Brotherly Love, Fife Art Exhibition, Elite Framing, Keiko Mukaide and Simon Ward .

A little over a month ago, I entered one of my paintings into the Fife Art Exhibition.
That painting was Brotherly Love

It was expertly framed by Elite Framing

I didn't win a prize in the judging - but because I'd entered, I had the opportunity to partake in some workshops, gratis. These were paid for by the sponsor, Shell.

The first workshop I attended was on with the renowned glass artist Keiko Mukaide.
Under her tuition, I produced these two pieces.

The first is a leaf shape, within which is contained the blueprint of the adult tree. The second shows a leaf shape changing with the seasons - to show us nature is not frightened of change - and nor should we be.

The second workshop was with the acclaimed ceramicist, Simon Ward.
In this workshop we learned how to create a design and transfer it to china.
I did this on a mug, using the words "Come Home" and showing one prodigal koi returning to his friends.

These works too are now in the exhibition, which has another week to run.
If you are visiting Fife within the next week, pop into the Lochgelly Centre - and you will see a stupendous exhibition with much talent on display.



My painting was created on St Cuthbert's Mill Saunders Waterford Paper, using W&N paint.

Lunchtime in Suburbia, a study of fish

Hello friends,

today I show you a painting I made over the recent holidays.
It's a study of koi fish, which are kept in a garden pond.
I hope you enjoy viewing it.

Lunchtime in Suburbia

Painted on Saunders Waterford paper, 140lb rough
approx 15" x 8"

The Persistence of Dreams

One of the two paintings I was working on in tandem is finished  - and here it is for your enjoyment.
Painted in a surreal fashion, with hidden meaning, which I love!

The Persistence of Dreams

Big Pond

In the monthly challenge on the Painting Friends forum, we had to paint koi this month.

Year of Painting (YOP)
Number Three, Koi.


Personal Goals for this Painting:

Firstly I set some goals for my thumbnail sketches.
These were :

1. do a thumbnail showing the scene as is
2. on the next two thumbs, change up the techniques
3. on the last thumbnail, keep the focal point, but be completely off the wall in the scenery
4. Choose which one of these thumbnails to paint.

 
Choosing (3), the choices for the painting were to try to
a) use sea salt for an interesting effect


So, here's the painting: Big Pond

What works and what could be improved.

I love the effect and the fish. I honestly don't think I'd change anything.


Challenges Faced

The challenge in painting this was to leave it alone and just sit back and let the salt work.


Share Personal Goals and whether you felt you Met Them

My goals were to make the four thumbs again, pick a technique and run with it., to create a loose interpretation of koi.


How I created the Painting.

I created the painting by painting the fish first. When they were dry, I put water over the whole , touching in a few colours to make the water interesting. Then I sprinkled sea salt over the wash. Walked away and let it dry completely.
When dry, I brushed the salt off – and there was the finished painting.


Size of Painting, Medium, Palette and Brushes.


The painting is on Arches Aquarelle Rough 140lb and is quarter sheet. 15”x 11”
The medium is pencil for the under drawing and watercolour for the painting. W&N artists quality .
Palette colours used : French Ultramarine, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow
Brush: Squirrel Mop. Kolinsky number 12

Hope you've enjoyed this look into the process of making a painting :) xx
This- and all my paintings - can be viewed on my gallery site HERE