The finished painting of a Jack Russell Mum & Puppies, in a wicker basket.

Here are the final photos of the oil painting I have been working on over the last few months.
It is difficult to reproduce the painting accurately in a photograph.  Partly because many of these photo's were taken on different days, and partly due to the reflective qualities of oil paint, so unfortunately they do not show the rich depth of colour the painting actually has.

However, a friend recommended a fantastic photographer who very kindly and carefully took some photo's for me.  Check out his work at: pixxora.net

The photograph he took will be the one that I will shortly be updating to  www.marionsimkins.co.uk 

In the meantime here are the photos.  To view a larger version, just click on the photo.

Finished Painting - Oil on linen Copyright Marion Simkins




The in progress photos

Unfinished detail of Mum's face

A closer view of the finished detail of Mum's face.  Lots of extra touches have been added here.  From the tiny hairs around the nose to the whiskers, my favourite detail to paint is the eyes.  For me, they reflect Mum's personality and character.  

Finished detail on puppies and basket

Before

Before

Unfinished puppies on the left

Close up of the finished painting

Finished painting with some of the reference photo's

A colourful beginning to Lucy's portrait

The beginning of my latest watercolour portrait.  Not attractive at this stage, I agree. Just have faith in the process!

A little further along......

Oil on linen - Copyright Marion Simkins 2012

I have started to add the detail on the basket.  I realize, at this stage, that it doesn't much resemble a wicker basket, but you have to remember that this is a work in progress, it will do eventually.

The blue haze on the left side of the painting is the reflection of light coming in from the window. It bounces off the shiny oil paint.

I painted the spokes of the basket, then what will be, the raised area's of wicker.  I have added another layer to the background and foreground.  It is important to work from the background to the foreground painting the objects furthest away first.  I have roughly blocked in the puppies legs while I am concentrating on the basket, they are getting a little discoloured but I will correct that when I paint them in detail later on.

I want the basket to dry before I work anymore on it, but as Mum is behind the pups, I will be adding more detail to her next.

As the saying goes "Patience is a virtue"

Mum & pups get a layer of colour

Oil on linen 50x60cm Copyright Marion Simkins

At first I couldn't tell these cute little Jack Russell puppies apart.  They all looked cute and cuddly.  Now I know them better than the back of my own hand.  So much character!

For those of you interested in the process, I have added more colour now, while at the same time keeping to the pattern of lights and darks. The cobalt blue on the puppies faces will be the shine in their fur.  I decided to have a glow of light coming from the right side of the picture.

The wicker basket is still just roughly blocked in, now the Mum and pups are established, I can start to build up that part of the painting next.  It is a slow process, as each layer has to dry before the next.  Worth it though, as it helps to achieve a depth and richness that wouldn't be there otherwise.

Free and loose with the oil paint!

Blocking in the tones with dilute oil paint

The painting is a little further along in these photo's - but not much!  I just want to cover the canvas and build the dark, light and mid-tones.  It's a little like making a mosaic with paint.  I know it looks dreadful, but as the saying goes, "from little acorns big oak trees grow"..............( and if this turns into an oak tree I am in big trouble.)

The painting begins - Jack Russell mum and 5 puppies

Mum & pups - oil on linen

From the photo's in the last post, I made up a composition of Mum and pups together in what will eventually become a wicker basket.  Tricky because I didn't have a round wicker basket to use as reference.  It took what seemed forever to make a very detailed drawing before transferring the image onto a linen canvas.  I roughly sketched the outline with oils and when dry, painted the whole surface in burnt sienna thinned heavily with turps, leaving it to dry once again.

Back soon.