Atlas Moth is finished

I think I'm done, I decided to keep the background monochrome so not to distract from the moth. I've been looking into the facts of this fantastic moth. Its from Asia and has the largest wing-span of any moth 25-30cms. When I first saw it, I didn't think it was real until it moved!

Atlas Moth is starting to get there

Lots of fine brushwork later, and stippling, I'm beginning to find my way round this moth. It's proving to be surprisingly time consuming. I had hoped to have both finished by end of next week to give them time to dry before the exhibition, I think maybe only one will be ready in time.

Getting to grips with a smaller scale

Today I had a experiment with the Moon Moth's colours, the one on the bottom. The other one, the Atlas Moth I was happy with the colours, so started to work into the details. It took me awhile to get back into a smaller scale of work, after working a bit looser.

Let's get painting

Today my youngest baby turned 7, how did that happen? I was watching a Mum with her newborn baby this afternoon, trying to remember when my boys were that small.
My morning was then spent being tortured by my dentist, he's a lovely guy, he always apologises when I flinch!
This afternoon I found some time to get going which these paintings. The bottom painting, the Moon Moth, I got a basic skin on. The Atlas Moth I crudely blocked some colours in to consider my palette.
I treated myself to some new brushes today, can't wait to use them tomorrow. The Atlas moth has some serious details so hope my new small brushes are up to the job!

fluttery things

I've had a rethink on my next project. The hippo has been shelved temporarily, not because I don't like it, more it's the wrong size. I've another exhibition the end of the month, and decided after my last two sells of paintings I wanted some smaller paintings. These two are going to be oil on canvas, the top one 12x6in, and the other 10x10in. They are both moths, but not the normal variety I'm familiar with, that are tatty brown and braining themselves against my lights. These beauties are from further afield. The top one

is the Atlas Moth from South East Asia, the tips of its wings are made to look like a snake head to scare away anything that fancies it as lunch. The other is a Madagascan Moon Moth. I didn't have to travel so far to see these guys, about a year back Kew gardens had the most fantastic collection of moths in the Princess of Wales glasshouse, flying free amongst the tropical display.
As the paintings are small I hope they will not take too long, I hope to get them in the sunshine, back of the canvas facing the sun to help dry them in time. Its important to dry the canvas from the back to prevent cracking.

Guincho beach gone to a good home!

Good news from the KAOS Exhibition, just got a text to say, my pastel of Guincho Beach has been sold, so pleased!
I've been calling this a gibbon, I stand corrected, its a monkey, as I now know gibbons don't have tails! I believe its probably a spider monkey, I painted from a series of photos taken a couple of years back. I'm not a zoologist just an artist who likes animals! If you know better please let me know, I like to be educated!

Back to painting after all the excitment

Got back to painting today, spurred on with the news that I've sold a painting at the KAOS exhibition. My peacock has gone to a new home! I met the guy who bought him, he was so pleased with his purchase. It gives me such satisfaction to meet the people who buy my work. I think that's why I enjoy taking commissions. Today I worked further into my gibbon piece played with ideas for the rope and branches. I also had a major redo of his head, I hope for the better! My latest project is a hippo, again in oils. A new sized canvas for me, but obviously suitable for the subject! I put a skin of oils paint on today, just to knock out the stark white of the canvas.