Saturday, 13 May 2017

Orchids and Mango

Oil on board, 25 x 20 cm:


Another experiment in expressionism; I cannot quite decide whether I like what I am doing here or hate it.

Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Oil on board, 20 x 25 cm:


Another piece in more or less post-impressionist style, partly from imagination and partly based on reference photos. I'm not sure it is really successful, but I think it taught me the one and other about this style of work (which is not as easy to pull off as one might think!)

Saturday, 6 May 2017

Harvest

Oil on board, 15 x 10 cm. A somewhat whimsical picture in post-impressionist style; I may just do a whole series of this sort of thing to see how it works for me:


Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Recent sketches

A bunch of random sketches of various things, partly as studies, partly just for fun.

I just love drawing camels, which strike me as somehow simultaneously graceful and goofy:




A ceramic jug in charcoal:


And using a still from a film as reference:


For copyright reasons, one cannot really use stills from films directly as references, but such studies can help one get a better understanding of such things as old style clothing, weapons and buildings. 

Monday, 24 April 2017

Two Courgettes and Tomato

Oil on board, 15 x 20 cm:


Got a bit of glare on the painting when I took the photo, it seems. Perhaps I'll try again later and put up a better picture...

Thursday, 20 April 2017

Monday, 17 April 2017

Quick sketches

Some quick sketches. I got hold of one of those cheap children's watercolor pan sets, and wanted to take it for a test drive, so I put an egg and two cherry tomatoes on the table, sketched them in ballpoint and splashed some cheap watercolour over them. I think even the cheap colours may come in handy for sketching.

And then a portrait sketch of Ryan, the son of friends of mine. Seven is not the best age at which to try sitting still for more than ten minutes at a time, so I had to work at breakneck speed, and there was no question of making corrections! 
Pencil on paper, 20 x 15 cm:

Monday, 10 April 2017

Miniature glass and cherry tomatoes

Oil on board, 10 x 15 cm:


The tomatoes from my own garden, no less. Putting them into a painting kind of required me to work on a small scale, and lucky thing I was able to get hold of a little mini-glass to go with them. 

Thursday, 6 April 2017

Kullervo's Curse

A quick sketch after the original painting by the Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865 - 1931). Of course, I couldn't possibly do it justice. Pencil on cartridge paper, 297 x 210 mm:


Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Marmite and Egg

Oil on board, 15 x 20 cm:


Opinions are divided as to the edibility of Marmite. People seem to either think that it is divine ambrosia, or vile axle grease, with few people being in between. I fall in the former camp. I once served a piece of toast liberally spread with this heavenly substance to an American friend of mine. I'm not sure he has forgiven me yet. 

Monday, 27 March 2017

Three Boys with a Rugby Ball

Oil on board, 10 x 15 cm:


As frequently happens, the camera changed the colors quite a bit - I have never been able to quite solve that problem...