Swaledale Winter

I have now finished my big painting, 80 x 80 cm, of my favourite breed of sheep, the hardy Swaledale. This picture shows them during a harsh North Yorkshire winter to which they are so well adapted. They look so stoic as they stand against the cold North East wind and are always curious to see a visitor or two. 

Swaledale Winter

I liked the little group on the hill so much I decided they deserved to feature in their very own painting and so this little painting 50 x 40 cm was born.

Swaledale Hill

The feel of the painting is quite different, much warmer so maybe I am already looking forward to spring! This will be my last painting of sheep for 2012 but I am really looking forward to visiting The North Yorkshire Moors in 2013 for more inspiration.

Continuing The Swaledale Theme

New Swaledale Painting stage 1

As all my followers know I love painting and drawing Swaledale sheep. They are the sheep of the North Yorkshire Moors and the ones I am most familiar with since childhood picnics on the moors with my family.

Stage 2, added another ewe

 I just love the way they stare at passers by and they don't appear timid at all....tough tykes!

Stage 3 Adding background and detail

I am keeping my palette very muted and the shapes strong but simple

Stage 4 More detail and colour

Some of the background blocking in I am allowing to show through. I have painted these sheep before and the photo was supplied by a great photographer on RedBubble, Rickster, Rick Bransby. He supplied me with two photos to use for painting.

Tough Up North

Tough Up North was the first painting I chose from the photos. I was really attracted to paint Rick's photo because of the sheep that is cut in half. It gives such an edgy feel (sorry) to the composition and I refer to it as my marmite painting as viewers either love or hate it. It sold very quickly and i could have sold it over and over so more lovers than haters!

Etching and Drawing

I enrolled for a printing course which began in September and I am so enjoying the opportunity to return to etching, something I haven't been able to do since art college days.

etching plate

the print

Getting a good print is much more difficult than I remember as there are so many variables! I am very pleased with this print and just hope I can get another 25, equally good. I am also etching a ewe to compliment the ram and both will be available as signed, mounted limited editions.

Drawing of Swaledale Ram

Drawing of Swaledale Ewe

I have been drawing a lot more and have two sketch books that are lovely to draw in. One is square and small so very handy to carry around and the other is rectangular, both open completely flat so it is possible to do a double page spread. 

The above drawing are both in the larger book and are done with a graphite pencil and using my electric eraser to do the highlights.