Picture
This is the latest painting that I've been working on, still trying to get citrus fruit to look like it should.  This is oil on canvas and is only 16"x 12".  I started it on Sunday (I think) and have been working on it until today (it's Friday).  The part of the orange peel around the fruit that looks like it is missing will end up being in deep shadow so that's why it looks a bit odd. 

By the way, where are all the hits coming from, I can't understand why I am getting so many or how my site is being found?  Suppose I might have to upgrade to find that out.

Picture
Here's how the same painting was about 2 days in.  I had started to add the under layers, all darker than they needed to be.  I also worked from the top to the bottom.  I have learn't to do this as I have many ruined cuffs of jumpers etc from leaning in wet paint.  A friend made me a mahl stick to use but I usually only remember it after I've finished.

Picture
That looks a mess doesn't it?  This is the VERY start of the painting.  A sketch that is done in very thin raw umber.  I don't usually use pencil or charcoal for the sketches as it moves too much when I start to add the paint.  After this the raw umber background was done, then started with the colours.

If you have time, pop over to my facebook page and say "hello" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-Cook/106237526094484
 
Picture
This is where I am working at the moment, in full view of the public and other artists, yikes.  It is in Regent Court Shopping Centre, Livery Street, Leamington Spa.  Enjoying the environment, it is peaceful and open.  Getting loads of stuff done too so, if you are around in Leamington Spa do pop in.  Here is a little film of a walk around it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oZ7GUA7ETs

Picture
This one is called Coffee Pot and is a work in progress but all I have to do is finish the painting the browns on that cream bit that is there.

Picture
This one is called Pepsi Cans and is also a work in progress.  This has now had 2 layers of paint added.  Both of these paintings are being worked on in the new studio.

 
Picture
Wow, what a week I'm having, it's brilliant.  I went back to painting live at Gallery 150 yesterday, after a week's holiday, and found out that both of my paintings had sold.  I was also lucky enough to meet both of the buyers which made my day, week, fortnight, year!! I was so excited yesterday that I forgot to take a photo of the work that I had done, so ended up missing a day. 

I think I have almost finished this painting now, I have just got to mess it up a bit as it looks a bit to pristine.  So expect some blobs of fat and bits of tomatoe and juice around it.  I am also struggling a bit with the bacon so have returned it to the start (it looks a bit raw at the moment).  I think this is about it's 5th layer now.  It is also quite a lot bigger than I normally do and that might be why it's taking me longer. 

 
Picture
Once again I had a lovely day painting at Gallery 150, Leamington Spa.  I really enjoy doing it and meeting so many different, lovely people that come in. 
I have started to add colour to the food now and this is the first layer done (only half of the bacon is done at the moment though).  The mushrooms are all wrong but I will have another go at them tomorrow.  I might have to add a slice of black pudding aswell as there is a gap which is a bit too big on the plate.  I had to go and buy a tomato today because I couldn't remember exactly what they looked like, thought it was too hard to do so turned one of them over then managed to get the second one looking like it should anyway.  My favourite bit at the moment is the puddle of tomato ketchup.

 
Picture
What's the nicest thing about working in the gallery?  It's meeting the people that come through the door, I already met lots of new people since I started doing this a couple of weeks ago.  Today was really busy right from when the doors were first opened. 
I didn't get very much done today, only managing to put another layer on the one side.  Some people see other things in this painting that I haven't.  Some see a footballer with his arm outstretched, others see a profile and others see the continent of Africa (or America it was one or the other).  I think that's brilliant I like it when that happens.  Hope you all had a good day today, it's been a very hot one here.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-Cook/106237526094484

 
Picture
This is a painting that I have been working on at Gallery 150, Regent Court Shopping Centre, Leamington Spa.  I started off with painting the mange tout and I am now trying to make it look like a plastic bag full of mange tout.  It was quite worrying starting off because the vegtables looked ok and I had to put white paint all over them.  If it didn't work it would have had to end up in the bin.  That would not be good when working in the public eye.  Colours used are raw umber, titanium white and sap green.  There is also 3 layers of sap green on the mange tout. 

Picture
At the start of the day Friday, the first bits of white are added.
Picture
This was the first coat of sap green being added to the underpainting of raw umber and white.