the flowers in place. It will get darkened up quite a bit before the painting is finished.