Laura Barber-Riley- Equestrian Artist

'The River Eden'

2012-02-06T13:54:00.000Z

A new little 7" x 7", 'The River Eden', available for sale, details on my website: laurabarber-riley.com

My main project at the moment is a wonderful commission of one of my favourite Dales stallions, but he is taking an awfully long time to dry between layers of paint, so this has kept me busy whilst waiting!

It is based on photographs that I took at Appleby Fair back in 2009, these four stood ever so patiently in the sunshine waiting for their turn to be bathed in the river. I really enjoy painting water, a seriously tiny brush was needed to paint some of the ripples on this little painting!

'In the Shadows' FINISHED!

2012-01-23T12:40:00.000Z

Got there in the end, phew! I may well tweak it a bit more on looking at it with fresh eyes in a few weeks but for now it is signed and declared finished!

Glad I persevered with it, have learnt lots!

'In the Shadows' in progress, Day 7

2012-01-22T15:02:00.001Z

Battling on with the most difficult painting in the world haha!

More done all over really... more defining the mane, the blaze, the muzzle, and some glazes of warmer colour in the coat in places. Now need the mane to try again to put the brightest layers over the top, think it might take me a few attempts to get the mane as I would like!

Turns out the painting is as tricky to photograph as it is to paint! I suspect that because the detail on the parts of the horse in shadow is quite subtle compared with the bright light where the light hits, the camera is doing funny things to try and level things out. Have tweaked this image in photoshop to make it closer to the original, still not right but you get the idea! If it does end up turning out well it will definitely need to be scanned in order to get a good digital copy!

The little 6" x 6" Friesian painting eBay auction finishes tomorrow evening, you can bid here- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180798251524

Onwards and upwards...

'In the Shadows' in progress, Day 6

2012-01-20T14:19:00.000Z

Hardest. Painting. Ever!

Wasn't expecting this painting to be dry enough to work on today, but it was, so I spent a few more hours on it. It's not getting any easier! SUCH a tricky painting! Still not sure if it will turn out ok, finding it a serious challenge!!

Hoping to get back to it this evening as although the horse's body needs to dry now, I haven't yet done any more on the mane and background so that will be my next step.

'Portrait of a Black Horse' (Study) - currently available on eBay

2012-01-16T19:46:00.001Z

My first mini painting in several months, a study for a possible larger painting. This one is 6" x 6" and an image I have wanted to paint for ages! Had stopped myself previously as I have been trying to avoid painting 'boring' headshots but something kept me coming back to this one... I think perhaps the simplicity is what I love about it!

My original plan was a blurry background of countryside in the distance, which I duly painted, but when it was finished it just didn't really have the impact I wanted. Lots of pinks, purples, and blues went into the horses coat so I simply mixed the area of my palette I had been using for those and used that as the background! I think it works so so much better than the original plan, I'm pleased with how it turned out.

The painting is being auctioned on eBay, finishing on the evening of Monday 23rd January. As usual the bidding starts at 1p with no reserve, you can bid here.

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'In the Shadows' in progress, Day 5

2012-01-13T13:32:00.000Z

All I can say is I am so glad this is an original rather than a commission- sleep would be lost otherwise! Some paintings seem to just paint themselves while others take a lot of muddling through with plenty of challenges along the way- this painting is definitely in the latter category!!! All those colours in the coat, none of them resembling anything like the palomino colour my mind thinks it should be... almost makes my head hurt! Never let it be said I don't like to push myself out of my comfort zone now and again haha!

It's been a week since I last worked on this painting yet still some of the paint wasn't dry! Just the very brightest parts of the mane were still wet so I managed to get a good sitting in, think I really am going to have to leave it a good fortnight now before the next layer to make sure I'm not going to lift off any of this layer. The slow drying is making a tricky painting even trickier as by the time I come to sit back down to it I have sort of lost my train of thought re where I'm going next! At least I will have the benefit of fresh eyes I guess!

That said, I am pleased with the progress today... think I might have a sound enough basis to get the tiny brushes out next time to make a start on the details, always my favourite part! It's still quite sketchy at the moment, a lot of work left to do! The darkest darks are down now so I can start to think about the more golden and red coat colours over the top.

Onwards and upwards... (with fingers crossed)!

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Still Life

2012-01-09T13:14:00.000Z

The palomino painting was as wet as I left it on Friday this morning so I decided to use my child-free morning to do some still life. This is a funny little white horse figurine that I have had since I was a child, I have painted it (badly) several times now, it is interesting comparing the images as I slowly improve my skills. This definitely looks more like the figurine than any of my other attempts so far! Painting from life all prima is not something I find easy, but it teaches me a great deal!

Wondering about getting a realistic horse model and using that to practice painting the form of a horse from life, think it might be useful!

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'In the Shadows' in progress, Day 4

2012-01-06T11:27:00.003Z

Yikes this painting is tricky!!!! It looks an utter mess but I think I am just going to have to accept that it will look awful while I try and lay down all the different colours in his coat! I'm not able to work with too many colours in each layer as they just muddy one another so patience it is!

I spent about 2 hours on it today (forgot to blog about the 3rd layer which I did ages ago and was mainly background, pictured below) and found it very challenging! There is going to be a LOT of work in this painting! Think it will either turn out really well, or in the bin! I seem to recall the mini painting I did as preparation was looking dreadful until the last minute so holding onto that though! Either way, think I will learn a lot from it.

Some very slow drying pigments used today so not expecting it to be dry enough to work on for another week or so now sadly!

Hello 2012!

2012-01-03T16:24:00.000Z

I can hardly believe it is 2012 already! The painting above was my last of 2011, a commission based on a beautiful photo by talented up and coming equestrian photographer Dan Foster.

2011 was a brilliant year for me; I was lucky to have some incredible commissions, wonderful clients, a few great exhibition opportunities and fantastic experiences at various workshops too. The highlight of 2011 though was probably winning The Eggesford Studio Prize for the best piece of work by an artist under 35 at the Society of Equestrian Artists Annual Exhibition, I still smile when I remember that!

I learnt absolutely loads in 2011 and looking back to where I was this time last year it is interesting just how much the way I paint has evolved- things like the way I use colour and handle paint with my brushes have changed quite a bit! I think a lot of my development has been down to producing more work from life, from my experiences at workshops under artists I admire (such as Malcolm Coward, and Susie Whitcombe) and also down to changing some of the materials I use too- the Michael Harding medium I now use for example (recommended to me by another artist I greatly admire, Michael Miller).

So, onwards into 2012!

I have been trying to figure out my goals for the year... apart from the general 'improve' ones I think I have two main ones:

1. First and foremost to produce even more work from life, especially more live horse work.
2. Get a painting juried into a competitive open exhibition which does not have horses (or animals) as a theme. Bit of a tall order but a goal that will push me a bit more I think- horses are generally not fashionable subjects in general exhibitions so I will be forced to not only paint something technically superb, but also to really produce something highly original and interesting too. How does the saying go.. "Shoot for the moon and even if you miss you'll land in the stars"? Something like that! ;-)

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I wish you all a great 2012- Happy New Year!

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Not far off finishing the beach polo painting...

2011-11-18T09:35:00.000Z

I think there is probably only one more layer of paint left to go on this painting, I just need to tidy up the tiny details on the subjects, and do some more work on the water. I'm using a very slow drying (but utterly beautiful and lovely to paint with Michael Harding oil) blue and if anything it seems even wetter than it was yesterday so think I'll have to wait a good for days before going back to it.

Have started another little box canvas too, a dressage close up. Waiting for a bespoke canvas to arrive to get started on an exciting commission for Christmas too. Busy busy!

