View out the back door most days..

Here's my latest dog commission - Oscar

Oscar
 30 x 40cms
Framed Oil
'Oh wow, isn't that great!'
 Chris

We had a lot of trouble getting flattering photos of Oscar as he HATED the camera and would slink off..we got a lot of bum shots! LOL's It was worth the effort to get a nice photo though as you can see from the portrait.

Not a good day

..I finished my commissions as much as I could and then decided to reward myself  by going sailboarding..I'm recovering from bruised ribs and a sore shin & knee from my last sail 2 weeks ago but I thought I'd give it a go.After 1hr + drive I got to the lake & rigged up.The conditions are ideal a nice 20kt + wind blowing and my friends are out ripping along..then I look at the mast and its bent like a banana..ARGH!!  Without a mast you can't sail and to replace it is from $600- $1000...I've put the word out for Xmas to hopefully get some help to get a cheapie..grr . At least Z's rug only cost $10 to get fixed..maybe I should take up knitting..

So much for the sleep in !

I was awake from 11pm to 3am last night so I went out to the studio ( one of the advantages of working from home ) . I wanted to catch up this morning but was woken by my partner at 6.30am " the horse is standing with his rug dangling " ..bugger..
 I looked out and half way down the 25acre paddock he's cavorting around trying to move..I yelled out as usually that makes him stop whatever he's doing and look and wait.. Nope.. he wanted it off even if it destroyed him & the rug!
 I went down and he was lunging into the air . The rug was draped around his neck & shoulder with the body uncovered. I was a bit nervous at getting close to him as he was freaking out but talked calmly & went to pat him on the face. Unfortunately my fingernail got him ( ?) & he spooked back..Luckily I got his confidence & went to rescue him. The rug was still done up with the chest strap and somehow he'd got one leg out of it so the rug was now strangling him around the wither & over the shoulder & preventing him moving..He's pretty smart and I noticed in the short time it took me to go down to him he'd learnt that if he sidepassed to the left the rug would drag and he could make some progress..LOL's
I was worried he'd freak as I undid it as I had to pull it even tighter to get the buckle undone but it all went ok..He was so grateful! I've done 'horse whispering' with him and he'll follow me around like a dog anyway but I have a cue I give ( a clucking  noise) that lets him know he's now free to go off and not follow anymore. Didnt work this am he followed me diligently all the way up the hill and even sidepassed away as asked when I motioned that he was getting too close..
The rug isnt very happy..I'm putting it in for repairs soon.In a bit worried about the spare one I've put on him as it has a dodgy back clip and if that gives way we could have a rerun..If so hopefully he won't freak as much. I wonder how long he'd been stuck like that?

Bareback reining video - great relationship between horse & rider

horseriding bareback reining video click here
Years ago I was going to train Zuess in liberty work ( riding no saddle or bridle ) as we were already doing liberty groundwork ( not ridden ) but he had an 'eek! " spot .If you used your legs firmly or he stumbled and you grabbed or even if you accidently let your toe dig in a bit when you were mounting he'd think you were out to get him & do a bronc act. I didnt fancy being on a bucking horse bareback with no reins! LOL's


Since we've been doing dressage he now realises legs mean do something not freak out!

Here is the article the Mercury published.

 
Artist unveils Archibald Prize contender


EMMA SWAIN

01 Dec, 2010 08:09 AM

At the rear of Betty Linton’s home, in a room adorned with porcelain dolls and surrounded with intricate tapestries, a masterpiece is underway.

Although still in its infancy, Sue Linton’s painting of her mother and OAM recipient is taking shape.

In time, the blue-hued work will make its way to judging for the 2011 Archibald Prize.

But at the moment there’s much to do and Ms Linton is grappling with what her subject will think.

“I don’t know if mum’s going to like it,” Ms Linton, of Quorrobolong, said.

“They say that painting someone you know is more difficult than painting strangers and I think that’s true.”

In her role as an artist Ms Linton, 50, has painted everything from much-loved pets to luscious landscapes and, more publicly, one of the large-scale murals of the Kurri Kurri district.

