What's On My Drawing Board?

The preliminary drawing for a watercolour of Cotton House in Marlborough College of course, I can't believe you didn't get that!

Peacock Arts Trail 28th Sept - 6th Oct

I'm getting all geared up for my open studio.

I have over 100 pieces of art, all available to buy at seriously low prices. I will be tweeting individual pieces regularly so you can get a flavour of what I have to offer so please follow me @chrisdunnillos to be in the know.

I am based at the Pound Arts Centre, Corsham SN13 9HX, next door to Penney Ellis and Claire Baker who are also taking part. My opening times are:

Sat 28th    10.00 - 17.00 (I will not be present but you will get to meet my wife, Suzanne)
Sun 29th   10.00 - 16.00
Mon 30th  10.00 - 17.00
Tues 1st    10.00 - 17.00
Wed 2nd   10.00 - 17.00
Thurs 3rd  10.00 - 17.00
Fri 4th       Closed
Sat 5th      10.00 - 17.00 (I will not be present but you will get to meet my wife, Suzanne)
Sun 6th     10.00 - 16.00

Link to Peacock Arts Trail website

Night-time Reading

My wife was browsing through my website yesterday, it didn't take long before she started to exclaim, "where's the mole in the library?"
"What do you mean?" I replied.
"You know," then she gave me that look I only get from her when I'm being particularly dense. "The painting of the mole in a library, it's not on your blog."
"Isn't it?"
"Well, I can't find it"
"Oh, I thought I'd posted that already." I'd better point out I have a notoriously bad memory.
"You'd better do it before you forget - again."
"Yes dear" 

Surely not many married couples can have this conversation, normally it's where are the car keys, or have you put the bin out. However I'm glad Suzanne spotted my lackadaisical approach to blogging, so after a lengthy build up here is that mole in a library painting

Night-time Reading

24 x 31cm

Watercolour / Gouache

The Orator

 The Orator

Watercolour / Gouache

24 x 31cm

Hot off the easel, watercolour painting finished and scanned this morning! 

I had a bit of trouble with the values in this painting. I have attempted to increase them on Mr Toad while letting the background level out slightly in the hope that the main character will stand out sufficiently. Now, that's not easy to do when you have an open fireplace crackling merrily in the background as it forces you to develop contrasts so the flame look suitably bright. A lesson learned I think.

In terms of process I did the usual sepia watercolour under-painting, glazed local colour then worked the values in watercolour. Finally I added mostly highlights with gouache but I did darken his velvet lapels with a deep brown umber gouache paint.

The Orator - Work In Progress

I have to put this aside for the next few days but I finally think it's starting to come together.

The Orator Work In Progress

Chris what are you working on at the moment? Why haven't you be posting regularly? Do toads drink whiskey? All these questions can be answered by the image below.

Messing About

I have just finished this painting today and now I want to hire a boat and go rowing on the river Avon. In fact I've a mind to take a picnic basket, rug to sit on and maybe a sun hat too - anybody care to join me?

Messing About

Watercolour / Gouache 

24 x 31cm

As with every painting in this series of work I have worked on top of a sepia underpainting in watercolour and then added the odd speck of gouache as highlights such as the holes in the straw hat and pesky midges skimming above the water.

My most recent and best purchase...

is this stunning watercolour by top class illustrator Sam Weber.

This is the character Zoey from the cover of 'Fair Coin', a young adult novel by E.C. Myers. You can see how she appears on the book jacket here.

I always thought one day I would like to own a Sam Weber original, maybe a sketch that I could afford when I've started to collect my pension - if I was lucky. Now I have an original, for a superb price, direct from the artist and I still have my own teeth!

Mr Weber still has some work up for grabs on his website if you are interested.

Freddie's Patrol

Here we have a painting I finished today. 'Freddie's Patrol' is the final painting of a set of three pieces, 'King Louie' and 'Lovely Day For It'. I enjoyed painting the dog's slobbery mouth although I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy it if he licked my face.

Freddie's Patrol

Watercolour / Gouache

24 x 31cm

More Painting Ideas

Below are two ideas that I will be working up into paintings next month.

'Messing About'

'Quick Getaway'