Painting horses from life, as badly as ever!

2011-11-14T15:27:00.001Z

If there is one thing that I have learnt in 2011, it is probably the value of working from life as part of my wider preparatory and practice work. It's not something I am very good at, find easy, or a style of painting very close to my usual style- but I enjoy it, and I think I have really reaped the benefits of dedicating a bit more time to it this year, in my regular work.

Having not done very much of it in recent months I have decided to pull my finger out and go do some! This morning I spent an hour or so at a local yard that I used to keep my horses on in the past, and painted. Not the best time of year to do it really as most of the horses are well rugged up but enough heads over stable doors to keep me busy at least!

So tricky trying to paint a horse who only fleetingly looks in the direction you are painting him, I produced the dreadful painting above! Not quite sure how I managed to make his face look quite so deformed... shall blame it on tricky combination of roany face markings haha! As ever not too worried about the end result really as it's more about the process- but it would be nice to one day be capable of producing good equestrian oils from life. Planning to try and make my yard painting visits weekly/fortnightly, hopefully that way by the time the next SEA workshops come around in the spring I might not be so useless ;-D I might even try and paint the same horse each time, that could be an interesting way to measure my progress?

Have added another layer to the 'Out of the Shadows' painting since last blogging, and started another beach polo one too (pictured below). Hoping at least one of them might be ready in time for the Association of Animal Artists exhibition at Derby House next month!

'In the Shadows' in progress, Day 2.

2011-11-07T17:26:00.000Z

Back to this today, just a quick 30 mins spent putting another layer of paint over the lot! Some paynes grey over the top of the background and a mixture of various colours over the horse (I love paynes grey). From this layer onwards I use Michael Hardings medium No. 1 to slacken off the paint- it was recommended to me by one of my favourite artists, Michael Miller, and really is wonderful to work with. Michael Harding oil paints are fantastic too, not cheap, but worth the money; I am very slowly building my collection of them! Oil paints can be incredibly expensive...

So, now I have my underpainting just as I want it- a nice, brushmark-free set of guidelines to paint over. Looks a mess but that's fine as I just need to see what needs to go where :-)

'In the Shadows' in progress, Day 1.

2011-11-04T21:59:00.003Z

Finally away with this one! Took ages to get the canvas as I wanted it- much gesso and sanding and oil priming and then a thin stain of raw umber as a base. I seem to spend SO long prepping my canvases but it is time well spent as having a surface that suits my way of working makes life so much easier when painting!

This first (rather scary looking) layer of paint is just blocking out what goes where really- light, and dark. Rough and sketchy thin layers of oil paint (slackened off slightly with a bit of artists white spirit) being careful not to leave raised brush marks. Bad photo, was painting right next to the window as the light was awful- good old rainy British weather!

Will be documenting the progress of this one in tedious detail on here!

My camera was linked to my laptop and clicking away every 10 seconds as I painted, hoping to produce another time lapse video of this one.

New 7" x 7" in progress...

2011-10-31T11:57:00.000Z

Third layer of paint on this little 7" x 7" Friesian painting today, should be able to get it finished in the next sitting I think, although will need to wait several days for it to be dry enough to work on again as some of the pigments I used mixing the black are very slow drying ones!

Lots of smallish canvases being prepped in my studio at the moment, nice to have lots of projects on the go!

Speaking of little projects, my current mini painting auction finishes tomorrow evening- click here to visit auction. The painting is pictured below.

Artists & Illustrators Magazine Website Feature!

2011-10-28T19:01:00.000+01:00

Really excited to be featured on Artists & Illustrators website at the moment! You can see the little article here.

In other news... I have a 7" x 5" mini oil painting study on eBay at the moment (pictured below, auction here), currently on about £31 and finishing on Tuesday evening (GMT). Can't wait to get started on the original it was in preparation for, busy sanding and priming a beautiful Harris Moore bespoke canvas for it this week. Planning to do another time lapse video of it's creation so expect some more info and probably tonnes of tedious work in progress updates about that soon!

Finally, I'm off to the flagship Derby House store in Wrightington tomorrow for the day, showcasing my work and painting with fellow members of the Association of Animal Artists (who have a new page on Facebook by the way- facebook.com/AssociationAnimalArtists) If you are in the area then please pop in and see us, Derby House have lots of great offers on for their Autumn Store Event this weekend, have a wonderful falconry display, a mechanical horse and allsorts!

NEW Limited Edition Print- 'Sunlit'

2011-10-10T16:27:00.002+01:00

I'm thrilled to have a new limited edition print on offer from this week! You can now order prints of my 2011 painting 'Sunlit'(pictured above) on my website here!

On my Facebook page I'm actually doing a prize draw for a copy of the print, you can find the details over there at facebook.com/LauraBarberRileyArt

Finished the charity building block for Masham Art Festival!

2011-10-08T14:16:00.000+01:00

Finished! Had such fun with this! On the 21st October this block, and all the others being decorated by others will go on sale for just £25 each (bargain!!) at the Masham Art Festival, with all proceeds going to Shelter.

If you are interested in purchasing it you can find details about the festival on the website here- http://www.creativemasham.com/for-shelter.html

Charity Building Block Nearly Finished!

2011-10-05T14:57:00.000+01:00

Nearly finished! A few photos of the blocks different sides, and one for scale too. Teeny! Another few adjustments once dry and it will be done I think!some more information about the project here- http://www.creativemasham.com/for-shelter.html

Equestrian Exhibition

2011-10-04T14:12:00.000+01:00

Just 4 more days left to see The Society of Equestrian Artists exhibition at Sally Mitchell Fine Arts Ltd gallery in Tuxford, Notts; it finishes on the 8th October!

Lots of wonderful equestrian art on display, including my painting 'Lancashire Mounted Branch' :-)

First paint on the little wooden block

2011-10-04T09:01:00.000+01:00

Prepared the wooden block to take oil paint over the weekend and put the first bit of paint on it yesterday... soooo tiny! I think the horse is about 4cm tall. He'll be tied up and then another horse will be looking out of the stable door.

Really not sure my hands are steady enough to do a great job at this minute scale but I'm having fun trying and it's for charity so I shall just keep my fingers crossed as I keep going!! :-D

Think it will probably be dry enough to get a bit more done today...

Charity Building Block

2011-09-30T13:30:00.000+01:00

I got this in the post today from the Masham Arts Festival organisers... a wooden 6cm square block of wood!

The idea is that artists/celebrities/(anyone really!) paint blocks around the theme 'home' for the charity Shelter. A great cause and sounded like fun so I volunteered to do one for them!

To fit in with the 'home' theme my plan is to turn the block into a little stable... will have two horses heads peering over stable doors on opposite sides and give it a nice tile roof I think! 6cm really is TINY so not sure if I will be able to pull it off but expect I'll have fun trying!

If anyone has any particularly pretty stables that I could use as inspiration then I'd love to see them- drop me an e-mail at info@laurabarber-riley.com! Thank you!

More info on the project here- http://www.facebook.com/notes/masham-arts-festival/home-art-and-craft-project-in-support-of-shelter/248595371840016 I think they are still looking for artists to paint blocks if anyone else fancies it!

New mini painting on eBay... 'Pure Addiction'

2011-08-29T16:32:00.001+01:00

'Pure Addiction'
5" x 7" (18cm x 13cm) Oil on board (6mm deep).
Available on eBay starting at 1p with free p&p and no reserve- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180715769730?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESCX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1554.l2649

I LOVE this horse! This little painting is based on photos I took of Pippa Funnell and her ride Pure Addiction warming up for the dressage phase of Bramham Horse Trials this year. Such an impressive horse, incredibly beautiful!

