Get Sketched into the @pulpfacts Twitter Network

My latest project is sketching by freehand, using a 0.1 fineline black pen, the portraits on the avatars of people who follow me on twitter. It is a great way to improve my sketching techniques, and a way to try and connect with my followers . If you follow me on twitter, I will sketch you too!

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Spring in suburbia

I have been painting recently along the theme of suburbia.
My latest oil painting is inspired from a photo I took looking out the living room window where I grew up as a child.
I find it interesting when you drive round suburbs that the colour schemes are always a lot of browns, greys  and earthy colours. I often don't associate bright colours with suburbia, however this picture brings back memories of when I was growing up in suburbia. It is a bright and colourful picture that hopefully conveys the beauty of spring in the suburbs, and the sense of relief that the dreary cold, dark and windy days of winter have passed.
Let me know what you think.

Hanging by the bay

Here is my latest oil painting inspired by a photo I took back in the early 90's of a beachfront property in Kupang, which is in West Timor.  I find the building so interesting because of the way the foundation seems to be eroded by the water, leaving it hanging.  The whole building seemed to be in a bit of disrepair, which seems to give it a bit of character. The ocean view is hard to bet too.

Chao Phraya

Here is my latest painting, this time I have switched to acrylic due to my oils running low on a few key colours. I have painted a view from the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok, inspired by a photo I took back in the 90s.  I find it interesting firstly that people live on rivers, not beside rivers, but on the river. Also, there is such a blatant view of the difference between the rich and the poor. The penthouse suite overlooking the riverside slum neighbourhood.

The Edge

Cities around the world seem to have an allure of being the happening places, the places that sparkle with opportunity and often hold the mirage of fame, fortune and glory.  New York, LA, Vegas, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris, etc.  Cities are always growing with an urban sprawl spilling out  to the surrounding countryside, as more people move there wanting their piece of the action. 

My latest painting is called 'The Edge', as it is looking to where the edge of 'Suburbia' starts, with the city in the background. At the centre is a rainbow with dark clouds trying extinguish it, just like many people's hopes and dreams get crushed by the 'system'. But despite the 'oppression' of the dark clouds, the colours of the rainbow shine through. The rainbow is a symbol of the hope of a better future. 

Going Home in Suburbia

This is my latest oil painting. It's of when I was stuck in traffic after work, wanting to get home as the sun was setting. It had been raining so water was everywhere. The giant ball is some kind of weather reading tower.

What do you think?

Ke11y Slater - Portrait of a champion

Here is my latest painting as a tribute to the greatest surfer in history, Kelly Slater.
When he won his 8th world title, Quicksilver branded him as 'SL8TER'.  I thought that he would retire, so that he could keep the cool '8' in his name.  I could not foresee what seemed impossible, that he would win another 3 world titles, and become  'Ke11y'.
This painting is based on an instagram that Kelly took, after he had won his latest crown during the Rip Curl Search event at San Francisco.  It may have even been taken on 11.11.11.
Thankyou Kelly for the inspiration !

Another Masterpiece Nearly Finished

Managed to do a little bit more painting yesterday, before I got called away to go and buy some groceries and do some other important things. The painting is really starting to show promise. I just need to paint the cables on the bridge, and some more detail on the face and hat, and then I am just about done.

Can I finish before my holidays end ?

I am really keen to get this portrait/landscape of Kelly Slater / Golden Gate finished before I have to get back to the real world of my 8 to five job. So far I am happy with the progression. What do you think?
On Wednesday, I was painting away and the garage door was blown off its frame by a freak gust of wind, and then in turn the canvas blew over, with paint going where it shouldn't.  So a bit of a distraction with the some repair work, but all is good now.

Blue Eyes or Brown?

As I have continued working on my portrait/landscape in between taking the kids to the beach for a surf and keeping them amused on the holidays, it occurred to me that Kelly Slater's eyes are blue. But when I look at the photo I am using as a reference, there is no blue there, only a brownish greenish type of mix. So I am faced with a dilemma. Do I stay true to the photo, or true to real life. Maybe a golden yellow sun was shining in his eyes and blue and yellow make green right? Maybe he put a filter on his photo that made his eyes that colour. I don't know. What to do? I will continue to ponder as I try and make this painting begin to take shape.

A New Project Begins

I have settled in to my new home nicely. I've set aside some space in the garage as a painting area that has a big glass window letting in a lot of natural light.
So then I got thinking of what my next project could be. Since I enjoy doing landscape paintings, and I've also started doing portraits, (so far just sketching with an ink pen), I came with the idea of doing a half landscape, half portrait.
I happen to follow Kelly Slater on Instagram, and he uploaded this photo, which was taken just after he won his 11th world title at San Francisco.  I love this picture because Kelly has such striking eyes, and also the Golden Gate is so iconic.

So here is my start on a largeish 40 x 40 inch canvas using oils.  Hoping to get most of this finished in the last week of my holidays!