Inaccessible Temple Landscape Painting

Inaccessible Temple, chalk pastel on board.

I love using chalk pastels, especially iridescent ones. I've used them all over this painting, but annoyingly, you can't see them in photos - I've tried with several. They added a shimmer to the water in silvers, and depth in bronzes to the rocks.

Sorry for letting you know what you can't see.

I still wonder how anyone gets to the temple - I saw no boats.

Cheetah Cub I, Wildlife Painting

Cheetah Cub I, chalk pastel on board

The original painting was of a cheetah family, the mother and 3 cubs. It was OK. But as time went on, I began to hate the way I had painted the mother, and the composition stopped working for me; so I cut it up.

I now have two cheetah cub paintings that I am much happier with. This is the first.

I'll post the second one at a later date.

Wild Azaleas, Landscape Painting

Wild Azaleas, chalk pastel on board

The first signs of spring after a bitter Korean winter - pink azalea flower. No leaves, just the flowers.

Winter Korean Temple Sketch, Landscape Painting

Winter Korean Temple Sketch, chalk pastel on board

When I look at paintings I have finished, they take me back to the moment I worked on them. It could be a piece of music I was listening to at the time, the struggle I had to create what I wanted, or in this case, the experiences I had in the place I was working.

The bitter, bitter Korean winter was nearly over, and at last, I was able to sit outside to draw without freezing. I headed up into the hills not far from Busan, to the tranquil setting of one of South Korea's many, many Buddhist temples. Enjoying the peace, I settled myself down, with all my materials around me and nearly keeled over with fright when morning prayers began. Far from being calming, they were being broadcast deafeningly over a crackly tanoy, its speakers attached to trees all round me. The sound was bouncing off all the hills and echoing for miles. It was loud.

I worked through it, giving up on listening to my iPod. After 45 minutes, silence descended and I began to work. The monks left me to it, except when wordlessly plying me with coffee and, bizarrely, gobstoppers. 

I loved Korea's temples, and would visit and draw them many times over, at many different times of the year.

Cherry Blossoms and Hazel Wood, Springtime in Korea, Landscape Painting

Blossoms and Hazel, chalk pastel on board

I painted this in South Korea after experiencing my first extremely cold Korean winter - everything I looked at was brown.

Just as thought I was never going to see colour again, spring arrived; there was still no greenery, but flowers erupted out of nowhere. Deep pink wild azaleas, cream magnolias yellow hazel wood and clouds of cherry blossoms lining roads and filling parks. Spring was on its way.

This painting has sold but you can buy prints and cards through Tracy Butler Art.

Cheetah, Wildlife Painting

 Cheetah, chalk pastel on board, 20 x 23.5cm (8 x 9")

 I love Cheetahs and have done several paintings of them. This is one of my favourites.

Happy New Year of the Monkey

Hot Tub Monkey, chalk pastel on board

Happy Chinese New Year!!! Year of the Monkey!!! Bring it on!!!

Local Art Club Demonstration

I was asked to demonstrate painting in chalk pastel at an art club, and found it a very nerve racking experience.

I decided to work on another howling wolf (I'll be posting its progress later on) as I feel very relaxed with the subject as I figured work working while others watched could be a bit uncomfortable. I realised that I would have to talk as I painted too.

My set up at the demo - I even brought my own easel.

I really enjoyed it. Only a few had worked in chalk pastel before and as a result I had a lot of questions which was brilliant. The time flew, and I had a lot of positive feedback. I was even happy with the result.

It was a good experience.

Scottish Highland Cow

Highland Cow, chalk pastel on board

If you are not from Scotland, Highland Cows are an unusual sight. They are huge, hairy (very), long horned (at all sorts of angles), come in a reddy brown blonde colour or black and rarely seem to move. I often wonder how they see (their hair falls over their eyes), but the calves are super cute.

This painting has sold, but you can buy prints and greetings cards through my shops on Etsy and Folksy.

I plan on doing a series of paintings. Watch this space.

Introduction to Traditional Media: Chalk Pastel

Another one of my articles has been published - Introduction to Traditional Media: Chalk Pastel.

Close up of a cheetah's eye. I used this as an example.

Chalk Pastel is my absolute favourite medium to work in, and I loved writing this.

My articles have given me a chance to explore materials I have always known in a different way. I've been getting to know their histories and looking at them from a beginners point of view has given me a new perspective.

You can find my latest article here on the Tuts+ website.

Enjoy.

Stallion

Just finished another painting - Stallion.

Stallion, chalk pastel on board

Snow Leopard

Here is another one of my animal paintings - the latest one. It's rather large and has been painted in chalk pastel and chalk pencil. The colours are unusual for me, pale greens, greys and blues, but working on him was a very calming and peaceful time. Maybe it had something to do with the magnificent animal that is the snow leopard (they really are magical) or the colour scheme or both, but I was very sorry to finish this one, and although he is framed and ready for exhibition, he is hanging in my home - for now.

If you are interested in more animals, have a look at my website for original paintings, prints, greetings cards, fridge magnets and key rings.