New Original Painting, 'Fine Day'

2011-08-23T14:34:00.002+01:00

'Fine Day'
7" x 7" (18cm x 18cm)
Oil on board, 2011
Original available, please see my website for details- laurabarber-riley.com

This painting was all about the coat- that beautiful scarlet colour against such a clear blue sky, not to mention the bright chestnut coat of the horse. It took many thin glazes of paint to get the really bright rich red I was aiming for but I'm so glad I took my time with it as in real life the colours have really turned out beautifully. Such a shame the camera doesn't pick it up very well, as ever!

Quest for the perfect painting surface.

2011-08-21T16:59:00.000+01:00

I gradually seem to have become really particular about the surfaces I paint on and, over the last few years have (through a LOT of trial and error!), found a way of preparing canvases that suits my way of working well (involves many many coats of acrylic gesso applied with a foam roller, lots of sanding between each couple once dry until very smooth but not too smooth!). Time consuming (very!) but worth it as the surface allows me to handle the paint in ways that a toothy un-gesso'd canvas would not.

I also like working on board (hardboard/prepared mdf/masonite)- no days of relentless gessoing and sanding required as it is already smooth! Not so great for bigger works as it weighs a tonne but for little pieces it is great! Fed up of paying waaayyyy over the odds for board at my local art shop I decided to save money and prep my own. £6 for a fantastic enormous sheet of mdf at B&Q! They even patiently cut it up into about a million little boards for me! I have pretty much a years supply of 7" x 5", 6" x 6" and 7" x 7" boards now.

You can't paint straight onto board though, it'll suck the oil paint up like a sponge and yellow everything else, so the internet tells me. I gesso'd a few but decided to prepare the rest more traditionally- having read that an oil based primer would provide a slicker surface I wanted to give that a go. Before priming the boards they would need sizing first apparently so I dutifully bought a pot of rabbit skin glue size too.

Que much confusion with the rabbit skin glue. The instructions said to stand the tub in hot water to liquify it and then paint it on. Simple enough? BUT the liquified RSG was like water?? I put a coat on all of the boards (photo above!) but noticed after I had finished the last that the first looked matte and dry again- the board had just soaked it up?! Surely that wasn't right? I added another coat and experienced the same. Google wasn't very helpful but the oil painters on the Wet Canvas forum were- wateryness and absorption totally normal apparently! Phew!

So now all my little boards are RSG'd up front back and sides and are all ready for their primer. Tested some of the primer on a gesso'd board today and it looks a very nice surface... so hopefully all this work will be worth it!!

Some more on the dappled trees...

2011-08-21T15:33:00.000+01:00

Despite the fact I genuinely don't expect this to turn out anywhere near good enough to ever see the light of day I am still plugging away at it!

Working here there and everywhere on it- most of it is still very rough. Really enjoying the challenge even if it is a bit self indulgant (should be spending time working on paintings that I can actually sell!!)... kind of reminds me of a jigsaw puzzle- I want to solve it, knowing it will be broken up and put back in it's box afterwards...

Twitter

2011-08-19T07:58:00.001+01:00

I joined Twitter a few months back and finally after years of not really being all that interested I now 'get it'!

What a great community, I have made some wonderful new horsey and arty contacts and enjoyed chatting with lots of different people. What a shame I have been missing out for so long until now!

If you are on Twitter please do add me, would love to see you on there!
Follow @LBarberRiley

Current Projects

2011-08-18T08:50:00.002+01:00

After a wonderful break from painting for a few weeks and fantastic holiday in Tuscany I am back in my little spare-room-studio and full of enthusiasm for lots of projects I am embarking on!

First of all I have two hunting paintings on the go, pictured above. The larger one with trees in the background is something I started a few months ago- it's the painting I seem to work on when everything else is too wet! The reason it gets a bit neglected is because it is seriously tricky!! Low winter light shining through trees and dappling all over the horses and path below. Don't expect this one will ever see the light of day as I don't think I am going to be able to pull it off but it is teaching me loads so I plan to keep going with it- always good to challenge yourself I think!

I am avaiting delivery of a bespoke Harris Moore canvas today to make a start on a very special commission that I am looking forward to getting started on! Such beautiful canvases, I am finding it well worth paying a bit extra for them as the quality speaks for itself. Hoping another art delivery will arrive today too with some new materials to play with- I have been recommended to try out some of Michael Harding's mediums and oil paints by some fellow artists whose work I admire so keen to break those open too!

Was absolutely gutted to lose a lot of the reference photographs I took this year recently. Turned out my (already replaced once!) laptop hard drive was corrupt from the start so it not only died but the back ups I had made from it had failed too. I still have low res versions of some of my favourites, that I shared online, so I think I am going to do some 7 x 5 mini paintings with them and make use of them that way. Time to start backing my most precious photos up online too I think...

Event and exhibition wise this month I have another Association of Animal Artists 'Art Rendezvous' in the diary for the 27th August at Derby House's Wrightington Store which will be another great day- shall be taking some fresh originals to go in the gallery there and doing some horsey life painting too!

Bit of an update!

2011-08-13T10:59:00.000+01:00

Been a fantastic few weeks for my art, lots to update you all with!

Firstly, I was very excited indeed to have 'Through the Surf' featured in the August copy of Artist & Illustrators magazine!!!

The Society of Equestrian Artists 'The Horse in Art' exhibition opened at Mall Galleries, London, on the 2nd of August- I was over the moon to be awarded The Eggesford Studio Prize for the best piece of work by an artist under 35 for 'Through the Surf'!! Still can't believe my luck! :-D

Had a wonderful week in Tuscany with family to return to even more good news- both of my paintings exhibited at the Mall were among those selected from the exhibition to form part of another SEA show taking place at Sally Mitchell Fine Art's Tuxford gallery in Nottinghamshire! I then discovered that 'Through the Surf' had actually sold in London- my first ever sale there, brilliant!!

So an amazing August so far! Now need to tidy up my bombsite of a studio and start thinking about my next paintings....

'Sunlit' Finished

2011-06-08T13:14:00.000+01:00

Finished this painting today! Can't wait until it is dry enough to varnish as I think it will really bring out all the colours in the coat.

The original is available for sale.

More on 'Sunlit', 6th layer, nearly finished now.

2011-06-07T12:05:00.002+01:00

About 5 hours put into this since my last update. Nearly there! Need to wait for it to dry before I can glaze some warm shadows into the mane and tail and tweak a few bits a of it here and there- then I think I'll probably call it a day.

Dreadful photo of it by the way, the colours are much nicer in real life!

5th layer on 'Sunlit'

2011-06-06T15:51:00.000+01:00

First layer of detail has gone on now, looking forward to spending a whole morning on it tomorrow! Leaving the mane and tail until everything else is pretty much finished, I'll need to re-do the background to tidy up edges before I can start the mane properly as I have scrubbed quite a bit of paint onto it!

'Sunlit' in progress, 4th layer

2011-06-03T20:15:00.000+01:00

Quickly re-established the lights and darks today. I think once it is dry it will be time to get the little brushes out and start to begin the process of building up the colours and detail.

Bramham Horse Trials

2011-06-03T08:41:00.000+01:00

I had a wonderful time at the first day of Bramham International Horse Trials yesterday. Was hoping to get some good dressage photographs to base future paintings on! The weather was perfect but I made a mistake with my camera settings and ended up very disappointed with the photos! Got a few that will make great paintings though so can't complain too much!! VERY sunburnt, oops!

