Butterflies I, Wildlife Painting

Butterflies I, oil on board

I wanted to see if I could paint butterflies in oil, and here's the result. I enjoyed doing it so much, I painted a second one. I'll pop it in my next post.

Out to Sea, Landscape Oil Paintings

Out to Sea, oil on canvas, 102 x 76 cm (40 x 30")

I painted this on a very large canvas, and had such fun doing it. I put on my favourite album - Kate Bush's The Kick Inside, and danced about with far too many paint brushes gripped in one hand while painting with the other. I had also just discovered the joys of Prussian Blue - there is a lot of it used.

The painting, a favourite of mine, hangs on the wall in my studio, and you can now but cards and prints through my shop. Visit here to find out more.

Storm, Landscape Oil Painting

Storm, oil on canvas

This is one of my largest paintings at 120cm (47") wide. I love painting that size, and bigger, but not many people have the room for something so large.

Bluebell Sunrise, Landscape Painting

Bluebell Sunrise, oil on canvas

One of my favourite subjects - bluebells. This painting has sold, but you can find prints and cards at http://www.tracyharrisonbutler.gallery/land_tracy_butler_bluebell_sunrise.htm.

Introduction to Traditional Media: Oil Painting

My latest article, Introduction to Traditional Media: Oil Painting, is now available on the Tuts+ website.

Although I paint in oils, I felt I needed to turn to someone else to fill in the gaps in my knowledge. Laura Harrison, an experienced oil painter, allowed me to not only invade the sanctity that is her studio, but to also pick her brains. The image above is from one of her paintings.

Thanks Mum!

You can check the article out here.

Astronomy Has Landed - At Last

Weightless, oil on board

I've just finished a new painting.

I've been working on it for months.

I mentioned a good while back, in my post Inspiration, that I was going to be working on a series of paintings inspired by astronomy. Well, here's the first one. It turns out that I find working on something abstract very difficult. But I think I got there in the end.

I have used layers of paint to try and get the affects I wanted, letting them dry, scrapping them away with all kinds of tools (a screwdriver included), getting frustrated with the colours I was using and painting them out.

It's such a relief to finish this painting, and I am already really looking forward to working on the next one.

Hopefully, it won't be as painful and frustrating to produce!

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.