But painting her mother, well, that’s a different story.

“There are certain aspects of mum that I want to come out in the painting. To someone else mum might come across as a hard person, but to me she is a soft, old-fashioned person and I want that to come out in the portrait.”

For her part Mrs Linton, 80, of Wangi Wangi, said she will be honest but kind in her appraisal of the painting.

“I will have to make allowance for the fact that she is my child, and I’ll have to be as kind as possible but I will be honest,” she said.

“However, I’ll be 81 very soon so I’m just lucky that I’m still alive to be a part of this.”

Follow Ms Linton’s progress at http://suelintonartist.blogspot.c om/

They don't stay blue!

For those of you that haven't seen this one before..This is another African woman model that I painted at portraits but decided to finish off more at home.This is the blue underpainting .

Now Im starting to add colour in Oil.This is about where I had the portrait of mum when the paper took the photos.

This is where I finished in the 2.30hr session from the model.
As this portrait was just for me and not a commission I could stop at whatever stage I want to.I could have easily left it like this.

I was inspired to keep painting as Edith had a lovely serene nature that I wanted to capture in the portrait.This is the finished portrait after more hours at home from the reference photos.

 The latest portrait model " Valerie" ( earlier post)  has a similar serene aristocratic nature but I won't continue with her portrait.I'm happy to have succeeded in getting some zap in the colours and a likeness..

Here is a link to the article that was in the Maitland mercury last week

I found the article in the Maitland Mercury.I'm amazed at how she managed to get a decent photo from that angle but it is good! Click on the link below..She must also have a photographic memory because she didn't take many notes but quoted us very accurately.Well done!



click here to read the article

portraits again

Another portrait 'class' ( no teacher ..experiment and teach yourself). We had a gorgeous black Zambezi model.. her nature is as lovely as she looks..Everyone was very quiet today.I think they were intimidated by her beauty and trying to capture it. Although Valerie ( the model) liked my portrait of her and said it looked like her I was a bit disappointed.. 2.30hrs isn't long enough to really get a good enough result if you wanted to finish it off a bit more.Still I am happy with the glow I got with the colours..

Also when she came closer I could see another reason. I am set up about 20 ' away from her and I just can't see well enough to do her justice. When she came up close I could see all these gorgeous greens and yellows in her flesh but at a distance she just looks black / brown..Unfortunately due to space constraints you can't set up your easel any closer..oh well at least it stops me from getting bogged down in detail!

Finishing for the day & horsey tales

I think I've had it for the day.. been painting the Staffy and not going anywhere + I have a headache..I didn't get much sleep last night so think Ill go & do my chiro exercises to try & get rid of the headache and have a rest.
Rode Zeuss this am around the arena. I was a bit worried getting him ready as he was spooky about something down the paddock and I haven't ridden him for over a week.He went great though.
I decided to ride him around the paddock so I could look for the missing flyveil. It would be easier to find from above.I wasn't paying as much attention to him as a result. All the roos started to hop off away from us in flight mode and then something moved. Zeuss had already tuned into the mood of the roos & swerved violently & took off. He felt like he was going to buck but didn't. Lucky I can stick on when he does that but it woke me up and gave me a bit of a scare.I had him on a really loose rein which didn't help..


Reminds me of a ride a few years ago. I've done a lot of natural horsemanship stuff with him & used to ride in a rope halter all the time.The first time Adam Sutton rode him he was really impressed & said ' wow ! If he's this good in a halter whats he going to be like in a bridle! ' ( lousy which is one of the reasons I had Adam retrain him).
Anyway I had been doing dressage with a bridle for quite a while but decided to go for a ride in the halter for old times sake. I was going down a bushtrail on a loose rein and I noticed a bloated dead cow on the trail ahead..I wasn't worried as I didnt think Z would worry..he's generally pretty good. He saw it & whipped around & galloped off for 100m before I could gather up the reins and get things under control! The issue wasn't so much the halter but that I had the reins in loops.Lucky I can stick on in those situations I just don't stick when he bucks!

Zeuss & I doing groundwork 2003

A last minute portrait space is available..

