Snow!

I haven't any images to post, I forgot the cable to connect the camera to the computer. I haven't drawn much over the past few days, too busy moving around and manning the boat. i'm inspired to draw at the moment though. I'm sitting in a boat looking across a field to a hill with a windmill on, there is a covering of snow which looks beautiful with a clear blue sky and sunshine. So I'll waste no more time and start drawing.

Competition entry

My blog posting has gone west over the last few days. I've been focusing on a commission and my competition entry. I thought I'd post the competition entry - photo's not too good, did it in the car with my phone just before I took it to be framed. Forms have been submitted so I just need to collect it from the framers and deliver on 14th November.

I'm not going to able to post for a week but should be back by 2nd November.

Orlando Bloom

Another watercolour picture, the lovely Orlando Bloom. Piratey theme compulsory, well it does suit him!

John Travolta

As I started with a picture of John Travolta I thought it was about time I did one in colour. Had to do the plane, the picture I used was one of those with him posing by some sleek and beautiful plane -no idea what for any plane spotters out there. It looked nothing like this one.

Sendhil Ramamurthy aka Mohinder Suresh in "Heroes"

I fancied doing something a bit different last night. So I thought I'd try a 2 tone picture. I used one of the papers that I'd tried watercolour technique experiments on. I quite like it. Not sure I'm happy with the likeness but I'll definitely try the style again. It has a hint of the Che Guevara's about it! (not intentional)

Owen Wilson

Finally got a new cartridge for the printer so I have some new people to draw!!! Here's Owen Wilson. I had more than a few disasters on this one but I've managed to redeem most of them. That stupid grey pen is still leaking. Been a bit busy with abstracts again and planning my comp entry - I need to start painting soon! I also went to a scrapbook crop yesterday, where does the time go!!

Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine

I had a major disaster today, inking in the picture I posted last nigh, I'd refilled my grey pen and it leaked all down Susannah's face. Well, I think it is Susannah -They're a bit like Ant 'n' Dec really, I can never remember which one is which as they're always together. Not that they're similar in appearance. Anyway, I ended up redrawing the picture- some tracing might have been involved, I was feeling VERY depressed at the time. Trinny's left eyebrow was a bit darker than planned but I decided to keep it in, it evokes the sort of character which comes across in their TV appearances.

Trinny and Suzanna

This is a halfway stage picture. I'm not sure about the composition. Might change it. I think the likeness is there, if you know them. Trinny had to be a stick insect, she's just too skinny to be fair. Haven't done much finished work over the last few days. I went to a local art group yesterday, chap painting a portrait in acrylics, haven't used them much but might try in the future.

Kim Bassinger

I've spent some time today copying pictures and uploading them onto the yessy and saachi sites. Otherwise it's not been a productive day. I've been unable to print some new pictures off - ran out of ink and didn't feel inspired with the others I already had. Rather than publish nothing I thought I'd put this one of Kim Bassinger up. You can see from the date that it's a very old one but I've always been pleased with it, I like the looseness and freedom of movement. I've always loved the way strokes of pastels of 2 or more different colours merge when viewed from a distance. In a more vibrant way then when the same colours are blended by rubbing. Of course , I can always find flaws...

Some more good news, I've had another commission, a fantasy portrait with Robbie Williams. As it's for a Christmas present I wont be able to publish the finished pictures until then, but it's a commission. I'm also planning to enter a local art competition, got the details today and have been working on some ideas in sketch form.

Jessica Alba

I've been doing watercolours today, here is Jessica Alba. I must confess to not really knowing much about her hence there is very little in the way of background detail. I've just noticed I forgot her eyelashes on the right, whoops, will correct and repost tomorrow, hopefully with a better picture.

I've also been playing with abstract pictures, exploring textures. I've put one of them up on the Saachi site.

The Marilyns

I started these pictures over a week ago and finished them today. The one below is marker pens and the right is watercolour and ink. I thought it might be worth finishing the two as a comparison. I'm not sure which I prefer. The marker pen is a better likeness but the watercolour has the subtler colouring. The masking didn't work as well on the marker pen image, the grid totally disappeared!

The rest of the day's practice was spent on an abstract picture and a watercolour of the local school.

I had a lovely email last week about the cricket caricatures with lots of very positive feedback, mentions possible future orders and recommending me to her friends. So all in all very good news!