You can see more photos of the day in this Facebook album.

Heading back there on Saturday for the XC, can't wait!!!!!!!!!

'Sunlit' in progress, third layer.

2011-06-01T14:49:00.000+01:00

I'm working in really thin layers for this painting, scrubbing the paint on really thinly rather than 'painting' it on. Each layer has been applied with quite a big brush (well, for me anyway!)quite loosely and must dry thoroughly before I apply the next, otherwise I just end up wiping off the previous layer!

70cm x 50cm on box canvas. The study I did in preparation for this one finishes on ebay this evening, currently at £35- you can bid here.

'Palomino Study' Original Painting on eBay

2011-05-29T12:26:00.000+01:00

'Palomino Study'
5" x 7" (18cm x 13cm) Oil on canvas board.
Available on eBay starting at 1p with free p&p and no reserve- http://bit.ly/palominomini (currently bid up to £21 at time of writing).

Small oil painting of the incredibly beautiful part-arab stallion Pewit Dancing Movie Magic at Sir Nunn's of Pinewood Stud. I had an incredible day at the stud last weekend both photographing the beautiful horses and painting them from life with other members of The Society of Equestrian Artists. Have wasted no time getting some new paintings on the go- this is the first little study in preparation for a larger painting.

You can see lots of photos from my day at the workshop here- http://on.fb.me/NunnPalomino

New Limited Edition Prints

2011-05-28T08:47:00.000+01:00

I had a great day at Sally Mitchell Fine Arts yesterday having my new prints produced. It's a bit of a trek from here but quality is incredibly important to me so it is always well worth the trip!

This enormous machine is the key to the wonderful print quality. It's a Cruse Flatbed Fine Art Scanner and really is the ultimate in fine art scanning- it faithfully captures every single tiny detail and eliminates the kind of warping and glare issues associated with trying to photograph paintings. There are only a handful of these available for use worldwide so I feel lucky to have one within a drivable distance, it really is a remarkable machine.

Once the scanner has done it's job it is then onto the proofing process; samples of the image are printed and the colours carefully tweaked to ensure that the image coming out of the giclee printer is as faithful to the original painting as possible. It can take several attempts but perseverance always pays off as the end results are just fantastic.

After being so thrilled with my first few prints I was a bit worried that my expectations would be a bit high this time but I wasn't disappointed, I am so so proud of my new prints and incredibly grateful to John at Sally Mitchell Fine Arts for the brilliant job he has done on them.

Can't wait to share photographs of all the new prints with you, will have to sit down and get some photos taken over the next few days. Also need to update my website as I ended up getting a 4th painting produced in print too! Busy enjoying having family to stay this weekend so might have to wait a day or two :-)

Made a start on 'November Morning'...

2011-05-13T18:36:00.001+01:00

Been a bit quiet as busy on commissioned paintings at the moment, thoroughly enjoying them!

Above is a start on my next original which I'm grabbing an hour here and there to work on when my other stuff is too wet to work on. I think it 16" x 12", so quite small for me! Just blocking in the first layer of paint over the canvas so far, which I painted a dark grey to begin with. I did a little study of this in preparation which I was pleased with so I'm hoping this turned out as well as I hope!

Finding the key to this one is not letting my eyes play tricks... for example my eyes tell me the grey horses are a grey/white colour- but in actual fact, compared to a pure white piece of paper they are a very dark blue/grey! I mix the paint feeling sceptical but once it is on the canvas it looks just right!

It's based on photographs I took of the The Zetland Hunt last November.

Zetland Point to Point, Witton Castle

2011-05-02T17:58:00.000+01:00

Lovely afternoon taking reference photographs in the sunshine! Now have plenty of Point to Point subject matter to choose from! You can see more photos in a Facebook album here.

'Lancashire Mounted Branch' Time Lapse Painting by Laura Barber-Riley

2011-04-29T14:30:00.001+01:00

'Lancashire Mounted Branch' Finished!

2011-04-26T17:51:00.000+01:00

Finished! 24" x 18" oil on box canvas. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and (unusually!)I am actually really pleased with it! Didn't retouch during painting in the end so looking forward to seeing the colours pick up and the darks deepen when it is dry enough to add a coat!

Day 8 of 'Mounted Branch' in progress

2011-04-20T14:01:00.000+01:00

Have decided 'Mounted Branch' is a bit of a rubbish title for this painting... need to think of a new one. Anyway, today's update above.

Not a million miles off finishing now- lots of tidying up to do on the bridle mainly and a few tweaks here and there. Will probably fiddle on with the bridle a bit more this evening once the children are in bed and then leave it to dry over the Easter weekend in order to retouch varnish it on Monday and see where I'm at!

Really pleased with it so far, I think it will turn out to be one of my favourites so far :-)

Day 7 of 'Mounted Branch' in progress

2011-04-19T13:10:00.000+01:00

Some serious progress made! Background in, far horse roughed in, and work started on the bridle of the near horse.

Once I have got this layer of the bridle done I plan to let it dry completely and then apply a coat of retouch varnish. The dark areas dry quite a sunken matt colour so it's hard to tell where I'm actually at with it all! Once the retouch varnish has dried it will have evened everything out and I'll be able to have a much better look at what needs building up some more.

Day 6 of 'Mounted Branch' in progress

2011-04-18T16:26:00.000+01:00

More on this today- blocked in the first base layer of the background and started the neck detail. It's on a box canvas but the more I paint the more I think it might look better framed... need to decide really before I put too many hours into painting the edges!

Painting in the sunshine

2011-04-17T13:49:00.000+01:00

Have been sat out in the garden doing some painting. My 365-2011 project fell by the wayside a bit but I am still really keen to keep up with my paintings from life as I really do reap the benefits in my 'normal' work in terms of my observations skills, grasp of colour and value and so on.

A pot, my husband, and some dandelions! Although obviously the painting of my husband is dreadful I was actually quite pleased with it! First time I have attempted a 'people' painting (not counting my failed attempts at sketching my two boys who never sit still for longer than a second) and it turned out better than I expected! Onwards and upwards...

Day 5 of 'Mounted Branch' in progress

2011-04-16T15:45:00.000+01:00

Another three hours on this today- made a good start on the muzzle and built up the face a bit more too. I plan to try and leave the face alone now and get the rest of the horse up to speed so I can fiddle with it as a whole rather than little bits.

Once the closest horse is done I'll move the the background, then the farthest horse, and then finally I'll do the bridlework I think.

The auction of the 7" x 5" study of this painting finishes on eBay tomorrow evening- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180651911619 it's currently at £41.

Day 4 of 'Mounted Branch' in progress

2011-04-13T16:12:00.001+01:00

Most recent update above, previous layer is pictured below. Another darker glaze of burnt umber went over the horses completing the underpainting, so now I am on to the detail. I added a bit of exaggerated hair texture last night, and worked on the eye- today I have been building up colours and tone and starting to try and correct the face a bit as it is a bit chunkier than the actual subject (quite a bit more to do on that front!).

Day 3 of 'Mounted Branch' in progress.

2011-04-12T10:02:00.000+01:00

Top picture is where I am up to so far today, pictures below are a few shots from yesterday (earliest photo at the bottom). Hope to get some more done on it later in the day if I can fit it in with commissioned work I need to focus on. I'm enjoying the lighter evenings- much easier to see what I am doing during my daily post-childrens-bedtime painting slot!

So far I am just building up the underpainting really, using burnt umber mixed with french ultramarine for the darks and titanium white for the lights. Once I have established the main areas of light/dark I am glazing over it all in burnt umber and repeating the process. Later on today I'll glaze it again and then decide whether to do it for a third time or start with some more detail over the top.

