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.
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.
A Little FAQ Session
Today, in the lead up to my commission service launch, I wanted to take little time to focus on some frequently asked questions. Here I share I couple of short videos which will hopefully clarify a couple of things.
As I approach the launch of my official commission service, I thought it would be helpful to start addressing some the frequently asked questions I get, in the hope to help give everyone a better sense of how things work and what I will be offering.
Today I invite you to watch a couple of mini videos I’ve put together.
Digital commission Process Explained
The first looking at the journey of an ‘on screen’ digital painting to a finished, framed, ‘physical’ print.
Oil Painting vs Digital Painting
The second looks at the differences between oil on canvas painting and digital painting, discussing the ways I approach each.
As many of you know the main medium I specialised in for many years was oil painting on canvas. I therefore came to digital painting from a very specific 'fine art' route. I was curious to see if I could translate my skills from one medium into that of another.
Digital painting was a complete revelation to me, allowing me to create and finish paintings at a pace that was, for me, impossible with oils.
Whilst there will always be differences between these mediums, with advantages and disadvantages to both, each nevertheless allows me to create paintings my way and maintain a consistent approach.
Digital painting has given me much more flexibility which has been especially powerful during the last few months; enabling me to create a greater number of paintings and really share and talk about the things which inspire me and my clients.
Creating beautiful artworks, whatever the medium is the ultimate aim and digital painting is one in a long line of historic innovations, even oil painting had its moment of being a new and novel thing!
We are definitely living in interesting times! I hope this little discussion has been insightful and do let me know if you have any further Qs about any of the above.
World Turtle Day
Today I take you on a deep dive into the oceans exploring the story of this Green Turtle and the threatened world in which he lives.
Today is World Turtle Day and I wanted to celebrate it for several reasons.
First I had access to a wonderful photograph taken by two wonderful friends of mine, on a dive they did in Flynn Reef (The Great Barrier Reef), Australia.
It is the first time I have ever attempted to paint an ocean creature, let alone a turtle and I was really curious to take my eyes on a journey into this underwater world of colours and textures.
I also recently watched a powerful documentary called Seaspiracy which completely threw open the door to the devastating impact that Industrial fishing is having on our oceans and the wildlife within them, turtles being one of many species affected.
Recent stats show that 500,000 sea turtles are caught each year as bycatch (unintended catch).
This fella here is a Green Turtle and on the endangered species list. Along with the dangers of fishing nets, their eggs are overharvested, adults are hunted for their parts and as a source of food, and they are gradually losing their beach nesting sites.
Painting this turtle gave me 9 hours to truly study this extraordinary animal who was anything but just green. The complex mix of colours I discovered were out of this world. And I have just learned that green turtles get their name from the greenish colour of their cartilage and fat, not their shells, which makes sense!
I invite you to have a look at the sped up timelapse below, which condenses this 9 hour voyage into just under 9 minutes. I hope it will give you something of the experience I enjoyed in painting this picture.
If you haven’t done so already, I really urge you to watch Seaspiracy (on Netflix) and think about the way we can all help to counteract the powerful and sinister forces of industrialised fishing.
Hughie the Explorer
Today I am continuing my theme of first steps with this digital painting of the wonderful Hughie. Read all about the story behind this painting and watch a video of it coming to life.
The second painting in my ‘first steps’ series has been a beautiful deep dive into the story of a little boy called Hughie.
During a lovely dialogue with his mummy and daddy, where we talked about all the things that were special to Hughie and them, a fantastic range of visual references emerged.
I have incorporated these into this painting, creating a portrait that hopefully works on several layers; capturing a physical likeness whilst also paying tribute to and celebrating those symbolic elements, unique to Hughie and his family.
The stars are a double reference, first to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, sung before Hughie’s bedtime and second, to a much loved piece of artwork that hangs in his home.
The rose is an emblem of the Hospital in which he was born. His favourite toy, Freddy Firefly accompanies him. He wears a cardigan much treasured by his family, which was worn by his daddy as a baby.
The decision to show him in his bouncer became a wonderful nod to various characteristics and with everything combined Hughie has become an explorer flying high into the night sky with Freddy his trusty sidekick.