If you've been looking for that gift for someone that's got everything I've had one of my Xmas portaits postponed so I now have space for a smaller portrait..Contact me through my webisite or let me know here and I'll give you an email.Photo's would need to be organised soon!

More on the live export 'trade' on 7.30 report ABC1 tonight Dec 2nd if you can handle watching it..

That's why I like my ' work' I'm immortalising good memories and making people happy..so I suppose in a small way I am making the world better..?? We don't kill anything on our property.I suppose it's an unofficial wildlife refuge ( the bludging roos certainly think so).We dont even use weedkillers on the lawn because ...ducks & roos graze on it..Hence the lovely green in spring is 99% bindies!

Its easier to keep your head buried in the sand

I dont like hearing about stuff like this as it makes me feel so helpless..Live sheep export to the middle east for sacrifice - animal cruelty

http://www.animalsaustralia.org/media/press_releases.php?release=145

more wildlife stories..

We have several groups of grey headed babblers on the property.. they are lovely birds.They live in groups of about 12 in the one hanging nest and forage together hopping around the ground and up tree trunks warbling away talking to each other.They have been getting closer to the house lately & when I went in a little while ago they were really noisy. I followed the sound and they were all sheltering on a chair on the verandah! They aren't dumb! Unfortunately they aren't that tame & flew out into the rain as I looked..
 Cactus used to hate the rain ( hence the name) and make a beeline for the verandah when it started..

Its been raining all day today

I went to check the rainguage today and a kangaroo started to come up to me..(??)..Ah ..it's Josephine! We used to have a 'pet' roo called Cactus.She used to roam free but spend a lot of time on the backdoor mat and you'd have to step over her to get in the house.If you let her she'd come inside.Apparently she was a rescued joey that had been purt back into the wild but decided she preferred people.The neighbours said she used to sleep on one of their beds.. Anyway she was around for about 4 years and popped out several generations of joeys until she was chased by some feral dogs & got injured and we had to put her down. We cried for a week as she was our child substitute..
 Anyway Josephine was her weaned joey ( half grown out of the pouch but still hanging around mum). She isn't as tame as Cactus but she'll come up for a biscuit when you call.We used to be bale to spot her easily but now all the roos are pretty tame & don't hop off..mind you none of the rest come up to be fed..
When she started to eat the bicci Zeuss started up the paddock to get his share..Poor Josephine started to tremble and hopped off so Z got the bics...bully..

Mums portrait is annoying me..

I'm not going to do anything until I can go back out and paint from mum but the flesh highlights look too pasty..I think the fact that I haven't done the eyse & mouth are probably not helping + maybe I need to change the background colour and break up the highlights a bit with other colours..I'll sit on it & jot down any thoughts I have over the next few weeks..Sometimes they look bad just because thats a stage they are going through.You shouldn't really judge them until all areas are worked on equally..i.e - eyes & mouth are done.

Next sitting I'll detail her eyes & mouth and refine the colours ( hopefully without making it boring) + do her hair and clothes.Then the final touches and hopefully the twinkle in her eyes!

I want the entry to be a bit 'out there' as its not really likely a tradtional one will be accepted!

I'm going to have fun with this one.Luckily mum is content to let me play . I won't finish it off a much as my commissioned work..This ones for me!

Latest sitting with mum for the Archibald entry

I went out today and did another sitting with mum..I forgot how cramped it is out there! I should have had mum take a photo of me and the easel carmped up against the open loo . I'd walk back into the loo to try and get a bit further away from the portrait to check it. Its easier to see errors from a distance as you don't get bogged down in details..
 I knew the paper was coming to take photos and do a story and I knew the portrait would look worse before it got better so I fussed around on unimportrant things like the background and clothes until they had been. I should have done some more earlier as it actually looked better as I went.
I got on a roll and was pretty happy with how it was going. Here is a photo of how it looked..

I leave the eyes & mouth till last.I like the blue colour so I'll try to let little bits show through in the finished portrait.Long way to go yet but a good start..until..@##! this is what it looked when I got it out into normal light!