I recently bought some little foam rollers to try which I used to gesso this canvas- I absolutely love the surface they have created- super smooth after lots of sanding but not as 'slippy' as my usual finished surface. Much, much quicker than using a brush too and dead easy to clean up after- recommend!

'Mounted Branch' New painting in progress... day 1!

2011-04-11T10:11:00.000+01:00

Made a start on my next original painting, thought I'd keep a track of my progress on here- something I haven't done for a while! It's a 24" x 18" deep canvas, gessoed and sanded until smooth. So far I have toned the canvas a burnt sienna/umber, applied the drawing over the top, and painted in the main areas of dark.

You can see the little study of the painting in the corner- that's what the finished article should look like! The little study is currently available on eBay here- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180651911619

'Mounted Branch' (Study) ready for eBay.

2011-04-10T10:15:00.001+01:00

This weeks 7" x 5" mini original for eBay, 'Mounted Branch'(Study). I loved painting this and have started a larger painting of the same subjects. The auction begins at 7:35pm this evening- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180651911619. It's based on photos I took at the Association of Animal Artists Annual Exhibition last Sunday, you can see photos of my day there painting the police horses from life in a Facebook album here.

Meanwhile, the little hunting painting 'November Morning' (below) finishes this evening- my favourite of all my minis so far and currently a bargain at £26! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180648033987&ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT

Off to the Bedale point to point this afternoon with my camera, the weather is glorious so I am hoping for some great shots!

'November Morning' Study, another mini bound for eBay

2011-04-02T11:31:00.000+01:00

My favourite of my mini originals so far I think, which surprised me as I painted it fully expecting it not to work at all! That is the beauty of these little 7" x 5" eBay paintings, they are small enough to try out ideas that you perhaps wouldn't do otherwise.

It will go on eBay tomorrow to replace the painting finishing in the afternoon. So, one day left to bid on 'Rose Grey'- at time of writing it is at £28.50, a nice bargain for someone looking to own a little piece of original art :-)

Appearing on the Fine Art Trade Guild homepage!

2011-03-30T16:47:00.000+01:00

I was excited to see one of my paintings on the homepage of the Fine Art Trade Guild website this week. It was advertising the Association of Animal Artists (AAA) Annual Exhibition which is currently on at Samlesbury Hall in Preston.

I have three paintings in the exhibition and I'm looking forward to visiting for the day this Sunday for the AAA 'Art Rendezvous'. A number of us artists will be spending the day at the exhibition to meet people, talk about our work and do some painting while we are there. Really looking forward to it! You can find out more about the exhibition here or at www.associationanimalartists.co.uk.

Be lovely to see you there on Sunday if you can make it!

Another mini-painting up for grabs on eBay.

2011-03-28T12:24:00.000+01:00

Usual 5" x 7" format and still at 1p at time of writing! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180645449927

Charity eBay Auction Update

2011-03-20T09:46:00.000Z

I was really pleased that the charity eBay auction of 'Washing Down' made it into Horse & Hound magazine's news on their website- you can see the article here.

The auction is currently up to £173, it finishes on Tuesday evening. 100% of the proceeds go to the Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Fund (Global Giving) so a great way to bag a bargain oil painting while supportive a very deserving cause at the same time.

1p start price for original painting on eBay, raising money for the relief effort in Japan.

2011-03-15T21:04:00.000Z

This original painting is currently offered on eBay starting at 1p with 100% of the proceeds going to the relief efforts in Japan

Like most people I am finding it hard to get my head round the situation in Japan right now, I just can't imagine what the people affected m...ust be going through, it's awful :-( This painting produced in 2009 is sat in my house going to waste- thought someone might like to have it and maybe make a little bit of money for an incredibly worthy cause at the same time.

It's called 'Washing Down', a fairly big 30" x 24" oil on stretched linen, sold unframed. It was based on photographs I took of horses being cooled off after Badminton XC in 2009.

'Together' Finished

2011-03-14T13:28:00.000Z

Finally finished this painting. I signed it today but as usual it will sit on my wall for a few months until all the bits I didn't notice need more work start to bug me... once they are fixed it will be properly scanned.

'Together' (the Friesian pair still in progress)

2011-03-12T16:56:00.000Z

Managed to put in a fair few hours on this in the few days since my last post and hope to get it finished in one more sitting, maybe tomorrow if the ground shadows are dry. Decided to title it 'Together', I am so rubbish at thinking up titles!

Another Friesian update.

2011-03-10T15:34:00.000Z

Another few hours spent on the front horse today re-establishing the highlights and adding colour. I keep lifting off the dark areas when I'm working as they are taking a long time to dry so I think I'll do a bit more work on the front horse's face this evening, stick the floor shadows down, give them tails, and then leave it for a week to dry properly before getting back to it. It's still quite rough close up! It is really hard to judge the darks as they all sink a bit once they are dry; I'm toying with the idea of adding a layer of retouch varnish to give everything an even gloss and see where I am at better!

Need to think of a title too...

More on the Friesians

2011-03-09T20:07:00.000Z

I guess it looks much the same as the previous photo but I have spent a couple of hours building up some more colour and detail on the furthest horse, and added the first glaze of colour over the near horse. Glad I started glazing the far horse first as what took me 3 hours on tuesday took about half an hour today! Next will be re-establishing the highlights on the near horse and then slowly building up colour on them both. Feeling a little bit more confident that it will turn out ok now, just need to be patient and take my time!

Starting to glaze the two Friesians

2011-03-08T13:12:00.000Z

The grisaille is finished now so time for a bit of colour! Very nervous about this a I'm pleased with the b&w version, I don't want to mess it up!

The first layer of colour has gone on the top of the furthest horse, and highlights/shadows picked out again. Will let it dry while I catch the other horse up and then work out where to take it next... this painting feels like a puzzle to solve, all a bit trial and error! Lots more to do, this one is going to take absolutely ages I think.

Current Projects

2011-03-06T10:44:00.001Z

I have two big original paintings on the go at the moment, both VERY different even if they are of the same horse/s! I am not especially confident that either are going to turn out as I would like but I am enjoying them nonetheless!

Both canvases are the same size- 100cm x 70cm, linen deep edge. You might remember I blogged about the above background at the start of the year- the result of lots of experimentation dripping paint on various surfaces. I have waited several months to let it dry before beginning to paint the horse on it. Now, normally, I tend to draw my horses onto the canvas very carefully in pencil before any paint goes on but for this one I was a bit stuck... pencil wasn't going to show up on the brightly coloured background! I had no choice but to cross my fingers and go straight in with a paintbrush freehand.. no room for error with the background as if I made a mistake in paint it would make a mess and spoil the effect, eek! I just blocked in the main shapes and areas of light and I think I am not too far off *phew*! Almost dry enough to start working on again now. I plan to try and incorporate some of those bright colours into the horses coat, as though they are reflected but I have no idea whether it will 'work' or not! VERY experimental for me! Good fun though :-)

On the other end of the spectrum is the painting below. I'm really challenging myself to make it as 'real' as possible. The canvas was sanded and gesso'd to silky smoothness and the detailed drawing carefully drawn in pencil. I am doing a grisaille underpainting first (basically a black and white version of the finished painting) which I'll then glaze transparent colours over to build the final look. This is the first layer of paint, several more to go before the grisaille is ready for colour. One of my favourite paintings of mine ('Arabian Filly') was produced in this way but I have been disappointed with my subsequent attempts at this technique so I am a bit nervous of how it will turn out. Plan to do lots of practice glazes on spare boards before I tackle the actual painting!

