More Life Painting

This is probably the final stage of this painting. I loved painting her. It's a bit weird dealing with changing light when you're painting. First you can hardly see high-lights and then 5 minutes later the model has loads of high lights.


For home-work we had to paint a friend in Acrylic. Volodya(Vlad) sat for me really still (which I'm so grateful for), I thought I'd post this one up too so you can see the progess.
I think next time I'll do a full-figure painting of him in oil. <3

TCD Life-Painting

Been busy doing some painting in my free time as you can see. It's been really fun to go the second-sitting of the pose. I hope next sitting I'll be able to capture the model's face in the painting, she has such a great face for painting, it's very sculptural. God, now I'm sounding like the teacher....someone help me. LOL



















This is a portrait of my friend Jurgen. I know the eyes aren't done so well but I really enjoyed painting this portrait. Usually when I draw I make sure that I capture the eyes and try to make it look like person but this time I had more fun playing around with the colours and expermenting on the painting.




















Our next task for homework is to do a self-portrait in acrylic and anything else of our choice. I'll see if Volodya will pose for me our else I'll take a trip to the botantic garden paint something there....I was supposed to go to Howth and paint there but I don't think that's gonna happen.
:-)





















..... and last a warm up drawing....I just liked this pose.

Bologna Bookfair!

Back from Bologna, it was an educational trip more than anything else. The most important things I've learnt at the bookfair was that you gotta ask, keep asking....and twist and turn your questions around so you get all the info you need. They don't hand it over to you. The response was all varied. A few people liked my work, a few LOVED it, one or two people looked like they hated it and then the rest didn't think I could come close enough to what they do. I think I could probably fit in anywhere but of course, they wouldn't know that...it's probably a good thing though, I don't think I'd like to do someone else's style...I'm still figuring out what mine is. A lot of people liked the animation edge I brought to the illustrations but they all ALL ALL said they wanted more real paintings. So, I'm gonna do some of that now. I think it'll be good for me anyway. Of course you know as soon as my folio is filled with "real" paintings, some genius will come around with totally cool photoshop painted stuff.
I saw so many different styles....it's a shame that most people don't work on their presentations....they have lots and lots of loose papers and original works with them.
I saw one girl's illustrations there, oh...they were beautiful...all over it was a very inspiring trip. Very intense, lots and lots of people and I'm SO going back next year! The illustrator's exhibition was just great as well...hopefully my stuff will be there one day as well (ahhh wishful thinking :-))

I'm posting up some of the recent work I've been doin...I'll have a go at water colouring them some time and post them up! If you have an tips on watercolouring and oil painting, do send me a link or leave a comment :-)

Week 2 in Life-drawing

So, I posted one of my home-work assignments from the life-drawing classes already. Here's the last one I did on Friday night. I'm actually really proud of this one because after watching "Secret of Kells" (which is so beautiful, go and see it!!!) I had a pint with some friends I met in the cinema and went home to do the assignment. I thought that was pretty good of me, I could have easily stayed for 2 more pints - actually I'm a little bit intimidated by this life-drawing teacher. He teaches in NCAD and is kinda strict (let's just say I don't want to get on his bad side ;-))

The other two are from the model. It was pretty intense....only 3 poses in 3 hours. Phew....of course I'm not used to drawing with a paint brush - does it show?? LOL I thought painting the background in red was a strange thing to do, but the teacher said that classical artist did so to give a better comparison to dark and light, red because it's vibrant and portrays blood in the veins of the model. Thought that was pretty cool!

Jaysus!!!!

Here's one of the home-work assignments done, tonight I'll finish off the other one in pastel...I'm awful looking in this..ah well! LOL

Life-drawing

Started a 10 week course to learn how to paint with oils. We started off with pastels, next week there should be more...oh we also have homework - self portraits using a mirror...have to get started on those!

New Harp!!

Here's a pic of my new harp. I love it, love it, LOVE IT. Did I mention to you that I love it??
Got it second-hand. It's made by one of my favourite Irish harp makers Colm O'Meachair. He should have a website, all of his work is just gorgeous!

I'll definitely be practicing more!