Winter Feeding set...

Just finished these two little 9 x 9" paintings this morning - probably not be too popular at the moment as everyone has had a bellyful of snow and don't want any more!! Come the summer, maybe???

Stirling Art Club's Pastel Demonstration

Friday's evening's pastel demonstration was pastel with a difference - working on 300lb Arches rough w/c paper, I did the underpainting in layers of translucent watercolour washes, then started working pastel into this while the washes were still damp. This is the stage I took it to, for the benefit of the group to come up close at the end and see how much the w/c plays an important role in the 'painerly' development of the picture. Now it's back in the studio, and I have contemplated it for a weekend, I am ready to develop it further - I do believe it could be a rather nice gallery piece as it has some good beginnings!!

new shoots spreading....

No - not just in the garden, but at Shinafoot! We are starting this Autimn with a series of short-break painting packages with Acarsaid Hotel in Pitlochry, offering full board, accommodation, and painting tuition, in a fantastic Perthshire setting. Watch this space for more news and let us know if you are interested....

Working from sketches

Just checking out a few sketches from previous trips to Malta, Tuscany & Venice and working on a few paintings from these...watch the progress of the boat..it is a dghajsa - typical Maltese boat. Will be working from these at this weekend's workshop 'Painting from Photos'

The pastel is only on stage 1 so will continue for the group and post the stages

After the Rain Venice

Still working on some figurative works for new exhibitions in April...here is the latest

Weekend distractions

gardening has dragged me out of the studio.....it is the first weekend it has been mild enough to get outside and a massive tidy-up is in order...can't leave it all to Malc! Went to garden centre for an purple acer, and came back with 2, and 6 new rhododendrons, all going at half price...we HAVE to stop buying plants!!!!! Back to studio tomorrow and will show the new gondolieri painting that's on the easel...WILL finish it tomorrow as I am teaching Tuesday ( and I've still to paint those flowers from Mothers' Day!

Oops...

In my enthusiasm to photograph the painting, I forgot to correct the oar on the gondola!!!