One Two Three

On my desk today, 

two border collies and a cat.

Sitting staring at me,

the dogs ready for a walk,

all waiting for the next step.

On rescued slate - approximately 200 years old.

I love that thought.

200 year old slate and I get to paint on it. Now that can't be bad :)

Sad

Sitting quietly, 

listening to the news.

Thinking of you Manchester.

what's on my desk today?

 A bit of a scamp appeared on my paper today.

A quick moving, bright eyed and certainly bushy tailed red squirrel.

Such a scallywag!

She better be careful -

Raf is behind her.

Still have to complete my little squirrel,

just have to stop her bustling about :)

Two more designs for my cards - Raf the fox and Emma the red squirrel.

A little while ago, I mentioned I was getting involved in an art event,

well, it has been kickstart and things are really happening -

how exciting!

TAM - trawden artists & makers

Things are not always black and white ...

Playing around with another card design,

wondering if Brock is just sniffing the air,

or

sniffing bracken.

There is still time decide, 

Brock needs a bit more work,

then he'll let me know.

Watercolour designs for cards

Finally a gap in the commissions,

time to continue with the card designs.

Need to do more,

so best 'get to it'!

 But first....

Put the kettle on,

I need a mug of tea :)

What's on my desk today? Well I'm certainly feeling puffed!!

Sea parrot, Coulter neb,

Ploughshare beak,

Nath, Pope, Popey duck,

Nori, Tammie norrie

Gavot de bec de Tomaquet, 

Lundi.

Puffin.

Clown of the sea.

Makes me smile every time:)

Just need to finish him, let the paints harden and then he can be varnished -

Now,

where did I put my paintbrushes?

I have a painting mojo going on and it seems silly to waste it!!

Purrfect

This cat is now finished and in the safe hands of the client,

ready to be wrapped and gifted on Friday.

This cat has had a mind of its own since the first brush stroke.

Quite a character! 

Got there in the end :)

Now, I shall have a lie down in a dark corner,

to recover,

then ...what then?

Well,

I already have something on my desk to share with you -

however, that will be for Friday,

until then :)

Following a process

Process

Selecting the slate

Cleaning

Sanding

Checking for fractures and flakes

Washing 

Measuring...

 Drawing out guidelines

Initial sketches

Getting the client's approval

Then,

Base coat - white, following the muscle lines... 

Following the lines of the fur

Allowing to dry

The first of many coloured layers

Each one tracing the line of the muscle

the line of the fur ....

Layers and layers

Each forming more and more structure

The cat starts to 'appear' 

Then the eyes,

the eyes have to be correct.

If they are not - there is no point going on.

You may have noticed the cat's left paw has moved.

They do that, cats, they move until they are comfortable.

They do that on slate too.

In fact most of my painted animals move half way through,

they want to be more comfortable.

I have to go with that.

Feeling like the cat's pyjamas!

This handsome cat has keep me entertained recently.

 His rather glorious coat - a wonderful mix of agouti and tabby stripe 

(I think he is a Tabby point/Lynx point Siamese) 

had me dabbing on the tiniest slicks of paint to build up the colouring.

And his eyes! 

You could fall into them, they are like deep pools of water - 

I hope I have captured them correctly.

Edited to add : I have just received feedback from the customer and they are delighted!

Phew! I love it when there is a happy ending :)

Now to get back to painting hares.