A Collie in acrylics

I can't believe 26 days have passed since my last post especially when I made a promise to myself to update it more regularly. This promise does still stand and I fully intend to update my blog on a regular basis from now on.

So what have I been up to in the last 26 days? I would like to say lots and lots but as I have had the builders up converting my garage I haven't done as much as I'd planned - again!!! What is it with this year?? I could go into detail giving you an insight into the mess, stress and upheaval I have been subject to but suffice to say I don't work well amongst chaos and am easily distracted. Definately a disadvantage to working from home. But I can't complain (now that it's all over) as we now have the space for a dishwasher! It arrived this afternoon and I can honestly say it will be one well loved bit of machinery. One less thing to do around the house can only mean more time behind the easel.

Despite everything going on around me I have completed 2 portraits, one of which I can't show just now thanks to my camera. The other is an acrylic painting of a Collie called Bonnie, pictured below. The photograph I had to work from was taken over 20 years ago and was not clear but despite this I am happy with the results and more importantly my client was too.

I am always on the lookout to try something new be it pencils, paints, paper and enjoy seeing what results I can get from them. For Bonnie's portrait I used Golden Fluid Acrylics that have a consistency similar to heavy cream making them an excellent choice for detail work.

I did have my reservations about this paint - mainly its consistency - would it would be thick enough to use on canvas board and would I get complete coverage? But I needn't have worried there as you get the same richness of colour offered by the Heavy Body Acrylics but none of the 'gloopiness' - the consistency of the paints gave a pleasantly smooth brush stroke. I really enjoyed using them and can't wait to try them on paper and other supports.

Like all good things though there was a downside and with these paints I felt they dried a lot quicker than the Heavy Body Acrylics both on the palette and on the canvas. I found myself having to mix the same colour several times and having difficulty with blending. They do say practice makes perfect and I'm sure with more practice I'll find ways to overcome these problems.

Busy busy

Four or five months ago I was complaining to my husband how I had no time to draw 'my things' as I was fully booked with Xmas orders (which is great of course) and how I really missed it. He told me not to worry as I would have plenty of time come January onwards. How wrong he was!!

Surprisingly (I say this going on previous years at this time) I have been really busy with commissions and now taking orders for May. Obviously I am really pleased with this as people are finding me some way or other and like my work enough to commission me.

So while I miss not having the time to do my own work for the time being I can't complain as I'm doing something I love and get great enjoyment from. Saying this, I intend to find that extra hour here and there to update my website (long overdue in my opinion), draw something for me (can't wait) and brush up on my photography skills (more about this in another post).

Now for a portrait........ this is my latest, completed using colour pencils, of a Golden Lab called Wallace. I have to say he was sooooo good and sat there all the time while I snapped away with my camera!