ABANDONED

 

Now that I have my collection of ink pens at hand, I began thinking of doing something a little more complex and settled on this scene. I did a watercolor of this abandoned house that I saw on Lantau Island in Hong Kong some time ago and was pleased with the result. For this one I kept the composition a little simpler and tried to use the light and shadow to greater effect. The black areas were brushed in using ink then I began cross-hatching for the lighter areas. Details were either drawn in or stippled with various dots and dashes and for this I used a 0.8 mm pen. Size of this one is 11 x 8 in (28 x 20 cm), ink on paper.

ALONG THE ALGARVE VII

 

This was another of a series of paintings I did during our trip to the Algarve a few years ago. Like most of those studies, I kept it small. This one was more as an experiment to see if I would be able to capture something of what I saw on a bright but slightly overcast day. The rock formations of the area especially had really captured my artists' eye. In this backlit scene, it was mostly the color of the water that first attracted me to paint. During my first attempt, the water had somewhat eluded me so I recently repainted the sea and with a few other touch-ups here and there, I was finally happy with it. Size is 5 x 7 in (13 x 18cm), oil on canvas board.

YOUNG BALD EAGLE STUDY

 

Wanting to do a painting for a frame that I had lying around, I chose this portrait of a young Bald Eagle as my subject. Since the image would be quite small, I decided to concentrate on the head and shoulders of the bird. Using a smooth paper, I built up a series of washes for the background then started on the head. Usually I paint in the eyes first. If I can get these to look right, the rest of the painting follows along nicely (mostly)! I then continued onto the beak and finally the rather intricate plumage. Nearly all the head feathers were pale tipped so I tried to capture this feature in my painting. Finally after quite a lot of work, I felt that I had captured the essence of this very impressive bird and declared the work finished. Size is 7 x 5 in (18 x 13 cm), watercolor on Arches hot-pressed paper.

GREAT GREY OWL

 

Occasionally I like to try and keep up with my drawing skills - one way of doing this is using pen and ink. Obviously any mistakes will be clear to see so one has to concentrate quite acutely. I usually do a rough pencil sketch first then if all looks good, continue to fill in the details etc with ink. I used to do a lot of these types of illustrations and they have appeared in many books, magazines and bird reports etc. When successful, I get a very warm and satisfied feeling from looking at them. Now that I have all my studio equipment including my collection of ink pens out of storage, I'm sure I will do more of these. This one was done with an ultra fine point Sharpie which has permanent ink. Size is 8 x 5 inches (20 x 13 cm). 

EVENING OVER A NORTHERN LAKE - STUDY

 

During a trip to the Adirondacks in upstate New York some time ago, I took a dip in this lake while the sun set over the distant treeline. I was captivated by both the quality of the clear evening light and the mood of the scene as evening drew in. Mentally composing a painting in my mind, I did a study a little later on then when I arrived home again, I painted a larger watercolor of the same scene which worked out well. This little study has held a special place in my heart bringing back many fond memories of that trip and the paintings I did there. I'll probably use this one again as the basis for a larger oil but perhaps modifying the sky slightly more. Size is 4.5 x 6.5 in (12 x 17 cm), watercolor on paper.

THE BREAKING SEA

 

I'm reposting this Hong Kong coastal painting from a few years ago. Recently I came across it in a box with a few others and after taking a hard look at it, decided that the painting needed a little more work. I felt that the sea needed most attention so this is where I started first. Mostly I wanted a little more movement to the surf so I spent most of the time there. When I was pleased with the balance between the waves and the foam, I lightly defined some of the rocks here and there until I was finally happy with them as well. Often it is the case with many of my paintings, my eye is better able to discern if anything else should be done to the work after it has been put away for a while. Now it is ready for varnishing and framing. Size is 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25cm), oil on canvas board. 

QUIMBY BRIDGE SERIES 1

 

While staying in southern Virginia near the Eastern Shore many years ago, I would often visit Quimby Bridge especially in the evening to watch the sun set over the water. This view was one of many that I chose to paint working mostly in watercolor for initial sketches. Larger works were then composed, done in both watercolor and oil - my largest 30 x 40 inches. I can't say for sure that all these were as successful as I would have liked but were an important past of my artistic development. These works set the basis for a number of similar painting using color and mood. The idea of which I am still working on today. This watercolor is 11 x 14 in (28 x 36 cm).