Work In Progress

Getting there! Just some work on the fore-ground – the bridge, the water reflections & the foliage to the right of the bridge plus some further details in the trees – but nearly there with this larger painting. At 610 x 813mm (24 x 32 inch), this is the largest painting I have attempted & after some initial struggles, I have found this very enjoyable & I have learnt a lot as I have worked through the processes. Looking forward to the finished product & I hopefully this can be framed by the end of the month or early next […]

I am making progress on this challenging painting of the various layers of autumn trees in this beautiful Christchurch Gardens scene. Working on a larger painting has been a learning process but it should be a worthwhile experience as I think this larger size (610 x 813 or 24 x 32″) may be a size I work on more often in the future. In the midst of working on this painting, I have been trying to detox my painting environment by cutting out solvents from the process as much as practicable. So far this is proving to be a good

I have started a new painting of a beautiful autumn scene in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. This painting is the largest I have worked on measuring 610 x 813mm (24 x 32 inches). Most other paintings have been 450 x 600mm so this is quite a bit larger & presents it’s own challenges. I have started the “blocking in” phase which means getting the various aspects of the painting in the right place, in the right shapes & covering the white canvas with mid-range colours that following layers build upon. Anyway, I will keep you posted of progress. I am

I have finally made some progress on painting this beautiful scene of Lake Matheson (the “Mirror Lake”) near the Fox Glacier in the South Island of New Zealand. My aim is to complete this painting in the next 10 days with time spent with final details in the reflection of the mountain & then with final touch up of details through the rest of the painting. Watch this space.

I have started on a new oil painting of Lake Matheson (the Mirror Lake) showing the beautiful reflections and colours that can be found on the right day, in the late afternoon. For some reason I found it difficult to “block in” the first base colours in the reflection. The sense of painting something upside down was awkward so I have decided to paint this in two parts, painting the actual image first, then turning the painting upside down to paint the reflection. I hope that works. Watch this space! It is a stunning image.

I’ve finally finished this interesting painting except for the varnish coat & then the framing. It has been a challenge to find time to work on this painting, especially when I was struggling with elements of the painting and trying to work out what I needed to take out from the (very busy) photo I took originally. Anyway, I’m pleased with the result and I’m motivated again that I must make time to paint otherwise I will go backwards and I will just keep working and running like the mouse within the wheel!

I took this photo some years ago in a place called Tophouse which is an historic site situated above the Wairau Valley in the Saint Arnaud area of the Nelson Lakes. The old cart has finished it’s work and is now watching over the valley surrounded by toi toi & flax bushes. I am about half way through this interesting painting.

I am well underway with a new painting (in oils) that I am excited about. It will be called The Narrow Gate with reference to what Jesus declares in Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” It is a beautiful scene with the lightened area beyond the narrow gate and the whole vista framed by the foreground

Progress is slow and steady on this painting of the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo. I’m enjoying this first painting in oil paints although I will need to change the brush cleaner that I have been using! It is non-toxic but the fumes are quite intense. The next stage is the detail in the grasses in the foreground and around the Church. Then I will work a final layer of detail throughout the painting, then a varnish and it will be finished.

Yeah, painting in oils! I’m so enjoying this medium as opposed to the acrylics I have been using. As you can see, there is still some work to be done on the Church & on the shrubs but I have managed to get quite a bit done. The detail in the Church is challenging but it is easier than I expected using oil paints. I will add some further fine details on the rocks but I’m quite pleased with the progress made. Watch this space!

I have done the “block-in” for a new painting of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo. This will be the first painting that I will complete in oil paints which I am excited about. Watch this space to see how everything progresses!