'Sweet Disposition' FINISHED

24" x 18" ( 61cm x 46cm), oil on hardboard. Really loved painting this one! The original plan was to paint it in 'black and white' using only a mixture of burnt umber and french ultramarine, and titanium white (which I did) but I had decided this after I had began work on the support which had a base layer of burnt umber and white (kind of a pinky pale coffee colour), and it showed though the final painting in places- which I liked- so I added a bit more of it to the main highlights to bring it all together and give it a bit more depth and a touch of warmth.

First time using hardboard and I love it apart from the fact it is so darn heavy!

Another beach polo painting on the go...

Decided to treat myself to painting an image I have wanted to paint since I photographed some polo on the beach in January. Promised myself I wouldn't do any more headshots as original paintings as they can be tough to sell, but I'm making an exception for this little chap!

I think the lovely light and the challenge of that spotty winter coat are what appeal to me, and as an added challenge I'm going to paint it in black and white... or at least a mixture of french ultramarine and burnt umber used with titanium white.

Today is the third day of work on it, so far I have roughly sketched in the coat, marking out spots and the direction of the hair, added some detail to the face, glazed some shadows over the top, and blocked in the background. Was hoping to get the background done alla prima but I was overworking it so I'll need to go back to it later.

Really enjoying it!

Great week!

I have had a busy but great week! Firstly, I finished 'Into the Buttercups' (above); the photo as ever is rubbish (will definitely get this one properly scanned as the colours are so washed out in my photos) but it looks nice in the flesh!

I had a FANTASTIC day at Badminton on Sunday and enjoyed seeing my donated painting 'Arabian Filly' on display in the British Horse Society stand there. Hopefully it will make plenty of money for the Drawing the Line campaign! You can see some of my photos of the XC on my Facebook page.


I'm pleased to report that 'Dark Horse' sold on Friday so the next painting on my clear out list has gone up for auction on my website. As before, the price will drop each Friday by £20 until the painting sells. 'Frosty Morning Ride' is the current painting, pictured below.

The next week or so will be spent tidying up and finishing potential SEA entries in order to get photographs/scans done and my entries for the exhibition off before the deadline... this year is going by so fast!