Day 6 of 'Mounted Branch' in progress

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

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

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

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.

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!