Apologies

Apologies for my lack of posting which is all due to computers!

I bought myself a new Dell laptop which started turning itself off shortly after purchase. However, it re-started quickly and I foolishly spent ages transferring all my files over to it. Yesterday, 2 weeks after I received it, it crashed spectacularly and I couldn't re-start it! After a few hours I managed to get it going and have been scrambling to retrieve some of my files. 

I don't want it repaired as I've read several horror stories about people who've gone down that path so wish me good luck in returning it to Dell - I've heard they can be very difficult...

I promise I will be back posting shortly! 

Ginger - oil commission

Ginger - 10" x 8"oil painting commission

Today's painting is a commission completed a while ago. It really is hard to believe when you look at her beautiful face that Ginger was in a shelter and was adopted from there by her present owners. Now happily she is a much loved member of a family and lives the life all dogs should be able to lead.

(I've had to start putting watermarks across the face of my paintings due to instances of theft of the images)

Cocker Spaniel - wip#2

Watercolour Cocker Spaniel Commission - Work In Progress #2

Here is the painting quite a bit further on. You can see that a lot of detail has been added to the body and head of the dog although the legs still need a lot of work and of coure it does need more work all over. I'm not sure how easy you'll be able to see that the sky has already been painted, but it has - it was the very first thing painted in. The grass will be the last area painted.

While I'm mentioning the sky, I'd like to stress the importance of taking it right up to the edge of the drawing and even overlap a little as there is nothing worse (well there is of course!) than seeing a blank area of white against the outline of the dog. If you try and fill it in it will usually dry with hard edges and look glaringly obvious. With detailed watercolours, you do need to have to think ahead more than is necessary in oils.

I will post the finished painting soon, although I can't promise it will be tomorrow - time will tell!

Cocker Spaniel - watercolour work in progress

Cocker Spaniel Commission - watercolour work in progress

I've just spent some time searching my blog as I couldn't believe I hadn't posted for so long! Well, it seems that is accurate and so I'd better pull my socks up and get posting more regularly.

Today's painting is pretty much self-explanatory and as can be seen is the beginning stages of a watercolour cocker spaniel. Still lots to do of course but the basics are all there.

The next work in progress will follow shortly.... (hopefully tomorrow)