My 365-2011 daily painting project seems to have gone out the window leading up to and following my recent surgery but I'm determined to get back to it! I'm really excited to have secured a place on the SEA's new Hampshire workshop later in the year, I want to do as much painting from life as I can before then in order to get the most out of it!

New mini original available on eBay

2011-02-13T19:49:00.001Z

'Canter'
5" x 7" (18cm x 13cm) Oil on canvas board.
Currently for sale on ebay starting from 1p with no reserve.

The first of these little postcard sized paintings that I have done for a while. It feels quite odd going from painting huge works like 'In Passing' to something this tiny, my eyes take a while to adjust!

This one is based on photographs I took at Bramham Horse Trials last year. Not often I attempt a full background with these tiny paintings but I fancied a challenge and this one was definitely that!

Time Lapse Video of 'In Passing' being painted

2011-02-08T17:40:00.000Z

Just for fun I made this video... shame it is so dark what with the dark dreary British weather but you get the idea! It's not intended to be in any way educational I hasten to add, plenty didn't go to plan (including lifting off a whole detailed layer that wasn't dry enough before I painted over!) but I'm pleased with the finished painting and find it weirdly interesting to watch haha!

'In Passing' finished, for now.

2011-02-07T11:49:00.000Z

'In Passing'
35" x 35"
Oil on box canvas, 2011

Pretty much finished now! I am a bit bored of it now so have signed it and will go back in a few months with fresh eyes so tidy it up and correct anything that needs it.

It is impossible to photograph mainly because of it's size I think, so I'm looking forward to getting it properly scanned. The colours aren't very true in this image, and the canvas is badly warped so some of his back is missing!

Really enjoyed painting this, and have learnt a lot that I hope will help with the next big one.

'Carriage Pair'

2011-02-06T17:31:00.001Z

'Carriage Pair'
12" x 10"
Oil on linen, 2011

Managed to get a photo of this one after all! One of those paintings that just painted itself really!

'In Passing' still in progress

2011-02-06T16:56:00.001Z

My husband doesn't like the title 'In Passing' but I quite like it and can't think of anything better!

Not a million miles away from finishing now. Haven't even really started the hooves or the shadow so they need some work but the bulk of the horse is done bar a few tiny finishing touches. Spent a lot of time on the mane today and I'm quite pleased with it; it doesn't translate well on camera though!

Finished another little Friesian painting today too but couldn't get a decent photo of it, will have to try again tomorrow.

Big Friesian again...

2011-02-03T10:00:00.000Z

Everything has pretty much ground to a halt here after I had pretty big abdominal surgery last week- not fun! Felt well enough to do some more on the large Friesian yesterday so above is an update. Still much to do, the mane is a layer behind the rest, and I need to make a start on the hooves and shadows too. As usual I am really struggling with a title... maybe 'In Passing'?

My recovery is expected to be quite long (not easy with 2 children under 3!) but sitting at an easel is a fairly quiet activity so while my husband is off work looking after me I might actually be more productive than I expected! No commissions on the go though; it's nice to pick up a paintbrush when I fancy and I'm not sure my concentration levels are up to the careful scrutiny needed to do someone else's precious horse justice yet!

'Through the Surf'

2011-01-25T09:16:00.000Z

'Through the Surf'
49" x 12"
Oil on box canvas, 2011

Due to some issues with the big Friesian painting taking forever to dry between layers I have managed to get this painting finished while waiting!

When I was visiting Saltburn beach with family last April there was a young girl and her TB enjoying a good canter up and down. I was stood on the pier looking down when I took the photos that I based this painting on and thought it would suit this long thin canvas that I have had sat prepped for ages.

The edges of the box canvas are painted, I'll try and get a photo of it on the wall when the light is a bit better.

Bit hard to see such a long thin canvas on screen so here is a close up too...

More on the big Friesian

2011-01-17T16:06:00.000Z

Another update on this 35" x 35".

I had to wait nearly a week for it to dry enough to work on again, so this is just a few more hours spent applying detail in titanium white over the top. The majority of this painting will be produced using layers of white detail followed by dark glazes over the top, mainly because when I am working with just one colour I can stop and start very easily and make the most of small windows of time that I might get! I can always rely on my small children to wake up from a nap or need me for something just as I get going, so this way I can stop right away and just pick up where I left off!

All go!

2011-01-10T15:05:00.000Z

For the first time so far in my 365 2011 project I painted from a photo rather than from life today, and I found it so much easier! All the more reason to carry on I think! The painting is pictured above, 14" x 10" oil on paper, sketched in 18 minutes.

Spent another hour or so roughly sketching in darks and highlights on the new big painting too today, pictured below. Productive day!

New original started.

2011-01-09T20:30:00.000Z

Feels like it has been so long since I was last working on a proper original so I'm really excited to get properly started on this one. It is 35" x 35" on linen box canvas. I decided I might like the background colour to show through in the horse's coat so once the canvas was gesso'd and sanded to smoothness I put the background colour on and drew on top of that.

Today I put the first paint on the horse, just the darks sketched in really, but it is fun to see the foundations of the painting (above). Rigged up the photography required to create a time laspe video documenting it's creation so excited about that too!

Day 8...

2011-01-08T19:51:00.000Z

I'm over a week into my 365-2011 painting project and so far I have managed a painting every day and enjoyed it! On a less positive note though, turns out I am RUBBISH at painting like this- fast, and from life!

Some of my efforts (actually, most) so far have been truly embarrassing but I have been true to my word and gone straight in with the paint, no drawing, and stopped when my half hour timer buzzer goes off... in some ways I am pleased I'm so dreadful as it will make the journey all the more interesting and I'm sure I must improve after a whole year of doing it? Plus, I really do think my usual work will benefit, even if I do approach it in an almost completely opposite way! The above is my third attempt at a little pony figurine I have had since my childhood. If you want a laugh just visit my 365-2011 Flickr album to see my other attempts at it, not to mention other crimes against art!

My next big original is all drawn out over a plain blue background so hoping to get that started tomorrow, can't wait!

365-2011 painting a day project

2011-01-01T15:59:00.000Z

Today I made a start on my goal to paint an oil sketch every single day of 2011, to improve my observation skills, paint handling, to loosen me up a little, and to basically learn lots by pushing myself right out of my comfort zone! I usually paint carefully with tiny brushes and string out my paintings for weeks so using BIG brushes painting alla prima at speed is throwing myself right in the deep end!

The rules that I have set myself are simple:

1. Each painting may take absolutely no longer than 30 minutes.
2. 1 painting to be produced every day in 2011.
3. Paintings are to be from life wherever possible
4. The end result really doesn't matter, it's the process that matters!

Have decided that I'd rather store all the paintings online in an album rather than a blog, to make them easier to look through, so I have set up a Flickr album here. If you ever need a good giggle then by all means stop by and see how I'm doing hahaha!

Happy New Year!

2011

2010-12-31T13:42:00.000Z

2010 has been a great year for me painting wise, so I am really excited about what 2011 will hold!

I have been enjoying a complete break since finishing all my commissions at the end of November but now find myself raring to go again. I have a few very large canvases prepped and ready to start (the first of which is pictured above- a bit different! 39" x 24"!), and some interesting commissions already booked in for later in the year.

My focus in 2011 will very much be on my own work, with commissions taking more of a back seat. I'd love to see some real development in my style and skill over the course of the year so I have decided to make 2011 the year to really challenge myself! First of all I am going to be doing a painting a day in half an hour or less, and posting it on here. I work in such tight detail usually, I think forcing myself to work a bit more freely, from life wherever possible, will really help me. My daily paintings will be much more about the process than the finished product but hopefully they won't ALL be total rubbish! :-D Quite a big project I guess but it's only 30 mins a day max so I'm determined to give it a bash!

