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"Tea at the Pavillion" © Claire Leggett
I’ve finished the above as much as I can and want to although it’s not one of my personal faves – but that’s OK. In the end I washed out the background by wetting and blotting the gouache off. I finished painting in the rest to give it balance and learnt to love the wonky teacup! I’m glad I tried out the background idea and will definitely keep working on that idea. It’s one of those paintings that has taught me a lot on the way, so it’s got a special place of kinds.
Today has been hard work trying to corral this painting into fine form. I know many painters choose favourite objects to paint again and again. For me today has been a day of not wanting to paint certain objects again!! For example; I love this teacup but I always seem to struggle to translate its shape onto paper and it comes out wonky! And I adore the teapot and jug but that green is a killer to mix tones and tints for. Finally as it started to come together layer by layer, it was apparent to me that I’d been very ‘green’ painting the background wash in a green tone with green china in front. Doh! Maybe a glass of wine, an episode of Glee and a good night’s sleep will bring the fresh touch needed for tomorrow. Have a good evening too.
They say that the best way to remember something is to use the new skill straight away so that it goes into your longer term memory (am I sounding like a teacher at all here?!!!) So in order to cement my new Photoshop skills I decided to give myself a project.
I found this painting after a rummage in an old portfolio and thought it would lend itself nicely to a bit of cut and repeat.
I’m so loving all the endless opportunities that Photoshop offers.
I even printed it up and put it into production!
And then I just couldn’t help myself from playing around further with the hue and saturation options – I had to be dragged away from the computer or I could have obsessed all night.
But fun eh?!
I went down to the RBSA to enjoy the current show. There is so much lovely stuff and it’s really well priced; it’s a great way to begin to buy real art. The range of styles seemed wider than I’d seen before. There was some digital art (made using an iphone I ask you!!!! I am forward thinking but really it wasn’t well done) some fantastic photo-realistic oil paintings and a gorgeous textile hanging. It’s on until the 10th April and is well worth a look.
…because I’m so tired from my pilgrimage to Anthropologie in London yesterday.
It’s one of those shops that appeals to my sense of colour and pattern; the mix of colours and the merchandise settings are inspiring, as is the use of pattern on pattern and embroidery. A lot of the clothing has a 1920′s print vibe to it and a lot of hand embroidery. However I did have one of those depressing changing room experiences that we all suffer from occasionally and so nothing got purchased from the clothing range.
However china always fits beautifully so I cheered myself up purchasing some real beauties to go in my still life paintings.
P.S. I’m not really still in bed just on it!
Back in February I had a weekend in Brighton which came just after reading about how Mary Fedden carries a sketch book everywhere collecting drawings of scenes that she uses for backdrops in her still life painting.
Then I alluded to having a new idea on the go following a moment of post Brighton inspiration. Honestly though I began, it didn’t go well the first few times and I left it and got distracted by other things. Today though, I gave it another shot.
I’m trying to develop my still life painting by incorporating landscape backgrounds (although I still love my highly patterned backdrops!) It didn’t go well before because I was struggling to paint it in scale and situ to the real life objects. So I’ve mulled it over and decided to try to use a photocopied photo, enlarged, to pin-up as the backdrop. And that has made things much more possible to my unimaginative brain!
I wanted to give the painting a whole tea time theme and was cross this morning that I’d not thought it through far enough to have made fairy cakes or even got to the shops for a jolly piece of Battenberg! Then I remembered these wax, fruit tart candles that I bought in the Laura Ashley sale to give as a present, and could never quite part with!! Perfect for this and much more – so sorry folks – no will ever get gifted them now!
It’s been a good day of drawing and I’ve been grateful for some creative sanity and quiet after yet another frazzling week at work. Hope you’ve all had a good week so far. Off to add some colour washes now 
Back in August I bought these Anthropologie plates and painted pictures of them to scale. I then had a crazy moment of inspiration where I could see these in use as a pattern and so I painted out some polka dot backgrounds with the left over paint before the palette got washed clean.
Then my skills set met a dead-end and they’ve stayed piled up in a corner waiting for the day when I could learn Photo Shop. And look! That day was last Thursday and look what I learnt to do…
I spent the day at the wonderful iedesign with Kelle tutoring me every step of the way. I learnt how to scan, re scale, crop, layer, use the clone tool (cool eh?!) and cut objects out.
I learnt how to repeat painted items. This background was finished in a hurry so you can see the joins still.
Then I discovered how you could change it all by altering the hue. It was like being a kid in a sweet shop. I had to control myself from printing out numerous sheets in numerous colour’s just for the hell of it! Although I do know the boss VERY well, he may just have got a little grumpy if I’d blown the toner budget! I might have been in the dog house when he got home…
So that was my exciting day making wrapping paper from my paintings. And I was really excited about this!!! And I’m really excited about all the things I could try now with my new computer skills!
Another thing to feel gratitude for; this beautiful girl born 12 years ago today, making two beautiful, healthy children to bring up. It feels so recent.
This week is definitely a lesson in enjoying the journey and not rushing along to the next pit stop. Happy Birthday Lu. X
Image credit to Pinkforsure.com
Okay peoples I have had a wake up call! All your comments have helped me see that I was looking at the glass as half empty, not half full! It is a tendency of mine (especially when tired and stressed!) to behave like Eeyore! One picture selected is a good thing. Thanks for helping realign my perspective
Friday. P.S. Just found out that the painting sold yesterday!! I think someone is teaching me lessons about gratitude and I’m listening!
You’ve all been so kind wishing me well on my RBSA entries, but sadly (and a bit embarrassingly) only one of the three was chosen. They don’t enter into a dialogue as to why, ‘the judges decision is final’ so I’m not sure why. I’m so disappointed and feel like I’ve just gotten over the card thing! And I know all the reassurance to persevere is still as relevant now as it was in January but…
And the photo? Well these adventures in life and art are out there on the open road to be had but knock backs need a warning too!
