Bunchy and the blob

Is it just me or does this look vaguely gynaecological in an upside down kind of way? Maybe it's just me...

Painting 'muscles' are now firmly back in action and performing at max warp. As I have a deadline for this set of work, I don't have the luxury of not being able to do it; I knew the first piece would be a struggle, but now I'm firmly on a progression of ideas, and as usual after a break, I've developed a few new themes and ideas. After the last post about Bunchy, I was able to complete her within two days - the colour laid down, and pencil work begun on the nearside ear.





Caroline mentioned Potters Pink, which I remember buying when it first came out a few years ago - in fact, I posted about it when this blog was only a few weeks old, back in 2005, when I was using it on a large painting (in my old, tiny studio, where I could barely move). I remember not being terribly impressed with it's wash abilities; it had a curious mix of chalkiness and stickiness from (presumably) too much gum arabic. Which is why I used my own pink mix for Bunchy; it had enough white in it for the dullness I was after, but a bigger proportion of normal watercolours for it to spread well.
A few hours of pencil work - (just normal H type ones; as a rule I only use coloured pencil on my commercial work, to bumpy the colour up, as is required). One more artwork down...






And another one on the way. As my washes take a while to dry naturally, I'm needle felting inbetween to save time - which seems to use different bits of the brain; sculpting and flat painting feel different inside my head when I do them and it takes about five minutes to settle back into whichever technique. But I've decided not to let my painting slip this time, so I'd better get used to it.





All four paintings are in exactly the same sized frame and circular mount - I've really pushed the limit on the composition here; when I was fitting the mount, I thought for a few horrid seconds that she was going to spill out of the aperture...but she just squeezes in nicely. Another fraction and it would have been like me trying to get into last year's trousers.

Something for the Weekend

'Cheers'

I found this lurking in a paper pile and realised I'd meant to send it off weeks ago, when 'Society Wine' was launched. I painted it up last night, just after e-mailing the first colour sample for 'woodland Creatures' to my US art director. I was using dribs and drabs of that palette, but in pale washes, not the vivid, rich shades I'd just submitted; I hadn't been altogether happy with it. Painting this, it dawned on me that this was the effect I'd actually been looking for, so spent today redoing the entire thing and hoping the AD would agree...thankfully she did. We seem to think pretty much alike on things, and she is very gentle with me if I stray. Now we are both hoping the Big Decision Maker will like it too.

Get well!

Still heading towards the Disney deadline...not had time to do any other work apart from this little picture for a friend who is in need of a 'Get Well' card. I don't usually work this spontaneously - just sketching and painting directly onto the watercolour paper.

Mr Apricot

Good things that have happened. My first Disney 'final roughs' have been very much approved of. This is a huge relief. As with anything Disney, it is vital that I adhere to the original design; that it is instantly recognisable. Some artists would probably hate this - a curtailment of their freedom of expression or some such nonsense. I like it. It's a challenge and I've been cribbing from Disney sketches for years anyway! I am being allowed a few of my own tiny touches, while being watched over and guided by one of their official artists, who is a far far greater draughtsman than I could ever hope to be. But something to aspire to.

Another good thing - I have sold 'Moon on a Stick' and 'The Numptys' to a nice person in America. These little creatures are going to get to New York before I do. I think the silly Numptys may get a bit scared in the commotion of the plane - but I shall leave a small gap in the bubble wrap so that the girl and her cat can crawl in with them and keep them company. Perhaps use the moon to light up the parcel.


Yesterday I took delivery of 'Illustration' magazine, a wonderful new publication now in its second year. This is the first UK publication totally dedicated to this much neglected art - anyone with any interest in this field should get hold of a copy. Or better still, subscribe.


Today I've been working on bits and bobs - I've produced 3 sheets of accessories for the 'Girly Giftbook' - even Barbie would be satisfied. The large private commission is stretched and ready for it's first proper colour. And I've finished another small picture. I had real problems mixing up the right kind of dingy orange to go with the dull green background - as can be seen here with the different bowls of colour. The clothes catalogue is Boden - they use such gorgeous colour ranges that I often 'borrow' their schemes. Some more paintings sold and I may be able to buy the jumper I've been hankering after...

'Mr Apricot'

Anyone who thinks that artists should be 100% self sufficient in their work should read Vasari (I think it was), who advised all would be artists to go and copy the great masters. A bit more of that and maybe more of our young art graduates would be able to produce decent artwork. At the moment a lot of it seems to be a triumph of style over technique. That's my grumpy old git rant for the week.