A Burst of Energy

Being an artist who also has a full time job means that your creative time is limited to evenings and weekends.  Somehow I managed to work on three paintings over the last 6 weeks.  Here is the first one. It is Acrylic on Canvas Board, 305mm x 405mm (12"x15").

Something that I find interesting is the method that different artists use when 'constructing' a painting.  Some artists start in one place and work outwards in perfect detail, until the whole painting is complete. Other artists, such as myself, work in layers, building the painting till it is complete. The only problem with this method (especially when I'm painting), is that it can look really messy before being complete.

I am not sure about other artists, but I don't really like (non-Arty) people to see my work at this stage because they usually take one look, squint and then get a strange look on their faces and that is when you can just see that they are wondering if you know what you are doing. :-)

So here, for your entertainment is a photo in the first phase of this painting.

After the rain

After a long period of drought we were finally blessed with an abundance of rain. This of course caused the landscape to change colour as new growth sprouted from the ground, little flowers popped up everywhere and everything looked so fresh and new.

While driving around the countryside my father and I came across a dairy farm where little yellow flowers turned the lands into a yellow carpet.  

Carpet of Yellow
Acrylic on Canvas Panel
10 x 14"
254 x 356mm

I just have to share this photo with you, this was one of the photographs taken that day.  The farmer told us that some of his Jersey cows provide 40 litres of milk per day.  Isn't she beautiful?

With or without cream?

A few weeks ago I came across this blog, Studio Atelier.  Blog owner, Barb Benik puts up a photograph and you can paint it in anyway you see fit.  I accepted the challenge this month and decided to paint it as the photograph was taken.  I submitted it this morning and since tomorrow is the last day for entries, I guess she will put all the remaining entries up then.

3:38 pm (South African Time)
Just got an email from Barb Benik to let me know my entry has been posted.  Click here to see the post for this challenge.

Mini Paintings

A while back I bought a few small canvas panels, for playing around on.  The large ones are 6"x8" and the small ones are 4"x6". This also makes it easy for framing as these are common photo frame sizes.

I decided to try a few landscape scenes in acrylic and was trying out a few techniques I had picked up from some youtube art lessons.  I'm quite happy with the result and might just do a few more small paintings when I need a break from my commissions.  They also make for lovely gifts.