It is perhaps one of the most detailed digital paintings I have embarked on so far and, combined, has totalled over 20 hours of painting, but what an extraordinary journey it has been. I have put together an abbreviated timelapse of it below, so do take a look.
The Art of Smiling
Today I am exploring a new theme called First Steps Friday, introducing portraits of little ones and their stories. Read on to hear about Artie, whose smiles are very special.
Today I am exploring a new theme I’m calling First steps Friday, creating portraits of little ones.
Most fitting that I should start with Artie’s portrait, my cousin Hannah’s beautiful boy who recently made his entrance into the world. This portrait shows him at 8 weeks old, discovering his first smiles. Hannah explained the power of this moment:
These first smiles were some of his widest! And felt so joyous. They also come at just the right time - when you’re feeling so tired and questioning what you’re doing all the time...the smiles show that you are in fact doing something right!
I kept my approach quite loose on this, it was an action shot after all. And I can hand on heart say it certainly does the spirit good to spend a few hours meditating on a smile, especially one so vibrant and fresh as Artie’s!
Watch the timelapse below to see how this painting evolved. Funnily enough the first track title that accompanies this video is called ‘Mr Sunny Face’ which I think characterises Artie perfectly!
Wishing everyone a very bright, sunny and of course smiley rest of day!
The Power of Dance
Today is International Dance Day and I wanted to mark it with something special celebrating someone who, both in dance and spirit, I am truly inspired by. Read on to discover the amazing dancer this digital painting pays tribute to.
Ezgi Zaman, Dance Allegory, Digital painting, April 2021
Today is international dance day and I wanted to mark it with something special celebrating someone who, both in dance and spirit, I am truly inspired by.
Before lockdown I was dancing several times a week but over the course of the last year, dance gradually became an absent friend. That is, until I signed up for Ezgi Zaman’s zoom classes a few weeks ago.
Since then I have rediscovered what joy and magic dancing can bring, especially when guided by Ezgi’s amazing energy and warmth.
Her classes are as much a lesson in dance philosophy as technique, creating a space to talk about the roots of salsa and our experiences of it. It was one of these conversations that triggered the idea for this painting. Namely how dance helps us to wind back the clock to our childhood when movement is uninhibited and a fully integrated part of our self-expression.
Ezgi says it beautifully (to visit Ezgi’s instagram page CLICK HERE):
Dance is a way to understand who we are! It's not for success in society! It's just a way to find peace in our souls and with all lives around us!
Dancing is not movement which is well matched to the music; dancing becomes real when you take the music out from your body, the melody from your heart always tells the truth.
You can see these thoughts in shining life when you watch Ezgi dance.
In an attempt to capture this spirit, I used a freeze frame of her dancing as my reference point. As such I had to keep my brush strokes much looser, as the detail was out of focus. It was the overall energy and gesture that I was looking at. The background design is very much rooted in this energy and the ideas Ezgi’s dancing and teaching inspired in me.
Watch the timelapse below to see how this painting evolved.
World Burlesque Day
Read all about the collaborations that led to today’s digital painting which celebrates World Burlesque Day!
I am excited to share with you my latest digital painting, literally just finished, of the wonderful dancer Corina!
In celebration of World Burlesque day I reached out to Corina for this collaboration.
This painting was actually based on a circus themed performance she did and, whilst you can't see it, the rest of Corina was on stilts!
So whilst not strictly speaking a Burlesque, I nevertheless felt the razzle dazzle mix of sequins, feathers and general va va voom still hit the mark, hopefully you think so too!
It was a lovely opportunity to really explore ‘drama’ in costume and makeup and what an amazing mood it can conjure.
Watch the time lapse below to see the action unfold.
Millie, the Mountaineer
Today’s digital painting celebrates Millie, a little Patterdale, Jack Russell Terrier mix with a lot of tricks up her sleeve.
Read on to find out more and watch a full timelapse of this painting in progress.
Today’s digital painting celebrates Millie the Mountaineer!
Believed to be a Patterdale, Jack Russell Terrier mix, but she was recued by her family 6 years ago, so no one is entirely sure.
Originally a circus dog, Millie can army crawl you under a table. She is also an enthusiastic walker (with a couple of mountains under her belt) but will happily sleep all day if you let her.
