20 minute challenge

A bit of discipline! I had a look at the blog 'The Twenty Minute Challenge' and thought it'd be a Good Idea - maybe I'll learn to pay attention when I'm drawing! Anyway the idea is to draw/paint something from life, with a non-negotiable 20 minute time limit (no fiddling later either). The value of this, for me, is that it forces me to look hard at what I'm drawing/painting, and simplify what I see.

So here are my first two 20-minuters. Neither are particularly good, but both have been useful in focussing on shapes/contrasts etc. I'm going to try to do these fairly regularly, so hopefully my drawing from life will improve!

Little teddy bear

Here's what I've been up to over the past few days - a portrait of a pal's little boy. Not the greatest of outcomes I'm afraid - it got a bit too 'cute' for my liking! (Maybe if I got rid of the teddy bear...?) And as usual I struggled with the background. Still, I always enjoy painting portraits and this one was no exception. 9" by 13", watercolour with a bit of gouache, from my own ref photo.

Barn owl

Been a bit quiet on the painting front for the start of this month, but here's another watercolour sketch for the bird collection - a beautiful barn owl, from this week's WDE on WetCanvas. 5" by 7", watercolour.

A seat in the shade

8" by 10" watercolour. Tried another pour with this one, for the background. From my own ref pic, taken on holiday a couple of years ago.

A day at the beach

Watercolour, 8" by 10". This is another piece I did for the WDE this weekend (found myself with a bit of spare time!).

Rex, an Australian Cattle Dog

Here's one I painted for this week's WDE on WetCanvas - Rex, an Australian Cattle Dog. 5" by 7", in watercolour as usual!

The big fish

Here's what I've been up to over the last couple of days. The reference was a fab photo by Graham Harcombe (worldphotographyforum.com), used with kind permission (thanks!). I was going for a real bright and sunny feel with this one. Enjoyed painting this, though I may have to go back and do something about the wobbly horizon...

Watercolour, 8" by 10".