New Blog Design, and other news

    I spent most of today creating this! How do you like the new design, do you think it's better than the old one? I do, of course! I have also redesigned my website: equinefineart.net 

  Caleb and I have been working for the last month on ways to raise funding for 'The Art of a Hut' project. I am just a pennyless artist, actually I have more pennys than dollars at the moment! So that means we are going to have to raise money from somewhere to make this project possible. We have various ideas which we are working to put into action, involving newspaper articles, and radio broadcasts.

   The main thing at the moment is to make a video promoting our project to put on Boosted - a website based on public funding where people donate to help make projects possible. I'll post more about it later, but that's the general idea. The only problem with this is that I don't have a camera anymore! So what I've got to figure out next, how to make a video with no camera. I'll manage it somehow, necessity is the mother of invention after all...

 I am selling my oil painting 'Hot and Cold' on TradeMe at the moment. It's one of my favorite paintings which I took a looser approach too making it slightly stylistic/abstract instead of my usual realism. Hopefully something will come of that.

The Elusive Glare

'The Elusive Glare'

Pen. 39 x 30 inches

Here is my most recent big piece of artwork. I drew it in pen on a big sheet of drawing board. I'm not exactly happy with it as my proportions are a bit off. I can see now everything wrong about it glaring out at me. But it was a good learning experience and it was fun to draw. I learnt allot of pen drawing techniques which will be very helpful. 

Equine Fine Art Newsletter

 I sent out my newsletter last month, it covers both January and February as I missed the first month of the year!

 Equine Fine Art Newsletter 

Charcoal sketch after John Singer Sargent's 'In the Garden'

Taking Risks...learning to...

   I finished, pretty much, my still life painting today. My rose had died so I picked a new one, ever so slightly different but it served the purpose. I will add a photo as soon as I have finished and signed it.

   I think I enjoy beginning a painting much more than finishing one. At the beginning I have a blank canvass and many ideas and possibilities in my head. I can paint anything, there is potential in it. But after I have begun I feel as if the further I go on it the more I am limiting myself, I feel as if I am committing myself to every brush stroke I lay down. Then I realized today that that is only because I'm not taking risks, or big changes that I feel that way. I'm scared to improve something because it's already passable and I'm afraid of ruining the little good I have. An artist I admire said, in words to this effect, that he would rather ruin a passable painting by trying something that might improve it than staying with a mediocre painting. That was inspiring to me and so with this last painting I did make a dramatic change that I wouldn't have done formerly. I would probably tried to keep going with the composition that I didn't like while all the time thinking about a painting I would do next and differently. But I changed it and got rid of one of my favorite parts entirely, and now I like the whole painting.

   So I'm learning to take risks and not be afraid (or too lazy) to change something if I think that it could be better. I try to believe that if I can see something that could be better, then I can make it better. And, this way, I will probably learn to like to come back to a half finished painting just as much as I like to come at a new canvass, because when the story is not yet over anything can happen!!

Still here...

  Yes I'm still alive, and still drawing! Here are a few of the sketches I've been doing every day....

I drew this guitar in a couple of minutes late at night (but before midnight) when I had got home from Swing dancing with friends! (Swing dancing is so much fun, you should try it!)

I copied illustrations from my friends book of fairy poems.

The cute little house where I was. I sat under the garden arch which I drew in the picture below.

Copied from Heidi's Children illustrations by Pelagie Doane.

One of two candlesticks that usually sit atop the piano.

Mum's Eternity perfume with my little marble elephant I about for a dollar.

I'll write a proper post soon.... !

365 Day Drawing Challenge

I celebrated my 20th birthday last Thursday, the 15th, and on that date I began a challenge similar to one I have attempted in the past, only much bigger! 

   To improve my drawing skills and techniques I have embarked of a challenge to draw every day until I'm 21! So the goal is to have 365 or more sheets of drawn upon paper collected in my red folders by this time next year. 

