Art Expression - Peter M

watercolour and ink

2011-11-04T12:24:00.000+13:00

Arniston cottages

Having a little playful time with watercolour and ink, I decided to copy an acrylic painting by R W Lawrence of Arniston in South Africa...

I rather like the whitewashed walls and thatch roofs of these iconic cottages

Nigel Bragge

2010-11-16T16:08:00.001+13:00

My friend Nigel has a blog...

http://nigelbragge.blogspot.com/ - called, "Look at what I have just painted"...

So I looked - as one does, and I was instantly aware that Nigel has his own style. Some people just have it...
Others (like me) take a while to figure it out.

So now I am inspired by his blog...
The challenge for my next pic is to create something that is totally different as opposed to a place I have been or something I am reproducing from looking at it in front of me.

Thanks Nige

Watercolour paper - does it matter what type you get?

2009-12-19T16:50:00.000+13:00

I recently did things the old fashioned way and I have to say, sometimes, the basic fundamentals prove themselves to be the best.

What am I talking about? - well... PAPER

I had a whole supply of watercolour paper that I've collected over the years - different sizes - but mostly the same manufacturer.
Mostly - bought from a stationery store. (Not dissimilar to many of you readers from this blog...)

So, with all that paper around, I made a firm committment not to buy any more watercolour paper until I had used it all up.
Then I got a sheet of Art Store paper and went through the whole process of wetting and stretching the paper with gum tape. (more about that later)
And I painted on the stretched paper - thouroughly enjoying the experience again for the first time in years.
Did I get lazy inbetween, or was I just sucked into the clever marketing or ease of mass produced paper?

The point is, at the time I painted on the art store sheet of paper that I'd so lovingly stretched- I also bought another pad of paper too.
I have to say, the manufacturer hasn't done themselves any favours. There is a definite lack of quality from the pad of paper I bought last month - to the comparison of the pad I bought a few years back.

So now I'm spoilt and am going back to doing things the old fashioned way and enjoying the benefit of a better quality paper.

Does it improve my painting skills? Hehe, we'll have to wait and see on that one.

painting people - watercolour

2009-11-14T13:50:00.006+13:00

painting people in watercolour

Another watercolour - originally landscape - cropped and framed to portrait...

Trying to keep things simple here and not be so realistic...
This was done from a photo I took last year.

My thoughts were to capture the essence of sitting outside in the sun, watching Southern Right whales - to give as a gift.

I first started with a simple drawing of the elements I wanted to include

then came a basic/light wash of cobalt
whilst the paint was still wet, I put a blob of raw sienna where the faces are. you'll notice how it expanded...
when that was all dry, I painted the background mountains of Hermanus in ultramarine - making sure that they gradiated light to darker.

painting people - process

I was going to incorporate the foliage of the plant you can see in the photo, but then that is the beauty about painting - you're in charge, so you can decide what elements to incorporate and what elements you want left out.
Had I included the foliage, I think it would have come out in the painting looking like a shadowy monster that detracts from the essence of what I wanted to show.

more to follow...

Guest Artist - Joan Knoesen (2)

2008-12-15T18:35:00.001+13:00

I am back home and will now have a chance to digitally document my grandmother's art - I hope...

There is a story behind this painting - like all paintings I guess, so I'll endeavour to find out the details and share it with you all.

This is a painting of Wuppertal, a small town 72km southeast of Clanwilliam and about 250km from Cape Town. The little shop on the left hand side is where they manufacture and sell veldskoene. A veldskoen is a basic leather shoe - directly translated as 'field shoe'.

Artistic Urge - Creative Surge - Drought

2008-02-08T18:38:00.000+13:00

Anybody ever been here?

The ideas flow and the hand puts brush to paper on a seemingly constant output of art.

T H E N

As suddenly as it starts, the creative energy seems to dry up and nothing happens except good intentions.

I walked past my office the other day and saw my brushes all forlornly standing to attention in the jar that holds them. Paint tubes and the new palette I bought still sit next to them.

Solution/s...?

Volcano and paint

2008-01-15T20:30:00.001+13:00

this an image I took from our recent holiday to 'volcano country' in the middle of New Zealand's north island. I think I will enjoy painting it.

Or, anyone want to paint it and send me a pic to appear in the GUEST ARTIST slot...?

On the road to Havelock - South Island, NZ - Acrylic

2007-09-15T23:41:00.001+12:00

My latest venture in acrylic landscape from one of my photos.
I thought it would turn into an interesting project - using three canvas panels. This was a decision based on necessity...

1) I didn't have one of those long skinny canvas blocks -
2) the thought of trying to transport it (if I did have one) was not something that appealed to me
3) I DID have one of those cheap 3-packs so decided to use it creatively for one project

Will be back to write details but enjoy the photos in the meantime...

