All Aboard in oils

I thought "All Aboard" was rather an appropriate title for this painting.  I really enjoyed painting it and I love the boats reflection in the water.

All Aboard measures 7 x 5 inches and is painted on Ampersand Gessobord

Many thanks to Liz Jones for the reference photo.

Jack Russell ACEO in Acrylics

I enjoyed painting this one and I am  happy how it turned out.  I am planning on painting a few more of these dog aceo's.  Just the matter of finding the right reference photo that I can be use.

Jack Russell ACEO measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm Arches smooth watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Anita for the dog reference photo.

Jug and Mandarin in oils

I visited the Salvo's store last week for a few still life props.  I felt a bit bad as they had a special on - you could fill a bag for $5. I ended up buying about 11 different items and this jug is one of the items. It was fun to paint.

It is a pretty miserable day here today.  Started off sunny but it has now turned cold and rainy. 

Jug and Mandarin measures 6 x 6 inches and is painted on Ampersand Gessobord.

Blue Tit 2 ACEO in Acrylics

I love the angle of this bird's head.  It was a bit difficult painting the beak at that angle but I eventually got there. Rather pleased how it turned out.

Blue Tit 2 measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm Arches smooth watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Gary Jones for the reference photo.

Squirrel amongst the flowers ACEO in acrylics

This little squirrel is so cute.  The little hands were a bit of a challenge to paint - thank goodness for small brushes.  I must say that I do love painting these little animal paintings.

Squirrel amongst the flowers measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painting on Arches smooths watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Paul Sherman for the squirrel reference photo.

Strawberries ACEO in acrylics

I felt like a change so painted some strawberries.  Experimented a bit with rough watercolour paper.  I didn't like the texture of the paper for the bird aceo's but rather like it for the strawberries as it gives them more texture.  I will have to think of what other fruit I could paint on the rough watercolour paper.

Strawberries ACEO measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm Arches rough watercolour paper.

Sold

Dachshund ACEO in acrylics

I loved painting this cute little guy.  I am very happy how it turned out.  I used my the smallest round sable brush (size 4/0) for the eyes which worked really well.

Dachshund measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on Arches smooth watercolour paper.

Sold

Kingfisher ACEO in Acrylics

I enjoyed painting this one - love the colours.  I was looking at more bird reference photo's over the weekend and came across another kingfisher photo but this one is in flight.  I could paint it in the Aceo size but I think I am going to paint it in oil and on a  5 x 7 inch panel.  

Kingfisher measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm Arches smooth watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Lynn Kelly for the reference photo.

Rabbit ACEO in acrylics

I couldn't resist painting this cute little rabbit.  It was a tricky painting the black fur - at one point the rabbit looked awful but once I added some highlights it started to take shape.

Rabbit ACEO measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Max Hemingway for the rabbit reference photo.

Robin 2 ACEO in acrylics

I love painting robins.  I am really pleased how this one turned out.  I  mainly used my new  no 3 round sable mixture brush - it works really well.  I am very happy with the brushes I bought.   I think I will always buy my brushes for the UK company Rosemary and Co (http://www.rosemaryandco.com) - the quality is excellent and cost a third of the price of store brushes (even with postage!!). 

Robin 2 measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to ChrissyM for the reference photo.

Common Yellow Throat ACEO on Acrylics

For my next bird painting, I painted this lovely little bird.  I am pleased how it turned out.
It has been a bit chilly here today - it has been raining on and off for the last few days. Not that I mind as my acrylic paints don't dry out as quickly. Not sure what I am going to do when summer comes round - I will have to work with the air conditioner on. 

Common Yellow Throat measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches Watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Dave Slaughter for the reference photo.

Hiding in the Flowers ACEO in Acrylics

I have wanted to paint this one for ages.  Decided to paint it in the ACEO size - I just had to wait for my new brushes which arrived yesterday.  I really needed the smaller brushes for this one.  It is surprising how small one can paint - just need a smaller enough brush and a steady hand.

Hiding in the Flowers measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Granny R for the reference photo.

Chihuahua ACEO in pencil

I have had this one on my to do list for a while but  couldn't decide if I should paint it or draw it.  Finally decided that it would look great as an ACEO so decide to do it as a pencil drawing. I am rather pleased how it turned out.

Chihuahua measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is drawn on Mellotex archival paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Paola Richey for the reference photo. 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly ACEO in acrylics

When I came across the reference photo for this butterfly, I just had to paint it.  I don't see that many butterfly around were I live.  Quite a few years ago, I visited Cairns and they have a butterfly sanctuary at the top of Kuranda.(http://www.australianbutterflies.com/).  They have some  beautiful butterflies -  I just didn't take that many photos back then which I now regret.  I will have to see if there is any butterfly sanctuaries closer to home.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to Rodney Campbell for the reference photo.

Daisies in Boots in oil

This one was rather fun to paint.  I like the texture I created with the flowers - I used a lot of white paint - just as well it was the fast drying white otherwise I would have been waiting forever for it to dry.

Daisies in Boots measures 5 x 7 inches and is painted on Ampersand Gessobord.

Many thanks to Gwen Card for the reference photo.

Tasmanian Flame Robin ACEO in acrylics

I actually saw these birds when visiting Tasmania but I could never get good photo myself.  I have to see if I can find some more Australian bird reference photo's. 


Tasmanian Flame Robin measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Robyn Lovelock for the reference photo. 

Blue Tit ACEO in Acrylics

For my next ACEO painting, I painted this lovely little bird.  I am very happy how it turned out.  I had to paint the background twice as the first time round it was too dark. 

Blue Tit measures 3.5 x 2.5 inches and is painted on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Sold

Many thanks to ChrissyM for the reference photo.

Cardinal ACEO in acrylics

So here is my next bird ACEO.  I just love the colour of this bird - so very bright. Could have done with the new brushes I have ordered when painting this one - hopefully they will  arrive next week.

Cardinal measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches and is painting on 300gsm smooth Arches watercolour paper.

Many thanks to Rodney Campbell for the reference photo.