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.

Koi Carp

Koi Carp painted using chalk pastel on pastel paper.

I've just sold this painting. I'm sorry to see it go, I have to admit.

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.

So Much To Do...

It's January (I'll assume you've already noticed), and I've been painting again, at last. I can't believe how much I missed it over the festive period. But I'm having difficulty concentrating as I have so many things that need to be sorted for this month and I probably should have finished them before Christmas.

I have been asked to send paintings into Smithy Gallery for their handing in days from the 21st-23rd January. They are holding an Affordable Art Fair, where all paintings are under £500. I have one done (you can see it at an early stage in my Experimentation blog, and now finished in the image above). Another one is just started and I'm messing about with it the same way as the one below, but I'm not at all happy with the way it is looking at the moment. I think a bit of sanding down of the guache is in order, then I'll use some chalk pastels.

I have also been asked to donate a painting to The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, based here in Glasgow, for sale in their "A Celebration of Burns" charity auction (that is, Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, not a party for those who got frazzled while cooking the Christmas dinner, thought I should clear that up). This painting has to be handed in by the 15th January.

Regardless of how many canvases I need to have finished this month, I have to have paintings that I am happy with. And then I have to get them framed which can take up to 2 weeks.

Of course, that's not taking into account all the competitions I want to enter, so I have to think of work for them too. The exciting part is that I never know what I am going to produce, but whatever it is I'll be happy with it for a while (just a wee while).

Image: Beinn Damph, mixed media on board, 41 x 25cm (16" x 10")

Winter Weather Blues

It's been snowing pretty heavily here in Scotland, unusual for this time of year. Go on, laugh, I know you think Scotland is always freezing and we are used to snow up to our ears, but funnily enough it's normally cold, rainy and windy in November and December, snow normally doesn't feature.

As a result of the weather, though, everything is being cancelled. Craft fairs (where I advertise my paintings and sell greetings cards, prints, fridge magnets and key rings) that I depend on at this time of year are not going ahead which is incredibly frustrating and very disappointing. I have spent a fortune preparing all my stock. And with no income from the craft fairs, I cannot advertise my online shop for the Christmas season; mind you I have to ask myself if that is such a bad thing as I can't get to the post office to send out any orders - and the painting carrier I normally use can't get here either.

On the rather bright, sparkly side, as the sun begins to set, the snow starts to glow a golden pink that I can't wait to start painting.

Image: Possible painting subject as it is too cold to paint outside, but the photo will do for just now.

Running Cheetah

I finished working on a cheetah today; I've even given it an inspired title – Running Cheetah – just in case you can't guess from the painting. OK, you are welcome to argue with me on that point. I used chalk pastel on mount board.

     I love pastel; it makes me feel very connected to my work because I'm hold the material directly, getting it on both my painting and me, using my fingers to move the colours about on the board.

     When I finish working on one of animals I'm always surprised that I am the one who painted it.

     I tried a light background for him first but he lacked drama, and I've used some wonderfully sparkly whites and golds (they really do have sparkles in them) that lift his coat. I'll have to find excuses for using these pastels again.

Image: Running Cheetah (www.tracybutler.co.uk)

Experimentation

I decided to try experimenting today and have been working on MDF (I had it cut to size at B & Q).
     In my studio, I coated it with purple acrylic (no reason, really, it was to hand) and then drew a landscape with a pastel pencil; I then blocked in colour with guache, putting details  in with chalk pastels and pushing the colours around in both media with water. I liked the effect but decided the textures created by the initial acrylic layer are too rough and took sandpaper to them.
     I worked for a while longer into the sky, and now think I've ruined the painting altogether. The only answer is to use water to effectively rub out the clouds and start on that bit again.  
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I wrote that yesterday and when I came in this morning, having allowed time for drying, I was relieved to see the sky looking much better.  A little bit of fiddling about, and I think I have a finished painting.  Chalk pastel mixed with water is rather fun.  

Above: A rather messy table with an experimental painting, guache, chalk pastels and pastel pencils (www.tracybutler.co.uk)

Painting Outside in Korea

Sketching or painting outside can be a very relaxing experience, but it all depends on where you decide to plant yourself.

     Until recently, I lived in South Korea and I used to love painting in Gyeongju, Korea's ancient capital.  On this occasion spring was at it's height and I had completely misjudged the crowds after a harsh winter which were out walking or taking photographs (both national pastimes).  Even though it was early in the morning, the only westerner with an easel and chalk pastels was fair game.  I was jostled, photographed (as was my work - a big no-no without permission) and I have Korean fingerprints on my painting as pastels had not been seen before.  I have never been the centre of so much attention - it's rather difficult working with a camera lens resting on your shoulder.

     My advice?  Be careful where and when you choose to set up for en plein air painting, but be very grateful to the temple's monks who go out of their way to feed and befriend you with a life time's supply of coffee and boiled sweets.

Image: Temple Doors (www.tracybutler.co.uk)