Boys on the Beach

Enough red for now, sticking to a turquoise theme, which gives a fresh summery feel. The two boys almost look like the same figure taken in two different positions but are actually two different boys.

I'm going to use this photo again, which also includes one other figure on the right hand side, in a larger black and white version.

Children in the Snow

This was without doubt the hardest painting for me to part with as they are both my children and the photo was taken recently in the heavy snowfall. It sold within two days though so I know it's gone to a happy home!

I used really thick paint as an undercoat which enabled me to create interesting textures for the snowy areas when dragging the fresh paint on top of it. The blue shadows really adds to the wintery feel and the red contrasts perfectly with it. I used Windsor Blue for the shadows as it's got a turquoise hint to it which sings nicely and prevents it from getting too flat.

Building a Sandcastle, Tenby Beach

This is of my daughter playing on the beach, taken at Tenby South Wales. There's much greater tonal contrast between this one and the previous one of my son on the beach, the shadows here are much stronger, which makes for quite a striking image. The deep purple and red contrasts nicely with the yellow sand, but I think my favourite bit is the cliffs and reflections in the background.

Building a Sandcastle

A much lighter painting this time, with summery colours. This is my little boy digging in the sand, most of the other photos I use are very kindly given to me by a friend of mine. In a way this makes things easier for me to sell them because the ones featuring my own children are that much harder to part with!

The photo this painting was based on was taken on Tenby beach in West Wales.

Building a Sandcastle

A hat was added to this little girl later on so as to obscure her features, so that she didn't look like anyone in particular, but I like this version, especially with the collection of shells , pebbles and seaweed. Some of the paint for the sand was applied using a piece of card, dragged on top of the lower layers of paint, which I think adds an interesting effect and suggests the sparkle of the sun.

Watching The Waves

The photo that this painting is based on was taken during the winter months and the weather conditions resulted in the wind whipping the waves up and contributing to the sparkle on the waves from the low angle of the sun. The figure was difficult to paint because he was practically a silhouette in the photo.

The acrylic paint used enabled me to create splashes and sparkes for the water which work really well.

Buildng a Sandcastle

Slightly more colour was added to this painting compared to the previous monochromatic paintings. I think it's livened it up and makes it look more sunny. The previous painting is more obviously a winter setting whereas this is a summer setting. I love the high angle showing the rock pools and little rivers fading away into the distance. It gives plenty for the eye to wander around on and then come back to the figure of the little girl busy working away.