The light in the backroom had a yellow caste to it  so the lovely ornanges I thought I was getting weren't there when I took it out into daylight..Grr ! Now I'll have to redo it to get back to where I thought I had it..Next time I paint in that room Ill have to overcompensate and make it garishly orange so when i get it out it will be ok.
This is what Ive done to it since I got home..Its not as good as it would have been if I'd completed it as I thought I had in ok light but its good enough to go on with when I next get a chance.

I want the final portrait to be colourful and alive with many colours subtly vibrating..no pasty pinks etc..I probably won't get a chance to do another sitting now until after Xmas as I have to complete my Xmas commissioned portraits.

I never have my camera when I need it!

Zeuss was lying snoozing surrounded by all his snoozing roo mates this am .. so cute! He's very chummy with the mostly except when he decides to play boss horse and scatter them.. they know the difference!

Needle in a haystack..

Zeuss lost his flyveil ( actually 2 ) out in the paddock . As anyone who has tried to find one in 25acres + of 2 ' high clover its not easy! I found one but not the other ( better one of course). He ripped his white summer combo rug in half about 5 years ago & I've still never managed to find the other half .. I swear he must have eaten it!

Sorry no landscapes lately.

I'm busy doing secret Xmas commissions so the main thing I have to post are my portrait experiments.  a

Remember I can be commissioned to paint landscapes too. So if you have a favourite place , australia or overseas all I need is a sharp photo and a for you to tell me a bit about the place and why you like it.

Here I've selected a photo that I feel is more flattering and done the likeness from the photo

I left her hair as it was from the previous painting session from life as she had just been to the hairdressers in the latest photos and her hair looked a bit harsh.

I could make the lights on the face lighter but its good enough to use as an underpainting.I'll start putting the colours in Oil over the base when we have the session with the paper on Tuesday.I don't know how they are going to get a decent photo of what I am painting as I will be squashed up halway into the loo to get at the right angle..LOL's It will go through some ugly stages before it is done and I probably won't finish it until after Xmas as I will be working on my secret Xmas commissions..I wish I hadn't booked next Tuesday for the paper as I can't really afford the time away from painting my commissioned work ! Argh!

Update on Mum's portrait for the Archibald entry

Here's an update on my Archibald entry portrait of mum.I'll include the earlier version + the latest. Below is the first attempt..

I usually take a lot of time to get the proportions correct when I am at this stage in a portrait..But it was mum wasn't it? It should just ooze out onto the paper..durr..WRONG..I ran out of time which is why the eyes & mouth are a bit harsh but I was trying to work from feel and several remembered angles.
 She is quite a gentle old fashioned lady & this was way too harsh..

Here's this weeks 2.30hrs portrait from a model

Here is Cicci finished

Cicciolina

35 x 35cms gallery wrap canvas ( deep edged canvas)

Those rotten roos!

Boy the roos are going off! They are breeding at the moment and the males are grunting & fighting and bashing under the verandah trying to get at the poor female who is hiding there..the whole house shook one time! They dont usually hurt the garden but they are fighting amongst the plants & my cycad which takes years to grow one leaf has had several ripped off..Not impressed..If they dont watch out they'll be bleeding kangaroo steaks!

At the end of the 2.30hr session

I'm not doing anymore to it.It has a rawness I like.If it was a commission I'd tone down a few marks and make it more flattering.You never get a flattering portrait from a model as its really hard to sit totally still for 20mins at a time.We have a break every 20mins for a few minutes and then they go back into the pose..By the end of it they all look haggard and we can only paint what is there! You can't get them to smile and stick a grin on them as when you smile the whole face shape changes so if you just stick a grin on it won't look natural + you won't get a likeness! Believe me I tried it once with a public 20min sketch & it didn't work!The first time I didnt get a decent likeness so I learnt quickly.
As a compronmise you can get a nice smiling photo and then once you have the face shape use a model for the colour etc..

