Peli Can Can Framed

Here is Peli Can Can Framed. It is quite difficult to photograph pictures framed behind glass without including some sort of reflection and I think my attempt here is particularly bad. But it does give you an idea of the framed look. I am very pleased with it. Today I should finish the dog commission I am working on to a point where I need final approval from the client before I make any final adjustments. I should be able to post it on Saturday for you all to see. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

New Commission

I have stopped work on Trusty Steeds for the moment to work on a pastel dog portrait which has to finished by the end of next week. I would love to post my WIP here but it is a surprise gift and it is a small world so I cannot. It is going well though so I look forward to posting it soon. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Trusty Steeds

Stage 2 - More colour is applied. Trial and error sometimes to find or create the correct hue!!

Stage 1 - Outline is drawn and under colour is applied.

I couldn't resist posting the beginnings of this pastel even though the photos are not accurate colour. Today is dark and rainy in Brisbane and so the background colour does not appear as it should a rich burnt umber. Probably something to do with the settings used on my camera as well!! If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

New Horse Pastel Underway

I haven't posted for so long because I have had a busy week organising boat repairs as well as preparing quotes for prospective pet portrait clients. I have finally started to lay out my next pastel of the two horses pictured here. I am doing them together on Burnt Umber colourfix pastel paper. Should be able to post beginnings in the next few days. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Peli Can Can Finished

Well I have finally finished this pastel. I will be having it framed to enter the Pastel Society of Australia Winter Competition. I had been thinking of adding a scant piece of sandy beach for them to stand on but I think it is probably better without. My next pastel will be horses!! If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Blue Heeler Portrait Sold!

As a result of the local art show last week I sold this portrait of a happy Blue Heeler! Peli Can Can is nearly complete and I will post the completed portrait in the next couple of days. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Follows section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Peli Can Can Update

Today I worked a bit on the back bird and mostly on the front bird. I still have alot to do all over this pastel. Tomorrow I am doing my annual First Aid Recertification so I will not be back at the easel until Thursday! If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

A 'Commended' At Local Art Show!!

Gilded Quills

I have been quite busy today! The deisel engine on our sailing boat is about 20 years old and has been playing up (refusing to start!) My husband and a sailing friend have taken it to bits and I have delivered them to appropriate engineers this morning to be renovated! Hopfully we may have a functioning engine by next weekend!! This would not have been possible without our sailing friend who we affectionately refer to as 'MacGyver' because he can fix anything, anywhere, anytime!! This afternoon I collected some of my paintings from the local Art Show and discovered that the pastel "Gilded Quills" had received a "Commended". Made my Day!! Hope to have time to do more on Peli Can Can tomorrow! If you are a regular visitor to my blog or website you will probably have noticed that i have a fascination with Pelicans. I think they are beautiful exotic birds. I love the way they can climb high in thermals and the way they cruise peacefully along the rivers and shorelines in search of fish. I could definately come back as a Pelican!! If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Peli Can Can Update

Stage 4

In Stage 4 I have added more to the middle Pelican and started to play around with the head of the top Pelican.

Stage 3

Here are Stages 3 and 4 of Peli Can Can. I have worked mostly on the middle Pelican but it needs more work especially the beak and I need greater tonal contrast in some areas. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Peli Can Can Beginings!

Here is the begining of the application of undercolour. It is always exciting to put that first brush of colour against the paper! The colours here, especially the beak pinks will change as the picture progresses. This photo of the pastel is a bit dark as I prefer to photograph my art in natural light with no flash and today is an overcast dull day. I probably should have tweaked it a bit in photoshop!!

This was a real pain to lay out and keep the proportions right! If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If So my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Cattle Muster

This is a pastel I have been working on for a long time. It was much larger and I was unable to do anything with the backgroud or the foreground that I was happy with. So I cropped it choosing the best possible composition and I am very pleased. I was just about ready to throw it in the bin. I will now be able to have it framed and enter it in our rural Art Show. If you enjoyed this post please consider becoming a follower of my blog. See the Followers section down the right side of my blog. You may like to add me to you own blog. If so my link is www.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Daffy Finished ?

Stage 2

Stage 1

Here are two further stages of Daffy. I think I have finished but I will look at it again tomorrow to see if I need to change anything to be completely satisfied. I may need to use the electric eraser to bring out more light feathering on the upper back and head!

Daffy Update!

Stage 2

Stage 1

Here are two stages of Daffy completed today. I am applying darkest shading before removing in areas where there are lighter fine feathers. I will travel all around the picture as I feel fit until I am happy with the result. The head and beak are particularly tricky especially as this part of the photograph is slightly out of focus.

Long Weekend!!

I am now going to be focussing on finishing Daffy and Peli Can Can!


Our Boat!
We have just had a long weekend here in Australia. Monday was a holiday "Labour Day". We have a small yacht which we took out on beautiful Moreton Bay for the three days. It was quite eventful. First we arrived at the sailing club and unloaded all our gear onto the boat. Food sleeping bags etc. Then the engine would not start. There was no way we were giving in so we pushed the boat out of the mooring pin and hoisted the sails. This manouvure does have risks but all went without a hitch. We were then sailing beautifully across the bay and my husband went below to make a cup of tea. The metho stove leaked and when he lit it he had a fire which he had to put out with a fire blanket nad extinguisher. I was on the helm so all I saw was the smoke which was probably just as well. After that excitement the weekend went beautifully.

Daffy Update

The beginings of Daffy. I have laid this one out using a grid so that it is easier to get all the feathered detail in just the right spot.

Daffy and Peli Can Can

Peli Can Can is a collage of pelicans I photographed whilst on our last holiday at Noosa. It is actually photographs of the same pelican who only stayed for as long as he thought you may feed him. The pastel will be in colour on aubergine colourfix pastel paper. I going to be busy because I also have an oil painting to finish!!

I have decided to use this composition for Daffy and to do him in graphite!

Next Project

I have been struggling to decide what I would like to draw next. I have decided to use this duck.

It still may become a group of pelicans or a bird collage!! I also have to decide whether to use graphite or pastel!

Pet Photograph Competition

You are invited to enter my Pet Photograph Competition. Please see entry details on the home page of my web site www.sallymcleanartist.com.au

Beemer Finished!

I feel I have finished this portrait of Beemer now. Sometimes it is hard to know when to stop! I have added more dark to darks and brought the highlights out. I think I am ready to begin some thing in colour now. I am having pastel withdrawal symptoms.

Beemer Update

I have added more but I still need to darken the darks and lighten the lights to achieve greater contrast as I work towards finishing the portrait. I love my new electric eraser but I have not used it much yet.