Ok ! onwards and upwards. have been really cracking on with this one this week as its half term next week so will have ltd time to work. I will post the photos as i have completed work daily to show you on average how much i do in a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
Thats the thing with painting, as most artist will tell you, sometimes you cant get down to paint quick enough and sometimes I have to really crowbar my bottom off the seat and into the studio! 
This weeks work has also been interupted by daughter no 2 being off sick yesterday with a sickness bug! probably caught at her birthday party or the germ pool of school.
Anyway I degress, here are the pictures from the last few days! comments very welcome 
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Ok. On with the commissions. I have started a large commission now, Its of 4 horses. Two of them have unfortunately passed away so we are really ltd with photos of those two. I have managed to get some more photos sent of the other 2 and I am working from numerous photos to get this portrait complete.
One major issue when doing a large portrait is getting the sizes correct. None of the horses are photographed together so it is vital to get as much information as to the proportions etc. Who is the biggest? It might sound simple, but to get them all looking correct from numerous photos requires a lot of study and placing.
To ensure I had got this one correct, once each horse was sketched out, i copied the sketches and made templates up to the correct sizing and placed them on canvas. This is the stage you can see here in the the photo. Once these were all placed and the client had approved it, I could then draw them out onto the canvas for real. I have now done this and also put in the back ground. I will post an update late this week to show how this one is progressing. I have a tight deadline on this , so things should move along quite swiftly. Come back soon to see how its going 
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Well, the first commission of the new year is completed and sent off following approval! He’s Henry! shown here, a much loved cat. The portrait was purchased for the gentlemans wife as a surprise present!
I love being part of so many surprises and gifts. I suppose thats one of the lovely parts of my job. I am lucky to generally see people when they are excited about producing the portrait as a gift or generally to celebrate their much loved pet.
Sometimes the portraits are completed of a lost loved one. This is a lovely way to show how much the pet /horse meant to you and lets you have a part of them with you to ponder at for years after their departure. Photographs can sometimes be a problem at this time as you obviously have only to work with what was taken in the past. Usually however, using a selection of photographs, I can depict your horse or pet and still get an accurate likeness and bring out their much loved character.
This year, I am striving to be more organised, stricter with my work routines and not neglet my marketing or online prescense! So blogging here should be weekly, my website will updated monthly ( at least) and ongoing exhibitions will as always have my newest and most up to date works shown. I am determined to work hard again this year and get accepted again for the Mall Galleries Society of Equestrian Artists annual exhibition. I have one piece I am working on for that so I will keep you posted.
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Very exciting. My painting has been packed off and on it’s way to the NEC Birmingham, England.
My painting “Racing Stripes” has been chosen to be exhibited at the annual Simply the Best leisure painter magazine exhibition. It will run from the 5th – 8th of November 2009. It runs along side the amazing Art Materials Live event show held at the NEC.
Visitors can vote for the peoples winner and shortlisted entrants will be shown in the Leisure Painter Magazine in the New Year!!!! Fingers crossed and lets hope it sells too
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Ok , back to work. Things are piling up for the christmas list and I have, in between dealing with kids, horse, dog and puppies done a commission since i last updated on here!!
This is a lovely grey arab cross called Koodoo!!
His owner has seen and approved this one … so its on with the next.
The next one is of a collie cross , wont be able to blog the work in progress as its a present for the customers sister. I will post all the christmas portraits in the new year.
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Have been very busy working on this one and also getting ready for my dog to have her pups!!
So just a short update today with some more work in progress. In these last 2 photographs, you can see I am basically getting the main colours in situ and working on the tones.
Once I am happy with this stage, I will do this for all 3 horses and then get to the final fiddly stage.
During the basic horse underpaintings, I also re worked the background. It is essential that the background is completely finished before I get to the final stages of completing the horses. If I dont do this it will be impossible to work around the fine hairs on the edges and keep the consistancy of the paint true.
Till next time !!!
