Milkweed

For many weeks I have been studying the Milkweed pods along the local trails...

The first is Pen, Ink, watercolour and a bit of white Gouache in the highlights

 

The second is more of a study, actually done first. 

Pen, ink, watercolour using only Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna.

Continuing the wanderings in "The Lakes" ...

Continuing the wanderings in "The Lakes" ...

Grange in Borrowdale

The English Lake District as well as being the home of my family for generations just happens to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Yes I am prejudice ;-)

Alan

Castlerigg Stone Circle remembered

One of the advantages of painting over photography is you don't have to be there to record an image!
The last time I was here was oh so many years ago, but years don't matter here nothing changes except the sky and the stones slowly sinking into the earth.
 
Castlerigg stone circle in Cumbria is without doubt my favourite, it out shines Stonehenge, which to me is naught but a tourist attraction now.

This circle stands on a plateau surrounded by ancient Cumbrian peaks, alone with nothing but the wind and the ravens calling for company.

It takes your breath away.
I hope I have done it justice.

Alan
ps The scanner cut off a bit of the left side!

Skies, Light and Atmosphere

I love David Bellamy's watercolours...
Reading his book entitled 'Skies, Light and Atmosphere' and working on the tutorials in his style is very satisfying ...

Overall I am pleased with this, the foreground was a challenge but I think I pulled it off.
The skies, dark, moody and foreboding are coming along I think.
Cathy said it looks three dimensional ...
Yes !! :-)

Coco Latte

It was one of those days (a week ago) I was waiting to meet up with friends downtown at OX.

I was deliberately early, so I went into Coco Latte in Quebec Street Mall for a cup of something warm and a muffin.
I had already decided not to sit at my usual table but to find a place across the 'street' so I could draw the Cafe.

I started out with pencil, pen and ink.
Later (yesterday) I used water soluble Derwent pencils (shades of gray) and ArtGraf watercolour graphite to tone the scene.

Kathleen II

Kathleen II

This was one of the first photographs I took when went to Newfoundland a couple of years ago. It is still one of my favourites so I decided to try to reproduce the moment more 'emotionally' than accurately.

I do like the smaller boat, I feel that I managed to get the proportions correct.
Overall I am happy with the outcome ...

Alan

Here is the original photo:

https://flic.kr/p/aipZFb

The Old Door

An old "Tuscan" door 

Learning how to make an old brick wall from a few brushstrokes...

It didn't scan too well, the paper is larger than my scanner bed ;-( but I do like the 'original'.

I was quite pleased with how I was able to find the brickwork amongst the scribbled washes of colour.

Alan

A trip back in time..
This was painted in the mid 1990's.

I chose it because it fits in with my blog post from this week ..
http://ajnphotography.blogspot.ca/2015/03/what-do-birds-see-that-we-dont-see.html

Alan