Art Classes

I will be running weekly Art Classes from the Jindalee Girl Guide Hall from Term 2 as well as conducting a pastel workshop at Lilly Lee Gallery in Sherwood sometime in May. For more information see http://www.sallymcleanartist.com.au/Art-Classes-pg16493.html


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Spinnakers

 Spinnakers 1

 Spinnakers 2

                                                                         Spinnakers 3

Spinnakers 4

Fun playing with acrylic paint again today. It is very humid here at the moment and I am having trouble being patient enough to let the paint dry between layers. Maybe I will use the hair dryer to speed things up a bit tomorrow. 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

At the easel!

Blue Acrylic wash ready for yacht overlay.

Acrylics are fun! I have never thought this in the past because I am used to the slow controlled creamy consistancy of oil paints but with the unlocking formuler and retarders available in the Atelier interactive range of acrylic paint I am now in control and having fun. I have tried all this before but I think I have nailed it this time. All I have done so far is a blue wash over which I plan to paint a couple of yachts flying spinnakers.

I am also begining a pastel of a cat and an oil of a crocodile eye to add to my Biodiversity work. The pastel cat eye shown above is part of a 50x50cm head. 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

Back to the easel!!

What this space!! 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

Pastel Art Classes with Sally McLean

I will be offering art classes in Brisbane 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

Shitzu Poodle Portrait Finished

I finished the pastel pet portrait of the Shitzu Poodle today. 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

Shitzu Poodle Cross Commission

Here is what I have done so far on this Pastel Pet Portrait commission which is to be a Christmas gift. (I have learned that  it is safe to post it here.) Still a long way to go but she really is beginning to come to life now.

I have worked a fair bit on the mouth eyes and nose and I am still applying darks on the fur before whites go over the top. You will see allot of different colours at the moment such as greens, blues and purples. Some of these colours will show in the finished portrait but they will not be so obvious. My camera has not captured the true colour of the background again but it is a lighter warmer wheat colour.

I have modified the the shape of the ear but I will probably adjust it a little more before completion.

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Christmas Commission!

I have just begun a pastel dog portrait commission which is to be a gift so I am unable to post photographs at this stage. The dog is a Shitzu Miniture Poodle cross. Really cute with slight caramel colouring on the ears and around the nose and mouth. 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

Zoo Visit

Sooo cute baby wombat!!

I recently visited Australia Zoo solely to photograph animals to use as reference for my art. I was particularly interested in photographing the Sumatran tigers and was disappointed that I was only able to photograph them through glass. My best photos were of the elephants, wombats (so cute I would love to adopt one) and cassowaries. I am still working on a collection of pastel works themed boats, pelicans and water which I hope to exhibit next year. 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

Oscar and Pearl Pet Portrait Commission

 Oscar and Pearl pastel portrait 50x60cm

Oscar and Pearl Detail

I am back from my holiday at the beach and the Oscar and Pearl pastel portrait has been presented to the client so I can now post it in full. Oscar is a Maltese Shitzu and Pearl is a Maltese Poodle. I think these breeds are sometimes referred to as designer dogs. Osacr very sadly passed away at only six years old and his family now have the very beautiful Pearl. 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

Portrait Complete and off to the beach!

I finished the dog portrait a week ago, collected it yesterday from the framer and delivered it to the client. It will be presented as a gift on Sunday the 19th so until then I can only post a tiny little detail of it to keep you all guessing. My husband and I are taking off today to spend a week up at Noosa just reading and relaxing then we are home for a couple of days before sailing around the bay on our boat Lion Rampant. I hope to have lots of time to practice my watercolour and to take some reference photos 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

Horse and Rider Commission

Duchess and Melissa Pastel Portrait Detail

Duchess and Melissa (Pastel Portrait 60x70cm)

Early this year I was working on a commission which was to be a Birthday surprise gift and I have been unable to post it on the web until now because the gift was given last Saturday. The horse is Duchess and her rider is Melissa of Westbury, Tasmania, Australia. Duchess (a very special family member) is an ex-race horse who was re-trained to show jump when her racing career ended. She now has an ongoing foot injury and is no longer able to jump or be ridden anymore so this portrait was commissioned so that Melissa would have a lasting memory of show jumping and riding with Duchess.
I have just begun another commission today of two georgeous little dogs but this also is to be a surprise gift in September so again I cannot post it here yet.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

Studio Update

The top painting on the easel is a pastel I am re-doing and the paintings below are my first watercolour attempts. I have a way to go yet!

Just keeping you up-to-date with my studio activities. I am really enjoying weekly watercolour classes with artist Maria Field. Watercolour is so different to oil and pastel painting as rather than going from dark to light you work from light to dark. I am also currently studying a course in Workplace Assessment and Training. 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

Update! What I am Up To!

I am not doing nothing! I am currently doing some study as well as watercolour classes and pastel boat paintings. My pastel "Gilded Quills was recently a finalist in the Lethbridge Gallery 10000 Exhibition and was sold at the exhibition. 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

Bighorn Sheep Finished!

Here is the Bighorn Sheep pastel Portrait finally finished. It has taken way longer than it was meant to due to other activities going on around me at the moment. Thankyou to Gary Kemig for supplying the photo and the challenge to paint this magnificent beast. See Gary's art here http://www.wildernessartchallenge.blogspot.com/ . I now have a boat pastel to start and an exhibition to plan and I will keep you posted on the progress of these. 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 w.portraitsthatbite.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Bighorn Sheep WIP 2

Alot has been happening in the last few weeks so it is only today that I have finally got back to working on this magnificent Bighorn Sheep. Still have along way to go but at least I have now covered all the paper!! 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

TV Video Clip from Channel 9's Today Show

Above is a video of me as I appeared last week on Channel 9's Today Show in a segment they did on gifts to Pamper Your Pooch! I have also added it to my website but I have yet to convert it to a format which my website will support. One of those I HATE COMPUTERS moments!! 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

TV Star!!

If you are in Australia and watch Channel Nine's "Today Show" at 7:20 am tomorrow morning Friday the 30th you may see me painting in my studio as part of a story about different gifts which are available to dog owners. Hope I do not look too "Dorky". If I like what I see I will include it as a video on my website home page. 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

Life

Life in the last week has been a little hectic so I have not done any more on the Bighorn! Monday involved a film shoot for Channel Nines 'Today' Show. They filmed me painting in my studio; interveiwed me and then filmed me and a client receiving her portrait. Let's hope it looks ok when it hits the TV screens!!! I have sent the horse and rider pastel to the client who is very happy and the oil painting of blue heeler maddie is currently at the framers. The rest of this week I have been doing some relief work for a school where students need help with Literacy! 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

Maddie Finished

Here is Maddie finished unless I have to make any fnal adjustments. I am now going to have a sleep as I welcomed a couple of sailing friends in at the finish of the Solo Trans Tasman Yacht race last night and I have only had two hours sleep. They would be feeling alot more sleep deprived than me however since they have been at sea for just over a week. Bighorn coming up!!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