   I have wanted to begin this challenge for a while, but doubted my dedication to keep it up. But after the last few months of doing some sort of artwork every day I have got into the habit of it and thought I'd better keep it up now that I don't have so I don't get out of the habit of it. 

   I have a few rules for myself the main one, of course, being drawing every day! But if I do miss a day I will do two drawing the next day. So far I've only been using pens to draw but I may use pencil and charcoal or anything else I can think of to draw with-- pastel maybe. I'm just using sheets of standard A4 cartridge paper for this project, that is easiest and fit into my folders nicely, also I can scan them (I just discovered it's so much easier scanning that photographing my drawings!) I'm also going to try to concentrate on drawing people and drawing from real life, it is somehow more satisfying to draw from life than from a flat photo.

   I've started an album on my Facebook Equine Fine Art Page which I will keep updated with all my drawings, and I have also started a board on Pintrest for it. I'll be posting only the highlights here on my blog as I don't want to bore anyone!

   

Well now I'd better go and do my drawing for today!

Painting Video

    A painting I scribbled out with the left over paint after working hard at a painting that wasn't going right. I often do something like this just to let of steam! 

Right now I'm printing of a pile of fliers and folding them up for this weekends spring fair where I'm having a stall. Heaps to do!....

Video of my Art Studio!

   Here is what I filmed some weeks ago. The painting in progress has now gone to the girl whose birthday present it was and I can now publish this. It was rather strange talking to a camera which I haven't really done before--and trying to be serious at the same time!

Coming along

Here is how the painting stands since the second day of painting at the end of last week. I haven't worked on it this weekend, but this week I hope to finished and have it framed in my 'broken' frame. 

Ups and Downs and In Betweens

   Here is what I have been working on today. And I'm a little bit excited about it! And I would never have painted it had I not smashed the glass in one of my frames. I was quite annoyed with myself for doing that--always clumsy! I suddenly had a useless frame. Until I thought that the only thing I could use it for would be to frame an oil painting. So I got out a big sheet of drawing board, painted it yellow and then decided to paint this. I know my people still aren't very good, but I'll get there.

   And here's another story of something rather annoying happening only there hasn't been any good come out of it yet! A few weeks ago I bought two big sheets of good quality pastel ply board from America, the only place it could get it from. One is for a commission and the other I planned to cut up and use in small pieces. And so I got Dad to cut it up for me, because he's good at that kind of thing. I marked all the lines, gave it to him, and asked whether he needed me to come down to the workshop and tell him what to do. No, he said, he didn't think so.

    So he trotted off to work with it, and I trotted off to my painting, and a few hours later I trotted back into the house to find Dad had cut up the board perfectly into the right size pieces. Only, there was something terribly wrong! My lovely rough pastel surface was all smooth! He had gone and SANDED the surface smooth!! He said he thought he was helping me by getting rid of all the pastel marks I had made when marking out the pieces to cut. I almost cried. Men are very helpful, but sometimes they go a little too far in thinking they know it all... But 'that's life.'

   I'm sure I'll still find some use for the board but it's not really good for pastel anymore. I wonder if I can buy a coating and coat it myself. I think I've heard of something you paint on board or paper to make it rough for pastel...

Inside my Studio

  If you noticed the absence of Fridays post, then my apologies! My newsletter is also late, but if you have subscribed you will receive it in your inbox this week.

  Here are some photos I took of my studio when I had it all cleaned up a few weeks ago to make a video of it. I shall upload the video next week, I can't yet because it contains unpublished paintings!

 

In which I discover Bristol Board

On Monday I photographed and framed a handful of new pictures, mostly drawings. Here is a better photo of the drawing I shared in my last post. I discovered the best way of photographing my pencil drawings is outside in direct sunlight, makes it so much easier! 

'The Fear of Pain'  graphite drawing on paper.

I had drawn my drawings on large sheets of A2 paper, and it was almost impossible to move them without making creases or bends, I thought there has to be some other way! What do graphite artists use to draw on? I did a little research and discovered that most graphite artists use 'Bristol board' as a drawing surface. I ordered a couple sheets myself and they came in the mail today, in a tube to my surprise. I discovered it's not really board, but a kind of stiff card with a very smooth surface. I'm looking forwards to trying it out next week. I'll post about my discoveries then. 

