'Blackbirds in the Clematis' © Tracy Hall 20092" x 3.5" Watercolour on board (enlarged)
I think I may have this one finished, but will wander past it for a week or so to see if anything jumps out. Since I started it the clematis is now fully in bloom and even if the blackbird had been sitting on her nest in that spot there would be no chance of seeing her now!
Here is a new design for a card company as well - sheepdog trails this time. This one is 10" x 14", watercolour on Arches.
Magnifying Glasses - I've had an email recently about the what I use for the miniatures, and I thought other people might wonder as well. Firstly, it's worth mentioning that not all miniature artists use one. My eyesight isn't that good though and I like to use it especially for the fine details.
There are all sorts available but I always come back to a simple hand held one (which you can see left). I'm not sure of the magnification (if it ever said it has long since worn off) but its not that strong - this is a basic and cheap magnifying glass bought locally, its nothing fancy. I have some other, supposedly better, ones but this is my favourite. Ask another artist and you'll get a different answer of course, its very much a case of what suits you, but I hope that helps. I also use a pair of reading glasses.
10 comments:
Beautiful Tracy!! I love the final result
[BTW, sorry I mentioned the nesting female in a previous post; I didn't mean to spoil the surprise :-( ]
Hi Tracy, just gorgeous, both paintings are wonderful. I was sitting here thinking about when I first met you.... many, many years ago now, on how much you have grown as an artist over the past several years. I think doing your bird book, stretched you as an artist into a whole new league. I think you have grown leaps and bounds, quicker than anyone else I know, you are truly great Tracy.... keep it up!! I'm so proud of you.
Not at all Kim! Thanks so much for the lovely comments!
Shucks, Judy, thats such a sweet thing to say. Proud of you too!
Another fantastic painting!! The size of these just astonishes me -- you get so much into that small format. Just exquisite.
It looks wonderful Tracy, I just love the detail and the position you put the blackbird in, looking back into the picture, creates nice flow.
Beautiful Tracy! The orange beak on mommy works great as a focal point. Our blackbirds here have black bills. Nice touch to show how you work. I'm afraid it wouldn't work for me as I tend to need the left hand to steady the right. ~ Wes
Hi Tracy. Beautiful work...as usual. I don't think I could ever do minis as I would need 4 hands to work with...3 to hold stuff in my left hand rather than the magnifying glass. Don't know how you do it.
Thanks Chris, Mary, Wes and Mollie for your comments! I should have know the US blackbird would be different from ours over here, Wes!
Tracy-
So fun to go into the different blogs with all the great miniature artists and there work. Your one of them!!
Have you been putting in videos lately?
Jim
Thanks Jim! No, had no time to do any videos lately, but hopefully at some point this year :)
Post a Comment