tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90125486142232027272024-03-13T14:05:28.478-07:00Kate Tugwell Portrait ArtistKate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-72438779329930572332015-03-16T16:47:00.000-07:002015-03-17T05:37:32.539-07:00Jess (aka Squeaky!) portrait of a black cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXcX8qH3d6g/VQgf7Tv8YdI/AAAAAAAACYI/wqQgm24AN7A/s1600/Cat%2BPortrait%2B-%2BJess%2Bacrylic%2B12x16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXcX8qH3d6g/VQgf7Tv8YdI/AAAAAAAACYI/wqQgm24AN7A/s1600/Cat%2BPortrait%2B-%2BJess%2Bacrylic%2B12x16.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BroMddLMxDw/VQdpLsbdiRI/AAAAAAAACXk/Olp1cbt9NfA/s1600/Jess%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BroMddLMxDw/VQdpLsbdiRI/AAAAAAAACXk/Olp1cbt9NfA/s1600/Jess%2B10.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3W3IgNMt_r0/VQdpLnsNtaI/AAAAAAAACXw/XYbWqadbIe4/s1600/Jess%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3W3IgNMt_r0/VQdpLnsNtaI/AAAAAAAACXw/XYbWqadbIe4/s1600/Jess%2B9.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">Jess was looking a bit too orange so I put glazes of blues and greys into her coat and over the cloth followed by more yellows and oranges. Finally I went into the detail with a fine rigger brush and painted in fine hairs where the light would catch them and the whiskers, including that single trademark white one! </span>Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-1535257870423634732015-03-09T16:54:00.002-07:002015-03-09T16:55:31.400-07:00Jess (aka Squeaky!) - acrylic painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_oHo3iEiIUo/VP4qW9E6LwI/AAAAAAAACWk/aP-oUsdEIpY/s1600/Jess%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_oHo3iEiIUo/VP4qW9E6LwI/AAAAAAAACWk/aP-oUsdEIpY/s1600/Jess%2B8.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOESqT_Tp68/VP4qWc8bJII/AAAAAAAACWY/GG1NJrJbFr0/s1600/Jess%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOESqT_Tp68/VP4qWc8bJII/AAAAAAAACWY/GG1NJrJbFr0/s1600/Jess%2B7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f45K3Cqkfq0/VP4qWPKw5fI/AAAAAAAACWU/lYLYP-X58To/s1600/Jess%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f45K3Cqkfq0/VP4qWPKw5fI/AAAAAAAACWU/lYLYP-X58To/s1600/Jess%2B6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tjnu3QYb3pc/VP4qVyGbG3I/AAAAAAAACWM/uYXE6M-1CXg/s1600/Jess%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tjnu3QYb3pc/VP4qVyGbG3I/AAAAAAAACWM/uYXE6M-1CXg/s1600/Jess%2B5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uiF1Mh3UCtQ/VP4qVYljKcI/AAAAAAAACWI/tj-1BuJLP5w/s1600/Jess%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uiF1Mh3UCtQ/VP4qVYljKcI/AAAAAAAACWI/tj-1BuJLP5w/s1600/Jess%2B4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-12LLXWggkEk/VP4qUymQJoI/AAAAAAAACWA/_cguNkTf04U/s1600/Jess%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-12LLXWggkEk/VP4qUymQJoI/AAAAAAAACWA/_cguNkTf04U/s1600/Jess%2B3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0dTMdd_O1Sc/VP4qUj3MBWI/AAAAAAAACV8/p-kXbtxLhEA/s1600/Jess%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0dTMdd_O1Sc/VP4qUj3MBWI/AAAAAAAACV8/p-kXbtxLhEA/s1600/Jess%2B2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B6i4y-XpJTc/VP4qUQPIFxI/AAAAAAAACW4/8dUhI8txFBs/s1600/Jess%2B0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B6i4y-XpJTc/VP4qUQPIFxI/AAAAAAAACW4/8dUhI8txFBs/s1600/Jess%2B0.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7XugmDBLHM/VP4qUI6f0NI/AAAAAAAACV0/Kg5_1oMhmso/s1600/Jess%2B-%2BSqueaky%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7XugmDBLHM/VP4qUI6f0NI/AAAAAAAACV0/Kg5_1oMhmso/s1600/Jess%2B-%2BSqueaky%2Bphoto.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9k2qn5R-cY/VP4rZ_aOVzI/AAAAAAAACXA/El-U8L91r78/s1600/Eddie%2Bcat%2BDarnell%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9k2qn5R-cY/VP4rZ_aOVzI/AAAAAAAACXA/El-U8L91r78/s1600/Eddie%2Bcat%2BDarnell%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The commission on my easel at the moment is of a cat called Jess, nicknamed 'Squeaky' for very obvious reasons when you see a video of her. The painting is a 12 x 16" acrylic on a box canvas to go alongside another commission I painted a few years ago of Eddie who had the same staff! Sadly, both cats are no longer around but I hope to capture their characters on canvas. The best photos of Jess were landscape rather than portrait but as the canvases are the same size they should work quite well on the wall together. I started by drawing the details I could see of Jess onto the canvas, making sure her head was a similar size to Eddie's. I then applied texture paste and let it dry overnight. Next I started to paint in the darkest areas and put cool greys and blues into the background and shadows. In order to tie the two portraits together I want to use the same colour as Eddie's eyes but apart from my photographic reference, I have no recollection of the exact colour mix. I experimented with various mixes of browns and oranges and worked them across the image and around the edges, then I painted the eyes and also used yellows in the coat and on the material. From then on I concentrated on the layers of the fur which have been made up of various glazes of burnt umber, yellow ochre, flesh tint, black, orange, lemon yellow and white. The painting is not yet finished but in the last stage of this post I added white to the fur and the material and I've started to paint the smaller details of her eyes. I have also played about with the tones in the background to make her head stand out and create depth. She's nearly there and the the final flourish will be her single white whisker which I will steal myself to do...Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-68527199254682808292015-03-05T15:21:00.003-08:002015-03-05T15:21:32.017-08:00New Art Studio!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RegT6uXaixU/VPjgagAhuBI/AAAAAAAACVQ/okVsgXoFt0E/s1600/DSCN0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RegT6uXaixU/VPjgagAhuBI/AAAAAAAACVQ/okVsgXoFt0E/s1600/DSCN0651.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AcAZS7SbzwU/VPjgbMHPjUI/AAAAAAAACVU/4tsGa1eywRw/s1600/DSCN0696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AcAZS7SbzwU/VPjgbMHPjUI/AAAAAAAACVU/4tsGa1eywRw/s1600/DSCN0696.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
I moved into my new art studio this week - the outhouse is no longer a ramshackle old shed with creepers growing through the walls but a beautifully lit, warm space for me to work in!! I'm so chuffed, I have a new (old) oak plan chest bought from Ebay and restored by my stepbrother, two new easels and a huge canvas bought from a local antiques store and a little unit of baskets bought as a gift from my husband on Valentine's Day! There's a butler sink in the corner with hot water from the house, a mezzanine for storage and an ancient fruit ladder to get up to it. My old sound system is installed to play Radio 6 while I work, the phone signals and wifi just about reach and a new doorbell alerts me to anyone arriving at the house. I just need the electrician to install outside lights, security and a pendant lamp, the outside walls and paving need tidying up, some storage, a new table and I'm sorted. How lucky am I. I've been painting my latest commission in there and planning my Portrait Course into the evening and I think it's lovely. The cat's not so sure yet...Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-24311302586244722562015-02-12T04:46:00.001-08:002015-02-23T10:41:45.594-08:00Mwinga - oil portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fEt49-sogkw/VOt0LEs73mI/AAAAAAAACUQ/nPZL239eUHE/s1600/Portrait%2Bof%2BMwinga%2B-%2Boil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fEt49-sogkw/VOt0LEs73mI/AAAAAAAACUQ/nPZL239eUHE/s1600/Portrait%2Bof%2BMwinga%2B-%2Boil.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VdF6zKMpFAc/VNvkXhVU5bI/AAAAAAAACTY/WqfoUT0tjAA/s1600/Mwinga%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VdF6zKMpFAc/VNvkXhVU5bI/AAAAAAAACTY/WqfoUT0tjAA/s1600/Mwinga%2B10.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--uneL3osM9w/VNvkXj74gOI/AAAAAAAACTM/UcMiiguxxrE/s1600/Mwinga%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--uneL3osM9w/VNvkXj74gOI/AAAAAAAACTM/UcMiiguxxrE/s1600/Mwinga%2B9.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QHw7w2Oo7ZM/VNvkXtfCTrI/AAAAAAAACTQ/V84iXoji2KI/s1600/Mwinga%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QHw7w2Oo7ZM/VNvkXtfCTrI/AAAAAAAACTQ/V84iXoji2KI/s1600/Mwinga%2B8.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QEuedjTn9-0/VNvad9dIVfI/AAAAAAAACSk/Ma-CO9G6WbY/s1600/Mwinga%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QEuedjTn9-0/VNvad9dIVfI/AAAAAAAACSk/Ma-CO9G6WbY/s1600/Mwinga%2B7.