Sketching with violet always works for me.

Looking more like the Antarctic...

Here I used a watery dilution of Blue Lake to "prime' the white background.
There is still some left - I have it in the fridge in a plastic yoghurt container with a cling wrap film for a lid. No kids in our house so no fear of it being drunk by mistake...

Painting some of the fields and hills with lemon yellow, yellow ochre and cool yellow. I did these in thin layers of yellows so the optical mixing of the blue underneath made green...

Then a bit of burnt umber to define the leafless trees and bushes...

Using a few more layers of blue lake to define the sky - I chose to keep the clouds out of the scene, but think they might have to be added at some stage - too BLUE...
More definition to the hills using ready mixed greens with some ochre and white to highlight the ridges.

Now I'm beginning to think this is turning into a "dull" painting, but learning as I go.
My last trip past this spot gave me another opportunity to view the hills at a different time of day, so I'll be able to 'draw' on that when I get to the next step...

Guest Artist - Tero Nurminen

2007-08-12T11:42:00.000+12:00

This is from Finnish artist Tero Nurminen based in Helsinki.
Click the link to see more incredible works by Tero.

When I first saw this painting I was amazed and said, "Now that is real art...".
Especially since I have a "thing" for frogs.

Here is some info from the artist himself...
size: of the painting is 150cm x 240cm.

medium: acrylic on canvas.

name: sweaty afternoon.

Look also my art from the Finnish artists union home pages:
www.artists.fi and there is page named: verkkomatrikkeli.
Then search by name: Tero Nurminen.

You can also check Saatchi gallery online, and search by my name.
There are my latest works which are very strong paintings in my opinion.

They are painted by flowing acrylic paint on canvas when painting is laying on the floor. Canvas is cotton duck and its own colour is important element in the finished painting.

best regards

Tero Nurminen

What is this? - Acrylic Ink on Watercolour Paper

2007-07-20T21:01:00.000+12:00

This is a recent painting I did for Painting About Com's July Painting Project.
But before I tell you all more about it, I'd love some comment on what you all think it might be...
Just a little bit of research to see what different views people have of this painting...
Hit the "comments" link below this post to let me know.
Thanks very much...

Well, that was the painting... Now for the inspiration of it...
It was taken from this Google Earth image and from browsing Google Earth of this place in the north west of South Africa.

Art Expression

Guest Artist - Joan Knoesen (1)

2007-07-06T11:20:00.001+12:00

Joan Knoesen - "On the road to Wanaka" - Oil on canvas panel- 8 by 10 inches
Central Otago, south island, New Zealand

This painting is by South African artist Joan Knoesen and was taken from a photo I sent to her a few years ago.
From an early age I remember being captivated by my grandmother's art - her ability to put paint on a canvas and produce an image that evoked emotion and thought is, I'm sure where my love of art grew from.

Whatch this space for more art from Joan Knoesen...

Art Expression

Ink Flow

2007-07-01T11:00:00.000+12:00

Another ink doodle that I like and since some of my other paintings have been relegated to the definition of 'practice runs' - it is here...

Art Expression

Bright Ink

2007-06-16T21:36:00.001+12:00

There's something quite theraputic about swirling pigment around a watery parchment...

No set rules to follow - it evolves naturally and takes on an abstract quality.
I'm amazed how the tiniest drop of coloured ink can expand from deep intensity to bright and even flow of colour. The real excitement for me is when another colour is added and given a slight guiding stroke or three with the tip of my paintbrush - then watching how it all evolves...

Using the three primary colours - this is the result.

I'm having fun with ink and water at the moment - building up to gaining confidence to tackle a large watercolour landscape.

Art Expression

Here's lookin' at ya...

2007-06-09T11:47:00.000+12:00

In the interests of keeping my blog active by posting to it on a regular basis - I thought this pic would be amusing...
It came up on my screensaver the other night and "spoke" to me.

This photo was taken during my developmental series (so it is not part of the photos I have of the finished painting) and was shot up close and at an angle.

Hope to be back soon with the latest painting stages...

Art Expression

Rusty Talent...

2007-05-22T20:41:00.000+12:00

It's been a good few months since I spent some time with watercolour paints and my first foray into the medium after this results in this pic. Putting it in a frame thankfully detracts from the 'schoolboy' art of the painting...

I used only a few 'basic' colours to keep things simple and it was a fun little experiment.

Art Expression

"Callie's Fluke" - final - framed

2007-05-21T11:52:00.000+12:00

CALLIE'S FLUKE - acrylic on watercolour board - 225mm x 305mm - May 2007.

