Almost . . . In Despair . . .

In Despair . . . 

Have really got to like this square format for paintings, so tried it out recently on a couple of portraits in watercolour. This is named In Despair and is based on a ref with many thanks to Steve Evans. I do find this format gives even more focus into what's really important in the painting. The eyes . . . . The soul . . . . Your feelings . . .  

Almost . . . 

This one was painting just prior to "In Despair" and another ref thanks to Steve Evans.

Both paintings measure approx 20 x 20 cm and 34 x 34 cm Including Mount (Matt). Originals are without any words or large signatures, these are merely for display purposes. Both are available to purchase by contacting me at info@stephiebutler.com

Be Happy...

Finally got round to completing this one just before Xmas. Had a few suggestions for titles from friends, but loved Kevin Fowler's  suggestion best of all, thanks Kev...

  In answer to some of the questions I've been asked about how I paint portraits. I finally remembered to take a few photos along the way when I started this one a few weeks ago, so i'll try to explain as I go.....

     I painted this as I fancied a change from painting children and couldn't resist this photo of Steve Evans, with so much thanks to him for sharing this. The pure joy on this woman's face kept me smiling all the way through it.

I usually start with a very rough sketch to get the feel of the person, sometimes little sketches of the features, then another, hopefully more accurate drawing on the watercolour paper. I can never emphasize enough the importance of drawing as a way of getting to know your subject, especially so in portrait work. It also helps with getting features placed properly. It doesn't matter if a petal is a bit out of place on a flower, but it does matter if an eye is.

On this occasion though I went with the initial drawing. I knew where I needed to change bits, but being able to do this when painting becomes easier with practice. I don't worry too much on the likeness as this isn't a commission, and i'm always more interested in capturing their soul...     

The iris on the right eye as we look at it is a little larger than it should be, and slightly off shape, but that doesn't matter, I can bring that back in when painting. You can change this before if you feel more comfortable doing that, but I don't like to erase on the paper too much if I can help it. This is also where the practice of drawing features comes in, your knowledge of them allows you to not have to do that. I'm still far from an expert at drawing portraits, but a couple of years ago I couldn't have done it to this level, well not so quickly anyway, and a couple of years before that it wouldn't even have look human, so practice, practice, practice...The drawing is done in a very soft pencil and I do erase some guide lines and soften any heavy ones. 

Next I painted some areas with water, then put in the first wash of colours. If you want to see how I do this, pop over to YouTube and watch my video.  As the first was was drying I started in some areas with the nextwash. I don't tend to paint in any sort of order, just what takes my interest at the time. Often I just from one place to another, maybe because one is dry enough or even still wet enough to work on, other times purely  as I see something I want to capture, a colour I want to get down. Because I paint this in this way of what inspires me I also don't tend to go with painting in tones, light mid then darks, I really do jump about. I believe if you go with heart when painting it takes on a whole new level.

     I carry on in this way painting areas of colour as I see them. No rigid technique, softening edges here and there as I feel it needs them. I tend to get to a stage where I'm unsure if it needs more, this is the time to stop. Youwill see it so differently once you've walked away and left it for a few hours. You've been painting different parts, concentrating in areas so you don't see the painting as a whole. And as we know watercolour dries lighter, this can give us a whole different look sometimes.  There are some things you cannot be taught, it's purely a love for what you do which comes from the heart and good old fashioned practice. I think to paint in this way you really have to let go, be prepared for some things not too work, it's the only way you will learn what does. 

I may need to do this painting again as there seems to be something on the paper. Top right it has gone bobbly for some reason.. Not sure why as the paint was laid straight on,  no scrubbing, lifting etc, so I'm putting this down to a fault in the paper. I may just try and wet it, then lay some kitchen towel on it to see if I can soak up the bits. If not it's back to the easel for this one and fingers crossed I can capture some of the things I really liked in this one.               

This is one of those paintings that makes you smile when you look at it, you can't help it, it was also a pleasure to paint.

Steve Evans captures so much in his photos and I hope I do the same when I paint them.

Africa in my Soul....

New painting.....

 I've been working on a few new ideas that i'll share as soon as i'm finished, if they work of course. Meantime have been fitting in new paintings as well. Just can't tear myself away from painting portraits and more so from those of African children. They just have something that really grabs your heart. This is one that was finished late this week and has just come off of Exhibition and will be on sale on my website shortly.

With thanks to Steve Evans for the use of his photograph as ref.

One thing I've been working on are new greetings cards as they seem to be getting quite popular and am almost sold out. I will be putting those on my new website too soon, so they will be available direct, in either singles or as part of a collection, I'll update here as soon as they are ready.

Ilford Art Society Summer Exhibition in the Dovecote

Make A Wish...

  It's not often I redo a painting or even use the same ref photo. I find I almost never get that same inspiration as the first desire to paint it, but this one was different. There was something about this little boy, original photograph taken by and kindly shared by Steve Evans. I had also lost concentration for a moment while painting the original for my video on YouTube, so I needed to repaint it...

Hence ...

"Make a Wish" repainted and on show at the

Summer Exhibition at the 

Dovecote Gallery

Valentines Mansion & Gardens
Emerson Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4XA,UK.

1st-29th July
Open from 11am-4pm
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays

Free entry and suitable for all ages.

Available for sale through the Dovecote Gallery Exhibition...Contact me for further information.

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  I have 4 painting included in this Exhibition as part of the Ilford Art Society. The Exhibition goes on for 3 months in all, showing work from 4 different Art Societies, a photography club and a marquetry group. There will be 2 groups showing each month from July through September, sharing a wide range of style and media. 

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The gallery is in the grounds of the Valentines park, mansion & gardens. A lovely day out for all the family.

The house was built in around 1696 for Elizabeth Tillotson and her family, after the death of her husband, the Archbishop of Canterbury and has since changed hands many times. The Council acquired the house in 1912. Since then it has been home to wartime refugees, a hospital, a public health centre, and a council housing department. After sitting empty for around 15 years the house and gardens have been restored with Redbridge council and Heritage Lottery funds . 

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 A wonderful day out for all the family.

Visit the Gallery, Mansion & Gardens and the new Gardener’s Cottage Café.

Please visit the website for more information:

Valentines Mansion & Gardens

Emerson Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4XA
E-mail: valentines@redbridge.gov.uk
Bookings and general enquiries: 020 8708 8100

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