She is a little shy, very gentle and, according to her owner, is ‘as good as gold,’ so much so that she was awarded ‘best small dog’ at her village dog show.
I have painted her here in her mountain gear and very much enjoyed losing myself in the reflections of her eyes which gave a little glimpse of a wonderfully snowy view.
Have a look at the video below to see the full timelapse of how this painting progressed.
Bobby the Corgi Clown
Today’s furry Friday friend digital painting celebrates a young Welsh Corgi, called Bobby. Read on to find out more about him and watch a timelapse of this painting in action.
Today’s furry friend digital painting is of a bouncy, young, tri colour, cardigan, Welsh, Corgi, called Bobby.
He is a little over 6 months and is very much the clown of his family or as owner Emma describes him ‘a little bit of chaos on short legs.'
A big fan of everyone and everything, he is a dog that embraces life to the full, even delighting in the occasional munch on cat poo!
The more animals I paint the more I am tuning into the musical rhythms and colours of their fur. The mix of colouring around Bobby’s ears was particularly beautiful and took me on a rather meditative journey.
See the timelapse below to watch this journey in progress.
Still wondering what these digital paintings might look like on the walls of your home?
I will soon be sharing a series of fun videos showing the full journey of a digital painting from conception to framed print on a wall, so keep an eye out!
Any questions in the meantime do let me know in the comments below!
A Glimpse Behind The Scenes
Today we are going behind the scenes of my digital painting process in a mini introduction on my working set up.
Today I’m taking you behind the scenes, showing you my digital painting set up and process.
In this mini video you see me working on my portrait, now complete, of Boris the cob (click here for the full timelapse and story of Boris)
As you may know my background is in traditional fine art painting and up until last year I was working predominantly in oil on canvas. Lockdown got me experimenting more with digital painting and in doing so I discovered an amazing resource.
The joy of digital is it allows me to apply the same approach and techniques I use in oil on canvas, but I can work faster, with more flexibility. There is no drying time to factor in, no expensive paints, no strong chemical solvents, and no waste.
I will still continue to paint in oil, but I do see many advantages to digital painting, which I will be talking more about in the lead up to the official launch of my digital painting commission service next month.
Boris the Unicorn
Today I offer up my painting of Boris the cob to celebrate, in a rather quirky way, National Unicorn Day. Read all about this very unconventional unicorn and watch a video of how this painting progressed.
Today is National Unicorn day, and my furry friend digital painting has taken a little twist on the theme. I present you with Boris the cob, not your conventional interpretation of a unicorn, but a happy, somewhat shaggy, salt-of-the-earth alternative.
He is gentle and sensitive in nature, with a peculiar fear of plastic bags, which on one occasion caused him to spontaneously jump sideways onto a car.
Full charge in a hunt, he is nothing if not enthusiastic although he has been described as a ‘slightly malcoordinated tank’ by his owners, with his tendency of not paying much mind to obstacles and being a little on the clumsy side.
Boris is the first horse I have had the pleasure to paint and I was completely mesmerised by all the shifting textures of his winter coat!
Jeff & Corina
Today I am sharing my newly finished portrait of the wonderful Jeff & Corina. Read on to hear about the back story to this artwork and see a timelapse of the painting in progress.
Today I’m putting the spotlight back onto the theme of dance with my now finished digital painting of the wonderful Corina (@corinabailarina) and Jeff (@incognito_dance), who have taught me so much over the last few years about salsa.
I started working on the idea for this painting back in July last year, when I was just beginning my digital painting journey.
I ended up recently reworking my original efforts, being more confident in the medium than I was back then. My ultimate aim was to try to capture the spirit and energy of the dancers and something of what the idea of dance represents to me.
A big thank you to the awesome Darryl (@bgumedia) whose photograph was the initial spark that set this painting in motion!
I am keen to build my portfolio of dance and performance inspired paintings and incorporate this into the commission service I will soon be launching.
It is my hope to use my skills and knowledge of dance and performance to help others capture their special moments in artworks that act as joyful reminders of an occasion, an idea or even just a feeling!
If any dancers and performers out there reading this would like to work with me to help celebrate your moments in a painting feel free to get in touch.