And here it is, the final painting for Callie - 'rescued' as a potential flop and now as a gift to a friend from cyberspace.
Many thin layers of paint have been glazed over to give the sky an almost photographic clarity.
It is one of those paintings best viewed from a distance to impart the full effect.

To view the process of this painting, please scroll down to the next post...

Art Expression

How to Ruin a Painting - 101

2007-04-09T16:39:00.000+12:00

Ok, so the title is a li'l over damatic, but I'm going to show you step by step how to ruin a painting...
All was going well until STEP: #5 onwards...

So,
STEP # 1:
Take a spare watercolour board and draw the picture, sketching with the paint to show definition... Got it?

STEP # 2:
Decide on some bright colours to use and continue building up layers of brightness.
Remember your motto, "Expressing life through colour..."

STEP # 3:
Continue with layers of bright and vivid sunset colours.
This painting now takes shape and is working out rather well...
This would have been a good place to stop and reconsider
the options.

STEP # 4:
Going gangbusters - the whole painting is coming together nicely. Then, this is probably where you should stop and call it quits by doing nothing more on the background... If you've been fortunate enough to get some honest feedback, you probably would have been told to concentrate just on getting the whale defined...

STEP # 5:
This is where it all goes horribly wrong...
Know when to stop! Don't think by adding some more red colour to the sunset sky that it will liven things up more.
And, PLEASE, if you're using vivid transparent colours - don't go randomly using pastel and opaque - (colours that cover up the areas already painted)

STEP #6: 29 April 2007

Perhaps this should come under the title " How to rescue a ruined painting"..?
So this is where I am up to on this and totally stuck... I've painted over the lighter colours with mixes of paynes gray, permanent purple madder, quinacridone red violet. Repainted the sea and sky with yellow to diffuse the intense red "hit" of the previous pic but I'm no longer enjoying the process. I'll give it one more go and then decide if what I've done has worked. Otherwise I'll start another whale picture on actual acrylic board instead of watercolour board.
Thanks for your patience Callie - one of these months, you'll have a whale from New Zealand hangin on your wall...

Art Expression

Red Eyed Tree Frog - 5 -

2007-03-18T14:52:00.001+12:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog - 5 - Part 8

"Consummatum est"

I'm not doing anymore on <-- this frog. At some point one has to declare, "IT IS FINISHED!" And in comparison to the other frog paintings already declared consummatum est - this one joins them... All these tree frog paintings you see here are on 100cm by 80cm stretched canvas.

I'm taking a well deserved break from frogs for the time being (even though my focus remains on completing my series...) but I am keen to get back to doing a few more watercolour landscapes.
Watch this space...

Art Expression

2007-03-14T10:05:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog - 5 - Part 7

Well, I've dealt to the rather blue background leaf and this is the result.
Yesterday I bit the bullet and decided it would either work or totally ruin the painting.
Instead I've landed up in no-man's land. It isn't ruined but it certainly isn't fixed.

I used Light Green to paint over the obvious blue areas of the leaf - blending that into the rest of the painting. Then I spent the whole day glazing over the background with diluted layers of Light Green. Waiting for it to dry before applying the next layer and the next - and so on.
Lesson/s learnt?: Viridian Hue is a lovely colour - BUT - only in the right context. I should have been brave enough to mix my own dark green from the start...

So my thoughts at the moment are:

that the background has lost some of it's solidness

the frog looks like it's hovering on the leaf rather than sitting on it

the luminosity of the frog body is lost in the optical mixing of the background

etc, etc, etc

My solution:
to put the painting back in the office and get on with other unfinished paintings until my mind has time to 'come up with the answer' or a friendly comment is left with helpful suggestion/s

Art Expression

Red Eyed Tree Frog - 5 - Part 5 and 6

2007-03-11T23:03:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog - 5 - Part 5 and 6

After my few days off from frogging I decided to get out the Lemon Yellow and Blue Lake to finally start painting the body. I have an unexplained aversion to mixing my own greens, but I do like the way Lemon Yellow and Blue Lake mix.

I squeeze out a blob of yellow and then squeeze about a fifth of that of blue - on the lid of a plastic ice cream container... No airs or graces with me - I don't even own an easle (though it's on my wish list)
Then: it's paint brush into water, (for the frog body, I only used a #12 Haydn) mixing the two together slightly on the plastic lid and transferring what's on the brush to the canvas where it's mixed further by the brush strokes and more water if required. (This frog body was painted differently to the ones in my previous series' - those were mixed directly on the canvas with a much thicker conistency and applied mostly with a dappled effect. This one was painted using flowing strokes. I didn't have to be too concerned about "detail" because the previous underpainting stages had taken care of that.)
Where I need to, I add more blue or yellow directly to the painted canvas (while it's still wet) to define specific areas. Check out the link above about mixing greens.

