Still life, stitched

I managed to get the still life I showed yesterday stitched.  I'm not sure if I am going to leave it as is, or add more paint and/or mark making.  I will probably print out the photo onto watercolour paper and experiment with it that way.   I wish I had left the pears with only a little stitching, as they leap forward now, and I don't want to add a lot more stitching to the rest of the picture.

Printing onto watercolour paper (or thin canvas) is something I have done for a few years now, and is very freeing, as if things go wrong I can always print out another copy to work on.  I also play about with the photo's of my work in Photoshop, changing the colours and tones, cropping and even stretching or adding artistic filters.

Stitched Still Life, acrylic, collage, stitch, 8 x 8 inch

I have also including a quick collage I made using transparent papers.  I like to use up any surplus acrylic paints or inks with transparent papers that I can then use in collage.  I use thin greaseproof (deli paper), catering tissue which is like the paper they wrap bread in at the bakery, and dressmakers tissue.

Still Life collage 8 x 9 inch

The pears are greaseproof paper, which wrinkles when wet and leaves these lovely marks when you paint it with very liquid colour.  The only problem with making collage papers in this way is I find it difficult to stop, and have mounds of them.

Still Life on canvas

I hurt my shoulder last night, so haven't managed to do much today.  The picture below is of a part worked still life.  It still has a long way to go, firstly with machine stitching, then maybe paint or pencil.  It will also need a good press!

Still Life, mixed media  8 x 8 inch

Quick sketch aain

I haven't finished yesterday's painting, so here is a quick one I did last week.

Headland, oil, 8 x 8 inch

Wolds Field

The photograph for this painting was taking nearby, on a cold winter day, the grasses were half dead, but were blown in the wind, looking like waves running down the hill.  The soil is reddish brown around here.

Wolds Field, 8 x 8, oil

Rannock Moor

If ever there was a place that was totally linked to the weather it's Rannock Moor.  The first time I went it was cold and overcast, and looked like something out of a horror story.  the second time,  when I took the photograph this painting was worked from, it was windy but sunny spells as they say.  I have been several times since, and the weather always alters the atmosphere of the moor.

Rannock Moor, oil 8 x 8

House on the hill

Used thinners, trickled on to remove paint for road and lower right tree trunks.

House on the hill, oil on board, 8 x 8 inch

Poppy fields

Perhaps too many poppies.

Poppy fields, oil on board 8 x 8 inch

Farmhouse

Oil painting with charcoal and oil bar added.

Farmhouse, oil & charcoal on board 8 x 8 inch

Farm lane

Looking at contrasts, light against dark.

Farm Lane, oil on board, 8 x 8 inch

Abstract landscape

I decided to use up the remaining oil paint on the palette by doing an abstract landscape, working from a photograph of a painting I did a few years ago.

I wanted to have a smooth surface, with little texture, as I was looking for a pattern of tone and colour rather than realism.

The Wolds. Oil, 8 x 8 inch on board

I've removed the colour in Photoshop, to check on the tonal quality.  I feel it could have done with a brighter highlight on the lower sky area, and also the light area in the field could have been smaller but lighter. Having said that, I am pleased with the colours and the composition.

Yorkshire Dales

Experimenting with thick and thin paint, and using a palette knife.  This was worked from a photograph.

Yorkshire Dales. Oil on board, 8 x 8 inch

Earl Grey

I promised myself that I would upload each of the daily paintings, whether they were good, bad or ugly!  Today's is the latter.  I was in a hurry and it shows.

This was also an experiment using gessoed mountboard, which isn't anywhere as good as hardboard, but easier to cut.

Another chance to do better tomorrow.

Earl Grey, oil on mountboard,  8 x 8 inch