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGqNUEhYb4M/VNvaquCoq-I/AAAAAAAACSs/SnKt7GzRsRQ/s1600/Mwinga%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TGqNUEhYb4M/VNvaquCoq-I/AAAAAAAACSs/SnKt7GzRsRQ/s1600/Mwinga%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Following on from the previous post, I have been applying glazes to Mwinga's skin tones to create depth. I was fairly happy with his expression and the features were about right but the portrait looked flat and the background needed knocking back for a more classical approach. I covered the whole canvas firstly with burnt umber and carefully lifted out the highlights. This glaze gave him a warm undertone and unified the background. I also remodelled the T-shirt as it looked a bit muddy round the edges! After leaving the glaze to dry I brought out the highlights again, brightened the teeth and eyes and corrected a few shapes. The next few glazes make all the difference in creating a 3-D effect on the canvas but don't show up well in the photos so I haven't included all of the stages. Yellow ochre, indian red, raw umber and paynes grey have all been worked in and lifted out in places. The painting has gradually gone darker in order for Mwinga to pull out of the shadows.Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-56778884154706152422015-01-05T05:23:00.001-08:002015-01-11T10:30:27.338-08:00Fanhams Hall in Hertfordshire for a Wedding Gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E45NijQgAA8/VLLBJUEC0pI/AAAAAAAACQ8/bTiGLZANrZc/s1600/Building---Fanhams-Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E45NijQgAA8/VLLBJUEC0pI/AAAAAAAACQ8/bTiGLZANrZc/s1600/Building---Fanhams-Hall.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tOCYaLN5aKs/VJDNqUbxB4I/AAAAAAAACNQ/JzKgD7Xtgk8/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tOCYaLN5aKs/VJDNqUbxB4I/AAAAAAAACNQ/JzKgD7Xtgk8/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2B4.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BN5CyFh7XjI/VJDNqLkMhoI/AAAAAAAACNM/DTHvmvhmWug/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BN5CyFh7XjI/VJDNqLkMhoI/AAAAAAAACNM/DTHvmvhmWug/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2B3.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aSS_UgWePqQ/VJDNp6chirI/AAAAAAAACNI/bv63yK00fn4/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aSS_UgWePqQ/VJDNp6chirI/AAAAAAAACNI/bv63yK00fn4/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2B2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3I6Y-n1HRNg/VJDNp_9gPaI/AAAAAAAACNE/HdADmVkSEWA/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3I6Y-n1HRNg/VJDNp_9gPaI/AAAAAAAACNE/HdADmVkSEWA/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2B1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7um3Dv7CyU/VJDNqufCCFI/AAAAAAAACNU/z1aUVZkw13U/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7um3Dv7CyU/VJDNqufCCFI/AAAAAAAACNU/z1aUVZkw13U/s1600/Fanhams%2BHall%2Bphoto.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This Jacobean manor in Hertfordshire is a beautiful venue for weddings and an oil painting has been commissioned as a gift for a couple getting married there in January 2015. There are a lot of windows to paint in this one which I carefully drew to start with on A3 sized primed canvas board. I painted the sky first, then the following day when it had dried a little I added the rooftops and shadow areas and applied a light wash of yellow ochre across the whole building. Next was the daunting task of painting all those windows which I did in three sittings using my tiniest brush and thinned black paint. After leaving the windows to dry I worked on painting the shadows and drains on the building and breaking up the black windows with curtains and a few reflections. At the next sitting I mixed up a load of greens and although I had hoped to be looser with the garden area, it still needs careful painting as it contains structure and formality. The top picture shows the finished painting.Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-6268851904928847422014-12-17T10:04:00.000-08:002014-12-17T10:04:05.676-08:00Margo - a pastel portrait just in time for Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8WqDQ0o-4c/VJHFcs1eS9I/AAAAAAAACPQ/9-A0JjU-yVI/s1600/Dog-Portrait---Margo-A4-pastel-Melissa-Scrivens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8WqDQ0o-4c/VJHFcs1eS9I/AAAAAAAACPQ/9-A0JjU-yVI/s1600/Dog-Portrait---Margo-A4-pastel-Melissa-Scrivens.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yW4Lj3qG22w/VJDHiGSPt5I/AAAAAAAACMY/FHX7mbtSINQ/s1600/Margo%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yW4Lj3qG22w/VJDHiGSPt5I/AAAAAAAACMY/FHX7mbtSINQ/s1600/Margo%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7bxxzL7hsU/VJDHiM8zhyI/AAAAAAAACMc/quWm0WEZvI8/s1600/Margo%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7bxxzL7hsU/VJDHiM8zhyI/AAAAAAAACMc/quWm0WEZvI8/s1600/Margo%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0uhn_IieWSE/VJDHiOzwv_I/AAAAAAAACMU/6fkEHuhzq_A/s1600/Margo%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0uhn_IieWSE/VJDHiOzwv_I/AAAAAAAACMU/6fkEHuhzq_A/s1600/Margo%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyULTxP7Xjw/VJDHikitJjI/AAAAAAAACMg/xH656r1X0lc/s1600/Margo%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyULTxP7Xjw/VJDHikitJjI/AAAAAAAACMg/xH656r1X0lc/s1600/Margo%2Bphoto.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
This is a cheeky little pastel portrait just in time for Christmas! It is A4 in size and is in soft pastel on grey Daler Rowney Ingres Pastel Paper, chosen to highlight the light and darker areas of the dog. I marked out the main areas of white, then added brown and ginger colours and blended it all together. Next I worked into the dark areas with black and a variety of browns and greys taking care to smudge the pastel into the lighter areas where texture was needed, but not overlapping into areas around the eyes and nose. I roughly marked in some background shapes using brown, black, yellows and greys and merged them too. With the base layers in place I was able to paint in more detail, firstly to the background foliage and then to the coat. I flicked white across from the highlights on the legs into the background to convey wet fur and finally added a few white hairs around Margo's eyes as the owner wanted her to look a little older. She looks ready to pounce!Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-31829153330476110812014-12-16T15:51:00.000-08:002014-12-17T10:03:05.438-08:00One Man and His Dog - Pastel Portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNX7ZEzIgvo/VJHE8HeUaVI/AAAAAAAACPI/ksL6sOMHzoI/s1600/Portrait---One-Man-and-His-Dog-12x16-pastel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNX7ZEzIgvo/VJHE8HeUaVI/AAAAAAAACPI/ksL6sOMHzoI/s1600/Portrait---One-Man-and-His-Dog-12x16-pastel.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4sCyRYdG0o/VJDErF_adRI/AAAAAAAACLs/Rw-Dk7mmP_U/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4sCyRYdG0o/VJDErF_adRI/AAAAAAAACLs/Rw-Dk7mmP_U/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4oWD-XfNWpA/VJDEqYfGHiI/AAAAAAAACLo/EfX6ZNQvKp8/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4oWD-XfNWpA/VJDEqYfGHiI/AAAAAAAACLo/EfX6ZNQvKp8/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKmCNpRi0Uw/VJDEqMNGc_I/AAAAAAAACLk/JPa7xOr0PC8/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKmCNpRi0Uw/VJDEqMNGc_I/AAAAAAAACLk/JPa7xOr0PC8/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb48CSDpJq0/VJDEpvY5xfI/AAAAAAAACLc/HTqc9GRqehs/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb48CSDpJq0/VJDEpvY5xfI/AAAAAAAACLc/HTqc9GRqehs/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtXcUm9jQH4/VJDEppKjJHI/AAAAAAAACMI/NuEir8xaLOU/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtXcUm9jQH4/VJDEppKjJHI/AAAAAAAACMI/NuEir8xaLOU/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bnycxSVvlPA/VJDEpgbyRvI/AAAAAAAACLY/1I93YOfU5kY/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bnycxSVvlPA/VJDEpgbyRvI/AAAAAAAACLY/1I93YOfU5kY/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5v57tqqwops/VJDErno77VI/AAAAAAAACL4/rqhaX3UkBWw/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5v57tqqwops/VJDErno77VI/AAAAAAAACL4/rqhaX3UkBWw/s1600/Sarah%2BGerrard%2Bman%2Band%2Bdog%2Bphoto.jpg" height="297" width="320" /> </a><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;">This is a Christmas commission painted in pastel. The size is A3 and I decided to work from a mid-tone brown as some of the background is to be be included. I sketched a detailed drawing onto Daler Rowney Ingres Pastel Paper as I decided the lines in the jumper and other details would be easier to draw with a pencil than with a pastel. However, working at this size, rather than blocking in with larger pastels, as I usually do, I filled in areas of tone with pastel pencils as the shapes are small to start with. I picked out a selection of greens, blues, creams and browns and blended each colour into the background with a cotton bud and the edge of my fingers so as not to move the colour around too much. I built up more detail and increased the opacity, building up the picture as a whole. The faces, hands and chain were particularly fiddly so pastel dust was dotted on with sharpened pastel pencils and in the latter stages, I blend using the pencil tip of a lighter colour before going back into the detail with darker colours. I'm nearly there, just another few hours tomorrow and it should be finished.... The top pic shows it finished!