That was the left hand side pic...

With the frog image on the right, I used washes/glazes of just Lemon Yellow to bring out the consistency I was after. As you can see, it has made the frog more luminous and vibrant.

Then a little more Orange on the hands and feet and Titanium White to accentuate the highlights brings me to this point.

Now I have to figure out how to deal to the leaf background, so will be back when that's done...

Art Expression

Red Eyed Tree Frog - 5 -

2007-02-28T20:54:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog - 5 - Part 4

So this is how the next espisode continues. I used mixes of Blue Lake and Phthalo Blue to paint in the blue areas you see here. Thin dilutions of Blue Lake were used to accentuate some areas on the frog body too.

Then I used mixes of Orange, Medium Yellow and Brilliant Red to paint in details on the "hands and feet" of the frog. Finishing off with just Brilliant Red to colour in the eyes.

Burnt Sienna was used in the central 'vein' of the leaf to bring it out more and define some of the shadow. I had high hopes of using washes of the same colour to brown up the leaves which I think are looking too blue... Something else required my attention - so this is where I'm up to for now...

Art Expresion

Red Eyed Tree Frog 5

2007-02-21T08:30:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 5 - Part 3

Nothing like a bit of viridian hue to liven up the background...
Again, I used various dilutions of the hue and like the way it has come out so far.

I decided to paint the background now before concentrating on the body of the frog - my reasoning being that when I do the final background, I can paint a definite and smooth line to make the frog stand out from the rest of the painting.

Art Expression

Red Eyed Tree Frog 5

2007-02-20T09:10:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 5 - Part 2

I used a 'cheap' student acrylic called warm yellow to define some more areas of the frog - again, in various dilutions to help me when I get to 'fill in the gaps' later.
The same yellow was glazed over where the stem and leaves are.

Then I used a quality acrylic of light green to paint in the leaves.
I'm not too happy with the way the background leaf on the top left hand side came out so will be giving that some more definition soon.
And, this is where I'm up to...

Not sure if I should 'complete' the backgound first or fill in the body of the frog - not a major drama since this particular tree frog painting is one that I'm enjoying - it seems to flow a lot better for me than the other 4 I did. Practice does make things easier...
Already, I'm beginning to toy with the idea of doing a monochrome frog painting as my next project...

Art Expression

2007-02-19T17:55:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 5 - Part 1

So begins the fifth tree frog painting that I am doing on 1metre by 80cm canvas.

Having painted horizontal versions so far I thought it time to go "long-ways" but hadn't yet found a picture that I like.
After drawing the frog on a white canvas I first used white fabric paint to outline the highlights.
This pic doesnt show it, but because the fabric paint is thick - it 'stands out' on the canvas. (I've found that if I'm aware of light and shadow from the start - and keep that in mind throughout the painting process then it is a lot easier [for me] to keep the painting grounded.)
Then I decided to add tonal features (using dilutions of violet) to see how it would turn out - and this is the result so far...
A good reference for shadow...

Art Expression

Art Expression Blog - Peter M

2007-02-11T11:59:00.000+13:00

Feel free to click on the

Blog Archive links (on the side bar panel) to see more art...

alternatively, pres "ctrl + end" and click the link that says Older Posts

Any suggestions or comments will be most appreciated.
Just click on the comments link below this post (or the specific post you would like to comment on) and a message window will open for you to type your contribution.

Art Expression - Peter M

Red Eyed Tree Frog - Red Series

2007-01-31T09:17:00.001+13:00

My first red eyed tree frog painting (on the right hand side) and my latest frog - on the left.

If you would like to see the developmental stages of these pics, click on the label RED SERIES at the bottom of this post.

I painted over the mitre leaf in the painting on the left and changed the head of the frog from the 'camel humps' of the right to one 'hump' on the left.

So, lets have a vote on which frog painting you prefer - left or right? ...
Funny thing too about photographing my art - it never seems to be a 'true' reflection of the original...

Art Expression

Red Eyed Tree Frog - side by side for comparison

2007-01-12T14:18:00.000+13:00

There's only space on my viewing wall for one large painting at a time.

These tree frog paintings had to be placed side by side in the lounge.
I lay down in front of them to give an indication of how "big" they are but that looked a bit 'cheezy' so sent those pics straight to the recycle bin.

I think they are finished and ready for selling. You?...

Now I'm off to do another red background painting and will look at doing another tree frog painting in portait size since the frogs I've painted so far have been landscape orientated.

'til later.....

Art Expression

Red Eyed Tree Frog - 3 - "Green series"

2007-01-02T08:08:00.001+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 3 - Part 5

And so the red eye tree frog painting develops to this...

