Wednesday 19 December 2007

Clear heads

Due to a busy week and other things getting in the way I've not been able to do much work on the second dog commission this week and the Christmas deadline's looming..... And none of this helped by the fact that I've had a stinking cold this week and felt like shit!! But, part of the joy of being self employed is that jobs have to be done for deadlines no matter how you feel! So..... today I thought I ought to at least try and get some of the painting done even if it was something easy like a bit of the background, (cos in theory I shouldn't be able to cock that up, even if I did feel way under par). So, a cup of tea in one hand, and a paintbrush in the other, I stood and looked at the painting and realised virtually straight away that I'd been going wrong in the first place by thinking that I should use gouache paint! I'd chosen it as I needed to paint virtually every hair on a hairy dog, I needed to use a medium that could paint light on dark (unlike watercolours) so had opted for gouache to do the job, but didn't like the effect I had achieved so far (I couldn't have been THAT ill then, if I could tell that straight away!), so my only option then was to use acylics as a fast drying watercolour medium that would show the gouache under-painting clearly but give a better overall result. I quickly did a glazing wash over with the acrylics and instantly felt a whole load better about the painting, to the point that within a few hours it was completely finished! Wow! I certainly hadn't expected to finish it today. And that surprised me too. Because I started painting feeling bunged up, and full of cold and not thinking straight, and ended up still bunged up and full of cold, but with a totally clear head, aware of my creativity working properly and finishing the picture and even being very proud of the end result. So, another Wow!!! Perhaps my well-being just needs to be creative to get me feeling better!!



So... here it is - the finished painting. I'm not sure what sort of dog it is - a bit of everything I think. But I'm really pleased with the painting, and hopefully the recipient will like it too ...... I think I've captured the dog nicely especially the large soulful eyes....

14 comments:

Vi said...

amazing what you can do under pressure (cold and xmas!) I'm sure your client will love it!

Jackie Adshead said...

Vi - Sometimes a little pressure helps to get things going a bit quicker and more efficiently! I hope the client loves it.... I've got a problem if she doesn't!!

nitebyrd said...

Jackie, that is a beautiful painting. Just gorgeous!

I hope you're feeling better.

Jackie Adshead said...

Nitebyrd - Thankyou! Yes, I feel a lot better today thanks - particularly now that this painting's done!

Indi said...

Mmm... nice doggy! Much prefer pussies tho. Sure, the owner will love the portrait, you always seem to amaze your customers Jackie..!!

DJ Kirkby said...

That dog has such a sweet face!

Jackie Adshead said...

Indigo - Mmm... Yes, I prefer pussies too! Hopefully she'll like it.... I love it when I please people with my art!

Jackie Adshead said...

dj kirkby - I'm not hugely into dogs, so I'll take your word for it!!!

Willsibob said...

Glad you are feeling better, if you're anything like me it's the adrenalin when under pressure that kicks in and helps to clear colds.

The dog may be a greyhound, but I suspect the owner will be delighted, the eyes come across so profoundly, and as many say the soul can be seen in the eyes.

Well done indeed, now you can have a well earned rest, thought not for too long I hope, looking forward to seeing you back on the erotic track again.

Anonymous said...

Lovely picture Jackie and very interesting to hear about the creative process.
Even though you were not feeling too well, your natural artisitic instinct came to the fore when you needed it most!

Lucy Felthouse said...

Awww.. sweet doggy.

Must say I envy you. When I'm feeling crappy all I do is write complete bollocks!!! But then I suppose I do that anyway ;)

Hope you had a lovely Xmas xx

Jackie Adshead said...

Willsibob - I'm not sure if it was adrenalin or not but I'm just glad I finished the painting in time!

I'd agree about the soul being seen in the eyes.

And I can't wait to get back onto the erotic artwork again!

Jackie Adshead said...

Racy redhead - I'm glad my natural artistic instict came to the fore when I needed it, but then it's so ingrained into me I suppose I shouldn't be surprised!

Jackie Adshead said...

Lucy - Nah, you don't! - you got talent, girl, and you know it!!