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-64353942540484816732014-12-10T16:19:00.002-08:002014-12-10T16:19:25.606-08:00Mwinga - oil portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PsTHDFULcKI/VFGIl6_aSyI/AAAAAAAAB_s/ndjhyL6dZ5c/s1600/Mwinga%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PsTHDFULcKI/VFGIl6_aSyI/AAAAAAAAB_s/ndjhyL6dZ5c/s1600/Mwinga%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvyIByhvDLY/VFGIlk6TWYI/AAAAAAAAB_o/-fdAcmhWyHA/s1600/Mwinga%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvyIByhvDLY/VFGIlk6TWYI/AAAAAAAAB_o/-fdAcmhWyHA/s1600/Mwinga%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NiqChbd9AQI/VFGIlfT1MfI/AAAAAAAAB_k/Pa3bEum9sl4/s1600/Mwinga%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NiqChbd9AQI/VFGIlfT1MfI/AAAAAAAAB_k/Pa3bEum9sl4/s1600/Mwinga%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKKANCC5Ud0/VFGIlG1nayI/AAAAAAAAB_c/XrOgvlG4VKQ/s1600/Mwinga%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKKANCC5Ud0/VFGIlG1nayI/AAAAAAAAB_c/XrOgvlG4VKQ/s1600/Mwinga%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WbMArCmXxPM/VFGIlFfdQYI/AAAAAAAAB_g/ngMWGyAmjXQ/s1600/Mwinga%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WbMArCmXxPM/VFGIlFfdQYI/AAAAAAAAB_g/ngMWGyAmjXQ/s1600/Mwinga%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oq8H9VOVCQU/VFGIkyBgzsI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/Lvv7GN71UH8/s1600/Mwinga%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oq8H9VOVCQU/VFGIkyBgzsI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/Lvv7GN71UH8/s1600/Mwinga%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nermr0BvqvY/VFGImEHYA7I/AAAAAAAAB_8/kpuVMgZt0aA/s1600/me%2Band%2Bmwiinga%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nermr0BvqvY/VFGImEHYA7I/AAAAAAAAB_8/kpuVMgZt0aA/s1600/me%2Band%2Bmwiinga%2Bphoto.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This posthumous portrait of Mwinga has been commissioned by his friend pictured in the photo. It is a present to Mwinga's family - a really touching gift - and I have been working on it over the past few months as it is an oil on A3 size canvas. The stages of the painting started with the drawing which I pieced together in Photoshop from a number of different photos to get the pose and expression right. After sketching it onto the canvas I fixed the pencil in place with a light wash of yellow ochre acrylic paint. Next I blocked in the main areas of colour - whites, browns and blacks - adding crimson and raw umber to the lips and eyes respectively. Next, glazes of umbers, ochres, siennas and Paynes grey have been painted on and worked into to create depth in the skin tones. It is not finished yet (shapes and tones need working on) but latterly I have been painting the kind smile in Mwinga's eyes.<br />
<br />Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-32898983267710686202014-12-08T13:46:00.002-08:002014-12-17T10:00:43.616-08:00A Family Portrait in Oils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9LLWLOLrxlA/VJHDvaMm9SI/AAAAAAAACOs/POz8cbFgE7c/s1600/Portrait---Colin-Jones-%26-family-10x14-oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9LLWLOLrxlA/VJHDvaMm9SI/AAAAAAAACOs/POz8cbFgE7c/s1600/Portrait---Colin-Jones-%26-family-10x14-oil.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kNwOAdcvMzs/VIYYONK-CII/AAAAAAAACJM/oRT2VyuaOcg/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kNwOAdcvMzs/VIYYONK-CII/AAAAAAAACJM/oRT2VyuaOcg/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B10.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-839rQFDFUpo/VIYYOIkxv9I/AAAAAAAACJI/FY_k6vguH6Y/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-839rQFDFUpo/VIYYOIkxv9I/AAAAAAAACJI/FY_k6vguH6Y/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B9.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-oQcYIIiAw/VIYYOLbstoI/AAAAAAAACJQ/_lddwELSCds/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-oQcYIIiAw/VIYYOLbstoI/AAAAAAAACJQ/_lddwELSCds/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B8.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpJzdXWSMRE/VIYYO6MkzWI/AAAAAAAACJU/C3BLemF5aiw/s1600/DC%2Bframe%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpJzdXWSMRE/VIYYO6MkzWI/AAAAAAAACJU/C3BLemF5aiw/s1600/DC%2Bframe%2B1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-brvPMmnKv24/VIYYPF9heZI/AAAAAAAACJo/NjU75J0l2Zw/s1600/DC%2Bframe%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-brvPMmnKv24/VIYYPF9heZI/AAAAAAAACJo/NjU75J0l2Zw/s1600/DC%2Bframe%2B2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This family portrait has come along well and is now finished. Since the last blog entry I have been painting in subtle glazes of skin tones. In these stages the changes are not so dramatic so I tend to work on it for a number of hours before taking a photo. It's a bit like 'spot the difference'! I have also taken this painting to my framer to see what kind of dark wooden would work and tomorrow it will be taken there to be finished off.Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-56500510414108709282014-12-03T16:30:00.000-08:002014-12-17T09:55:32.789-08:00A Family Portrait in Oils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vI0T6DJvcuQ/VH-jBbhw-PI/AAAAAAAACIA/x21jfVzLD2c/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vI0T6DJvcuQ/VH-jBbhw-PI/AAAAAAAACIA/x21jfVzLD2c/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRag--0rYck/VH-jBNkxVgI/AAAAAAAACHo/Cv-A3uhuyx0/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sRag--0rYck/VH-jBNkxVgI/AAAAAAAACHo/Cv-A3uhuyx0/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8zVkBHD7f3g/VH-jBIAze1I/AAAAAAAACHs/AeRfVOObTv8/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8zVkBHD7f3g/VH-jBIAze1I/AAAAAAAACHs/AeRfVOObTv8/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMIoqzFBX7A/VH-jAmFXBBI/AAAAAAAACHg/2rV2v3pTddQ/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMIoqzFBX7A/VH-jAmFXBBI/AAAAAAAACHg/2rV2v3pTddQ/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-OL4CdN5UU/VH-jAdMFeTI/AAAAAAAACHc/rOrNOr20Gls/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-OL4CdN5UU/VH-jAdMFeTI/AAAAAAAACHc/rOrNOr20Gls/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JEHs7phd-8E/VH-jAHtokuI/AAAAAAAACHY/d668FXCdZNY/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JEHs7phd-8E/VH-jAHtokuI/AAAAAAAACHY/d668FXCdZNY/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCmL28APwr0/VH-i_jsbT4I/AAAAAAAACHQ/E4DCumS4oRs/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCmL28APwr0/VH-i_jsbT4I/AAAAAAAACHQ/E4DCumS4oRs/s1600/DC%2Bfamily%2Boil%2B1.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5g6qYebwpM/VH-jBiM55pI/AAAAAAAACHw/p98F8r75E6w/s1600/DC%2Bwife%2Band%2BTristan%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5g6qYebwpM/VH-jBiM55pI/AAAAAAAACHw/p98F8r75E6w/s1600/DC%2Bwife%2Band%2BTristan%2Bphoto.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPBcHa1MUQ0/VH-i_fitOEI/AAAAAAAACHU/Ow-t-ho7X08/s1600/DC%2Bbgd%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPBcHa1MUQ0/VH-i_fitOEI/AAAAAAAACHU/Ow-t-ho7X08/s1600/DC%2Bbgd%2Bphoto.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sMTGyqJVsCw/VH-i_YUU0KI/AAAAAAAACHM/yXYTB56-CTQ/s1600/Colin%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sMTGyqJVsCw/VH-i_YUU0KI/AAAAAAAACHM/yXYTB56-CTQ/s1600/Colin%2Bphoto.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0Vz0RLSJrU/VH-qm__MX2I/AAAAAAAACIk/xWeyYSqLrBo/s1600/Frame%2Bexamples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0Vz0RLSJrU/VH-qm__MX2I/AAAAAAAACIk/xWeyYSqLrBo/s1600/Frame%2Bexamples.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This family portrait has been compiled from a number of photographs, chosen for the background and the three family members. I did a number of sketches before I decided on the right composition as I wanted to include the elephant in the background without it looking contrived. Also the positioning needed careful attention due to the light sources being different in each photo. After preparing a canvas board with a wash of yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for background warmth, I carefully drew the figures. Then I blocked in the sky with a mix of cerulean blue and titanium white before mixing umbers and ochres with white for the land. I painted the elephant, blocked in the trees and T-shirts and left it to dry. Next I painted the shadows and the hat with burnt umber to create my underpinning structure. Again I let the paint dry so I could paint a glaze of flesh tint over the top and not lose the features. I worked into the glaze with tints of crimson, cadmium red, yellow ochre, Paynes grey and burnt umber mixed with a little white in the latter glazes. The painting is only A3 size so I am working with very small brushes and trying not to change the shapes too much. Having spent time on the faces I changed my attention to the hair and the rest of the canvas. I darkened the hat and put more detail on the shirt. The canvas now needs to dry a little before I can work more glazes into the skin tones. On this post I have included a selection of some of the frames available at my framer although she has more!Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-69099341874996131412014-11-27T16:53:00.002-08:002014-11-27T16:54:24.097-08:00Portrait Painting in Oils with Mike Skidmore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZljKcF2Z3E/VHe8oQOKpxI/AAAAAAAACGY/6AVHn-1r6Q4/s1600/DSCN0441%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZljKcF2Z3E/VHe8oQOKpxI/AAAAAAAACGY/6AVHn-1r6Q4/s1600/DSCN0441%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4S3xX_5BZ0/VHe8n6FhCXI/AAAAAAAACGU/rk07UAypFao/s1600/DSCN0439%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4S3xX_5BZ0/VHe8n6FhCXI/AAAAAAAACGU/rk07UAypFao/s1600/DSCN0439%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TkFUGJofjiw/VHe8nYlMtYI/AAAAAAAACGQ/VSq7ffuRIeo/s1600/DSCN0438%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TkFUGJofjiw/VHe8nYlMtYI/AAAAAAAACGQ/VSq7ffuRIeo/s1600/DSCN0438%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJbWv6CX7oQ/VHe8mn7pnhI/AAAAAAAACGI/PTul8wWswyE/s1600/DSCN0437%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJbWv6CX7oQ/VHe8mn7pnhI/AAAAAAAACGI/PTul8wWswyE/s1600/DSCN0437%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_l-D8qyBJJw/VHe8mf6IlPI/AAAAAAAACGE/VlXMGNglV4Y/s1600/DSCN0436%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_l-D8qyBJJw/VHe8mf6IlPI/AAAAAAAACGE/VlXMGNglV4Y/s1600/DSCN0436%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2hgjeuXZuRQ/VHe8mDTPa8I/AAAAAAAACF8/m-TY-2ncRMM/s1600/DSCN0435%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2hgjeuXZuRQ/VHe8mDTPa8I/AAAAAAAACF8/m-TY-2ncRMM/s1600/DSCN0435%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpyBOydnb_o/VHe8ljZCKrI/AAAAAAAACF4/gAsXw3__j8s/s1600/DSCN0434%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpyBOydnb_o/VHe8ljZCKrI/AAAAAAAACF4/gAsXw3__j8s/s1600/DSCN0434%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kf5_cEaiuPs/VHe8lhK8WEI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDXF43W03S0/s1600/DSCN0433%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kf5_cEaiuPs/VHe8lhK8WEI/AAAAAAAACG0/jDXF43W03S0/s1600/DSCN0433%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FAjCnnMyRDs/VHe8lcIfifI/AAAAAAAACF0/t8Jovqy3Eik/s1600/DSCN0428%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FAjCnnMyRDs/VHe8lcIfifI/AAAAAAAACF0/t8Jovqy3Eik/s1600/DSCN0428%2Bcopy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8bRCQngkrXY/VHe8dePGtwI/AAAAAAAACFs/17yCsNzV8P8/s1600/Mike%2BSkidmore%2Bweekend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8bRCQngkrXY/VHe8dePGtwI/AAAAAAAACFs/17yCsNzV8P8/s1600/Mike%2BSkidmore%2Bweekend.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Last weekend I attended a fabulous Portrait Painting in Oils Course with Mike Skidmore in the Cotswolds and would thoroughly recommend it! Mike's teaching style is fun, informal and instructive with bags of tips and encouragement for artists of all levels. He has loads of his work around the place to inspire and tells jokes that make you want to expire but everyone went home with a portrait they were proud of. The process began with choosing a photograph and drawing it onto a Belle Arte canvas. Then the pencil was sealed in place with an acrylic wash of Payne's gray which was left to dry. Next a grisaille or monotone underpainting was created using Payne's grey and white acrylic paints mixed with slow drying medium to describe the form. The following day we mixed up a dark flesh tone, added a wet medium to thin it down, and painted it all over the face. Then, while it was wet we could work into it with colour, working from dark to light. I added flecks to the beard and viridian green to the shadows in the cloth before running out of steam. However, I signed up for an extra day so I could paint some more on both this portrait and some others I had brought with me. It meant suffering more of Mike's jokes but it was jolly worth it! His wife, Cathy, kept us fed and watered throughout the weekend, serving up scrumptious lunches in the house and running over to the studio with cuppas and pastries. They are an amazing team and I can't wait to go back!Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-64314275223915914672014-11-26T11:04:00.001-08:002014-12-03T17:07:14.375-08:00Blackie pastel portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3hR_o2lX04/VH-znJXsqZI/AAAAAAAACI0/nCJN3C6KORw/s1600/Dog-Portrait---large-A4-pastel-Blackie-for-Caz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3hR_o2lX04/VH-znJXsqZI/AAAAAAAACI0/nCJN3C6KORw/s1600/Dog-Portrait---large-A4-pastel-Blackie-for-Caz.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILp7GIJq0v8/VHYe5JrsKRI/AAAAAAAACE8/S3m4g4sWH8M/s1600/Blackie%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILp7GIJq0v8/VHYe5JrsKRI/AAAAAAAACE8/S3m4g4sWH8M/s1600/Blackie%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq2xx8Cv5_c/VHYe4YrAdHI/AAAAAAAACE4/CP9kTYcRNEc/s1600/Blackie%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq2xx8Cv5_c/VHYe4YrAdHI/AAAAAAAACE4/CP9kTYcRNEc/s1600/Blackie%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgoDxriHTx0/VHYe4lRngII/AAAAAAAACE0/w4ShQHv-bg0/s1600/Blackie%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgoDxriHTx0/VHYe4lRngII/AAAAAAAACE0/w4ShQHv-bg0/s1600/Blackie%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Nm2lxcjnY/VHYe4b5UHhI/AAAAAAAACEw/Oyf0RFojfbw/s1600/Blackie%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Nm2lxcjnY/VHYe4b5UHhI/AAAAAAAACEw/Oyf0RFojfbw/s1600/Blackie%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2K-BsLp7dAA/VHYe5mgN4VI/AAAAAAAACFA/VJ6Ira0JR3M/s1600/Blackie%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2K-BsLp7dAA/VHYe5mgN4VI/AAAAAAAACFA/VJ6Ira0JR3M/s1600/Blackie%2Bphoto.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is a commission for my cousin, Caroline, of a lovely old dog called Blackie. The portrait is an A4 pastel but as I wasn't sure of the cropping I first drew it on a cream coloured A3 Ingres Pastel Paper so I can cut it down later but I quite like the crop as it finished up. After sketching in the shape, I blocked in the whites and light greys with pastel pencils. Then I took my black Conte pastel and blocked in the darkest shadow areas. Dark animals need a lot of careful blending if their coat is to look shiny not smudgey so a few layers of black were applied and blended with grey and brown mid-tones. I often blend the layers using white, cream and grey pastel pencils especially on the final layers to create fur-like texture. I added a bit of shadow around the paws and stippled in some texture to assimilate sand on a beach and I think Blackie is ready to be framed!Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-29939598699458938432014-11-19T15:07:00.002-08:002014-11-26T11:07:46.414-08:00Two Greyhound Pastel Portraits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-evcLBNY1XvY/VHYZk9vKImI/AAAAAAAACEk/dLPC2ZsS7P0/s1600/Dog-Portrait---A3-pastel-Bryn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-evcLBNY1XvY/VHYZk9vKImI/AAAAAAAACEk/dLPC2ZsS7P0/s1600/Dog-Portrait---A3-pastel-Bryn.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nXUOwvwGbAg/VG0bwanS2eI/AAAAAAAACCU/q3sNxcQdMpY/s1600/Bryn%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nXUOwvwGbAg/VG0bwanS2eI/AAAAAAAACCU/q3sNxcQdMpY/s1600/Bryn%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-evcLBNY1XvY/VHYZk9vKImI/AAAAAAAACEk/dLPC2ZsS7P0/s1600/Dog-Portrait---A3-pastel-Bryn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KRKXVMZqhV0/VG0bwB5nECI/AAAAAAAACCM/mLJHIvrrCBY/s1600/Bryn%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KRKXVMZqhV0/VG0bwB5nECI/AAAAAAAACCM/mLJHIvrrCBY/s1600/Bryn%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BeSoWgebGBA/VG0bvwsWACI/AAAAAAAACCE/PhokJZTO1QE/s1600/Bryn%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BeSoWgebGBA/VG0bvwsWACI/AAAAAAAACCE/PhokJZTO1QE/s1600/Bryn%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rPyoXBcaTeY/VG0bvaV3VBI/AAAAAAAACDw/mYXitrsjiiY/s1600/Bryn%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rPyoXBcaTeY/VG0bvaV3VBI/AAAAAAAACDw/mYXitrsjiiY/s1600/Bryn%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9_kgq0uaebY/VG0bve94-5I/AAAAAAAACB8/3YhHqO0t3Ms/s1600/Bryn%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9_kgq0uaebY/VG0bve94-5I/AAAAAAAACB8/3YhHqO0t3Ms/s1600/Bryn%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20ITIJoJM-4/VG0bxR5SXEI/AAAAAAAACCo/ta6WmmPPEH4/s1600/Bryn%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20ITIJoJM-4/VG0bxR5SXEI/AAAAAAAACCo/ta6WmmPPEH4/s1600/Bryn%2Bphoto.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsnpwZ5CMj8/VHYZlQ0Q9dI/AAAAAAAACEg/gamEMMmfVGc/s1600/Dog-Portrait---A3-pastel-Gigi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsnpwZ5CMj8/VHYZlQ0Q9dI/AAAAAAAACEg/gamEMMmfVGc/s1600/Dog-Portrait---A3-pastel-Gigi.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJJd0ySHBas/VG0bzsgCs0I/AAAAAAAACDI/9F8hXHFyjJk/s1600/Gigi%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJJd0ySHBas/VG0bzsgCs0I/AAAAAAAACDI/9F8hXHFyjJk/s1600/Gigi%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sO6tlzMf6xA/VG0bziHNrJI/AAAAAAAACDE/8rMV6XQvP5s/s1600/Gigi%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sO6tlzMf6xA/VG0bziHNrJI/AAAAAAAACDE/8rMV6XQvP5s/s1600/Gigi%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gXVmq31zKTo/VG0bzNskLSI/AAAAAAAACC8/-eH6kJCfyuI/s1600/Gigi%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gXVmq31zKTo/VG0bzNskLSI/AAAAAAAACC8/-eH6kJCfyuI/s1600/Gigi%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-on4h9x53bf4/VG0by4yaMWI/AAAAAAAACC4/ssBcdJkgsjM/s1600/Gigi%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-on4h9x53bf4/VG0by4yaMWI/AAAAAAAACC4/ssBcdJkgsjM/s1600/Gigi%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JhlPZrnLVtk/VG0byZsiCyI/AAAAAAAACCw/FBpkUBhfGZ0/s1600/Gigi%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JhlPZrnLVtk/VG0byZsiCyI/AAAAAAAACCw/FBpkUBhfGZ0/s1600/Gigi%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5TBzURAGLfs/VG0b0kkWcnI/AAAAAAAACDY/3ff7qhh_5y8/s1600/Gigi%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5TBzURAGLfs/VG0b0kkWcnI/AAAAAAAACDY/3ff7qhh_5y8/s1600/Gigi%2Bphoto.