Ayrton Senna – Watercolor

I just finished this watercolor study of Ayrton Senna – there are just so many things about him (on and off the track) that make him such an interesting subject.   I always enjoy painting images of him – it’s such a pleasure that I never tire of it – there are very strong parallells between him and that other legendary driver Gilles Villeneuve, and it’s quite incredible that both of them still exude a sort of magnetism for motor racing fans all over the world – even in death! Continue reading Ayrton Senna – Watercolor

Screwdriver (still life) – acrylic on canvas

This is the last piece in the what I call the “Toolbox” series for the moment.  My last posting was a hammer and I think this one makes a nice “companion” piece.   So my toolbox has been consigned to the shed since most of the DIY is now finished – (then again my wife might have a different view on that – a mans DIY is never done!).   On the painting front, I’ve just started a painting of Ayrton Senna  – so I’ll post progress on that tomorrow, in the meantime, enjoy. Continue reading Screwdriver (still life) – acrylic on canvas

Hammer (still life) – acrylic on canvas

Following on from the paintings I did of the pliers, I went to my tool box and I started painting this hammer yesterday and between working on some of my Formula 1 miniatures dringing some beautiful Chilean Merlot! I actually put the finishing touches to it this evening – and I must say I’m very happy with it.  I sourced one other item from the tool box (which I think will make a nice companion piece) and over the next few days I hope to get it painted and posted.  I’m also working on two other F1 paintings at the … Continue reading Hammer (still life) – acrylic on canvas

Mini Cooper color study – acrylic on canvas (6×6)

I’m doing some research for a private commission at the moment.  The client owns a number of different mini coopers and wants to have them all individually painted, so I’ve been doing pencil sketches and color studies in order to get the lines and shapes in my head.  This is a color study on box canvas from yesterdays work. Continue reading Mini Cooper color study – acrylic on canvas (6×6)

Still life (Pliers) acrylic on box canvas 6×6

Today I painted another still life (see my last posting) – I felt the painting I did yesterday looked somewhat lonely and seeing as I had another blank 6×6 canvas I tought I would create a companion for it!   I discovered another pliers in my tool box from the same set – so it matches yesterdays painting in terms of color – a definite companion… enjoy. Continue reading Still life (Pliers) acrylic on box canvas 6×6

Still Life (Pliers) acrylic on box canvas (6×6)

Today I took it into my head to approach my painting efforts by “painting the things in front of me” as they say, so looking round the studio here, I spotted a very colorful pair of pliers sticking out from a tool bag  which is still lying on the floor after a recent spate of DIY.   I set myself the task of painting it in one sitting in order to push my observation skills rather than trying to “construct a picture” so it forces me to just paint the tonal values of the subject in front of me as … Continue reading Still Life (Pliers) acrylic on box canvas (6×6)

Gilles Villeneuve – pencil sketch

While I was researching the colors etc for the miniature driver figure of Gilles (see my previous post), I started to do a pencil sketch of him strapped into his cockpit deep in concentration before leaving the pits.   It’s done in HB & 2B lead on 300gsm watercolor paper – unmounted 18×12 inches – (12×8 mounted). Continue reading Gilles Villeneuve – pencil sketch

Jim Clark – Indy 500 – Acrylic on canvas

Still on the “Jim Clark” theme, I’m using a Sepia technique for this image from the 1967 Indy 500 of Clark driving his “STP Oil Treatment Special” (which was essentially a Lotus 38).   He won there in 1965 and was second in ’66, however, in ’67 he retired with 35 laps left and was ranked 31st overall.  I’m using acrylics on a canvas panel – so far so good – hope to finish it tomorrow – that’s if I can resist the temptation to introduce “color” into it, (it always goes a little pear shaped when I start going … Continue reading Jim Clark – Indy 500 – Acrylic on canvas

Jim Clark Lotus 49 – Acrylic on canvas (completed)

I think I’ll leave it at that – (see my previous post) I’m pretty happy with how it turned out so I’ll stop now before I start fiddling!  Todays out-put was this completed painting and I also started painting a miniature resin figure of Gilles Villeneuve – so I’ll post up progress pictures of that next – cheers for now. Continue reading Jim Clark Lotus 49 – Acrylic on canvas (completed)