More uglies

Ugly stage

They all go through an ugly stage ( which is 'interesting ' when you are painting in public!) LOL's. I've learnt not to worry & keep going & eventually they come good. Some go through several ugly stages.I remember a mural I did which took 103hrs to paint & it was ugly until the last 20hrs! I didnt do the top bit till ...last as it needed scaffolding..I could tell no one liked it as nobody said anything until it came good & then they liked it..

I liked it at this stage & was tempted to leave it but the 'show must go on'..

Ok here are the stages of the portrait I posted a little while ago..general face structure..

Ive got around to framing Zeuss & I .

Have a low stress Christmas. Some unique gifts delivered to your door!

 See more by clicking this link to see  my email

Newspaper is booked to come & do an article on me painting mum's portrait for the Archibald art prize.

Looks like I'll be booked up for another sitting with mum the week from the 28th Nov. The paper wants to be there and do a story.I'll redo her underpainting at the horse event on Sunday ( weather permitting). So if you see me painting a blue portrait don't freak as it won't stay blue! I'll have to put a sign up LOL's


I just hope I have a good day and the painting is worth taking a photo of! LOL's..I'd really prefer to have a fair bit of it done as they don't come together until right at the end but anyway..hopefully people will look at my website and realise  my finished portraits don't look like that!

Here is what Lisa said about the portrait I did Ha Ha !

 That is really cute! You really captured his personality! Love it!

My latest experimental 2.30 portrait from life

Here's my latest experimental portrait from our fortnightly portrait sittings..This ia where I get to experiment with colour ect and train my eye to 'see' which really helps me to paint realistic 3 D portraits from your photos.Don't worry my commissioned portraits are much more traditional than these.. unless you want ...a colourful contemporary one!


We only get 2hrs to paint so these works aren't as finished as commissions but I like that as I feel they often are fresher & capture something of the sitter.I rarely finish them off any more after I get home.. What I get done in the sitting is it!

Gift certificates available for Xmas

I have gift certificates available for Xmas or other special occasions.They can be made out for a portrait of any size or a particular painting.

Ha Ha! Cards available here

Click on the arrow near the add to cart button for an option of 5 or 10.

Large hand made Blank cards from the original Oil painting - size approx 15 x 21cms

Each cards come in  a protective plastic sleeve see below

price

1 card $10.00 5 cards $38.00 10 cards $75.00

Only a few places left for Xmas commissions so order soon!

I have 1 maybe 2 spots depending on size left for Xmas commissions so if you are thinking of a portrait for a special gift you need to order soon.You can email me through my website.
contact me

After something different to send to friends this xmas?

I have largeblank cards made from my original artworks for sale on my website at the link below.You'll know they won't get a card like these from anywhere else!
While your there you can have a look at my original artworks that are for sale.
I''ll be adding new cards as I get a chance so check in occasionally.
Sue Linton Cards for Sale - click here

Something a bit different!

For Sale
Ha ha .. That's a good one ..!!
35 x 46cms
Oil on deep edged canvas
 hang as is
 $550

Wow! ..Did I paint that?

 I've just picked up some of my original artworks from venues and I'll be putting them in some new ones tomorrow. It's amazing.. Once my paintings have gone out to the client or a venue all I have are the photos of them + the images on my website..It's always suprising to see them in the flesh as they are SO much better...! Even the ones I am sick of seeing I still go ..wow!

Finished portrait of me on Zeuss





Oil

48 x 62 cms image size

to be framed

Here is the reference photo. I slimmed myself down , fixed my position , made Zeuss more collected and enhanced the colours!

Update on the progress of my portrait of mum

I went out & took some more photos of mum. I'll pick the nicest & redo my acrylic underpainting to suit so I get a likeness then I'll go out & have another sitting from life to start doing the oil painting.She had some lovely professional photos taken when she was being presented with her Order of Australia medal by the governor general but they were too far away to use as a head portrait.
Hopefully I can get around to adjusting the underpainting in the next few weeks..back to Cicci. I think I know what she need to finish her so I'll be satisfied..

Beating the Heat

I was sailboarding one hot summers day and when I came in I saw this lady with her cattle dog on a board escaping the heat. It looked so much fun and so unusual that I asked if I could take some photo's. This is the painting that resulted. It reminds me of fun summer days!