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have just finished these two portraits of Bryn and Gigi - two greyhounds commissioned together as A3 pastel paintings. I worked on them simultaneously in order to get the balance of colour correct and use similar pastel colours in their coats to make them work together, even though they are very looking dogs. Having decided on the best photo of each of them I drew them lightly onto beige pastel paper, to ensure I had the features in the right place. Then I laid down a base of white in the lightest areas followed by a warm cream and smudged them together. Next I blocked in areas where I could see oranges and browns and carefully worked them together. Having laid a base I then established my darkest areas with a black and dark brown pastel. At this point I needed to focus on the eyes so I swapped my pastel block for a pastel pencil to create finer detail. Bryn's markings were a challenge as they needed to be mapped on in the right places without losing definition. I used a cream pastel pencil to blend the edges of the markings to keep them sharp and built up the tonal values with browns, ochres, oranges and greys. A touch of blue was also added in places, especially the nose, to complement the orange tones and make them zing! More warm oranges and peachy tones were added to Gigi's coat and after balancing the detail on both dogs I think they are complete and ready to be framed as a pair.Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-91134868679301655982014-11-01T10:23:00.000-07:002014-11-03T05:34:44.173-08:00Another black Labrador but in pastel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_tczuo9mOFc/VFeEL014vhI/AAAAAAAACAs/lZ2U-lbjFZ0/s1600/Dog-portrait---Bramble-black-lab-A3-pastel-CMYK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_tczuo9mOFc/VFeEL014vhI/AAAAAAAACAs/lZ2U-lbjFZ0/s1600/Dog-portrait---Bramble-black-lab-A3-pastel-CMYK.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NmZhHDE71KE/VFFtrs34DPI/AAAAAAAAB-k/T5aq6JMwAUQ/s1600/Bramble%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NmZhHDE71KE/VFFtrs34DPI/AAAAAAAAB-k/T5aq6JMwAUQ/s1600/Bramble%2B7.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-7X2y6WXzk/VFFtrCuz6zI/AAAAAAAAB-c/E-JsjZ6WleU/s1600/Bramble%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-7X2y6WXzk/VFFtrCuz6zI/AAAAAAAAB-c/E-JsjZ6WleU/s1600/Bramble%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v04kix5gmno/VFFtq8-_XJI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/m3BG5YBWY0Q/s1600/Bramble%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v04kix5gmno/VFFtq8-_XJI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/m3BG5YBWY0Q/s1600/Bramble%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W-NBGkE48Is/VFFtqUH5I9I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/DYcZCNXvJCY/s1600/Bramble%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W-NBGkE48Is/VFFtqUH5I9I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/DYcZCNXvJCY/s1600/Bramble%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UfQ1YBoLpWs/VFFtpn15DJI/AAAAAAAAB-M/qitkkm1hlYM/s1600/Bramble%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UfQ1YBoLpWs/VFFtpn15DJI/AAAAAAAAB-M/qitkkm1hlYM/s1600/Bramble%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYnCVI6ybYk/VFFtpoKTNQI/AAAAAAAAB-I/N_dd_JNw_Dg/s1600/Bramble%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYnCVI6ybYk/VFFtpoKTNQI/AAAAAAAAB-I/N_dd_JNw_Dg/s1600/Bramble%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-maXJYEZSYdM/VFFtpmFaUaI/AAAAAAAAB_I/Dbq_vR0YmyA/s1600/Bramble%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-maXJYEZSYdM/VFFtpmFaUaI/AAAAAAAAB_I/Dbq_vR0YmyA/s1600/Bramble%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwfSDcVmJNQ/VFFtsJwbCgI/AAAAAAAAB-w/a75f6Y_DxPE/s1600/Bramble%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwfSDcVmJNQ/VFFtsJwbCgI/AAAAAAAAB-w/a75f6Y_DxPE/s1600/Bramble%2Bphoto.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
This is Bramble, owned by a couple who share exactly the same birthday with each other (how cool is that?!) and the portrait is a surprise birthday present. The size is 12 x 16" on cream Canson Pastel Paper and started, as always, with a light drawing to get the main features mapped. Then I chose a reddish brown to paint into the shadows and white for the highlights. I added grey for the midtones and blended them together to lose the texture of the paper. It's useful to put all three primary colours into a black coat to stop the darks from looking dead so I reached for a blue pastel and picked out the areas that I could see had a blue hint. After blending them all together I used three different types of black pastels to lay into the shadow areas, blending and checking tonal values and shapes as I go. Not a lot seems to change in these final stages but depth is created by building more layers of colour: cream, blue, yellow ochre, purple, white and brown. The final touches of her name and my signature completes the commission!Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-31511559129358822642014-10-22T19:36:00.002-07:002014-11-03T05:30:16.146-08:00Bella - a black lab in oil paint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xyqhQNKSlN8/VFFax9vLuoI/AAAAAAAAB9w/6eo0swmZkE4/s1600/Bella%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYK5XwjHPYQ/VFeDLNCgMvI/AAAAAAAACAk/wysW4ZfzvM8/s1600/Dog-portrait---Bella-A4-Oil-CMYK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYK5XwjHPYQ/VFeDLNCgMvI/AAAAAAAACAk/wysW4ZfzvM8/s1600/Dog-portrait---Bella-A4-Oil-CMYK.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m-RXRmXiiZI/VFFax3UFOtI/AAAAAAAAB90/BKO-glc2v28/s1600/Bella%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m-RXRmXiiZI/VFFax3UFOtI/AAAAAAAAB90/BKO-glc2v28/s1600/Bella%2B7.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xyqhQNKSlN8/VFFax9vLuoI/AAAAAAAAB9w/6eo0swmZkE4/s1600/Bella%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xyqhQNKSlN8/VFFax9vLuoI/AAAAAAAAB9w/6eo0swmZkE4/s1600/Bella%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1TWBJFw5uw/VEhkUVkxyAI/AAAAAAAAB74/3Am6ZUOHqsg/s1600/Bella%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1TWBJFw5uw/VEhkUVkxyAI/AAAAAAAAB74/3Am6ZUOHqsg/s1600/Bella%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_EDT8c-J6Uc/VEhkT-LDQqI/AAAAAAAAB8M/MHM780TfBYI/s1600/Bella%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_EDT8c-J6Uc/VEhkT-LDQqI/AAAAAAAAB8M/MHM780TfBYI/s1600/Bella%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LDNkYqGBJ8Y/VEhkTTMST1I/AAAAAAAAB7s/GAaVs3NtqdQ/s1600/Bella%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LDNkYqGBJ8Y/VEhkTTMST1I/AAAAAAAAB7s/GAaVs3NtqdQ/s1600/Bella%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rn9t8UV0ABs/VEhkTcKr16I/AAAAAAAAB7w/wYvl3qI_9rc/s1600/Bella%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rn9t8UV0ABs/VEhkTcKr16I/AAAAAAAAB7w/wYvl3qI_9rc/s1600/Bella%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7M6cN92oQKs/VEhkTBzXu7I/AAAAAAAAB7o/H1hjyJfzEnA/s1600/Bella%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7M6cN92oQKs/VEhkTBzXu7I/AAAAAAAAB7o/H1hjyJfzEnA/s1600/Bella%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IVKX3zgNRKk/VEhkUWiFd4I/AAAAAAAAB78/jzXnaVX_OO8/s1600/Bella's%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IVKX3zgNRKk/VEhkUWiFd4I/AAAAAAAAB78/jzXnaVX_OO8/s1600/Bella's%2Bphoto.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is Bella, a beautiful black lab in a beautiful pose but the photo is not very sharp so the owner sent me a few others to work with that have more detail. Black animals always offer the greatest challenge as it's tricky getting depth in a painting when the highlights are a lighter shade of black! Anyway, I started by toning my 9 x 12" size canvas board with a mixture of cadmium yellow and yellow ochre. Then I sketched Bella over the top, marking in where her features are as well as I could. Then I scumbled the background with a mixture of ultramarine blue, sap green and raw umber into titanium white. I let this layer dry before mixing burnt sienna with ultramarine in varying mixes for the first undercoat. This layer establishes the highlights, shadows and direction of fur growth. Next I added a little white to pick out the high spots as well as layering in more tones of mixed black. With another layer added, this time with more blue in the mix, I concentrated on painting burnt sienna into the eyes and creating the shape and highlights. Here I got a little unstuck as the photo was so vague and I ended up messing around with the levels in Photoshop and painting from my laptop screen. I changed my paintbrushes to get finer brushstrokes as I added more blue, white, umber and sienna on different layers and at last the dog is taking form and looking less flat! I added more colour to the background and painted these onto the dog in order to soften the edges and add the right colours that would be reflected on the coat. Finally, black and brown shades are painted back over and lifted out of the highlighted areas. Bella is now finished!
