Self Portraits: An Article for Leisure Painter

I've been revisiting my attempts at painting from life whilst working on an article for Leisure Painter magazine that takes a look at the self portrait. One thing that struck me was that no matter how long we've been painting, not all our ducklings will turn into swans. Still, time is never wasted so long as we learn from our mistakes, and mine was, never try wholesale changes to a painting, it soon becomes two portraits in one.

Strawberries

Strawberries

17 cm x 11 cm

oil on canvas paper

SOLD

on eBay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131272007819?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2648

Orange

Orange

10 cm x 10 cm oil on canvas.

Painted from life in one session using Michael Harding professional standard oil colours, this 10 cm x 10 cm study is beautifully mounted on 5 mm MDF with clean white sides. It is signed on the back and ready to hang.

£50

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131252753266?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Cherries

Cherries

14 cm x 11 cm oil on canvas paper mounted on board

£9.99

Ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/original-oil-painting-still-life-fruit-cherries-contemporary-realism-/131250733500?pt=UK_art_Paintings_GL&hash=item1e8f2741bc

A Small Tribute

A Small tribute

13 cm x 11 oil on canvas paper mounted on card.

E Bay

£50

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/original-oil-painting-still-life-contemporary-impressionism-/131249654301?pt=UK_art_Paintings_GL&hash=item1e8f16ca1d

Strawberries

Strawberries 17 cm x 11 cm oil on canvas

One of three new paintings I've uploaded to Original Art Under a £100

http://original-art-under100.com/artist/steve-strode

Onion

Onion 14 cm x 14 cm oil on canvas mounted and ready to frame, see more on the link below.

http://original-art-under100.com/artist/steve-strode

Cherries

19 cm x 13 cm oil on canvas, Cherries

I've tried several times with this painting but the site just keeps making it look lighter. For a more representational look of the original check out the link below to see this and other artwork.

http://original-art-under100.com/artist/steve-strode

Original-Art-Under100.com

10 cm x 19 cm

I've just uploaded this and three other paintings onto 'original-art-under100.com'

http://original-art-under100.com/artist/steve-strode

Original Art For Under £100

Orange 10 cm x 10 cm oil on canvas paper mounted on MDF

SOLD

I've just uploaded some work onto a new site that sells all artwork for under £100, so why not have a look at the artists there and nab yourself a bargain?

http://original-art-under100.com/artist/steve-strode/

Limes.

Oil on canvas paper SOLD

I donated a small painting to the Cornerstone Gallery's annual charity event and had a nice review by Rachel Tillett.

‘Limes’ which depicts a still life study of a pair of limes. The oil on paper study is bright and vibrant with the lime green being a striking contrast against the brown and black background. The foreshortening of the limes is portrayed well with the use of shadow, tone and form. The painting is reminiscent of Cezanne’s apple studies, although this postcard variation on the classic still life gives it a contemporary and modern twist.’

Happy New Year

Charlie and Pete, Cape Cornwall.

27 cm x 21 cm watercolour on paper.

I've been getting a little more practice with a medium I really neglect but would like to master(should only take the rest of my life then).

I'm using photo's as a reference, and studying the likes of Charles Reid, John Singer Sargent, and Edward Seago et al. 

The list goes on, but if I had to define the type of  watercolours I like, I'd probably say the work is loose and alive. I've a long way to go but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Paint to Learn, After Edward Seago

Paint to learn: After Andrew Gifford

26 cm x 22 cm oil on canvas paper.

Another artist I found some time ago who also paints the city, Andrew Gifford.

http://www.jmlondon.com/exhibitions/leedsbradford-paintings

Paint To Learn; After Edward Seago.

21 cm x 15 cm watercolour

I suppose like a lot of the artists we choose to study the fluid and spontaneous response will always be missing but that doesn't stop the fun in trying.

Paint To Learn; After John Singer Sargent

I've decided to spend the next year getting to know watercolour as it's a medium I've had very little experience of so what better way to get acquainted.  I spent a year doing acrylic paintings of Liverpool, and a year doing oil still life, so time to give watercolour a bash and study the work of the masters like Sargent.

Mixed Media Landscape

Cape Cornwall

Mousehole

I'm giving a demonstration with mixed media on Monday evening for the Southport Art Club. It’s easy to forget the joy of experimenting with different materials where the outcome is secondary to the exploration. Acrylics, ink, charcoal and wax were used using some old sketchbooks and paintings I did around Cape Cornwall and Mousehole

Going Topless

10 cm x 10 cm oil on canvas paper

Ladies Day

16 cm x 13 cm oil on canvas paper mounted on board

I saw these and thought of a day at Ascot races and all the fine hats on Ladies Day

Liverpool painting No.130. St James Road.

Liverpool painting No.130. St James Road. 

20 cm x 14 cm acrylic on canvas.

I can’t believe I've only done a handful of Liverpool pictures during the last year. I've spent most of the time on still life paintings set up at home. Although I did this latest one in the comfort of my own home from photos, and quick studies, it makes me want to get out there again...when the weather’s a bit nicer.