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Carried on working on the first horse today. Got lots more shading in and beginning to sort out the lights and darks. This helps with determining what goes where as it literally puts the portrait into sections as you look at it. A bit like the method of using grids. I can now work out where to put individual details in relation to other areas of light and shadow.
Hopefully more tomorrow
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Ok, got on a bit with this yesterday.
Started by putting down some very watery paint to give my some ideas of lights and darks and chestnut tones.
Then had to fiddle and started putting a little more detail into the first one! Ran out of time though as had to pick up the girls from school.
More today !! back soon..
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Solo and Caprice, finished and approved !
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
For the first time. I have been asked to do an article in a magazine!
It’s a drawing horses article in “Painter” magazine and will be out on 10th Sept 2009 (issue no 34 ) .
It goes throught the steps of drawing horses using basic shapes. Seperate advise on drawing eyes, legs and face included. Then finally bringing you onto more detailed muscle shaping and general shading. The final image is shown with a little colour using watercolour pencil.
You can purchase copies in good newsagents or online.
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Ok… back from short break. Took kids to the Isle of Wight camping for the first time. They had a fantastic time and the weather was very kind to us. Even had to get out the suntan lotion!
Just started back at work and thought I would update you on the progress as it is today. I am getting cracking on finishing Caprice and Solo and should be finished by the end of this week. I am also starting on the next one too. So will post a photo of how that one is going so far.
This is not a great photo (sorry) the light is coming in from the workshop window and shining hard on Caprice’s nose. Also its putting Solo a bit in the dark. The final photo will be more even.
Anyway here is where we are at !! comments welcome
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Continued work on Solo and Caprice. Think (possibly) that Caprice may be done?.. not sure may find something to fiddle with when I look again.
Anyway, worked on more layers for Solo. Looking slightly more like him now. But a long way to go
As always, comments welcome.
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Ok, I havnt quite finished Caprice but need to leave a few bits to dry before doing the last fiddly bits!!
Have obviously started on Solo!! He is looking kinda odd at the moment LOL!! Never mind. These are the base colours I put down to give my more guidance as I build up the layers later on.
Hope fully will get some more done tomorrow and will update you if there is time
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Just a short note with todays work as tired and need to get to bed for tomorrows opening of Christchurch Arts guild exhibition. (If you can make it, starts at 10:30 for 11am, Priory House, Christchurch ,Dorset.)
Today, still working on Caprice. Another layer of colour goes on and worked more on the finer detail of mane and muzzle.
Should update you beginning of next week !! Have a great weekend all!
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Ok, have been working on this a couple of times and thought I had better put up another installment! Still lots to do on Caprice, althought the base colours are mainly down. Lots of blending to do on the muzzle and highlights. I love doing all the little lines etc to create that soft wrinkly feel that muzzles have.
The day when I took the photos as I have said was a sunny one, so lots of lightness and shine to be worked into the main later on.
As always…. comments welcome ! Back soon ….
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
Well,, this is todays work. basically worked on the background a little more. then started to put some basic colours on Caprice.
Always looks a little odd at this stage as alot of the colours are just base colours.
Started to work on her eye too!
More Tomorrow !!
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
This is the commission I am working on now!
These two are stunning! They are Mother and son. . Caprice, obviously the mum, is gentle and sweet natured, Solo the yearling is a little more sparky! I worked along side the owners, to ensure we used the right photos to get their characters across.
It is sooooo important to do this. If you dont consult with the people that know the animals the best, then you are doing them a disservice. They will be the best judge on which photograph to use.!! As long as the quality is there, go with their decision every time!!
It was a beautiful day on the day we chose to do the photographs. I took loads and then emailed the results to the owners to scrutinise. I think she has made fab choices and so now I have drawn out and transfered the images on to canvas.
So far I have put very basic colours on to give the suggestion of a sunny day outside. As the painting developes, these will become more subtle and will be blended to create a background which enhances but does not dominate the finished portrait. Anyway, this is the painting so far….stay tuned to see the continued progress over the next week or so.
©Copyright 2009 by Kathy Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.
