Day 3 of 'Mounted Branch' in progress.

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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.