A few more bird watercolours.

These are the final 4 bird watercolours for Mystique5 inspired by Tim Flach photography.

Wood Duck

A Mandarin Duck

Golden Pheasant

Himalayan Monal

More bird watercolour paintings for Mystique55

More bird paintings for Mystique55 inspired by Tim Flach Photography. Find the finished ceramic designs on www.mystique55.com

Lifeguard on duty Horse Guards

A recent watercolour and colour pencil painting of a Blues and Royals trooper on duty at Horse Guards. Cavalry blacks are the imposing all-black horses used by the Household Cavalry for ceremonial duties. They are a minimum of 16.2hh in height and can be seen at ‘Changing of the Guard’ at Buckingham Palace and Trooping the colour.

Bird watercolour paintings

These watercolour paintings were a commission from Mystique55 (Adler and Company Ltd.,) in a collaboration with Tim Flach the celebrated British photographer who specialises in studio imagery of animals which combine fine art, portraits and wildlife photography.

The paintings are watercolour versions of the photographs (© Tim Flach) and they have been combined with striking geometric backgrounds in a range of limited edition luxury fine bone china items.

The pieces can be found on mystique55.com

Because the colour was so important in these paintings I used many layers of intense watercolour to achieve the necessary hue. My series 7, Finest Sable Winsor and Newton watercolour brushes were indispensable for this project as they keep a needle point and hold a huge amount of paint. Unfortunately after 11 paintings the points are no longer pin sharp so will have to be replaced at some point.

I used Fabriano 4 pure white cartridge paper as it stands up to lots of paint and colours appear brilliant.

I lightboxed the basic shapes and feathers and then drew carefully from reference photos. Feathers are difficult to keep track of but I hope I have done then justice. I also ruined a few brushes using Winsor & Newton colourless art masking fluid. Zest masking fluid remover worked fairly well but the brushes are really hors de combat!

The paintings are ©Mystique55 and the photographic reference is ©Tim Flach.

Himalayan Monal from a photograph by ©Tim Flach

Peregrine Falcon from a photograph by ©Tim Flach

Vanessa's poem

I recently did illustrations for a poem written by Vanessa TK.

The lighthouse is at Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin. The illustrations are watercolour and colour pencil on Fabriano 4 cartridge paper.

Illustrations for a poem.

Lighthouse, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Welsh Guard

I have recently finished this commission of an oil portrait of a Welsh Guard. The crest is that of the Welsh Guards during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

There are 5 Regiments of foot Guards ; Grenadier Guards; Coldstream Guards; Scots Guards; Irish Guards and Welsh Guards. Historically the Guards Regiments protected the sovereign and today they perform public duties, like Changing the Guard, that are a modern extension of their historical role in protecting the sovereign. Changing the Guard takes place 3 times a week at Buckingham Palace.The Guards regiments remain an important part of the British Army’s infantry and they are deployed all over the world.

It is painted on a canvas panel covered in fine cotton and gesso primed.

Chicken dance - little girl and daffodil

A drawing in watercolour, pastel and colour and lead pencil of a little girl and her pet hen called Daffodil. Hens love people and come running.

This drawing started with washes of watercolour and then pencil followed by pastel on a dryish surface. I like to draw into the image with colour pencil and more pastel for highlights. The paper was a thick watercolour paper with a NOT surface (not hot pressed so a bit more textured) which I found in an old watercolour sketckbook block.

Mud kitchen and potions

A new drawing of a child playing and concentrating on a new potion in the mud kitchen. It’s a messy process concocting new potions from petals, leaves mud and sticks - hours of fun.

This is drawn on my favourite 8ogms copy paper for printers with 3B pencil for a fluid line. The paper has no ‘tooth’ so the pencil just glides over the surface.

I sketched this in action and then revised the drawing in the studio. The actions are so fast that I can have 5 or 6 drawings on the go in one sheet and I go from one to another as my little model goes back into position.

In action sketches of mud kitchen.

Recent portraits on paper

Trainee pilot

These portraits for an American client are painted over posters. The paper is sometimes shiny and sometimes matte so I have to use layers of paint to cover the images underneath. Acrylic paint is ideal for this as it can be used without too much thinning with water. I transfer the images using good old black typewriter copy paper. It shows up well against a dark and busy image and doesn’t lift when I apply the paint. The biggest problem is finding a masking tape that will keep the poster flat while I paint but won’t leave a sticky residue and to date I am still trying to find the answer to that!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

New drawing

A recent drawing commission of a brother and sister for their grandparents.

A pencil drawing in 2B and 3B pencil on White Fabriano4 cartridge paper. If you want a special drawing of special people for a special occassion get in touch for a quote. Prices start at £60.00 for an A4 drawing.

Recent drawing commission

Something fishy........British freshwater fish

My resident fisherman caught all these fish at various times over the last few years. He likes catching pike despite ending up with bitten fingers.

I have created this greetings card showing the most popular British freshwater fish and it is available in my online shop as well as on my Etsy site.

Summer nostalgia. Compton beach, Isle of Wight

The clocks change this weekend so I’m looking back at those warm summer days on Compton beach on the Isle of Wight. It’s called the dinasaur coast for good reason as dinasaur footprints are easily seen as one walks along the beautiful sandy beach. And the water edge is delightful for a spot of paddling or swimming if feeling a bit braver.

Another military portrait commission

Naval officer

Quite a challenge painting all the Naval crests and emblems but very enjoyable nevertheless.

My polo prints at Cowdray Park

Cowdray Park the home of British Polo and the renowned Gold Cup are showing my framed polo prints in their restaurant/cafe. All the prints have elegant black frames and range in size from A4 to A3 and even A2 with the frame.

They would be ideal birthday or Christmas gifts for either polo players or lovers of the sport of polo.

Add the framed prints to a polo gallery wall with your own framed photos and perhaps some polo mallets or other polo memorabilia.

Military Portraits

Two further commissions which I have just finished.

Another drawing commission but no people this time

Always good to get a challenge as this house drawing was. It was a lovely red brick cottage with lots of details and with bricks you either draw them all or use a bit of judgement about what can be left out. The client wanted lots of detail and two vignettes of little areas of the garden.

Morning coffee

The Well

New Portraits

Ghanaian wedding - the rich background needed 4 or 5 layers of paint for best coverage.

I have been busy with portraits for my American client and here are some of them.

I paint in acrylics over a poster or photograph and it’s effective but full of little difficulties. The surface I’m painting on can vary from shiny to matt and most of the backgrounds are dark and quite complex which means I have to use a lot of layers of paint for full coverage. I have mastered the technique so I can normally finish a portrait in a week. The big ‘however’ is the weather because when it’s hot in the studio the acrylic paint dries almost instantly even with the addition of retarder in the water. I start early before it gets hot and do other jobs if it’s unbearable.

Nigerian Naval Officer - the naval crests were a challenge.

Basketball player - enjoyed painting this sportsman and doing the lettering for his cool name.

Military Veteran and sportsman

Bubbles

More bubbles

Playing with bubbles in the sun.

Little girl playing with bubbles on holiday.

More quick sketches done with soft pencil on copy paper. I like the smooth surface and the pencil glides easily. I used 2B and 4B pencils and I start with a sharp point and then enjoy the difference in the quality of the line when the pencil wears down.

I clean up the images once scanned in photoshop and add a bit more tone as sometimes pencil drawings can be feint.