October, the Big Draw and Happily Ever After

In October, the Big Draw events happen.
If you're in the UK, you can see the list of free events HERE

I always try to do at least one drawing in October.
It helps keep my eye in - and truthfully, you get absorbed in drawing to the point it's almost meditative.

This year, I wanted to do a portrait - and the very lovely Miranda Dickinson,author and singer ( website HERE ) said that I could use her photo as a reference.
So I drew this portrait of Miranda's mum and daughter, hoping that I could capture the feeling of love and ease, between the two generations.
For those of you who know Miranda, you will also find the title of her latest release in the pile of books...

Happily Ever After

For the curious amongst you, this was done on Winsor & Newton paper, Medium Cartridge 70lbs, using a Derwent Graphic Designer pencil, Grade F.

As always, this can be found, along with all my other paintings and drawings, on my gallery site Pat Elliott Paintings - HERE

A sunshine break, some inspiration and The Ragged Moth

A little while ago, we all went on a weekend break to a place called Tolleshunt D'Arcy.
Nearby is a Nature Reserve, where we walked, sat, enjoyed the views and the sunshine. You can see a few pics on my other blog HERE

I used one of the photos as inspiration for a painting.
You can see that I left some things out and added others.
We artists have a thing called 'artistic licence' which means to me, I can choose to add or subtract anything to my painting!

So here is what I did. The actual photo is on the other blog.

The Ragged Moth

Painted on St Cuthbert's Mill paper - Bockingford Not 140lb

Used Winsor & Newton AQ paints

Size: 15 x 11 inches

A time for experimenting, with paper, paint and pears.

I've had some fun, experimenting with paper, paint and pears.

The paper was my sample pack from the very lovely St Cuthbert's Mill.
I usually use their Saunders Waterford Rough paper for my watercolours, but these are all versions of their delightful Somerset Range.

The paint used was delivered by the amazing Derwent Graphik Line Painters.
One of the following pears was painted in traditional watercolour. I'm sure you'll be able to tell which it was.

The pears were from photos kindly provided by Kay Smith. You can see her blog HERE

Why post experimentation? Why not just the worked up paintings?
I believe it's because in experimentation we grow as artists - and for people who follow and view my blog, perhaps you'd like to see that there is a period of simply playing with paint, followed by growth. It might encourage you to try that yourself and not to be shy about it.

So here, you see me experiment and play. I hope you do the same too!

and if you'd like to see them all together, here they are:-

You can see which version of Somerset paper I used in the larger pics.
I hope you have enjoyed looking at these - and I hope you're inspired to go experiment too!

The Big Draw happens in October ~and here's my Dreamtime!

October in the UK sees the festival called 'The Big Draw' happening.
All over the country, events are put on to encourage people to draw.
Many are free.
If you're in the UK, you can access the information HERE - THE BIG DRAW

I'm going to try to go to at least one!

I love drawing, it's such a relaxing activity, it takes you to another time and place.

In this piece, I have combined my love of drawing with my love of painting - using background washes for the sky and drawing the figure with a technical pen.

Dreamtime

A love of music, a love of painting ~ and a love of experimenting!

I love music, painting and experimenting - and in this painting they all came together!

I took a sheet of Bockingford Not paper, glued a page of sheet music to it - let that dry overnight, then painted the image that the music brought to my mind.
Mostly watercolour, but a few touches with the Graphik Line Painters too. 

Here's the result, I hope you enjoy it.

Candle

Would love to hear your thoughts!

A challenge given - and the resulting Preserve the Moment

Over on Painting Friends forum (new members welcome, join HERE)
Mollie Jones, a talented artist from Texas, took some photos of a glass and fruit set up - and challenged each of us to produce an art work from one of the photos.

I chose one photo and adapted it to my vision. I didn't include everything in the photo, I left out a dish with extra fruit, I added in more sunshine and a bright background - and generally tried to make the thing my own.

Here is the painting that I created:

Preserve the Moment.

Painted on Saunders Waterford 140Rough, 

size 15" x 11"

The Sentinel

In a little pond, local to me, there is a metal sculpture.
The pond itself is nothing extraordinary, but I really liked the sculpture, so I decided to paint it and try to give the pond a magical feel.

This is the result.

The Sentinel

Painted on Saunders Waterford 140lb Rough paper, using W&N artist quality paints; it measures 15" x 11"

I hope you enjoy looking at it.