For Sale

Beating the Heat
 Framed Oil
 c 41 x 50cms framed size
$525

bushwalk & cows

Just done a full day bushwalk after only 4hrs sleep.zzz Think I'll be safer to wait until tomorrow before I try to paint. I think I'd fall asleep if i did. Terrific area to walk. Great rural views.I'll have to try & get my easel up there one time & paint the view as photos don't do it justice.


Near the end we passed a cow that seemed agitated.When she walked off I noticed the afterbirth and the calf and realised she'd just given birth. We gave a her a wide berth so she'd come back to her calf & not abandon it.

Bit more done..

I enjoyed doing this one. It's not finished yet. I want it to be a bit of a caricature and not as realistic as my usual work.I want it to be simple, bold & colourful. I'll come back to it when its dried a bit & hopefully finish it off..


It will be for Sale -

Oil

35 x 46cm deep edged canvas

Contact me for details.

My yawning horse demo!

Here's what I ended up doing as a demo.Heres the sketch..

Better get it together!

I think Ill do a bit more of Zeuss and I for the demo tomorrow & hopefully finish it off.I have an idea for an amusing painting of a horse yawning but the photo is very blurry and I don't have a canvas the right size.I better get my act together as we have visitors soon so I need to get the car packed for tomorrow!

Here's an update on Cicci

I've done a bit more of Cicci.. I'm really enjoying painting her portrait. I love this new canvas! Getting there just keep refining ..

What to as a demo tomorrow..?

I was hoping to paint Cicci at the horse event I am going to tomorrow but unfortunately the only board I had to pin the canvas on is too big & heavy to put on my portable easel..Have to come up with something else. I'd like to do a bigger mutlicolour horsey sketch but I would be experimenting and have no idea where I was going so I don't know if thats a good idea

My latest portrait Cicciolina

Here's my latest portrait Cicciolina.


I've just covered the canvas here. The background colour will probably change to a darker colour but I had some fun with that. The reference photo has Cicci plaited but she is a lovely showy dapple grey with a dark mane and tail so we thought she would look nicer with her mane flow...ing.

She is 35 x 35cms and will be on a deep edged canvas when she is finished.I'm using a finer canvas to paint on and it's lovely to use ! I'll have to use it all the time.

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Only few spaces left for Christmas portraits so order soon!

Surprise someone with a touching portrait for Christmas.

'I received the painting yesterday. It is beautiful it looks exactly like him, when I showed mum my she was so happy and could not believe how good it had turned out its really just like a mirror image of Banjo. I just want to thank you for the wonderful job you have done .
It has been the best gift I have ever given any one'



Kendra






I only have a few spaces left for Christmas commissions.If you are thinking of having a portrait done contact me to order soon (especially if you need it framed) and I can save a space for you.

Soggy event

I went to a dressage day on Sunday and it rained ALL day. Luckily I was inside the indoor arena. People could warmup inside in the dry but then had to go outside and do their test in the rain.. Not fun.. I think everyone just did their test  then got into dry clothes and went home!
 I'm a fair weather rider and certainly admire the people that competed . They deserve any prizes they got! No wonder they ride better than me..LOL"s
 The arenas were like a swamp at the end and the higher level riders didn't want to risk their horses slipping over so they got to do their test in the lovely dry indoor arena.I suppose it would really sort out the horses that can handle water and puddles!
 I'm going to another one this Sunday but the forecast isn't good so maybe not..there isn't as much shelter there. I love the rain from a dam filling , pasture perspective but I think a lot of events will suffer this Summer due to the increased rainfall predicted with La  Nina.

Updated version .. almost there

I really enjoyed being able to do whatever I wanted with this one.I still need to put some lighter colours on the front of Zeuss and suggest some stirrups.I can't believe how easy it was to paint my face..it made me realise that I need to just relax and paint and not worry so much about whether someone will like it. It just flowed..I also enjoyed slimming myself down and making both Zeuss and I more correct in our posture..LOL's..

