Wednesday 29 May 2013

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.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

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.

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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.






Friday 24 May 2013

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.

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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.

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Many thanks to Paul Sherman for the squirrel reference photo.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

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.

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Tuesday 21 May 2013

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.

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Monday 20 May 2013

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.

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Many thanks to Lynn Kelly for the reference photo.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

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.

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Many thanks to Max Hemingway for the rabbit reference photo.


Tuesday 14 May 2013

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.

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Many thanks to ChrissyM for the reference photo.

Monday 13 May 2013

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.

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Many thanks to Dave Slaughter for the reference photo.

Friday 10 May 2013

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.

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Many thanks to Granny R for the reference photo.

Thursday 9 May 2013

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.

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Many thanks to Paola Richey for the reference photo. 

Wednesday 8 May 2013

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.

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Many thanks to Rodney Campbell for the reference photo.

Tuesday 7 May 2013

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.

Monday 6 May 2013

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. 

Thursday 2 May 2013

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.

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Many thanks to ChrissyM for the reference photo.

Wednesday 1 May 2013

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.