I don't think I have been defeated by green. In fact I'm now beginning to actually think this is the best frog painting I have done so far.

For the face I used a lot of lemon yellow and blue lake. No white at all in that mix.

When the painting dried, I used white for the highlights and fixed up the eyes some more.

My wife thinks there is too much white on the face so I might have to re-green the frog a little...

Anyway, the next pic on here will be the final of this painting and then I start another one with the red leaves.

- If you want to see the sequence of paintings for this, just click on the GREEN SERIES label beneath this post.

Art Expression

2006-12-28T23:03:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 3 - Part 4

I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY GREEN !!!

Today I painted:
the belly using lemon yellow, warm yellow, green and white
the arm of the frog using white, lemon yellow and blue lake
the 'hand' in the foreground with warm yellow and orange
and some work on the face.
Oh, and another 'glaze' on the background...

I'm hell-bent on making a success of this painting by actually completing it soon.

Art Expression

2006-12-26T20:39:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 3 - Part 3

I haven't even started on the body of this tree frog yet - nevermind the red eyes...

Enjoying the painting process but not this particular painting.
It's a really big size - 1metre by 80cm to make a mess of and not easily gotten rid of (if it were a watercolour I could chop it up for bookmarks...)

I'm still thinking this tree frog looks like a cartoon rather than a painting.
Hopefully by the time I get to paint the frog's body - it will resemble a more 'realistic' look. I've spent hours on this one so far and really trying to get the leaves right.
Payne's gray was applied in various dilutions to get the shadows 'right' and define the huge leaf. I'm starting to wish I'd painted a banana leaf instead.
The face shadows were dry brushed with Payne's gray as well.

The background got another brushing of green paint and a thin layer of yellow paint to cover the ochre which I thought was looking too dull.

Any helpful suggestions anyone?

Art Expression

2006-12-22T10:05:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 3 - Part 2

This tree frog IS proving to be a little challenge.
I've found I have to be very careful with my observations.

In this 'episode' of my painting's development I painted a few layers of light green in a water colour-type wash.

Whilst that was still wet, I brushed some viridian hue where the shadow was intended to be...

I then used blue lake to define the black bits and went to give more green into the leaf by using a mix of phthalo blue and medium yellow.

Having put a little too much blue on the tray, I used it up by layering the previous black bits and shadows. Standing back and looking at the overall pic I decided to bring some more yellow ochre to the background - using a flick or few of leftover green into the mix as well.

After that, I used a thicker wash of medium yellow to define the thick veins of the leaf.

And that's where we are up to... The red eyes of the tree frog are very tempting but I'm saving that for another time.

If I'm not back before the new year - have a great festive season...

Art Expression

2006-12-21T23:37:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 3 - Part 1

And so begins my third painting in the series, "Red Eyed Tree Frog"...

In case you're wondering, the 'cracks' are the veins of the leaves.
I've painted them in a funny mix of yellow, lemon yellow and yellow ochre.
I think this tree frog painting will be very interesting as a study in green...

Art Expression

Red Eyed Tree Frog 2 - Agalychnis Callidryas

2006-12-21T23:29:00.000+13:00

Well I guess this tree frog is about as finished as I'm going to be with it unless someone points out an obvious flaw.
I fixed up the body and head and concentrated on the left side "fingers" of the frog.
Then I spent a while on the borders, tyding them up so the colours on the side match the front of the tree frog.

A bit more touching up of the red leaves and "Hey Presto!" painting ready for selling...

Art Expression

2006-12-16T12:25:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 2 - Part 5
Agalychnis callidryas (amphibian)

I went back and painted more definition on the red leaves.

Then looking at what I'd done I thought I'd 'ruined' it...

So, the canvas stayed in the office for a few days until yesterday when I got the 'creative urge' again - and there was no stopping me... I put in a few hours of concentrated effort and completely forgot to take photos of the progress.

What did I do?...

I decided to give the background a glazed look. Having recently read somewhere about glazing I thought I'd try it on this one since the background covers a large proportion of the canvas...

Glazing is simply a lot of thin layers of colour. Click the link to find out more...
Very easy to do but is Sooooo time consuming.

Another 'trick' I learned about mixing green paint - painting the under-colour blue and then building up layers of thin yellow paint on top of it to produce the required green.

Thankfully I was able to take a pic of the bottom right border of the canvas (which got forgotten about at the time) to show you here. Using BLUE LAKE colour I built up three layers of glaze.

I then used layers of LEMON YELLOW to paint over it to produce the colour you see here...

Now I am off to focus on the frog body and - hopefully - somehow, define the outline from the background...
I have to fix up the right hand side bottom red leaf since some blue lake paint ran and dried on me before I could wipe it all away.
Plus I have to fix up the eyes a bit since some of the glaze got on there too...