 I like the way we are both so happy. I chose the reference photo because we were both happy but it wasn't the best riding photo I had. We have both improved a lot since that shot.It was taken a few years ago so I just improved things to where I hope we are now! 

An update on the painting of Zeuss and I

I've done some more on the painting of Zeuss and I. It's almost there just have to add some lighter bits to the front of him & suggest stirrups..I'll post the earlier version 1st and then what I've just done so you can compare progress.

Half done

Massive thunderstorm!

We just got a massive storm.It bucketted down for 40mins - we got 44mm of rain ! yippee! We're on tank water and we haven't had any dam filling rain for 18months so it was looking dicey for summer. Our creeks only run in flood rain and we're on the top of a hill so other than the driveway gravel washing away we love big storms!
 I went down to rug Zeuss as it was coming and there was a massive crack of thunder & the roos & he took off.I called him & he cantered up to me to get his rug on.
 There was heaps of runoff and I didnt care that the fire chimney was leaking like a seive..There was some small hail which didn't impress the roos who were diving around everywhere trying to avoid it.I couldn't see Zeuss he was right down the bottom of the paddock but he wouldnt have been impressed either!
I'll post some pics later.
 Our middle dam is now full but I doubt whether our big one rose much.. which is a pity as its just a puddle at the moment. La  Nina bring it on!
 ( the best bit was I rode Zeuss this morning so it doesn't matter if the arena is a swamp..)
 I looked at the radar and it seems like we copped the heaviest rain in the state..wow we won one for once..

Latest portrait Asha

Boy I hate the early stages of painting..Im so impatient for it to look good NOW but you have to do the boring bits first.. yawn..




I'm busy painting a commission but I can't post it as its a suprise Xmas gift.I can't even tell you what it is ..Its a different subject & quite challenging..its scaring the ...out of me! I...'m sure it will turn out ok in the end.

Heres my latest portrait.Shes an unusual Blue Staffy. I used several photos .One for the main pose and another for her colour. Her eyes were ' flashed out' in the photo so I had to make them up.

Asha 20 x 25cms

Deep edged Oil

The first sitting for mums portrait.

 




Heres the result of the first sitting with Mum .I'm not happy with it.Its too harsh & I ran out of time so the mouth & eyes are just slashes.Before I go back out I 'll correct the likeness from a photo I took and I might change the pose too.I think I want her looking at you a bit more.I like the looseness though.This is just an acrylic underpainting to get everything sorted and then Ill go over it with OIls in natural colour.It might be a while before I get the time to do more on it.I wasn't going to post this as I'm not happy with it but I thought you'd be interested to see it as it will eventually come out ok.

Heres a photo to show you what various sized portraits look like on a wall.

Thought Id post a pic of portraits on the wall so you can get an idea of relative sizes.From left to right- Emma & Balco ( 30 x 40cms deep edged canvas)


Mr Expensive & all Zipped up ( 75 x 85cms Oil )

Jack ( 40 x 50cms framed Oil ).

The photo isnt very flattering of the portraits but it gives an indication of sizes well.

...They would have looked better above a large lounge and probably on a different coloured wall but thats the only wall space that was available.

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I'm impressed with this summer horse rug!

I looked down the 25acre paddock yesterday & heres Zeuss standing with his rug around him like a bib..argh! He was frustrated and rubbing &  trying to walk and standing in it. Its a pretty new rug so panic set in! I yelled at him as he usaully stops & looks & I set off down yelling everytime he moved.I'm really impressed with the rug. Other than green hoof stains its perfect! I couldn't figure out how he got it off & then realised that I was a bit vague yesterday ( didn't get to sleep till 1am) so I prob forgot to do the leg straps up & when he rolled it twisted around.Last rug that happened to was a train wreck!
 Zeuss is 18 now & he finally trusts me so he was pretty laid back about it all thank goodness.

Ungrateful creature!

