Cab

I gave up and used my small digital camera and it seemed to save perfectly well so it must be something to do with my new digital SLR but nevermind! As you can see, Cab is at that, what I like to call, ugly stage. I started out by drawing Cab onto the canvas and then I painted just inside the edge of his outline with masking fluid, which is a new thing that I discovered thanks to another acrylic artist, as this allows me to go crazy when painting in the background without worrying about losing the outline of the painting. Then I blocked in the drawing of Cab with brown just to cover the canvas to stop it showing through when I start to layer paint on top. I've started to paint in his coat and when doing this, on each painting, I have to sit for a minute or two and think how to approach it as each animal is different to the next. I've just painted a Cocker Spaniel but his coat is completely different to Cab's so it takes me a few mins to figure out how.

Cab

Well, I have started the painting of Cab but you might have to wait for a photo! For some reason, my laptop has decided that each time I save a photo, it will change the colour without me asking it to. It happened yesterday and has done so on every photo I've taken of the painting today so I will have to wait for hubby to get home tonight. My laptop is currently very close to becoming a flying machine and heading out the window! :-D

William - finished

I managed to finish William today. I must admit that I really struggle when painting curly ears, it's really hard to keep the dark undertones and then paint lighter layers on top, whilst keeping the curly under layers showing through but I've hopefully managed okay! Just awaiting approval, or if he needs any tweaks.

William

Here's William today. Unfortunately the colours aren't showing up as strong as they are in real life because of the lighting when taking the photo but as you can see he is coming on. The colours on his muzzle have been quite tricky to do as there are lots of layers and colours in his fur around the muzzle but I'm pleased with the result.

William

I've finished William's neck and chest area and also his ear. I've made a start on his nose and eye as I like to paint these features in first when working on the face as it brings the character out. I will be painting the other ear in last as it sits on top of William and leaving it till last means that I can make it appear closer to the viewer and layered over his neck etc.

William

This handsome fella is William. I started with putting down the background yesterday and today I blocked out the canvas and put down some of the darker undertones of his coat. I've made a bit of progress on Williams chest and neck area and will finish that off tomorrow. I noticed my head got in the way of the photo and has cast a shadow on the righthand side of the painting! :-D

Finished!!

Finished, wooooo!! Please excuse the terrible photo of it but it's dark outside and the painting is being lit by my daylight lamps so just a touch of light reflection. I will get a better photo during the day tomorrow when I can take more time over it, and see the painting without blurred eyes! You'll be glad to know I have an opticians appointment in the morning so we'll see just how permanently cross eyed I've become since the past few paintings! :-D

Wedding Painting

Just little Hope left to go. I would do a little 'I'm nearly there' dance but it's amazingly exhausting painting such tiny details all day long. I don't think the lunch of popcorn helped either!

Wedding Painting

Getting it finished today was a bit of wishful thinking but nevermind! And please excuse the poor photography today, it is Friday afternoon after all and I now have to get the house clean and this room re-arranged as it's also the guest room as I've a friend coming to stay for the weekend. We're off to the Chepstow races tomorrow with my new camera in the hope that I'll manage to get some reference photos for racing paintings. My photography skills are pretty non-existent but here's hoping for something I can work from! Have a great weekend everyone! Now, where's the wine.....

Wedding Painting

The end is in sight! :-D I've finished all the animals now and have made a start blocking out the canvas on the bridal party. It's been quite nice being able to get back to putting down large areas of colour again after spending so much time concentrating on small details. I'd love to get it finished tomorrow so keep everything crossed!!

Wedding Painting

I'm really starting to go cross eyed! :-D

Wedding Painting

Slowly but surely getting there!

Wedding Painting

It's starting to come to life now that I've started to paint in the 'subjects'. However, I might need new eyes after this as it's taking a lot of concentration and a steady hand to put in all the fine details, especially on the cats who are only about 1 1/2" tall!