Art Expression

2006-12-02T15:41:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 2 - Part 4
Agalychnis callidryas (amphibian)

I've given more definition to the 'leaves' and the yellow of the flowers. One thing I did concentrate on in this painting are the contrasts between colours, highlights and lines. It seems to be working well so far - usually when I've painted, I blend everything and then outline at the end. Being aware of the use of contrast right from the start seems to make ths painting stand out a lot more.
I also started working on the frog - as you can see, so am slowly bringing it to life...
I'm off to work on the red foliage now cause it's bugging me a bit and will be back with the next update soon...

Art Expression

2006-12-01T21:41:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 2 - Part 3
Agalychnis callidryas (amphibian)

Slowly slowly I build up definition of the leaves and flowers, layer upon layer of colour.
Ok, that sounds a little slow and pedantic, but for the most part, my hand is working quickly.

The eyes were looking a tad jaded so I filled in the pupils with violet and will add to it until I get that 'almost black' look. Continuing with the violet colour I also added some to accentuate the darker leaves and shadow.

So, now I'm done painting for the day and will see you tomorrow or the next day with the next update...

Art Expression

2006-12-01T16:28:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 2 - Part 2
Agalychnis callidryas (amphibian)

Figuring out what to paint next is a little challenge. I like to paint a thin layer of different coloured paints to give me an idea of definition, taking care to check where highlighted and shadow bits are. As always, I think the eyes of the frog are the focal part so usually always paint them at the beginning. They're small enough to stand out and it gives me the 'boost' I need to feel confident in my ability to carry on...

2006-12-01T16:17:00.000+13:00

Red Eyed Tree Frog 2 - Part 1
Agalychnis callidryas (amphibian)

It all starts with an idea mulling around in my head - brought on by what inspires and moves me. I like Red Eyed Tree Frogs... Why? - dunno, just do...
Looking at photos and other pictures I reach a point where I say, "I recon I could do that..." and off I go. Then comes the fun part - effort... Getting a canvas, priming it with a background colour and drawing the composition so that it is balanced - ready for the next stage...

Art Expression

Guest Painting: - Queen of the night - painted by Valerie

2006-11-24T11:25:00.000+13:00

My art has taken a bit of a 'backburn' with all the other stuff I have on the go at the moment, so thought I'd put this painting by Val on here as the latest guest painting. I think it's great...

It's called "Queen of the night" cactus flower - acrylic on canvas block.

Apparently it only only bears 1 flower and has a very sweet, strong scent - at night time of course. Here's a link if you would like to know more about the plant...

http://www.missouri.edu/~riceg/epiphyllum/

Feedback - red eyed tree frog

2006-10-25T10:22:00.000+13:00

"Great trade and the painting looked even better than I expected. "

Well, a little bit of self promotion can't be bad... This painting sold on Trade-Me (NZ equivalent of e-Bay) and that was the feedback given.

I'm having "issues" with my current tree frog painting and have now painted over the thing with ochre - ready to start again. Couldn't do that with watercolour...
The green paint I mixed didn't quite turn out as anticipated. It came out all kinda dark and milky (good for waterlily pads) whereas I like vivid and in-yer-face... But that's OK, the slight frustration has been sent to the 'experience folder' and I'm looking forward to the next creative session.

I primed a canvas board in greys and am going to do another pansy painting in the meantime. Looking to improve on the one done a while ago. So keep in touch and see it on this blog next week.

Art Expression - Peter Moulder

Creating a Body of Work and other such stuff

2006-10-16T17:32:00.000+13:00

Filling in time on the weekend I looked for sites that might be useful to me in my latest art endeavours.
Came across THIS one which I found useful...
The title is: Develop a painting style and create a body of work for a gallery.
I think finding my painting style is going to be a little difficult without a body of work... The body of work I have at the moment amounts to a hodgepodge of different paintings in different media - watercolours and acrylic with nothing resembling anything like some of the requirements I've read in various articles. Art is meant to be fun and so it shall continue to be for me...
Notwithstanding that, I do realise the importance of sticking to a definite theme.
So the two themes I have decided to concentrate on will be my favourite red eyed tree frogs and Argave plants. By doing heaps of paintings on these alone, I hope to show my 'expertise' here...
Three canvases have already been primed - ready to experiment and have fun.

Art Expression

Red Eyed Tree Frog - FINAL Experiment - Acrylic on streched canvas 100x80cm

2006-10-02T17:21:00.000+13:00

S O L D

S O L D
This is the final pic of the painting, "Red Eyed Tree Frog - Art Expression - Peter Moulder" before it sold. I touched up where necessary and defined the highlights.

Now I can focus on finishing the two other big frog paintings. . .