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xyqhQNKSlN8%2FVFFax9vLuoI%2FAAAAAAAAB9w%2F6eo0swmZkE4%2Fs1600%2FBella%252B6.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xyqhQNKSlN8/VFFax9vLuoI/AAAAAAAAB9w/6eo0swmZkE4/s1600/Bella%2B6.jpg" -->Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-7612689622504949082014-10-01T11:06:00.000-07:002014-10-22T19:42:32.350-07:00Repeat Custom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JZXq98LOCEE/VEhqwCxOxQI/AAAAAAAAB8s/kh2njA8_5CI/s1600/Dog%2BPortrait%2B-%2BDave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B12x16%2Bpastel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JZXq98LOCEE/VEhqwCxOxQI/AAAAAAAAB8s/kh2njA8_5CI/s1600/Dog%2BPortrait%2B-%2BDave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B12x16%2Bpastel.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zAXjuRNPUsM/VCw65Y9o0fI/AAAAAAAAB5c/zScZieyUu1M/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zAXjuRNPUsM/VCw65Y9o0fI/AAAAAAAAB5c/zScZieyUu1M/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Df1p1zh5Ki4/VCw6418QAlI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/02KNoWnP_-k/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Df1p1zh5Ki4/VCw6418QAlI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/02KNoWnP_-k/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AWTX8oxMF8w/VCw64vdjSLI/AAAAAAAAB5U/1UA6CtH6OE4/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AWTX8oxMF8w/VCw64vdjSLI/AAAAAAAAB5U/1UA6CtH6OE4/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpog9_WYnvY/VCw64d_DQPI/AAAAAAAAB5M/wgfYTX9SQsU/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpog9_WYnvY/VCw64d_DQPI/AAAAAAAAB5M/wgfYTX9SQsU/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2L9HZ6k5YDI/VCw635g7QII/AAAAAAAAB58/fm4c4vttqP4/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2L9HZ6k5YDI/VCw635g7QII/AAAAAAAAB58/fm4c4vttqP4/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B2.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FWDqBojBOgA/VCw63-mTRiI/AAAAAAAAB5I/RM1rkC6npBc/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FWDqBojBOgA/VCw63-mTRiI/AAAAAAAAB5I/RM1rkC6npBc/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NTwoXoUBV0w/VCw63tFWbpI/AAAAAAAAB5E/Cy2h2nlXFQY/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2B2nd%2Bdog%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NTwoXoUBV0w/VCw63tFWbpI/AAAAAAAAB5E/Cy2h2nlXFQY/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2B2nd%2Bdog%2Bphoto.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yk5nMfPIu0/VCw7CSrbGZI/AAAAAAAAB6E/oveL4Ae4x_s/s1600/Dog-portrait---Magic-and-hare-pastel-12x16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yk5nMfPIu0/VCw7CSrbGZI/AAAAAAAAB6E/oveL4Ae4x_s/s1600/Dog-portrait---Magic-and-hare-pastel-12x16.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's always a treat when a customer returns to commission another portrait and this one is to go alongside 'Magic' which I completed in 2012. Just one photo was sent, which was really good quality so I chose a piece of sand coloured 12 x 16" Murano pastel paper and got started. After drawing the outline I mapped in the lightest areas with a white pastel and chose a yellow ochre for the shadow areas. I smudged the colours together before selecting a dark brown for the shadows on the legs and smudged those together using a cream pastel pencil, before getting to work on the head using an assortment of brown sharpened pastel pencils. This was quite fiddly to get right but once I was happy I took the same reddy browns, greys and ochres and added them to the rest of the coat. At stages the dog looked almost shaggy so cream and white pencils were used to push the pastel and smooth it out. Finally, I grabbed a handful of greens, browns and yellows for the grass and tried to create a similar patch as I did for the previous portrait. I think they'll look great together!
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Df1p1zh5Ki4%2FVCw6418QAlI%2FAAAAAAAAB5Y%2F02KNoWnP_-k%2Fs1600%2FDave%252BMillington%252Bcream%252Bdog%252B5.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Df1p1zh5Ki4/VCw6418QAlI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/02KNoWnP_-k/s1600/Dave%2BMillington%2Bcream%2Bdog%2B5.jpg" -->Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-36399097134858878012014-09-29T10:36:00.001-07:002014-10-22T19:40:31.497-07:00Feline Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAHv8UW3QfE/VEhqeyQ-t2I/AAAAAAAAB8g/F1Z7LKilbsI/s1600/Cat%2Bportrait%2B-%2BJulia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2BA4%2Bpastel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAHv8UW3QfE/VEhqeyQ-t2I/AAAAAAAAB8g/F1Z7LKilbsI/s1600/Cat%2Bportrait%2B-%2BJulia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2BA4%2Bpastel.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qy0lay2pwc8/VCmSzy4oF0I/AAAAAAAAB4Q/qCFYkPW0m_g/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qy0lay2pwc8/VCmSzy4oF0I/AAAAAAAAB4Q/qCFYkPW0m_g/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AjFoW-KKwBo/VCmSznIbVmI/AAAAAAAAB4M/rcyX-MIvR9k/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AjFoW-KKwBo/VCmSznIbVmI/AAAAAAAAB4M/rcyX-MIvR9k/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hfic1QtuL_0/VCmSzaD85II/AAAAAAAAB4w/GontifNmxiY/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hfic1QtuL_0/VCmSzaD85II/AAAAAAAAB4w/GontifNmxiY/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s1B1VWKDyUQ/VCmSywDjkVI/AAAAAAAAB4A/yoigpCizL7o/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s1B1VWKDyUQ/VCmSywDjkVI/AAAAAAAAB4A/yoigpCizL7o/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4xn5FZ9zHo/VCmSy7NncII/AAAAAAAAB4E/N0ohNrja_sE/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4xn5FZ9zHo/VCmSy7NncII/AAAAAAAAB4E/N0ohNrja_sE/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2B2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ctkrPC-1-uU/VCmS0m-7l8I/AAAAAAAAB4g/rlI7q8tP6VI/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ctkrPC-1-uU/VCmS0m-7l8I/AAAAAAAAB4g/rlI7q8tP6VI/s1600/Julia%2BHellon's%2Bcats%2Bphoto.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Two feline friends are the subject of my latest commission. The portrait is an A4 pastel on cream Daler Rowney Ingres Pastel Paper, the shade of which was tricky to choose as I wanted both cats to stand out equally. I considered a mid beige so the ginger cat would be lighter and the blacker cat darker but decided their eyes might disappear and it might not work, so light cream was selected. I opted for two photos where the cats could be drawn as if they might be side by side and sketched their basic shapes before mapping out the ginger markings on both cats. This initial application of pastel sits on the paper surface and looks very grainy so I smoothed it using a cream pastel pencil, which you can see in the second of the series. This process is repeated using a range of colours from bright reds, oranges and yellows on the ginger cat, to brown, grey, black and even green on the coat as well as the eyes. Once I was happy with the balance of tones I flicked in some white whiskers and moved onto blocking in the really dark areas on the other cat. I used cream, dark brown and grey pastel underneath the shiny areas of the coat and flicked in all sorts of colours and shades to keep the markings vibrant. I hope I've captured them!Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-54819258488478020722014-09-16T18:44:00.000-07:002014-09-18T11:04:01.112-07:00Macon and Rully - Great Pyrenees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPabVXSbbC4/VBsdhw-hVkI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/brrth1LprDs/s1600/Dog-portrait---Macon-%26-Rully-30x24-oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPabVXSbbC4/VBsdhw-hVkI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/brrth1LprDs/s1600/Dog-portrait---Macon-%26-Rully-30x24-oil.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkPJ6P8yTBQ/VBjf5UyQbYI/AAAAAAAAB2w/bPEAfVdZmnk/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkPJ6P8yTBQ/VBjf5UyQbYI/AAAAAAAAB2w/bPEAfVdZmnk/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B8.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLSbXsO2BXM/VBjf4r62X3I/AAAAAAAAB2o/dcfbkFO-ztk/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLSbXsO2BXM/VBjf4r62X3I/AAAAAAAAB2o/dcfbkFO-ztk/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B7.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NCjXnB-aOT8/VBjf4RMTk_I/AAAAAAAAB2k/BeJVYSj3_oI/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NCjXnB-aOT8/VBjf4RMTk_I/AAAAAAAAB2k/BeJVYSj3_oI/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B6.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6Dw5In5egI/VBjf4eeivGI/AAAAAAAAB2s/Fj5A6LuCPAQ/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6Dw5In5egI/VBjf4eeivGI/AAAAAAAAB2s/Fj5A6LuCPAQ/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B5.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These two lovable dogs are now finished. As this is for a special birthday present I have been working on this solely to get it completed for the celebration party and the frame has been made at the same time. From the last blog entry many layers and glazes of paint have been applied, starting with the greens of the woods and foliage in the background. When the level of detail was becoming too much I moved my attention to Macon (on the right) and spent time getting the tonal layers in his fur more accurate using warm umbers mixed with varying levels of ultramarine blue and then when dry, layering titanium white over the top to create depths of fluffiness. This 'push and pull' of dark to light and back again is eventually what gives the portrait depth but it goes through some scarily dark changes to get there, which I've not shown. Next, ultramarine and crimson were mixed in varying levels with white to create the bluebells which I randomly painted in with large brushstrokes and added more detail to the trees. At this point I decided the greens were too bright so painted a dark glaze across the whole of the picture to knock the intensity back and lifted out the dogs before it dried. Unfortunately I dropped my camera last week when I leapt out of my car so the second last picture was taken with a tablet and is a bit grainy. Never-the-less, you should still be able to see how both dogs are looking more 3-D and the bluebells are more detailed. Finally, details were sharpened and their fur softened and brightened. As this is in oils the portrait has a lovely rich lustre and I can't wait to see it in its decorative frame.Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-46614541932599071382014-08-27T06:10:00.002-07:002014-08-27T06:10:43.204-07:00Macon and Rully - Great Pyrenees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QVWHLNd60kE/U_3N3_9VXqI/AAAAAAAAB1c/T6NT3jJ-tmc/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QVWHLNd60kE/U_3N3_9VXqI/AAAAAAAAB1c/T6NT3jJ-tmc/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B4.jpg" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7q31_qKgG0c/U_3N3MBrGTI/AAAAAAAAB1U/GxNav-mDn5U/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7q31_qKgG0c/U_3N3MBrGTI/AAAAAAAAB1U/GxNav-mDn5U/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="258" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--OTXYaCGVbM/U_3N2616IfI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/0cymoZGqiMc/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--OTXYaCGVbM/U_3N2616IfI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/0cymoZGqiMc/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZH5G6Nsjl8/U_3N27kxIjI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/2Ys0v4ialaY/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZH5G6Nsjl8/U_3N27kxIjI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/2Ys0v4ialaY/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MuxC5wtQPUo/U_3N4VJzFbI/AAAAAAAAB1k/ogJdVW32KCE/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2Bphoto2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MuxC5wtQPUo/U_3N4VJzFbI/AAAAAAAAB1k/ogJdVW32KCE/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2Bphoto2.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M1_vMrl6AOI/U_3N4L7c24I/AAAAAAAAB1g/ZYHM6BtEaMs/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2Bphoto1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M1_vMrl6AOI/U_3N4L7c24I/AAAAAAAAB1g/ZYHM6BtEaMs/s1600/Macon%2Band%2BRully%2Bphoto1.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
This latest commission an oil painting of Macon and Rully, two fun-loving Great Pyrenees dogs who like snapping at builders' bottoms! I visited them in their new home to take their photographs and after an albumful of snaps, we settled on the two photos which best describe each individual personality. The owners wanted them facing each other and set in local bluebell woods so I sourced some pictures from a photographer friend of mine as well as the internet and mocked up some photo-composites. After playing around with the composition I ordered a fine linen canvas size 24 x 30" from Harris Moore who make them to measure. I primed the canvas and painted a sunshine yellow in a mixture of cadmium, lemon and ochre. When that had dried I drew the dogs in place. Using titanium white and burnt umber I started to block in the main areas of tone, mixing crimson and ultramarine with the umber to get some rich darks. Next I concentrated my paintbrush on getting some texture into the background and painted in some trees. With a finer brush I started work on their faces and continued putting more shadows into the background to make the white of their coats leap out. The oils I use dry relatively quickly so I can come back the next day and apply more layers without too much merging of colour. The next stage of the process is what my artist friend, Robert, always calls the 'A' level phase' - when the initial painting, with it's naive brush strokes and energy, gets lost as layers of detail are applied. It's easy to think you are wrecking the portrait at this stage but it is a necessary part of the process in order that depth and accuracy are achieved. Right, better get back to painting...!Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-63332131579542146412014-08-07T03:45:00.000-07:002014-08-07T03:45:06.074-07:00Laura's 21st birthday portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBvyPmczrVQ/U-NYJI4v0ZI/AAAAAAAAB0w/EVtf2-yis2o/s1600/Laura+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBvyPmczrVQ/U-NYJI4v0ZI/AAAAAAAAB0w/EVtf2-yis2o/s1600/Laura+5.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aR8NoVZZDho/U-E5Xs1Bi9I/AAAAAAAAB0A/6PfnMHzLwqM/s1600/Laura+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aR8NoVZZDho/U-E5Xs1Bi9I/AAAAAAAAB0A/6PfnMHzLwqM/s1600/Laura+4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rI6WqC6NFlE/U-E5XH71GiI/AAAAAAAABz8/-b8gev3wU3I/s1600/Laura+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rI6WqC6NFlE/U-E5XH71GiI/AAAAAAAABz8/-b8gev3wU3I/s1600/Laura+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrAIbnWFXhQ/U-E5XKaaOqI/AAAAAAAABz4/vv4lShFegVo/s1600/Laura+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrAIbnWFXhQ/U-E5XKaaOqI/AAAAAAAABz4/vv4lShFegVo/s1600/Laura+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wu-Y_vaPEj4/U-E5W0WsK0I/AAAAAAAABz0/DgTLoyFAEzU/s1600/Laura+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wu-Y_vaPEj4/U-E5W0WsK0I/AAAAAAAABz0/DgTLoyFAEzU/s1600/Laura+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-5tRPphN-4/U-E5YnESDAI/AAAAAAAAB0U/GEZ_dP2n0P4/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-5tRPphN-4/U-E5YnESDAI/AAAAAAAAB0U/GEZ_dP2n0P4/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is Laura, she's 21 very soon so her mum has commissioned an A3 pencil portrait for her birthday and sent me some pictures of pencil drawings other artists had done so that I could see the style of drawing she wanted. First off I spent a while trying to get the composition and cropping right for the size of the portrait. A close crop with Laura's face quite large would have worked well but we opted for a lovely classic composition to show off as much of her hair as possible. I sketched the main features using a 2B pencil on acid-free cartridge paper. Once I was happy I had a likeness I started to lightly shade her skin tones with an HB pencil to create soft, light, even shadows. Using a softer lead would have left too much of a granular texture and I want her skin to look smooth so I use blending stubs as well as different pencil leads. With the skin tones finely blended I took an 8B to establish the darkest areas of the portrait which included her eyes and the shadows in her hair. A strong shadow on the left side of the drawing enhances the shape of Laura's face while the shadow on the right remains soft. Next I used a sharpened HB to sweep in the lines that make up Laura's hair. There is no short cut here - each hair has to be drawn including the ones that escape out to the sides! Finally a little darkening of the shadows and a signature completes the portrait.Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-19433824879545134512014-07-18T12:42:00.001-07:002014-07-18T12:42:50.763-07:00Michael and pug puppy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ef9OiRo7jaU/U8lon1oEgYI/AAAAAAAAByg/GyGTesaqlo0/s1600/Michael+and+pug+photo+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WE1uWFBi8Xc/U8lonYULJ3I/AAAAAAAAByk/gWElMBH0h5k/s1600/Michael+and+pug+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WE1uWFBi8Xc/U8lonYULJ3I/AAAAAAAAByk/gWElMBH0h5k/s1600/Michael+and+pug+5.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJIIjqgi1Bg/U8lomzRSgmI/AAAAAAAAByw/nTOCa51B2d8/s1600/Michael+and+pug+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJIIjqgi1Bg/U8lomzRSgmI/AAAAAAAAByw/nTOCa51B2d8/s1600/Michael+and+pug+4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75Wsu38bW-s/U8lomPZFYtI/AAAAAAAABy4/XYa6jKKqRlA/s1600/Michael+and+pug+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-75Wsu38bW-s/U8lomPZFYtI/AAAAAAAABy4/XYa6jKKqRlA/s1600/Michael+and+pug+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZXxwCKwTSk/U8lolx5Dg8I/AAAAAAAABy8/mnTz0_M5Afc/s1600/Michael+and+pug+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZXxwCKwTSk/U8lolx5Dg8I/AAAAAAAABy8/mnTz0_M5Afc/s1600/Michael+and+pug+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5LG1QGH9V4/U8lol2xmH9I/AAAAAAAABzE/Z_eJE_yHA80/s1600/Michael+and+pug+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5LG1QGH9V4/U8lol2xmH9I/AAAAAAAABzE/Z_eJE_yHA80/s1600/Michael+and+pug+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnYUrKoblZY/U8looWJqOuI/AAAAAAAABys/ewFdG66rK5M/s1600/Michael+and+pug+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnYUrKoblZY/U8looWJqOuI/AAAAAAAABys/ewFdG66rK5M/s1600/Michael+and+pug+photo.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ef9OiRo7jaU/U8lon1oEgYI/AAAAAAAAByg/GyGTesaqlo0/s1600/Michael+and+pug+photo+(2).jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ef9OiRo7jaU/U8lon1oEgYI/AAAAAAAAByg/GyGTesaqlo0/s1600/Michael+and+pug+photo+(2).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is Michael who is about to turn 21 with his new(-ish) Pug puppy. I have been commissioned by his relatives as a birthday gift to paint him in pastel on A3 pastel paper. I chose a velour pastel paper in dark grey and sketched Michael with the puppy closer to his face and with a more natural grin using these two photos as reference. Once happy with the composition I blocked in the main colours with my Conte pastels. I had to mix the colours as the flesh tint was too orange so I used white, cream pencil pastel and pink to get the skin tones about right. Next I sharpened my pastel pencils and put the darks in accurately, concentrating on the shapes of the eyes, nose, ears and mouth. I wanted to draw the T-shirt quite sketchy to keep the focus on both faces. I added red, blue and grey as well as browns into the shadows but kept my palette fairly limited. Lastly I tightened up on the details, added a tiny amount of shadow to the background and re-visited all of the photos provided to focus on the likeness, especially on the dog. I think I've got them but will have a look with fresh eyes again tomorrow!!
