Saturday 20 February 2010

20/02: SPANIELS FINISHED AND APPROVED

I've been so busy with the portraits that I only left the house once last week (lovely evening out with friends) so it was a pleasure to get out into the fresh air today - and although frosty, it wasn't raining for once! I spent some 'quality time' with my retired horse - scraping off the mud she'd encased herself in ... I just know she's crossed with a hippo! Then went to visit Mum and Mum-in-Law .. so a full day.

Subject to final approval, I finished the coloured pencil portrait of the brother and sister which has been commissioned as a surprise 40th birthday present for their Mum (by their Dad). After sending my client the penultimate progress scans he confirmed that 'they looked great' but I'm just awaiting his response to the 'final' pics so I can parcel the portrait ready for despatch on Monday - this was a pretty tight deadline!

These are the last pictures of Meg and Molly I sent to their owner - and I heard back today that they are delighted with the portraits so I can now 'fix' the pastel and do the final 'retouching' where necessary - I find that the fixative sometimes dulls the white pastel a little and just needs a final tweak. Then they are ready to be despatched - I'll miss having them watching over me as I work!   The mounts have just been laid loosely on top of the portraits hence the shadows








Its back to the graphite 'anniversary couple' portrait now.    As previously mentioned, I started work on it whilst in Fuerteventura last month but progress was slow and the humidity made the paper feel damp so I wasn't sure whether I'd rescue it or start afresh.   Now back home the paper feels and looks fine so I spent a couple of hours on it yesterday and will enjoy working on it tomorrow.  No urgency as it isn't required for another 4 weeks so its a portrait I can work on 'as and when' which is always nice.   This is another portrait I have been asked not to show on my blog till after it has been presented - just in case!

7 comments:

  1. These are Great Sue...as always! I wish I could have got on with CP's just didn't understand how to use them, so off they went to Ebay...

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  2. Thanks Grahame.

    The spaniels are pastel, but I confused the issue here talking about the brother/sister I have just completed in CPs (can't post that till Wednesday).

    Back to Graphite today so I'm switching from one medium to another at the moment - life would be easier if I stuck with just one :o)

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  3. Beautiful work Sue as always. Lovely tones. the eyes look right out at you. almost talking to us.

    Love it.

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  4. Thank you Dors - I'm back working with graphite now (slightly less messy) :o)

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  5. These turned out gorgeous as usual. Both are beautiful but the little blonde has the most soulful eyes!

    Can't wait to see your anniversary couple!

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  6. Thanks Jan - much appreciated :o)

    The anniversary couple has to stay under wraps for a few weeks - won't be able to post it on my blog yet. But I should be able to post the brother/sister portrait in a couple of days ..... at this rate I may have to resort to describing my 'Soup of the Day' again to keep the blog going (Mediterranean Chickpea today)!!

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  7. Love these spaniels Sue. Have I told you that i think your giant works are amazing?

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