Plein Air Painting Video

Here is the video I made this week with the amazing footage my brother filmed with his drone. It was really fun making this, I hope you all enjoy it and let me know what you think!

(Video Link)

'The Artist's Journey'

Old Holland and Windsor & Newton Oil on 16"x20" canvass.

   I recently painted this still life which I have titled 'The Artist's Journey'. Everything in the picture is something meaningful to me and my journey as an artist. The framed pictures in the background hold some of my old work, they represent where I've come from. The wooden box is my pochade box which I use for painting outside, en plein air. That and the paint brushes in the jar represent me now painting and doing plein air work. The violin represents what I've had to give up in order to give more of my life to art. And the book represents my learning and my future ambitions. It is Richard Shmid's Alla Prima II, my favorite art book from which I have already learned so much, and continue to do so every time I open it. As I was painting this I tried to keep all I recalled from the book in my mind. And it was amazing when a few times I applied principles I had learned and it worked! I still have a long way to go, but it's encouraging to know that I'm learning.

   So, in all, this painting is of my journey as an artists. Shows where I've come from, where I am, where I'm headed and what I've had to let go on the way. 

   This painting is for sale. I would like to keep it. But I've got to keep space on my walls for paintings to come, not to mention earning enough to keep myself supplied with materials. If you are interested in purchasing 'The Artist's Journey' please contact me at felicityfdeverell@gmail.com

Satin Dress Drawing

   I have been very busy all last week working on a commission. It's illustration work which is all very new and interesting, but more on that later. I did find time to do some drawing for myself and here is something I worked on bit by bit all week. 

'Satin Dress' pastel pencil on paper. aprox A3.

   Another from the series of photos I took of Tabitha. I concentrated on the dress in this drawing and made that my subject. I love the folds and how there is so much reflected light in the shadows. I would like to do a bigger drawing of a similar dress and spend more time on it. My favorite part is her lower foot on the ground and the train of the dress. 

   Today I started a still life painting of my violin again. I seem to enjoy that challenge! It's going really well and I hope to finish it this week. I had a few of those good moments when I applied something new I've learnt through reading and watching other artists paint and it worked! It's encouraging to know that what I want to achieve in painting is possible to learn. Also that all my hours I spend reading about painting and looking at paintings and watching videos of people paint are not entirely wasted time!

   This week again I shall be extra busy finishing my still life, doing lots of drawing, and starting on a new commission for a painting. I'm going to be painting a horse! I've been wanting to do that again lately. Also I hope to go out and get some plein air painting done.

My Violin and Piano painting

Here is a painting I completed recently. It is of my violin and piano and painted entirely from life. I set up in the lounge with palette and easel and worked on it every day for a week. The violin is one I was given on my 18th birthday full of enthusiasm to learn, but as painting has taken over I have had to drop many things in order to give that priority. Still, no excuse really, I should practice sometime! 

But I do play the piano every day. The music in the painting is Chopin's nocturne no.2, one of my favorite pieces at the moment. Though you would find it hard to tell from my loose rendering of the notes!

Music Piece 16":x20"

Here are a few photos taken during the process. Forgive the bad quality of the images; taken with my phone.

Yes I have two pianos! Lucky girl, though the one I'm painting is atrociously out  of tune.

I loved painting the piano keys, so much fun figuring out how to bring them to life with as few strokes as possible.