Sir Mo Farah, Portrait of an Olympic Champion
A painted tribute to a British Olympic Legend, Sir Mo Farah. Hear the story behind this painting and the exciting collaboration it is part of!
Sir Mo Farah, Digital Painting
The Olympic Games in Tokyo are now in full swing.
Whilst the amazing Sir Mo Farah will not be there to defend his gold medals, his spirit and legendary performances are very present in our minds.
I painted this digital oil painting in tribute to him, marking the moment he celebrated after winning the men's 5000m final at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on 20th Aug 2016, days before he also won the men’s 10,000m. It weaves in a little nod to his 2012 Olympic triumph in the 5000m & 10,000m, along with reference to his Somalian roots.
This painting was my contribution to an exciting collaboration with a group of talented artists where we’d been invited, by the platform TodoNFTs, to portray important moments and people in Olympic history and create a special NFT collection. This also marks my very first experience of minting an NFT!
This collection can now be viewed online, click the button below to have a look
But I suspect I might have lost you at NFTs? :)
I too, am still in the process of getting my head around how this all works, so you are not alone! I have found a very helpful article, written from an artist’s perspective, which I think will help explain it for you better than I could. Click the button below to have a look and let me know what you think!
Do check out the videos below which give you a promotional sneak preview of this NFT Olympic inspired collection along with a time-lapse of my painting in progress.
As you might already have observed, I am continuing to use the amazing Rebelle 4 painting software, working with their digital oil brushes and canvas. The textures are just phenomenal and really simulate the real deal!
Another Digital Painting Case Study
Today I’m showing you the digital painting commission process in a special case study. Watch a video showing you the step by step and hear all about the ideas that inspired my approach to this painting of Jeff & Corina
Today I wanted to share another digital commission case study - see video below - walking you through how my painting of the wonderful Jeff and Corina came together and what ideas inspired my approach.
It was a real privilege to paint this portrait of two people I admire both as amazing dancers and gifted teachers who help others experience and enjoy the power and beauty of dancing for themselves. It is also very exciting to see their classes starting up again, check out @incognito_dance for more info.
The challenge of capturing the mood of a moment, especially one as animated and dynamic as dance, is one I very much welcome.
Have you got a special occasion or experience, perhaps sporting or performance related, that you might like to celebrate in a commissioned artwork?
To find out more about my commission service head click the button below
A Tour de France Inspired painting experiment
Today I’m explaining how the Tour de France inspired my latest painting experiment. Read on to hear all about it and watch a time-lapse of this painting in the making.
Mark Cavendish, Digital Painting
I really enjoyed my experiment with the portrait of Harry Kane and decided to have another go.
This time with the amazing Mark Cavendish, the British sprinter cyclist who is currently testing his limits at the Tour de France. He has just survived the gruelling mountains of stage 17 and has two more sprint chances to come to secure the Green Jersey.
This is my second experiment with the brilliant Rebelle 4, painting software, created by Escape Motions, and I cannot emphasise enough what a joy it is to use. It simulates oil paint and texture in a way that feels so natural.
The sped up time-lapse below gives you a flavour of how I use it, working with wet on wet oils, building up the surface from light to heavy paint.
Exploring sports as context for portraits has been really exciting for me, in many ways it plays with many of the aspects I am drawn to in the realms of dance and performance, namely animation, movement and that active expression of an internal energy.
Do you have a lively portrait in mind that you'd like me to paint?
I invite you to check out my Commission service page, by clicking the button below, where you’ll find all the info you’re looking for.
Rapping with Dr Jacalyn, an interview about who I am and what I do
Talking art with with Dr Jacalyn on her show, read on to find out more.
On the 7th July I spent a very happy afternoon talking with the wonderful Dr. Jacalyn Kerbeck on her programme Dr. Jacalyn’s Interviews, co hosted by the brilliant Al Cini, Ian Turner and Helena Chard.
You can watch my interview in the video below. I kick in around the 42 minute mark, where I talk about how, why and what I paint, showing a couple of demo videos and discussing a selection of artworks.
Portrait of Doug
Today I’m sharing my latest portrait of an energetic pup called Doug. Hear more about his story and watch a time-lapse of how this digital painting came together.
Today’s painting is a portrait of young Doug, a lovable lurcher full of bounce.
Although in the first two weeks of his life all he did was eat and sleep which won him the affectionate title of ‘Doug the Slug.’
Now approaching his first birthday he has certainly come a long way since then and loves his walks in all weathers with his family.
Whilst he is still getting the hang of things, and is yet to realise that his back legs and tail belong to him, his energy and enthusiasm for life more than make up for this.
Have you got a young pup that you would like me to paint?
To find out more about my commission service just click the button below which will take you to a page where I explain everything you need to know.
In Celebration of Harry Kane and a New Approach
Today I’m talking about a couple of things that have recently inspired me and sharing a new digital painting experiment celebrating the wonderful Harry Kane.
I've been rather inspired by a couple of things recently.
One has been the outstanding performance of the England Football team and Harry Kane's goal scoring!
The second is a new piece of software I am playing around with called Rebelle 4, which simulates the use of oil paint, like nothing I've yet experienced.
I decided to have a play around with it, keeping everything very light and free.
This was the result and is my little gesture to say the best of luck to the England team for tonight's big game against Italy!
Harry I hope you have your scoring shoes on and in full swing!
Do let me know what you all think of this painting experiment in the comments below, as it is always good to get feedback on new ideas
In Celebration of a horse called Lewis
Today I am talking about this portrait of a beautiful horse called Lewis. Read on to hear the full story and watch a time-lapse of this painting in progress.
Lewis, Digital Painting
Kind, gentle, dependable and loved, Lewis was a warmblood gelding who very sadly is no longer in the land of the living. It was therefore a particular honour to paint this portrait for his owner.
The painting evolved gradually with the layers of colour building to describe that extraordinary musculature of his face. I never met Lewis but, quietly studying him for this painting, I really felt that ‘gentle’ quality, his owner described, in every nuance of his expression.
See the a time-lapse below, showing how this painting evolved.
If you would like me to paint a portrait of a beloved animal in your life, head over to commission service page by clicking the button below where you will find out everything you need to know.