Framed horse drawing

   I am sending out my second ever email newsletter soon so if you would like to receive it you can subscribe in the sidebar at right. 

Inspiring and interesting

  This out to have been posted on Friday but the last few days I've been rather occupied with a new hobby we discovered accidentally. Geocasheing! All yesterday Peter, myself and a friend drove about the coast hereabouts and did some treasure hunting and hid some ourselves.

But that hasn't go much to do with art! Here are a few things found during the week:

Caricature has never been one of my great interests, it's not really my style, (I think it can be quite ugly!) but there is something in it that anyone interested in portraiture can learn from. I found this video by a professional caricaturist very interesting, have a look.

I have always been interested in the lives of other artists. This was quite inspiring.

Life of an artist video link

If you like art and baking you can combine the two! I think I might do something like this for upcoming family birthdays. Van Goah cake

 I haven't been exploring the internet much this week (a good thing really) so I'll leave off with my latest drawing.

  This drawing is rather different isn't it, I wanted to show the pain and terror of the horse trying to run away. My photo is a bit blurry, sorry about that, before I frame them i'm going to have to have a day devoted to photographing my work properly.

My exciting Monday Mornings, among other things.

  I always start my week of with a bang. I seem to have the most energy and focus on a Monday morning than any other morning, which dose not quite agree with the generally accepted rule! I always begin my most ambitious painting and do the most amount of work on a Monday. Tuesdays are pretty good too, then Wednesdays I begin to lag and usually it goes down hill from there until on the weekends I hardly get anything done painting wise. And then Monday comes round again and I begin with a new spurt of determination and drive.

   I read this short article about weeding gardens yesterday and it has some relevance to this topic. My weeds grow very quickly and are choking me up by the end of the week. From now on I intend to a little weeding every day. It really dose work, chipping away at the old block has to produce some effect eventually. I have always had a time of it trying to get myself motivated to do more paintings and pictures and not just wait for those moments of inspiration. And I have noticed lately that I have come along way for I am working on some picture every day, and even in the weekends I at least to a few sketches! Mum is always saying that good writing (for she is a writer) is %10 inspiration and %90 perspiration and this applies perfectly to the artist, dose it not? Combine this with the saying 'the more you work the stronger you get' and pretty soon inspiration will be a more frequent visitor. It was quite a happy discovery for me!

 Well, I've begun my Wednesday morning with a blog post, that's a good start, now I'm off to finish a painting. I'm videoing it so there will be speed painting video coming your way soon. :) And don't forget to subscribe to my new monthly newsletter! See right to submit your email.

  A small sketch I did in my small A5 sketchbook last month. This is pretty much actual size.

 

Interesting and Inspiring

   Here are a few things I have collected together for your amusement. Browse, read, or scan as you please! Would you like me to make this a regular sort of post on my blog? Do let me know if you enjoy it and if there are other things that would improve on the idea etc.

There is a new website called ArtStack which is much like Pinterest only it is for art only. I have just joined and yet to find my way around and figure it out, but it looks pretty interesting.

Here is something from my art portfolio: Something old and something new:

One of my best watercolour paintings from 2009

A Charcoal sketch of a horse eye which I completed last week.

  A few blogs I have begun to follow lately:

•   A graphite equine and animal artist, Cathy Spearing, has just finished a beautiful drawing of a row of white horses.
• At Unbridled Imagery, Michelle Grant shared her painting struggles the results of which are beautiful paintings of horses. 
• The Mare's Tales is a photography and art blog. Her latest blog shows some lovely photos captured at the racetrack.
• This artist shares her colourfull semi-abstract art on her blog.
• And finally here are a couple paintings by Bev Lewis at Animal Artistry

By Bev Lewis

Sunlit Hare by Bev Lewis

  Here is a very informative video about eyes and how to draw them. It is more in depth than the usual 'how to draw eyes video' and I found it quite useful. Here is a link to it, there are so many how to draw eyes videos on YouTube that I couldn't find it to add on blogger!

