Lion Demonstration in watercolour

Was lovely to be invited to the Ilford Art Society to give a demonstration. A local society that I joined and gave my first UK demo too, some years back. Very friendly society, always on the lookout for new members to join them. 

They requested a wildlife demo so I decided on one of my favourite animals, a lion in watercolours. 

Photo ref with thanks to  Pete Lambert on Unsplash

llford Art Society is highly respected in the local art community, with a history going back to 1925. Members range from beginners to experienced artists. The atmosphere at classes is informal, and there is a substantial social element to the Society's activities and committee life. We hold weekly classes on Wednesday evenings run by an experienced Tutor and exhibit regularly at a range of venues.

Once a month they host a painting demonstration, showing artists' materials and techniques. These are well supported and are always introducing new and exciting ideas. During the year a series of life classes are also arranged. Their online gallery showcases Members' work. Paintings are available for sale, and commissions can be undertaken by individual artists upon request. They have regular life and costume models. 

Members are free to either work from the model if they wish or to work on landscapes, still life or simply their own imagination - in a variety of materials of their choice.

HOW TO JOIN 

#lion #bigcats #lioness #africa #african #wildlife #art #watercolour #wildlifeartists #lionpainting #wildlifeart #instagood #instagram

Ken Bromley Cover Competition . . . Time to vote

TIME TO VOTE . . . You said it was your favourite painting so I entered it into the Ken Bromley cover competition. Well I'm thrilled to say I made the shortlist..
You can vote here for your three favourite paintings. 
http://www.artsupplies.co.uk/covercomp/

Please vote and share

This was painted from a photograph I took of my beautiful granddaughter Zahrah. She has gorgeous bundles of curls so I could play with all the twists and turns I saw in it. You don't always need to paint every strand but just enough to show the viewer what you are seeing. 

Some photos I took along the way....



The drawing ready and masking put into the eye. I don't always do this but as I wanted to spend time experimenting on other things I didn't want to loose concentration there resulting on no highlight. You can of course go back it with Acrylic, Goauche and many other products, but then we couldn't call it watercolour, could we? ..... it is also never the same effect as leaving the white of the paper. 

This is generally how I start most paintings and a style I have developed over the years, where by I paint with water. I don't was large areas as some artists do but instead draw with my brush as if it were a pencil, with clean water only.

 Time to add some paint with light washes at first.

Have added some colour to the eyes. I generally have to get most of the eyes done first, If they don't work then the portrait has no soul.

A close up of the eyes at this stage, still more to do but gives me enough to know that it's worth carrying on with.

Now time to add some more colour to the hair, but painting this section slowly and building it in different tone and colour. 

Here I called it done. I loved trying out different colours in the hair, using colour as tone in the depths of the curls. 




Please take time to vote in the competition, there are many amazing artists there to choose from, each with their own style.

STUDIO SALE . . . .SOLD

Demo painting.
Approx 22cm x 30cm
£100 (inc P&P anywhere in the world)

Ref photo with thanks to Steve Evans

Contact me for details.