Agave canvas block set

2006-08-15T13:56:00.000+12:00

I've added another painting to my "Blue" Agave canvas block set - top left.
As well as 'touching up' the other three.
All are now ready for selling... Will let you know how it's gone.

Art Expression - Peter M

Red Eyed Tree Frog - Experiment 4a - Acrylic on streched canvas 100x80cm

2006-07-31T13:31:00.000+12:00

A new camera and a few more brush strokes equals this result of my painting. "Red Eyed Tree Frog ".
I'm beginning to wonder if this will ever get finished. I've set my goal to complete it by the first week of August and have it up on TradeMe or E-bay within days after that.
Now I'll get to see just what people really think about paying for and putting a large bright painting on their wall...
All I really have left to do is tidy up the "black" areas and give a bit more attention to the mouth and leaves.

Art Expression - Peter M

Guest Painting: - Blue Protea - painted by Valerie

2006-07-30T20:56:00.000+12:00

Blue Protea - 46x35cm - Acrylic on board. This was painted by Val, and inspired by a photo from RAYSCAM.
Unfortunately the camera did not pick up the luminosity and intense blue of the actual painting...

Red Eyed Tree Frog - Experiment 4 - Acrylic on streched canvas 100x80cm

2006-07-14T14:32:00.000+12:00

Red Eye Tree Frog - Having painted the eyes and given definition to the foliage, this semi final update is the result. I painted the body of the frog and face using a stipple effect. Then I used long flowing brush strokes to give a smoother texture to the leaves. All that remains to do now is to paint in the white highlights and solidify the background 'black' shapes. I'm still in two minds about the 'Bishop's cap' sticking out of the head. This may or may not be removed by the time the final pic is presented.

Our precious digital camera got dropped by me so until it is replaced I have to revert to using my cell phone to take pics - hence the lack of detail in this photo...

Art Expression - Peter M

Red Eyed Tree Frog - Experiment 3 - Acrylic on streched canvas 100x80cm

2006-07-14T12:51:00.000+12:00

Red Eye Tree Frog - painting in the eyes was my next task, and since I was painting in shades of red - and in the mood to continue, I started to put a little more definition on the leaves. I chose red over green because I'm not that good at mixing greens in acrylic yet, and because the underbelly of the frog had to be a reflection of the foliage. This is artistic licence since the real frog has a white underbelly... Standing back and looking at the picture - I'm not too sure about the leaf sticking out of its head like a Bishops cap... Anyone want to add a suggestion?

Art Expression - Peter M

2006-06-28T10:38:00.000+12:00

A funny thing happened on the way to getting the frog eyes done. The weekend sprung up on me like a nice surprise. And... now I have the flu real bad and dont want to attempt any painting until I feel better. Yesterday I did manage to photograph most of my art as it would look framed... So, watch this space and I hope to be back real soon with the latest progress.

Red Eyed Tree Frog - Experiment 2 - Acrylic on streched canvas 100x80cm

2006-06-22T16:33:00.000+12:00

Red Eye Tree Frog - today I painted the background yellow, and all the "black" areas with Phthalo Blue. The areas which show shading have been 'dry-brushed' with grey. I painted the final highlight bits in white already to keep the spaces as a reference point for when I finish the painting.
morrow I will be painting the eyes as they will be the focal point...

Art Expression - Peter M

Red Eyed Tree Frog - Experiment 1 - Acrylic on stretched canvas 100 by 80cm

2006-06-21T15:30:00.001+12:00

Red Eye Tree Frog - This is my latest venture in Acrylic painting. It is a streched canvas, 1metre by 80cm, of a red-eyed-tree-frog. The original was from a photo taken at Sun City in South Africa and scanned onto an overhead, then 'beamed' onto my canvas whilst I 'traced' around the image.
(I think I've mentioned that my drawing skills are minimal...).
I will be posting pics of my painting progress here in various stages until the finished work is accomplished. Anyone want to buy it?

Art Expression - Peter M

Acrylic "Inspired" paintings - Pansies on Grey - 20cm x 13.5cm

2006-06-21T14:30:00.000+12:00

I decided to move on from the Agave boost and these are my results... All three were "inspired" (copied) from Duane Keiser... They are on canvas board.
Perhaps at this stage I should define the difference between "INSPIRED" and INSPIRED...
"Inspired" means something 'copied' from another artist or painting...
Inspired is simply that - refering to my own interpretation of something I have seen and painted

Pansies - 20cm x 13.5cm

I like the vivid colours: brilliant magenta, brilliant violet, ultramarine blue, lemon yellow, payne's grey, blue lake, phthalo blue and heaps of white...