In addition to my painting a day I am hoping to get a place on the Society of Equestrian Artists annual workshop which is taking place in June this year. I have been desperate to attend for a few years now but have either been too pregnant or too tied up with babies (or both!) so this will be my first opportunity!

Other than that I hope that 2011 will see me produce some successful original paintings that I can be really proud of, and hopefully release a few more prints too.

So, lots for me to look forward to!

Hope you all had a great 2010, and wish you all the best for 2011!

A long overdue update!

2010-11-09T13:59:00.001Z

This blog has been rather neglected of late! I have much to update you all on too!

I have been busy with commissioned work recently so not much in the way of new original work to share. I have managed to produce a few more mini paintings, the third of which 'At Play' (above) is on ebay right now (currently bid up to £22, free p&p, you can bid here).

Very excitingly I have finally had my first ever limited edition giclee prints produced! Produced for me by Sally Mitchell Fine Art, prints are available of 'The Warm Up', 'Windswept', and 'Between Chukkas, Bridlington Beach' direct from my website. I am over the moon with the quality, you can see some pictures of them on my Facebook page here. I kept a large print of 'The Warm Up' for my own wall, you can see it all framed up below!

I'm pleased to report that since my last post both original paintings 'The Warm Up', and 'Sweet Disposition' have sold and gone off to lovely new homes- I'm now looking forward to getting started on my next big original projects... just my Christmas commissions to get finished first and then a few months out to concentrate on some BIG paintings of my own, can't wait!

Some experimentation!

2010-09-28T16:00:00.000+01:00

I am trying to make more of an effort to explore different, more spontaneous, ways of painting... not because I want to move away from my current style of painting necessarily- but because I know lessons learned sketching from life and quick loose studies will benefit my overall work.

With such little spare time to paint running round after my two small boys and trying to keep on top of commissions/work for exhibitions it's hard to make time to have a play about but when I do I'm always pleased I did.

Above is a 16" x 14" (I think!) 25 min sketch in oils that I did this morning. I had some paint left on my palette and knew I HAD to be out the door in 25 mins to go collect my children so I went for it! Poor horse has some nose issues going on amongst other things but he was fun to paint and could have been a lot worse given I just went straight in with a whopping big (for me!) brush! LOL!

'The Warm Up' finally finished!

2010-09-22T13:09:00.000+01:00

Feel as though I have been working on this one forever!! It is finally done! 30" x 30" oil on box canvas.

So near and yet so far...

2010-08-18T17:42:00.000+01:00

The bulk of this painting is looking nearish completion now, just the rider's left foot to paint really, and the section above the browband, and the plaits, the bridlework still needs some work too... hmmm maybe quite a bit left then. Unfinished bits aside there are still many hours worth of tidying up to do pretty much everywhere! Such a big painting and so much to focus right down in on.

I am almost always guilty of getting to the finished-but-slightly-untidy stage and rushing to declare it done before regretting it later so I think I am going to get it finished to a reasonable standard, re-touch varnish it and then add the finishing tidy-up bits with fresh eyes after a few months when they start to really bother me. I am really pushed at the moment trying to complete commissions so the only time I get to work on this is when things aren't going to plan on the commissions and I need a short break to re-focus!

Really enjoying my current commissioned work, lucky to have such wonderful clients with such beautiful and interesting horses!

The tail goes on...

2010-08-10T20:01:00.000+01:00

Been away for the weekend and am snowed under with commissioned work so not much done on this, the tail went on today though!

Another update...

2010-08-05T10:45:00.000+01:00

Still struggling for a title for this! More rough detail on the plaits and another layer on the background. I think I will probably keep the background simple and leave it as it is, but will decide once the horse and rider is finished!

Started detail on bridle.

2010-08-02T11:53:00.000+01:00

First layer of detail has gone on the bridle now, just highlights really. Some highlights on the forelock plait too.

Another update, really need a title!

2010-07-31T20:45:00.000+01:00

Still working away...

Another update

2010-07-29T19:50:00.000+01:00

Rider now totally blocked in, and more detail on the top section of the neck, and the face. This really is going to be a long project!

Still no title...

2010-07-27T20:32:00.000+01:00

More done, on the horse that is, have been really slacking on the rider and background!

A few more glazes of raw umber and then burnt umber over the horse and I now think I have a rich enough foundation to start the fine detail over the top. Did some detailed work on the face today but must get back to the rider tomorrow....

And some more... still title-less

2010-07-25T15:43:00.000+01:00

Still just roughing things in, blocking out colours and generally putting down the foundations. It's a big painting so the small photo makes it look a lot more finished than it is, you can see a close up below!

More done...

2010-07-24T18:30:00.000+01:00

Managed to get some more done on my new 30" x 30" last night (pictured below), and again today (above). Just blocking in areas of colour and highlight/shadow, glazing over, and then picking them out again. True to form I'm spending more time on the horse than anything else, will have to play catch up with the rider tomorrow!

A start made...

2010-07-23T17:11:00.000+01:00

This blog has been very neglected as late, I think because I have shifted more towards using my Facebook page to post updates on my work this place has become a bit redundant! Rather than duplicate things I'll probably continue to use the blog, but mainly to keep a track of works in progress.

Speaking of which, I have made a start on the 30" x 30" canvas! No time lapse video though... I ordered a gadget to enable my camera to take photos automatically at intervals but it didn't arrive and I then worked out I hadn't put the order through correctly and I am too keen to get going with the painting to wait now!

So far I have gessoed and sanded the canvas until eggshell smooth, applied a wash of raw sienna/ titanium white/ burnt umber, transferred the drawing onto the canvas over the top and then picked out main highlights and darks. My main aim at this stage is to protect the drawing really so that I can glaze over it without covering it completely and losing the work so far.

The horse looks huge... going to be a long project I think!

New time lapse video project

2010-07-08T10:10:00.000+01:00

A few of you might remember that back in February, I created a time lapse video of 'Winter Beach Polo' being created (you can see it on YouTube here if you missed it). All of a sudden I have the urge to paint something big again, specifically a big version of mini painting 'The Diva'.

I really want to push myself with this painting, and produce something in a different league to my previous work, so figure I might as well set the tripod up and record the process as I find it quite interesting to watch and other people seem to too!

The big, white, empty 30" x 30" canvas looks a bit daunting at the moment (esp after working on several postcard-sized works recently!)! I want to paint this in very fine detail, so to help me do that the canvas will now have many layers of gesso applied, sanded between each layer until the canvas is eggshell smooth- then I can get to work!

The ebay auction of the postcard sized version of the painting finishes this evening, you can view it and bid on it here.

'The Diva'

2010-07-02T08:03:00.000+01:00

Another little ebay painting! 7" x 5" oil on canvas board. You can find the auction on ebay here, 1p start and no reserve. Think I might live to regret putting this on one but nevermind! The oainting is of Louisa Lockwood and The Diva warming up for the dressage phase of Bramham Horse Trials last month. Have very much been enjoying these little paintings!

SEA pre-selection results arrived in my in-box this week, of my 6 entries 2 recieved 'yes' votes ('Winter Beach Polo' and 'Wandering') so I shall be taking them both down to London later in the month to be passed in front of the selection panel. Fingers crossed! In previous years Friends of the Society (of which I am one) were permitted just 3 entries, it was changed to 6 this year (although a maximum of 3 paintings could still actually be hung)- I'm so glad it changed and that I took advantage of it as had I submitted just 3 I would not have entered the only ones that the panel liked, I preferred my other entries! I understand that there were a great deal more entries this year compared with last so I am very pleased indeed to get 2 past this stage.

