This is Lola, a pretty English Bull Terrier. I asked for models recently on my facebook page and Sarah volunteered the lovely Lola. Isn’t she adorable? She was perfect for an idea I had in mind. I want to paint black and white models on a red background. So I’m going to paint Lola on a large 20×16 inch canvas with a red ground.

I also thought I’d try an take photos all the way through the process so you can see the growth of the painting.

This is the sketch on the canvas.

Here is the under painting. I’m using transparent red iron oxide for the under painting. Its a lovely rich warm colour.

more to come soon.

A sketch of a stag. This is an idea for a painting for the Ashdown Forest show in May. I like the way he’s looking behind him. It’s a great pose and I like the idea of a square format too.

This is a new work in progress, a new bullmastiff painting called The Look Out. The model is Shelby who lives with Gail in Alaska.

In this second sketch I’ve changed the composition. I’ve made the format wider and moved Shelby away from the middle of the picture. I’ve also raised the level of the mountains on the right hand side.