Trout on Station
Caddis to be added
Oil - evolving artwork

Oil over Charcoal on Gesso Panel
915 x 1220 mm
2012 studio commission - SOLD

Here is a progress picture to show what I'm doing this week. The artwork is now well blocked-in with the undercoats. This is not the finished picture but you can see now which way I am going.

I decided to make a very vibrational but softer backdrop for the caddis moths to be suspended in front of. The dancing caddis moths will be in the exact colour compliment in the spectrum.

The fish will loose some colour to become more menacing as it glides over the pebbles touched by the dabbled light. This’ll become more secretive and liquid soon.

More shade and shadow work to happen yet and also many rocks and pebbles are undefined right now.

The painting is beginning to glow from now onwards and I’ll post a further update after allowing it to dry for a few weeks.

The next stage will be the really freaky one.

 

Retriever Gundogs Heads Montage 1
Labrador - duck retriever among decoys
Study Sketch for Oil - evolving artwork

Oil over Charcoal on Gesso Panel
600 x900 mm
2012 studio work - Reserved

In full production now to be finished 1st week of May 2012.
The ghosts in the blind are next to be tackled...

Anyone can commission me for gundog artworks.
This work is for a special 'one off' print to be an award/prize for the National Retrieving Trials in Western Australia later this year.

Retriever Gundogs Heads Montage 1
Labrador - duck retriever among decoys
Study Sketch for Oil - evolving artwork

Oil over Charcoal on Gesso Panel
600 x900 mm
2012 studio work - Reserved

Continuing artwork series especially for the hunters and trainers of gundogs. This setup will become a full colourful oil painting featuring extra moods with the immediate foreground in shadow and the light falling over the Labrador retriever and the ghosts of a Springer Spaniel, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Duck Tolling Retriever, Curly Coated Retriever and a Flat Coated Retriever.

Gundogs Heads Montage 1
German Shorthair Pheasant Flush
Study Sketch for Oil - evolving artwork

Oil over Charcoal on Gesso Panel
600 x900 mm
2012 studio work - Reserved

As you can see the artwork has plenty of moods.
Although it is unfinished to final result will be very much like this picture.

This work is for a special 'one off' print to be an award/prize for the National Retrieving Trials in Western Australia later this year.

Gundogs Heads Montage 1
German Shorthair Pheasant Flush
Study Sketch for Oil - evolving artwork

Oil over Charcoal on Gesso Panel
600 x900 mm
2012 studio work - Reserved

Here is an artwork especially for the hunters and trainers of gundogs. A few pictures to show you how I get the drama to be progressive. Now it'll develop into fullest colour and action. Featuring Brittany Spaniel, Large Munster Lander, Weimaraner, German Wirehair Pointer, Shorthair Pointer and Vizsla. A pheasant bursts from cover. Ghosts montage and intense. Three different light sources to bring rhythm.

Cape Martin at Beachport in SA - view from Lighthouse
Oil on Prepared Panel
Circa 2003 & finished 2012

Oil
610 x915 mm
Repainted finished 2012

This artwork travelled with me in my collection and I never quite got around to touching it up for final detailing until now.

This'll be shown at the Local Images exhibition in March next.

Framed in stone with square gold lipped slip and a large profile outer of gold silver finish in metallic.

It is available in studio for $2200.

Crate & freight costs by negotiation.

Kelpie Head in Profile
Merino Rams Head Studies
Study Sketch for Oil- evolving artwork

Oil over Charcoal on Gesso Panel
600 x900 mm
2012 studio work

Charcoal setup as if for two pages in a book. It is deliberately constructed as heavy duty drawing to add drama and design triggers for the brush marks. You can already feel the way the impasto brush will be cross-hatching the oils.

I am playing with various emotions here and a complex range of primary light bouncing to tertiary sources of soft light. The secondary light will be derived from the opposite colour spectrum. That'll trick the eye and anyone watching the painting's progress.

It can be a little bit complex but it is certainly an oil setup that is from dark to light in its build-up.

Plenty of ghosts here.

Fox Crow Thievery in the Coorong - Study Sketch for Oil
Charcoal/Oil on Gesso Panel- evolving artwork
600 x900 mm 2012 (studio work - progressive pictures)

Barn Owl Mouse Hunter - Study Sketch for Oil
Charcoal/Oil on Gesso Panel- evolving artwork
600 x900 mm
2012 studio work

An example of setup before real oil painting.
The idea is mood and the adventure begins in charcoal.
Here I used a flat stick of charcoal leaning towards warm hues.

Below is the first tentative efforts and then I get a bit more brazen in approach. Next step is the oil paints impasto which will rattle a few nervous disposition types. I'm running a workshop on this technique soon. Attendees generally get a bit frazzled afterwards...:)

Two Kelpies at Rest - Study Sketch for Oil
Oil on Gesso Panel - evolving artwork
600 x900 mm
2012 studio work

Later this year I am exhibiting at the Annual Casterton Kelpie Muster. In the months ahead a series of Kelpie artworks will feature on this page to show progress of those paintings to be displayed.

The sketch is a setup in charcoal for an oil painting. The shade finds two dogs at rest and dreamily whiling away the hot day. Their eyes are only just open in an attempt to stay alert for action, but you can sense the move to fullest languorous stretching. This artwork is full of drama cross-hatching potential, so stay tuned for the next post to show off the result in oils.

Nude Study on Canvas - Study in Oil No. 11
Oil on Belgian Linen on keyed stretcher
400 x 500 mm
2012 studio work

I am preparing for a series of 'Life drawing' workshops this year and this painting is an example of the sketching and the painting I'll be teaching and writing about.

This particular painting is available for sale on enquiry via email. Visit studio to view.

    sketch in charcoal on canvas before painting