The cute ducklings have grown up and now we have 11 semitame ducks that we feed once aday. The mother is getting a bit full of herself & raced to attack my partner a few days ago when he went out with the feed.She bore down on him wings outstretched & he just stood there & glared at her.. The closer she got the slower she went & finally she closed her wings & stopped & pretended that she hadnt even considered it. She had another go today & launched herself at him & he just put his elbow up & once again she decided it wasn't a good idea..lucky it wasn't me as I don't think I would have stood my ground!  LOL's..

Suicidal bird

I heard a loud whack earlier today while I was in the kitchen & thought that sounds like a bird hitting the wall..I  forgot about it until I was on the back verandah later & saw a soldier bird on its back gasping..I put it in a bucket with a towel in & over the top thinking it was beyond hope but after a few hours it was a bit chirpier. I gave it a drink & the wires woman came over & took it.I wonder if it will survive.I think it had a broken wing & leg.

Asha

Asha is an unusual Blue staffy puppy.She sounds lovely so I hope to do her justice in her portrait.

Latest dog commission "Asha"

I've started on a dog commission this morning.It took a while to get into it.I hate the early stages as I want results NOW! But the early work has to be done in preparation for the fun 'icing on the cake. The camera doesn't seem to be able to cope with all the close toned colours as it won't focus..it did earlier when I had more contrast..so sorry its blurry.The basics are done now I have to refine her expression and give it some oomph.

Here it is framed

For Sale
$475
Gloucestor Bucketts View
Oil
43 x 50cms framed size

Revamped Gloucestor Bucketts view

Ok here it tis..I think I'm happy with it.. It goes in an artshow tomorrow anyway so I hope it's dry!

We must be tough..

My partner cooked pasta yesterday and I said we had some sauce in a jar in the cupboard.It tasted good. I asked him which sauce he used and he pointed to a jar.. Argh!! Its the salsa dip left over from my birthday do in August! I knew it was dead but hadn't got around to throwing it out of the fridge..


We waited all night for symptons ready to ring the ambulance but we survived..must have sturdy stomachs or they fill that stuff with millions of preservatives!

It must be spring..version 2 ..or 3 ..?

I was driving down our gravel drive yesterday and a small ( 2') red bellied black snake was crossing..I timed it so he got across and I passed just after his tail left the road.He obviously wasn't impressed at how close the car was as he stood up & freaked out..So snakes are on the move..I haven't seen any of the resident goannas yet and the ducklings have grown up to adolescents without any fatalties..9 of them..

1st sitting for the portrait of mum for my Archibald entry..

I started on the portrait of mum I'll be entering in the Archibald.I had a 2hr sitting with her yesterday.It was cramped as the only place that had nice lighting was out in her sitting room with her sitting near the window but the easel was cramped up & I had to back into the toilet to get back to see how things were going! I'm only doing a head and shoulders portrait but we had nice daylight streaming in through the window for sidelighting.I was really happy with the underpainting half way through but kept going as you must and had to leave it at a yuck stage as I was getting worse and she was tired.I'll have to correct the likeness here and then go out & start with Oil over the top next time.. + call the paper.I'd like to get onto it soon but next week is looking busy..

I've just rehung 29 artworks for viewing and purchase for the rest of the month.

I am sharing the cafe with another artist who has contemporary work.The cafe has 2 sections.My paintings are in the room closest to the street which is generally reserved for nighttime bookings but you can go in and view my work at any time during opening hours.I have taken a few of the larger portraits but there are still plenty of paintings to enjoy and choose from.
The cafe can be a bit hard to find. It is behind another shop so you enter by a small gate at the side and go down the back.They have a snadwhichboard oyut on the footpath when they are open during the day and a lit sign at night.

My Lorn exhibition has been extended.

 Most of the artworks will be up this L/W/E and then I will be sharing the venue for October so I will still have quite a few paintings up all of October.If you haven't had a chance to get up and have a look you now have another month.

Here's the latest painting inspired by my bushwalk on the Gloucestor Bucketts..not quite finished

'Gloucestor valley view'. It's not finished ..I'll have to sit on it for a while.This painting had ideas of its own and ended up not quite what I had in my head..I used 2 photos for reference as the original one was so late in the afternoon that there was hardly any sun so I used a slightly earlier shot to add some more light.