Art Expression - Peter M

Blue Iris - acrylic

2006-06-21T14:28:00.000+12:00

Iris - 20cm x 16cm
I've got a long way top go to figure out how to paint glass in acrylic...

Art Expression - Peter M

Tulips - acrylic

2006-06-21T14:26:00.000+12:00

Tulips - 20cm x 19.5cm

Art Expression - Peter M

Canvas Panel - African design, 30.5x60.5cm each

2006-06-21T14:23:00.000+12:00

Two panels done in Acrylic - "inspired" from a sheet of fabric...

Art Expression - Peter M

Trying out with Acrylic

2006-06-14T17:48:00.000+12:00

Starting with 6 and 8 inch canvas blocks I thought I'd give painting in acrylic a go and was inspired by the Agave plants for their structural form. Can't go wrong with simple lines I thought - so these are the results in different colour combinations.

Art Expression - Peter M

yatch - watercolour

2005-04-07T11:56:00.001+12:00

Mucking around with colour and painting the sky at an angle.
This is not an original picture, but copied from an art flyer...

Art Expression - Peter M

Art Tools

2005-03-23T10:09:00.000+12:00

This weeks theme was a still life of some of my art tools. Drawing skills are a little off - the pot looks lopsided but the painting still took me half an hour to complete.

Any suggestions on what you would like to see painted for the next project?

Art Expression - Peter M

On the road to Culverden

2005-03-16T19:18:00.000+13:00

This was a picture I always wanted to capture - a clump of trees on the dry hills of the Hurinui district NZ.
It was looking rather washed out so I used guash to paint over it in places - done quickly and in frustration, but then I think it works...

Art Expression - Peter M

Storm Approaching

2005-03-16T19:13:00.000+13:00

Capturing the stormy skies of Kaikoura NZ, I took artistic licence in painting the 'cliffs'.
Scraping the wet colour with the edge of a credit card gave definition which quite surprised me.

Art Expression - Peter M

Hoar Frost

2005-03-16T19:10:00.000+13:00

It always amazes me how some of the fastest painted pictures produce some interesting results.
Again, I used the credit card to scrape paint off the paper - for the house roof - bottom left, the definition of branches in the trees and the ground to the bottom right.
Have tried to recreate this painting on a larger scale, but those attempts have been cut up for bookmarks...

Art Expression - Peter M

Seascape

2005-03-16T19:08:00.000+13:00

Another fast painting that surprised me...
Running white guash through the wet sea produced an interesting foam to the waves.

Art Expression - Peter M

Whalewatch

2005-03-16T19:06:00.000+13:00

This was done a few years ago from a postcard.

I touched it up last week by darkening the sky at the top.

Limiting the colours I used was a fun experiment.

Colour Study - Oil Pastels

2005-03-14T14:26:00.000+13:00

I enjoyed doing these because they turned out better than I expected.
The pictures themselves are large - the square measuring 50x50cm and the side panels half that (naturally).
The green and purple remain unfinished...

Art Expression - Peter M

Bowl of Apples - Watercolour

2005-03-14T14:21:00.000+13:00

This I 'cropped' since the rest of the picture didn't work for me - it was a bowl of apples on a chair...
Painting over the apples with a blob of red made them stand out rather than looking washed out.
Putting the brown paint at the base of the fruit and around the bowl rim (to me), gives it grounding.

Art Expression - Peter M

Ink It

2005-03-14T08:42:00.000+13:00

Having fun with inks at the moment. Interesting to see how little of the medium is required. So far my attempts at painting with ink have been for flowers. I like the luminosity that it gives and am now looking forward to doing some landscape pictures soon...

Glowing Ink

2005-03-14T08:38:00.000+13:00

This one was a mission. I found the simple drawing on artpaper I did well over two years ago, so decided to fill in the gaps with colour... Having been out of practice with 'ink flow' it was all going sour and I had to use a lot of ink to cover up my 'mistakes' - with the result that the background is quite dark. I like how the flowers seem to glow but don't want to do any more with it in case it totally ruins... I have a black mat around it on the wall which looks OK...

Flowers Abstract -Ink

2005-03-14T08:37:00.000+13:00

This painting seems to hover with nothing being grounded but I like it...might do another one and see how it varies...

Posted by Hello

Ink Flowers 3 colours

2005-03-14T08:35:00.000+13:00

Using Red, Yellow, Blue ink - this was the result

Posted by Hello

Ink Flowers

2005-03-14T08:33:00.000+13:00

Same three colours, this time using black ink with a rigger brush to add bold definition. I can hear my art teacher at school saying black should be avoided, but here I think it works...

Posted by Hello

Abstract

2005-03-14T08:31:00.000+13:00

This was fun - doodling with other ink colours and water... At first I didn't like it but it's grown on me.

Posted by Hello