  If you haven't already seen this...well it's pretty amazing. Artists often try to use techniques to make their paintings appear life like, well this artist has a way of doing something rather opposite.

A Drawing and some Words.

  Here is a drawing I did a couple of weeks ago; finally took a photo of it today. I drew it with charcoal pencils on A3 paper. What do you think of the style? I have recently taken to charcoal and love the effects one can make with it. I have drawn a few more charcoal drawings to share, but before then I need to find a good method of photographing my drawings so that the background stays an even white. I'll do some experimentation with lighting, I think that is my main problem. Or perhaps scanning the smaller ones would work best. My brother has allowed me to use his camera which is much better than Dad's so I'll attempt to make a new speed drawing video this or next week, though it is hard without the tripod.

   I am going to begin a weekly post dedicated to sharing art (and/or horses) related pictures, links, and videos, which I have come across during the week and captured my imagination or inspired me. The first of them I will post tomorrow... I leave you with:

 'Cloud horse

 Dream horse

Mine forever 

Free horse.'

(-a little poem my Mum wrote for me once.)

courtesy of Google Images. :)

My first Newsletter!

  I have just been writing my first ever newsletter and am quite excited about it! It makes me feel rather professional to be sending out a newsletter every month! Now I just need people to send it to. So if you would like to subscribe to my monthly newsletter you can in a moment by filling in the to blanks at right in the side bar under the blurb about me. And then you can expect to receive my very first newsletter in you virtual mailbox.

   I'm such a beginner as an artist, really only about to start out on a career as an artist which I have always dreamed of being (at least since I stopped dreaming of being a 'horse rider' when I growed up). I still have lots to learn on the practical side of creating beautiful pictures, and on the business side I know just about nil. Unfortunately, an artist cannot expect to make a living unless his work sells and that requires selling. Which I know not much about!

   'Well, take the plunge and learn on the way, hopefully before you hit your head on a rock!'

   I shall be writing about my experiences setting out on a new road in my newsletters along with photos of my best latest works and other little things I shall think of to keep you amused!

A Quote from Beatrix Potter

A days work..

   I have been painting all day today. I think I painted longer than I ever have in a single day on one painting. I hope that becomes a regular occurrence, but I do end up feeling rather exhausted. Painting can be so tiring - to the brain anyway - so when I finished at five this evening I cleaned myself of paint and curled up on my bed with Pride and Prejudice and read with the last rays of sun flickering in through my lace curtains. Jane Austen is so entertaining on every re-read that P&P is always the perfect book to relax with.

   (I'd like to do a painting like that one day.)  The painting I was working on is one I started this morning and have just about finished. It was inspired by this abstract painting by Osnat Tzadok

 My painting is a little bit abstract but it was mostly the warm and cool contrast of colours in this painting that inspired me. If I can find a camera with batteries, I will photograph it when it is finished.

   And now I've got to scamper to have the dinner ready for the hungry men when they come in from working on boats. I think Pizza tonight. :)

New Horse Drawing in Charcoal

  In case you are wondering I really am alive and kicking down here. In fact I'm beginning to kick harder than usual. I suddenly realized it is less than twelve weeks until the spring A&P Show at which I plan to have an art stall so I had better get cracking and make a heap more serious pictures.

   So I have been doing that, and have made a very full schedule for myself with a goal for the amount of art I wish to produce each week. I have begun well this week and this is what I worked on yesterday.

  The proportions aren't the best I know, but I was trying out a new technique for me with charcoal. It is very fun as I discovered so I plan to create a whole series of charcoal horses. I have done two more today, however I don't know how I can take photos of them for awhile as all the camera batteries have been taken by Dad and my brother for their model boats! I stole my other brothers camera for this one, and I should be able to borrow it again. I might even be able to make some drawing videos with it.