Sweet tooth

 12 x 9 inches, oil on Belgian lead primed linen panel.

SOLD

These are my favourite biscuits for dunking in tea: McVities Digestives.

The problem is I usually go through half a pack in one sitting as I can't stop ..... 'just one more' never seems to work ;-) 

I love this Artfix L84C linen. 

Time flies

12 x 9 inches, oil on hardboard panel

SOLD

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! 

For various reasons I haven't got a lot done in the last three months and some of the work I did I was so unhappy with I either painted over them or banned them to the dark recesses of the cupboard. It became that I couldn't finish a painting: they just dragged on and on and then I gave up on them.

I'm sure this happens to all artists at some point and we have to try and battle on but giving up is not an option.

I also couldn't think of any new ideas; it was quite a dark time ...... but I am fighting through it and am working on a few new ones that I hope will put me back on track (to be posted sooner rather than later ... I hope!).

This was a re-visit of a few of my favourite props and, unusually for me, cropped into the bargain.

I have been using Michael Harding Titanium White 2 recently and love it. It is made with linseed oil and dries faster than the Winsor and Newton I normally use which used to hold back any glazing I had to do over it. It also seems to avoid 'beading' when glazing over it which was another problem I had before.

I also use their Dammar Glaze Medium in preference to W&N Liquin now, it dries over night and has a nice tack for painting wet in wet where the Liquin feels more greasy and colours don't sit on top of each other so well.

I  have also been using Artfix L84C oil primed linen and highly recommend it. I has a wonderful surface to paint on and smooth enough for fine detail too. It just feels so good! BUT ........ it is very expensive!

I will post another painting within the next few days :-)

New paintings on eBay

Thank you everyone .. all the paintings are now sold.
I can't say that I am happy with the new eBay pricing structure and have signed an online petition against their 100% commission increase (they even charge commission on the postage you charge now!!!!!). There must be a better way ;-)

The Musician

16 x 12 inches oil on Gatorfoam panel
SOLD

OK! Last one for today. This was a commission for the owner of the Martin Committee trumpet shown in the painting (as played by the greats). I was asked to do this by his parents as a birthday gift and they suggested adding the hat and suitcase because they had really liked the ones I had done previously).

My first trumpet painting and probably my last (way too much fiddly work ;-) but I did enjoy it.

Three Grannies

12 x 9 inches oil on Gatorfoam panel

Granny Smiths, my favourite apple (and Neil Hollingsworths too I believe), always good to paint and they don't take as long as lemons, so another plus in their favour ;-)

Lemon in the Balance

8 x 8 inches oil on Gatorfoam panel

Another trompe lemon. These are heaven and hell to paint and every time I ask myself why I do it!!! It can be difficult to make these work but I guess you will be the judge if it does ;-)