Miniature goat painting in watercolour

'Anglo Nubian Goat' © Tracy Hall 2009

1.75" x 2.25" watercolour on board

I like to think she was smiling at me :)

Springer Spaniel Portrait

'Bo' © Tracy Hall 2009

16" x 20" watercolour on Two Rivers handmade Paper.

Well now, this one got away from me. There I was thinking I had saved it as a draft, when I must have hit the wrong button and published it instead! So the words to go with it - here is a painting of working spaniel and family pet Bo, commissioned as a surprise for his owner. He was a lovely dog to paint and apparently has a personality to match!

THE BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH

This weekend the RSPB are again inviting everyone to participate in their 30th annual Garden Birdwatch. All it takes is an hour of your time to sit and watch the birds in your garden or park and make a note of what you see. Then send your results to the RSPB. Its that simple! This year they have made it even easier by providing a record sheet to download with pictures so you can quickly identify and tick off the birds you notice. (Depending on where you live you may find you need to add to those shown). Full details are here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

Update Saturday: I got a little bored just sitting watching for an hour, but since I was indoors it was pleasant enough to sketch the sparrows on the feeders without getting frozen fingers!

Young cattle miniature painting

'Curious Locals' © Tracy Hall 2009

2.25" x 1.75" miniature - watercolour on board

Calling the young beasties done for now at least. I'm not entirely happy with this one but can't quite put my finger on why. It looks better in real life than on screen (miniatures always do) but there is still something bothering me so will probably be back fiddling later. Anyway, on to other things :)

Heron update

(untitled as yet with a heron in it) © Tracy Hall 2009

16" x 12" watercolour on Arches

I think I'm about done with this one. I'll put it away for a week or so and have another look then. I really enjoyed it. Now need a title (groan).....this piece of sea is called Water Sound, so was thinking of maybe trying to incorporate that in it somehow. We all know it will end up being called 'Heron' though if I'm left to my own devices. I have the verbal imagination of a gnat. Here's a slightly closer view of the bird, magnificent creatures.

Cattle in progress

Although I am admittedly surrounded by cattle at other times of the year, they are all tucked up in byres just now. The youngsters are always fascinated by everything, including passing walkers (so much more fun if they have a dog or two in tow!) so I decided to put a group of them by a wall with a bit of an 'Orkney' gate. I thought I'd share a bit of the process since I happened to have taken some pictures.

I printed out the photos I thought I would use and played around with thumbnails (or in this case actual size) until I came up with a layout I liked.

Then I drew it out with a very sharp pencil on crescent rag board using a magnifying glass. (I am still tying to use less lines when I draw out the minis, as I find too much detail is a hindrance rather than a help once you start painting them, but I also get carried away. Luckily this surface doesn't mind a bit of erasing). Here I have started to block in colour and added some shading to the cattle.

And here I'm getting into the details. The brush gets smaller and the magnifying glass comes into its own by this point. (I don't know how some people work without any magnification, my eyes are not up to it!) This is where I have got to so far. Its 2.25" x 1.75" in watercolour.

Heron in progress

One of the paintings I am currently working on is this one of a heron on the beach below our house. It isn't progressing very quickly as it is the one that keeps getting put to one side for more pressing work, but it is very enjoyable to work on even so.

I have been trying to get good photos of the herons that visit the shore here for years, but they are very hard to sneak up on and my camera is not good enough to pick them out in breathtaking detail from my hiding place behind the Rosa rugosa on the bank. Luckily there are herons in Regent's Park who are far more accommodating and even willing to pose which is where I got the reference shots I needed for the 'up close' details. Hopefully it will be finished in the not too distant future.

Hermione

'Hermione' © Tracy Hall 2008

watercolour on board 2.25" x 1.75"

I'll kick off the new year with a fond farewell. Over the holidays we said goodbye to my daughter's pet hen who succumbed to old age. So I painted a little tribute to her in miniature, doing what she liked to do best. She was insanely broody and would sit on anything. Or nothing, it really didn't seem to matter actually :) She wasn't blessed with the most dazzling intellect, but she more than made up for it in character. The dogs were terrified of her. Hens make very good pets if you were wondering, and she'll be missed. This is a photo as the new scanner hasn't arrived yet and the old one died (again).

Here's a photo of the heron flying past our house on New Year's Day as the sun went down (about 2.30pm; no, really). I hope you all had a peaceful holiday and let's hope the coming year is a good one despite the grim predictions!