Another update, really need a title!

Still working away...

Another update

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...

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

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...

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...

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

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.