Pastel Workshop Boats and Seascapes

The above is pastelled using a reference photo I took at Strahan in Tasmainia earlier this year.

The above is copyright to Regina Hona as it was pastelled using her reference photograph.

I have just spent two days doing a pastel workshop with an artist I greatly admire Regina Hona. The theme was seascapes and boats and we did one picture each day. Being a 'boatie' I was really drawn to this workshop. Neither of the pastel pictures shown here is complete but I thought I would post them both anyway. 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

Ollie Update

Here is an update on Ollie!  I always have trouble taking pictures of wet oil paintings as they reflect so much! I am still not satisfied with the background and I need to finish the bark on the tree at the right. Ollie herself is only undercolour at this stage with nothing complete. 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

Weekend Bliss!

This is where I was on the weekend. Guess what sort of weekend I had! Yes it was wonderful or you could say out of this world! My husband and I sailed our small yacht (30') to a local island and climbed a huge sand hill to take this photograph! I am still painting Ollie and should be able to post a photo once this layer is dry. I have not started Ollie herself yet though. 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

Ollie

Here is what I have done so far on Ollie. Alot of what you see is either not finalised or is still undercolour. Once I have completed the background I will begin work on Ollie herself. The colours are not completely true to the picture in real life as I have difficulty photographing wet, shiney oil paintings. I will continue to work on Le Tour during Ollie drying times. 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

Le Tour

Here are a few WIPs of Le Tour which I have been working on whilst Ollie dries between layers. I am very pleased by the way it is going. I have photographed Ollie but because the paint is wet and shiney in some areas it has not photographed well so I will try again on Monday when it is drier. 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

Computer Crash GRRRRR!

Hello! I won't be able to post an update of Ollie's portrait until I get my computer back hopefully by the end of the week. It started to freeze on me last week and by Monday morning it actually refused to turn on so I am currently using our server. So far I have been working on the background of the portrait. Most work has been done on the blurred bushes and I will then work on the the foreground, then the two large trees and lastly Ollie herself. 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

Ollie Commission

Hello! Here is a picture of my next subject 'Ollie'. She is a Border Collie and I am going to paint a 50x75cm oil painting of her with a full background. This great action shot was taken by her owner. 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

Shai Finished

Here is Shai all finished. I found getting her fur just right was a bit tricky but I think I have achieved a brindle effect. The other challenge was working from a photo which had an ear missing as well as some of the chest fur. I used a combination of photos to put the portrait together. My next commission is an oil of a Border Collie named Ollie. I should be starting this as soon as I have prepared the canvas early next week. 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

Shai Update 2

I have done a bit more to facial fur, mouth and body here. I still have allot to do all over particularly the mouth, nose, right eye and body fur. 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

Shai Update

Shai Step 1

Here is the portrait to date. As you can see I am using a different photo to the one originally posted. I believe the one chosen here shows Shai from a better angle as you can see the shape of her profile. I work mostly from dark colours to light so the portrait when finished will be lighter than this. 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

Shai

I have started Shai and now that the composition and layout are finished I can begin the pastel work. I will post a picture of what I have done by the end of Thursday. Tomorrow, Wednesday is a public holiday here so I will be sailing with my husband. 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

Le Tour Stages 2 & 3

Step 3

Step 2

Here is the beginings of glaze application. I have to keep reminding myself that a painting is never 'stuffed' it is just not finished! My intention is to apply many layers of glazes until I have great depth of colour. I now have a pretty good idea of what is going to work and what will not. There will be different shapes overlapping and the over colour effect is not going to be as it appears now! Just keeping you guessing!! 'Phew' I can hear you saying. Yes I hate that green!! I probably will not have time now to do more until I have finished the portrait of Shai. I have bought materials today ready to begin Shai on Monday. Also been busy purchasing food etc for my daughter's 21st tomorrow. No time to pick up a paint brush except when I was a t the art supply shop!! 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

Shai Pastel Commission

I have just recieved a new commission to do a pastel portrait of a beautiful Staffy named Shai. She is pictured above although this may not be the pose I will use. I will be starting it on Monday so you will be able to follow my work in progress here on the blog. I have also worked out how to tackle Le Tour and will post what I ahve done so far tomorrow. I will be putting Le Tour aside temporarily from Monday whilst I am doing the portrait of Shai. 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

Le Tour Step 1

Here I have sketched the cyclists onto the canvas. Having thought about how I am going to tackle this painting I have decided to make it a Mixed Media. I intend to use Acrylic glazes first to indicate the movement and speed of the cyclists followed by oil for the cyclists themselves and the add a bit of oil glazing if needed. A bit experimental but we will see how it goes!! 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

Le Tour?

Here is a 'Rough as guts' idea or concept plan of my next painting. I hope I am up to it!! It will be oil on canvas 48x24inches. The next step is to prepare the canvas. (I have the frame together already to stretch the canvas over.) Then after priming the canvas I will sketch the drawing up roughly before I begin the background in paint. 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

Frisky!

It is with great sadness that I have to report that Frisky our very special friend and companion passed away on Saturday. He was 11 years old and became ill suddenly due to kidney failure. He had not touched food or water for days when the vet and I decided that it would be kindest to euthanise him. Heart wrenching is an understatement. Frisky was extraordinary; having lots of character he would sit at the top of the driveway waiting for us to come home just as a dog would; he played games like hide and seek with my husband; and he was very affectionate and loving, curling up with us to watch TV and sleeping on our bed during the night. He is a huge loss.

On a brighter note my husband and I sailed in a race to raise money for breast cancer awareness yesterday and had a much needed very happy day! I think my next work will be cyclists inspired by the Tour de France which we watch every year without fail. 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

Ruby Tuesday Finished

Ruby Tuesday is finished. Didn't have to do many touch ups so you probably won't be able to see any difference. Frisky my cat is unwell-he is not eating or drinking and vomits alot. I took him to vet yesterday but these things are hard to diagnose so we are hoping it is just a bout of gastro and not kidney failure. 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

Ruby Tuesday Update

Here is the latest stage of Ruby Tuesday. I have completed the fringe and the eye and I am nearly satisfied with the mane. I need to add more tones to ears and mane. I intend going over the whole portrait doing small touch ups then adding the name and signing it. Should be complete tomorrow I think. 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

Ruby Tuesday Pastel Portrait

Here is an incomplete stage of Ruby Tuesday. I have work to do all over such as ther ears, the mane, the fringe, the eyelashes and the brown hair in the face. 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

Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday commission is progressing well and I should be able to post an image of it next week. 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