Hashim Akib's demo and my self portrait!

Friday night, I met up with fellow blogger Sharon, and we went to watch professional artist Hashim Akib demonstrate how to make portraits in acrylic.

It was a fascinating night, He painted a portrait from a male model who was sitting in front of him, in under two hours!
All through the demo, Hash ( as he likes to be called) talked to us and told us some snippets from his artistic career. How he used to paint in a very realistic fashion, but was turned down flat by galleries who wanted more "gutsy" paintings.

He told us not to make a drawing - it encourages you to be logical and realistic - and then you fiddle. Look for interesting tones and shapes instead.
He told us to use flat brushes, and be bold in our strokes, so we would not fiddle.
He told us that photos flatten colour, so try to paint from life - it adds passion!

His acrylics were laid down thick - impasto.  I did wonder if I could utilise his technique in watercolour - and I determined to give it a go!

So this morning, while all else were abed and couldn't laugh at me, I attempted a self portrait. Like Hash - no drawing *eek* that bit is scary!
Here it is:

For a first attempt, I'm pretty happy with this. Yes, there are bits that could be improved - but I'm not going back in to fiddle. No, its not spot on to how I look, but its reasonable. This was done to try out the technique and see if I could use it on watercolour. I reckon I could - and even take more risks yet.

Never Grows Old.

It never grows old - what on earth could I be talking about?

Well, you all know how much I love dogs.
There's one special dog who is very dear to my heart, though I've never met him.
He is called Ben, and he lives with Lynne, Stuart and Toots.

Back in 2009, Ben's back legs stopped working - he suffered from Sudden Onset Spinal Injury.
He couldn't have had better owners - Lynne and Stuart went through hell and high water to get him better.
I have painted him once before, here.. "Still Standing" 

- recently though, I saw Lynne post a picture of Ben running through some fields - and I had to paint this one. :)  It never grows old watching this dog run and play. It could have been so different, you see.  Now he's grinning and happy and all that a dog should be. God bless you, Ben. And Lynne, Stuart and Toots, too :)

About the painting: W&N artist watercolour, Arches Aquarelle Rough 140g, size 15x11. Style - Impressionistic. 

Never Grows Old

The Dragon up the Hill

I had some time this afternoon, and I was in the garden, enjoying the sunshine and the greenery. Looking back at the house, there was Norbert the dragon, sitting on top of the house.
It reminded me of the times when we believed as kiddies that the old dear in the house on the hill was a dragon. ( not literally of course)
I made a quick line drawing straight on the watercolour paper and then I wet the page, leaving the house and dragon dry.
I fizzed in some cadmium red and an ultra/crimson mix on the top of the house - and then I made a sap green and a paynes grey blend and applied it to suggest the house was sitting on a hill.

I could have called it "enter the dragon" but that's too twee so its been called:

The Dragon up the Hill 

Time to loosen up!

That's what my mummy said.. time to loosen up!

I'm trying to think what she means...

when suddenly she starts flicking paint all over the show!

What's that about, hey?

Mummy says she was very tight in the last painting, so she needs an exercise to loosen up - and this is it.

What do I think?  I think mummy needs to learn how to loosen up the way we dogs do :)

 Don't you agree ? :)

The Density of Science

Today, no reading reams about what I'm up to in a painting, just the work to view and enjoy :)

The Density of Science

My attempt at Surreal Art

The challenge on our Painting Friends forum this month was to paint in a surrealist style.

This is my effort at surreal art - and what have I learned?
1) its great fun
2) always use a ruler to measure floor tiles!

The Permanence of Breakfast

Swamp Heaven

I've had such fun today!

Letting my imagination run wild and trying to paint Kermit in a realistic abstract kind of way.

I borrowed an idea from another Painting Friend, Sharon - who had used cling film and then inked around the design it made. I used watercolour pencil in my work to highlight the design - and I'm really happy with it. Its such FUN :)

If you've never seen Sharon's blog,  go HERE for a real treat.

and here is my painting... Arches Rough 15x11

Swamp Heaven