Smithy Gallery

I just wanted to share a blog post that I really like. It was written by Natalie Harrison at Smithy gallery on the 21st June.

You can find it here. Enjoy.

Commission - 2

This is where I have got to now with my commission.

More detail is still needed, but it's coming on.

Commission

I have started working on a commission of a landscape. It's not my usual subject, but I'm really enjoying working on something so different for me...

I'll post installments as I go, making changes my client has asked for, and ones I feel will bring the painting to life.

June Craft Fairs

   

I wanted to let you know that I'm going to be at a couple of craft fairs over the next couple of weeks.

The first is on Saturday 18th June from 10:30am to 4pm at The Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, 1445-1806 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AW. It is run by The New Arts and Crafts Movement.

The second Craft Fair I will be attending is on Saturday 25th June from 10am to 4pm at the Byres Road Makers Market, Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8AP.

I hope to see you there.

Art of a Different Kind

I thought I would show you a new project I have been working on. I decided to turn my hand to something a wee bit different, but in my view, it's just as creative as standing working at a canvas.

As you can see from the photo, I baked and decorated a cake, and, using everything I know about colour, I managed to achieve the brightest, edible coral reef I could muster. Everything can be eaten, including the sand.

I'm rather proud of myself (I know, one of the seven deadlies) but I've never made anything like it before.

New Website - www.tracybutler.co.uk - Tracy Butler Art

I have just launched my new website, and I'm absolutely delighted with the design.

In celebration, I would like to offer you 15% off any of your purchases (including original paintings). All you have to do is type in the code WELCOME at checkout*.

I have new products too - Prints onto Box Canvas and Prints onto Acrylic as well as my usual products - limited edition signed giclee prints, unlimited edition mounted prints, greetings cards, fridge magnets and key rings.

Or you can simply browse the original paintings section to see what I have been up to over the last wee while.

I look forward to your visit, and remember, your code is WELCOME*.

* I'm sorry, but this offer is not available outside the UK.

Changes

I've changed the look of my blog to match my new website - www.tracybutler.co.uk.

What do you think?

Moonlight Reflection

I've just finished painting Moonlight Reflection. Originally, it was another painting, most of which you can see in image one, but it seemed too flat, and it left me feeling uninspired; so I took it out of it's frame, and set to work thinking I would add more colour and texture, but that's not what happened...

Image 1

Image 1: The painting is oil on canvas, and as it was already browns and pale purples, I continued with those colours for a bit, then decided I hated them and spread flat newspaper all over the canvas (it stuck because of the wet paint), smoothing it with my hands and then lifting it off, taking a good bit of the paint with it.

Image 2

Image 2: I always feel I tie myself too much to an image I have in front of me whether it is a photograph or a sketch, so this time, I just went with the colours, and the types of brushes I was using (lovely big flat square ones), still using the image that had been on the canvas before.

Image3

 
Image 3:  I added more light and felt the painting would benefit from the introduction of yellows and oranges, colours I tend to shy away from when using blues and purples.

Image 4

Image 4:  I use a blending brush quite a lot (it looks like a fan), and enjoyed blending the colours on the canvas - this way, I never know what is going to happen, and end up with colours and shapes I never expected.

Image5

Image 5:  The painting still seemed a bit flat, and as it is oil, and the paint can be scraped away if I've made a mistake, I used a lime green that I had bought in Korea, and blended like daft. I used the flat of the brush, and for the first time the edge of it too, which added a wonderful texture to the thick paint. Most excitingly, though, just doing that has given me ideas for a series of paintings that I'm really looking forward to starting on.

Next week, I think.