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ef9OiRo7jaU%2FU8lon1oEgYI%2FAAAAAAAAByg%2FGyGTesaqlo0%2Fs1600%2FMichael%2Band%2Bpug%2Bphoto%2B" with "https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ef9OiRo7jaU/U8lon1oEgYI/AAAAAAAAByg/GyGTesaqlo0/s1600/Michael+and+pug+photo+" -->Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-38312026561681018572014-07-16T11:47:00.000-07:002014-07-17T05:59:00.315-07:00Sidney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iqVDPoUfME/U8fIWYw1qNI/AAAAAAAAByE/0JcoYWMPcBY/s1600/Dog-Portrait---Sidney-9x12-pastel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iqVDPoUfME/U8fIWYw1qNI/AAAAAAAAByE/0JcoYWMPcBY/s1600/Dog-Portrait---Sidney-9x12-pastel.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JdC2--9IrQ/U8bBenkGQnI/AAAAAAAABxk/HkLaAy_Z5KU/s1600/Sidney+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JdC2--9IrQ/U8bBenkGQnI/AAAAAAAABxk/HkLaAy_Z5KU/s1600/Sidney+4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJO02gtlVH8/U8bBd2t04kI/AAAAAAAABxY/Jr1lFWrjPNA/s1600/Sidney+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJO02gtlVH8/U8bBd2t04kI/AAAAAAAABxY/Jr1lFWrjPNA/s1600/Sidney+3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F37JG48lpvA/U8bBd6ASehI/AAAAAAAABxw/1HJRQgnv06k/s1600/Sidney+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F37JG48lpvA/U8bBd6ASehI/AAAAAAAABxw/1HJRQgnv06k/s1600/Sidney+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uSXaa1xvqJU/U8bBd3yyQkI/AAAAAAAABxM/jK_D9BdBDbc/s1600/Sidney+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uSXaa1xvqJU/U8bBd3yyQkI/AAAAAAAABxM/jK_D9BdBDbc/s1600/Sidney+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYEiKfOv9Tk/U8bBfxyhr9I/AAAAAAAABxo/L32F2RrDlx0/s1600/Sidney+photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYEiKfOv9Tk/U8bBfxyhr9I/AAAAAAAABxo/L32F2RrDlx0/s1600/Sidney+photo2.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tj9oQGXUBfo/U8bBfU34PeI/AAAAAAAABxg/cpg8Q0-WL8g/s1600/Sidney+photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tj9oQGXUBfo/U8bBfU34PeI/AAAAAAAABxg/cpg8Q0-WL8g/s1600/Sidney+photo1.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;">My latest pastel portrait is of a very sleepy dog called Sidney. I did a portrait of another sleepy dog of theirs called Daisy and they have come back again, this time wanting a special birthday gift. I sketched the basics onto an A4 sized grey Velour Pastel Paper then picked a white pastel to block in the shine on his coat. I used oranges and browns to block in other areas of colour especially on his ginger fringe which apparently is his main feature! I worked on the picture with other brown pastels, picking out subtle shade changes, and then put black into the shadow areas. The final picture in the series is a bit of a leap as lots of details have been put in including the eyes, with pastel pencils. Shades of green and blue have been added to enhance the red/orange hues and finally a hint of the sofa Sidney is snoozing on is hinted at! It's a dogs' life...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-84355953950409186092014-06-28T16:36:00.000-07:002014-06-28T16:36:02.871-07:00Three Golden Retrievers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--cB9bRwh5pg/U68QhE27WlI/AAAAAAAABvo/cm4xPYB9W1w/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--cB9bRwh5pg/U68QhE27WlI/AAAAAAAABvo/cm4xPYB9W1w/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+10.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnKoSoWZz0o/U68Qh9bpRCI/AAAAAAAABwE/f-fW8bOiyT0/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TnKoSoWZz0o/U68Qh9bpRCI/AAAAAAAABwE/f-fW8bOiyT0/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+9.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGCvdoT5y8I/U68Qhr2zkKI/AAAAAAAABwA/BMU_H_B7F_M/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FGCvdoT5y8I/U68Qhr2zkKI/AAAAAAAABwA/BMU_H_B7F_M/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+8.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CO6e8BwgkX4/U68QhGQg4mI/AAAAAAAABvw/GPbFE8z4RPI/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CO6e8BwgkX4/U68QhGQg4mI/AAAAAAAABvw/GPbFE8z4RPI/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vnZj0iH0XkQ/U68Qg6zrekI/AAAAAAAABvs/TdVeY2K8Kck/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vnZj0iH0XkQ/U68Qg6zrekI/AAAAAAAABvs/TdVeY2K8Kck/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These three canine friends are now complete - layers of pastel have been applied over a period of days. Following on from the last blog entry, as I had already laid the base foundation of colour, I took my black pastel and focussed attention on the dogs' faces. I spent time making sure I captured the character and getting their features down accurately. I also used brown and grey pastel pencils to pick out the highlights. I used pinks, reds, purples and browns on their tongues and took care not to smudge the black to totally change the expression on each face. The next stage was to look at the general highlights and shadows so I put marks into the shadows using a dark brown pastel and white and cream for the light areas. I smudged in dark shadows under the dogs and having decided not to get more photos of their paws or introduce green grass, I created a texture for them to stand on that used the same colours as their coats. The last stage involves assessing the picture as a whole, adding more texture, balancing tonal values and sharpening up details. I'll look at it again tomorrow but I've signed it off as finished.
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-vnZj0iH0XkQ%2FU68Qg6zrekI%2FAAAAAAAABvs%2FTdVeY2K8Kck%2Fs1600%2F3%2BGolden%2BRetrievers%2B6.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vnZj0iH0XkQ/U68Qg6zrekI/AAAAAAAABvs/TdVeY2K8Kck/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+6.jpg" -->Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-81657992172064242902014-06-23T16:46:00.002-07:002014-06-23T16:46:50.757-07:00Three Golden Retrievers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6OxyXUNULU/U6i16Q_Z-tI/AAAAAAAABu8/qxbnpWEzAgo/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6OxyXUNULU/U6i16Q_Z-tI/AAAAAAAABu8/qxbnpWEzAgo/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--C0tMF036RY/U6i16KXD1HI/AAAAAAAABvA/VJ2KQfC8QPs/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--C0tMF036RY/U6i16KXD1HI/AAAAAAAABvA/VJ2KQfC8QPs/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ECrHVs1hB_w/U6i15Ls6KrI/AAAAAAAABuw/DqxSWHZ4fhk/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ECrHVs1hB_w/U6i15Ls6KrI/AAAAAAAABuw/DqxSWHZ4fhk/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QTd0nk9ssrw/U6i15L6EvhI/AAAAAAAABus/XkBoinTyOAo/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QTd0nk9ssrw/U6i15L6EvhI/AAAAAAAABus/XkBoinTyOAo/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kyM_WT-8CNI/U6i17DFo3GI/AAAAAAAABvE/zB6Ym0aQfgM/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kyM_WT-8CNI/U6i17DFo3GI/AAAAAAAABvE/zB6Ym0aQfgM/s1600/3+Golden+Retrievers+photo.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This latest commission is of three Golden Retrievers: Georgie on the left, Walton in the middle and Wilson on the right. It is to be undertaken with pastel on size 18 x 24" Canson MiTientes Pastel Paper. The first stage was to sketch the dogs onto the paper, I moved Wilson further in to make a more balanced composition and, once I had a likeness, set about putting white pastel into the main areas of light. Next, I took a dark brown pastel and blocked in the main areas of dark, blending the pastel as I worked into the tooth of the paper but trying not to blur the edges too much. After establishing the darkest and lightest areas, the next stage is colour. I used a warm yellow and terracotta pastels to block in the main areas as I can see them, working from left to right and placing marks in the direction of the fur, which gets pretty curly on Wilson! In the latest stage I put some cool colours into the shadows which has the effect of warming up the golds. I chose green and a blue/grey and smudged it all in. That's the base layer done, now for the details...Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012548614223202727.post-46821465381721623542014-05-12T14:18:00.000-07:002014-05-12T14:18:17.669-07:00The Sherwoods Family Portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wuwXZEeeCw/U3E09Ls23yI/AAAAAAAABtM/YGwm3_jyu5M/s1600/Sherwoods+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wuwXZEeeCw/U3E09Ls23yI/AAAAAAAABtM/YGwm3_jyu5M/s1600/Sherwoods+7.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QttnOxpSfqw/U3E09LngFTI/AAAAAAAABtc/mfSoSJLIBPk/s1600/Sherwoods+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QttnOxpSfqw/U3E09LngFTI/AAAAAAAABtc/mfSoSJLIBPk/s1600/Sherwoods+6.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoGfmiJpZyc/U3E09IzfNLI/AAAAAAAABtg/oKOr50TjfdA/s1600/Sherwoods+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoGfmiJpZyc/U3E09IzfNLI/AAAAAAAABtg/oKOr50TjfdA/s1600/Sherwoods+5.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
The portrait of these three siblings is now finished. Since the last blog entry I have been working more colours onto the two sister's faces, blending each layer, taking care not to lose the main features as the skin tones are merged. Teeth are the hardest to get right as they need shaping and colouring very precisely otherwise they can easily look crooked, rotten or bleached and I had to imagine what Luke's teeth might look like without his brace. When the picture gets to this stage I work on all three faces together to ensure they all belong with each other and don't look like individual portraits. I work my way through the spectrum of colours, picking a pastel pencil and marking each face where I see that colour before, choosing another pencil. Finally, the smallest adjustments are made to shapes, colours and tones of eyes, noses, mouths and hair strands, with purples and browns used to darken the shadows.Kate Tugwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04444615106986421470noreply@blogger.com0