The Art of It

This painting was done from a photograph with the kind permission of Diane, the photographer. Thanks you for the oppertunity! I thoroughly enjoyed painting her and hope I have done her justice! Maybe if you are still in contact with the parents you cen get them to have a look see.

Back to another charcoal! This one is for you Cam (a little girl who lives in Durban)- I haven't met you but have heard all about just how cute you are and I only hope that you like this and that I have done you justice! Maybe one day we will meet.

Africa is crying. Doesn't this little face tug at your heartstrings?

While trying to sort piles of paintings I found this one that I never posted! I am definitely in my blue phase!

On Monday I attended an incredible all day workshop run by Lesley Charnock at her Montebello Gallery. The topic was Colour in Portraiture using acrylics or oils. This is the first attempt at applying her methods to mix flesh tones. My painting technique is very different to hers as I am tending toward a more photo-realistic approach, with smooth tonal ranges and a lot of detail. She prefers large, bold, splashes of colour and less detail. This is the first time I have painted young kids. I worked from a rather small picture e-mailed to me by my niece in America. I have never met the kids. Annie, I hope I have done them justice! Talking about colour, an interesting problem crops up in trying to accurately represent a painting in a photograph. Photographs taken in sunlight, shade, artificial light, using a flash or using different cameras all show big colour differences and seldom get close enough to the original to truly depict its appearance. Changing the camera’s white balance setting...