A Most Productive Summer

Well we’re well into Autumn now with the days getting steadily shorter, and our beautiful summer well over. The summer flew with so many projects to get done. I had quite a few portrait commissions which were mostly a real pleasure to do, with a few that proved quite challenging.

I had two group portraits, one with three children and one with a family of four. These are always trickier, as the composition has to be considered, as well as the proportions, particularly when you’re working from different sized photos with different lighting.

Pretty as a Picture

February was a busy month given that I decided to re-introduce my favourite theme: portraiture. I always loved drawing, and portraiture always provided an additional challenge. I have only ever done a handful of colour portraits (mostly in oil), so I just stayed with monochrome on these 'practice' ones. I was happy with the outcome, and found that all the illustration work has definitely helped 'de-rust' my drawing skills. It must be six years since I did a portrait, and still find it very satisfying. The challenge always is not only to get a likeness, but to really bring the subject to 'life'. I've tried a few alternate views with my own kids - photographing them unknowingly, in an effort to get a more natural pose.


My Friday Group is going very well. We've mostly gone back to basics, and stuck to still-life, concentrating on composition, drawing skills using negative spacing, and  complimentary colour. I'm really enjoying it and it's amazing what you learn from their differing styles. It's also a time I get to set aside purely for art, and nothing else. Time is still a resource I don't have enough of!

A space of my own

Here we are almost two weeks into the New Year and already the projects are stock-piling! On a positive note, I have acquired a truly wonderful studio space. 'Claimed' may be a better term for the acquisition, as it was previously used as a dumping ground/storage space, but I staked my claim, and my fabulous husband made it happen over the Christmas holidays. It's bright and spacious and my first adult art class commences next friday. I have two willing guinea-pigs on which I get to try out my teaching skills...so we'll see how we fair. Classes aside, I have plenty of projects of my own that will ensure my studio gets well used, and my two girls have already staked their claim on a chair and easel each, so no doubt I'll have plenty of company!