Hair Issues

Yesterday I was having hair issues. Hair is one of the most frustrating things that I can think of to paint and there are surprisingly few good tutorials available to help. Luckily the good old boys (and girls) at Imagine FX has come up with a excellent hair workshop by Marta Dahlig Which you can view at  http://www.imaginefx.com/02287754331134626625/painting-wavy-hair.html


If you would like to see some of Marta’s incredible fantasy art you can view her deviant page at http://blackeri.deviantart.com/

Butterfly of Gion

Butterfly of Gion

Watercolour on 180gsm Watercolour Paper

Yay! Moms b-day present it now framed and ready to be wrapped. I’ve re-named her “Butterfly of Gion” as I wasn’t happy just calling her Geisha, Gion is a famous Geisha district in Kyoto (it was the location for the book “Memoirs of a Geisha”).

I’ve never had to properly frame anything before but as the Swindon Artist Forum requires members to professionally frame their work I thought I would practice on this piece. I chose a white frame with a black border (I couldn’t tell you why it’s just what jumped out at me at my local store) and I bought myself a 45 degree angle cutter so that I could cute the board to the perfect size. It’s a bit fiddly cutting out the board with it but I got there in the end… I also discovered my math left a lot to be desired lol!

Below are a couple of YouTube videos that I used to learn framing. As I said I’d never framed anything properly before and was under the impression that all you needed to do was stuff the picture in a frame and that was that, apparently I was wrong lol

Cutting Mat



How to tie picture wire



On a completely unrelated topic I hope everyone had a good 5th of November and saw lots of amazing fireworks. For those of you not in England the 5th of November is Bonfire Night when we remember an attempt to blow up the houses of parliament and kill King James I in 1605. The Gunpowder Plot failed and to celebrate we set fire to a “Guy” (an effigy of Guy Fawks) and set off loads of fireworks.
I went to see the local firework display with my friend and a fluffy hot water bottle (Well it is cold) tonight and had a great time writing rude words with sparklers lol

“Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, guy, t’was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.

By God’s mercy he was catch’d
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!”

- Traditional Bonfire Night rhyme.

Win a portrait by Crystal Cook

Since starting my art blog I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across some really amazing artist & their blogs. One such blog that really stands out is that of Crystal Cook an amazing watercolour artist and all round lovely person who is celebrating her return to the wonderful world of commission painting by offering a 8 x 10 watercolour portrait to whoever wins her contest.

If you’d like to participate just follow the link below for the rules. Good Luck!

Crystal Cook