Furry Friends Friday is Back
After a bit of a pause, my Furry Friends Fridays are now back in swing with my new painting of Jed the Border Collie. Read on to find out all about him and watch a time-lapse of this painting in progress.
Jed, digital painting
I’ve been wearing my admin hat a lot recently so it was with great pleasure that I got back into creating mode this week, painting this beautiful Border Collie called Jed. Check him out @jedstagram
In his former life he spent his days rounding up sheep in Scotland. Now in retirement, he lives in Devon, a big fan of cuddles and the proud older brother to Rose, his new little human sister.
Whilst painting him, I was really struck by his quizzical expression, so full of thought and wisdom. See the time-lapse below to watch how this emerged.
If you have a pet full of character with an interesting story to tell you might be interested to visit my commission service page, where I explain how I can help you turn that story into a beautiful painted portrait of them.
You can find out everything you need to know by clicking the button below.
Wishing everyone a great Friday!
A Father's Day Commemoration
Today I’m talking about my new painting of a Sandhill Crane, celebrating the memory of my father, who always reminded me of the beauty in life.
A Sandhill Crane, digital painting
June has been an emotionally challenging month for me, commemorating as it does, my father's birthday, death and also father's day.
I have been thinking about dad a lot recently and all our many walks and talks over the years. What he would make of the world now and everything that is going on?
Above all I pick back through those conversations for the advice and perspective he used to offer to help me overcome my challenges. No matter what the pressing issue of the day, he would always remind me of the beauty and wonder that surrounded us and when ever I felt lost, just to stop and look outward, engaging with what inspiration the world had to offer.
One of his favourite things to point out on our wonderings were the elegance and grace of the construction cranes across London’s skyline. Feeling a little wobbly this week I thought about what, if he were here, he might like for a father's day gift and I decided to paint him a real crane, flying gently onward as he has done, from this world to the next.
Thank you to Dee Carpenter from @wildlifereferencephotos for her inspiring reference image of Sandhill Crane in flight. Painting this glorious bird has offered me great comfort this week.
As usual see below a time-lapse of this painting in progress.
Hug Your Cat Day
In celebration of National Hug Your Cat Day, I bring you a recent digital painting I made of the wonderful Fluff. Read on to discover her full story along with a time-lapse of this painting in progress.
Fluff, Digital painting
In celebration of National Hug Your Cat Day, I am returning to my Furry Friends Friday theme with a digital painting, recently completed of a special feline called Fluff.
She also goes by the name of Lulu and is very much a cat, owned by none but a friend to all.
The story goes that she was abandoned by her original owner, but being the survivor she is, befriended a host of neighbours and now has her pick of homes and hugs!
In the Frame
My digital painting is now out on the streets of Wandsworth, greeting passers-by. Find out the full story in today’s post.
I am very honoured that my digital painting of the wonderful duo @baccalacompagnia (aka Simone Fassari and Camilla Pessifrom) was chosen to be part of @wandsworthart 's ‘framed’ exhibition.
This was a fantastic initiative by the Wandsworth art’s team to create an outdoor celebration, featuring artworks by 130 local artists, mounting them as banners on lampposts and in shop windows, as a positive gesture of welcome to Wandsworth residents as shops reopen and life returns to the high street once again.
Given that this painting was inspired by a happy encounter with Simone and Camilla walking down a busy, festive, street, it feels very well suited to this purpose!
You can find them on Garratt lane at the junction with Earlsfield road, toward the station, offering a merry greeting to passers-by.