What's On My Drawing Board?

Why this is:

Bradford-on-Avon is such a beautifully quirky place that it needs painting. This is a view looking down the Shambles to the Church of St Thomas More.

'Cracked Matador' Revisited

I wasn't pleased with the jpeg in my previous post. The colours were too desaturated for my liking so I've decided to re-post my 'Cracked Matador' painting and give you a bit more information on the process I went through in making it.

Penny's kind comment comparing me to Norman Rockwell was VERY flattering and wholly  undeserved! If I could have as much talent as Rockwell had in his little finger I would be a very happy man. However Penny must be physic because placed next to me during the whole time I painted 'Cracked Matador' was this image:

 April Fools - Girl With Shopkeeper by Norman Rockwell 1948

It's embarrassing placing my painting next to this amazing Saturday Evening Post cover but I thought it might be of interest. I used 'April Fools' mainly as a colour choices guide but I also incorporated a similar tiled floor and velvet curtain to that in Rockwell's painting. The lighting setup was also influenced by Rockwell. I loved the cold daylight from the left window which created depth in comparison to the warm top light which helped illuminate detail. I tried to suggest these two light sources just out of view in 'Cracked Matador' but still giving the same effect overall.

'Cracked Matador'

 18.5" x 23.5"

I finally finished my Bull in a China shop painting, or as I like to call it 'Cracked Matador,' yesterday. As always it looks a bit washed out when uploaded to blogger but at least you can see the detail better.

Overall I'm quite pleased with the final outcome. It closely resembles what I had in mind from the beginning which surely can only be a good thing, I just have to start coming up with better ideas and compositions now that my skills with a brush have increased.

Hope you like it!

My first ton with a Progress Shot

I suppose my 100th post should be followed by a lot of whizz-bangs and cheering but I'm afraid a simple progess shot will have to suffice.

I'm slowly getting through the detail in the china but I'll still have lots to work on once that is completed. Phewy!

What a load of... colour!

Here's a little bit of progress for you! I still have a lot to work on in watercolour before I move on to gouache.

A Small Value Study

It's certainly no Norman Rockwell charcoal value study but it's helped me to be confident in my colour values so far in the painting. The sketch was done with a standard Lyra Rembrandt charcoal pencil on tracing paper overlaying my initial line sketch featured on my previous post.

Progress photos will be making an appearance next week in the hope the watercolour will be worth showing!