Gordon .. The Big Blue

I have sharpened up some of the colours to make the whole effect more striking.
I'm quite pleased with the finished article.

Gordon.. who looked so fed up, I decided to call the painting "The Big Blue"

The Big Blue

Gordon - Stage IV

In this stage, the colours are painted on Gordon.
I've given him one red eye open and one eye closed.
The shading helps to add to the feeling of the painting.
He feels as if he's a little grumpy and bored, that he can't be doing with talking to anyone .

Gordon - Stage III

In this stage the foreground washes are built up.
Doing this makes Gordon "sit" a bit further back in the painting.

I sit back when I've done this stage and take a good look at him, before I go any further.

Gordon - Stage II

The background washes go in.

Architecturally speaking, Gordon is not a Gargoyle, but a Grotesque.
The difference being, Gargoyles would have had a water spout for dispersing rain water - their main function.
Grotesques on church buildings were intended to keep evil outside the church, and possibly to remind people what hell was like if they didn't go in!

But, in common with many others, we call all our Grotesques, Gargoyles :)

Gordon Stage 1

I have a few gargoyles in my garden, I love their little faces.
The first one was bought as a present for hubby - who promptly named him Gordon.

I thought it was about time I tried to paint Gordon's miserable little face :)

So here's the first stage, the drawing.

Welcome, Goetz.

Goetz.



the pet name derived from Gottfried, meaning "God's Peace"
Given that Goetz will be marking the spot we re-buried Suzy, we think its a good name.
For Suzy's story, click here....

Gargoyle VI

First wash of grey on the gargoyle, will be building him up to look like stone. That's the plan, anyway :)

Gargoyle V

Once the first set of washes on the wooden breaker were dry, I added more detail, wet on dry.

Gargoyle IV

I took a while to decide whether the gargoyle would be standing on a wooden breaker or on a column of stone - eventually I decided wood for the support, stone for the gargoyle.
So here's the first set of washes on the wooden breaker..

Gargoyle III

Normally I would paint more than this before I took a photo - but I think these eyes deserve a post all to themselves!

Gargoyle II

after the pencil drawing , the background paints...

Gargoyle I

Gargoyle the experiment!
I'm just having fun with this one and seeing where it goes.
Hope you enjoy the journey!

Sioux, See!

When we moved into this house we were doing some work in the garden, and we discovered a shallow grave. On investigation we discovered it was the grave of the previous family's beloved german shepherd dog, Suzy.

We dug a deeper grave for Suzy, in the shade of the sycamore where she will never be disturbed.

We were keeping our eyes peeled for something to mark her spot, something that would fit in with our likings also. The usual pet markers didn't do it for us as.

Monday, we came across this chappie - who is temporarily named Sioux, See! until we come up with a better name. If you have the ideal name, leave us a comment, please. We'll consider all suggestions.

here's the gargoyle - and yes, I'll paint him.. I have an idea in mind :)