Magic mini painting

2010-06-25T07:57:00.000+01:00

The ebay auction of 'Waiting' finished yesterday, reaching £91 in the end which I was very pleased with! The second of these small postcard sized paintings went on ebay last night, a little painting of Magic, a beautiful Dales stallion from the Nipna Stud not far from here. I never ever ever tire of painting the Nipna ponies, they are just so wonderful! You can find the auction here.

Commissioned work continues to keep me busy, I am very lucky to have some really gorgeous horses to paint at the moment!

Available on eBay

2010-06-19T09:43:00.000+01:00

Here's a slightly better photo of 'Waiting'. I think the colours in reality are somewhere between this photo and the last one I shared!

Bids are currently up to £22, there is no reserve and the auction ends on Thursday 24th June at 7:10pm UK time.

Link to the auction here. If you know anyone who might be interested please pass on the word!

More Mini Originals

2010-06-17T14:30:00.000+01:00

I have decided to create more postcard sized paintings, the first of which is pictured above: 'Waiting', 7" x 5" oil on canvas board. You might recognise the subject, I have painted him before!

I am really busy with commissions at the moment which is fantastic, but means I miss having the time to work on my own paintings... little postcard sized things I can tinker with while I'm waiting for commissions to dry between layers etc though so they fit quite nicely into my schedule! I was lucky enough to purchase several of Sally Martin's little 7x5 oils as part of her 100 paintings in 100 days and I just love them! Was interesting hearing how much Sally felt her 100 little paintings had taught her; with a baby and a toddler to run after I sadly don't have the time to commit to such a big project but I hope to churn out one a week or so and use them primarily as trials for bigger painting ideas. They'll all be sold on ebay with bids starting at 1p- I figure the ones that make the most are likely to be the ones worth doing on a bigger scale!

Just need to get a decent photo of this little polo pony to list him on ebay with, proving tricky as ever!

'Sweet Disposition' FINISHED

2010-05-16T14:08:00.000+01:00

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...

2010-05-14T10:18:00.000+01:00

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!

2010-05-05T17:26:00.000+01:00

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!

'Into the Buttercups'

2010-04-30T15:50:00.000+01:00

This one has a title now and is not far off finished. Not quite sure where the buttercups came from... I messed on and on with the background trying to go for a blurry kind of grass but it really wasn't happening! I think I ended up dabbing spots of yellow on to blend in to the grass to warm it up a bit and before I knew it they were in a field of buttercups.

They look quite ghostly at the moment waiting for glazes of browns and blues to go over the highlights I have added to their coats. They should be dry enough to work on again tomorrow but I'm (weather permitting!) setting off for Badminton so it will probably have to wait until I get home on Monday now.

'Dark Horse' went down to £170 today, week 5 of the auction...

More on the new Dales painting...

2010-04-28T14:25:00.000+01:00

My internet supplier has randomly cut a load of it's customers off whilst changing servers over or something and we are one of the lucky households affected! I miss it, and feel so cut off! Posting this courtesy of another weak wifi signal my laptop seems to pick up now and again.

Typically bad timing as I had several items on ebay finishing, AND it is the last few days of Sally Martin's 100 paintings which I have been following avidly. Not to mention the fact I waste way too much time on Facebook generally! I'm not very happy :(

Anyway, it has been another quiet week or so on the painting front but have managed to get a few more layers on the new Dales painting (above), and the little commission. Pleased with both of them so far. I don't think my heart was really in the Dales painting for the first few layers, which is perhaps why I have not been all that productive (along with teething babies and sleepless nights!), but all of a sudden it seems to be coming together so I have regained my enthusiasm for it! Rubbish photo of it above which makes it look much 'flatter' than it is...about halfway through now I think; just roughed in the background so next stage will be to tidy up the ponies where green paint has gone over them (esp the mare's mane) and then get to work with my tiny brush working on all that hair in the fluffy coats. Would be nice to end up with one more painting to enter for the SEA exhibition, the deadline for which is just around the corner now, so fingers crossed this one turns out well!

Really looking forward to attending Badminton XC day on Sunday! Sally Lancaster and I will be there with friends, armed with our cameras! We will definitely be popping into the British Horse Society stand while we are there, to see how the Drawing the Line campaign is going. We have both donated paintings to be auctioned for the cause; you might be able to see them if you are there as a selection of donated artwork is going to be on display.

The dutch auction of 'Dark Horse' rumbles on... it is now down from the starting price of £260 to £190, will drop to £170 on Friday...

Finally some paint on canvas...

2010-04-19T17:38:00.000+01:00

I have had a fairly unproductive few weeks painting wise, courtesy of a teething baby! Poor Henry has not been happy at all and clingy babies really aren't conducive to painting, especially not when they insist on only sleeping on your lap during the day, and you paint with solvents, and also have a (nearly) 2 year old! Thankfully he is back to his usual cheerful self now so it's back to work (until next time).

As luck would have it I had kept my painting time completely free of commissioned work this month, in order to ensure I had time to complete my entries for the Society of Equestrian Artists Annual Exhibition so it hasn't been too stressful! Having managed to get plenty of original work done this year I do have several paintings to choose from but standards are going to be even higher than usual this year and competition even tougher so I'm still going to try and produce one more potential entry- just started a new original, above. Back to the Dales ponies, and based on photos I took last month. 24" x 18" oil on linen.

I also have a commissioned 8" x 8" mini painting on the go which is just about to have a base layer of paint applied. After a few weeks of doing nothing it feels great to get some paint on canvas again!

The dutch auction of 'Dark Horse' continues on my website... down to £210 at the moment and will drop under £200 this Friday. Further details available on my site. Had a few e-mails from international buyers enquiring about shipping costs so hopefully it will sell soon.

Whilst I haven't been able to paint much I have been on a few excursions with my camera, you can see the photos on my Facebook Page, link to the right >>

Not much else to report other than the fact I am VERY excited about Badminton XC day!!!!

Dutch Auctions

2010-04-06T15:52:00.000+01:00

It has been great having this blog to look back on during the 15 months I have been updating it... my work has improved A LOT! That's a good thing of course, good for me and also good for buyers of my work because it means my paintings hopefully increase in value as I continue to improve and carve a name for myself.

One thing that is not so good is that, to me, some of my work rather quickly looks dated and paintings that I was proud of as little as 6 months ago are outshone by my more recent work to the extent that I know I probably won't exhibit them this year... which kind of leaves me with a number of paintings which are just going to end up stacked in my painting room! Soooo... time for a clear out!

I am going to sell most of my 2009 original work via my website using a dutch auction type system. It's very simple- one painting for sale at any one time, the price drops every week until someone buys it!

First up is 'Dark Horse', starting at £250 - you can find details on the Current Dutch Auctions page of my website.

Please spread the word if you know anyone who might be interested in a bargain painting!

'Wandering' FINISHED

2010-03-28T08:54:00.000+01:00

I was up at 5:30am feeding Henry (who is now 4 months old, how time flies!) and couldn't get back to sleep so got up and finished this painting while the rest of the house slept!

24" x 18" oil on linen. Have loved every minute of painting this one!

'Wandering'

2010-03-27T13:20:00.000Z

Not too far off finishing now, I'm amazed at how quickly this has come together, was expecting it to take much longer! May get it done tomorrow... will put a browny purple glaze over the lot and then pick out the strongest highlights/shadows and see how it looks. Be sad to finish it in a way!