Over the past few days I have been going cray painting. I made Liam go out today to get me more canvasses because I was all out and needed a fix…. its like heroin.anyway.Both paintings are completely different from each other and anything I have ever done before.I don’t have titles for them yet – to be honest both of them took me completely by surprise.I welcome comments, critiques, title suggestions – whatever!

no really it’s the name of my latest assignment. I got up at dawn today full of hope and excitement looking forward to taking the first of many shots exploting the light on an object in glen waverley.. no I didn’t actually, I left the bed kicking and screaming. urg the things we do for…

100_0423 Originally uploaded by minxdragon. This is the next step in my musician piece. His face is now almost completely done, I am obviously still working on the shirt – although the subject is wearing a T I am thinking of making it a shirt shirt or polo so that he looks less like he…

Works in progress… Originally uploaded by minxdragon. The first in the progression on my current work. This was how it was a few weeks back. (i only just worked out moblogging) this is quite an ambitious piece due to the size and the fact that i am using glazing. (further note added later) sorry this…

I have been trying over the past few months to break myself of the traditional oil painting mold…. In other words to loosen up my style and create something that is more “art”, rather than a duplicate copy…. Its fun to see something emerge under your hand – its almost like I have no control, like I am the conduit through which my art is born.

he has so much character and the painting, even in the early stages, is popping already – you can see what he will become by my basic blocking and introuctory shading…. In other News, Art Riot is having a very good sale at the moment, I have picked up some new pallette knives, were 6.99 now 2.99 and a nice set of hogshair brushes with a case for 9.99 was 16.99…. I have a few expensive sable brushes for my careful detail work but usually I just buy inexpensive hogshair and replace them as needed.

New commandment in my own personal painting bible: Thou shalt not paint when thou art overly emotional, stressed and tired I thought, mistakenly, that this might assist my letting go and maybe produce some ‘tortured soul’ stuff…. Does it ever feel like if you don’t paint, or draw, or mould stuff in your mashed potatoes you will go crazy? If you don’t create something soon it will blow your top?

Each painting I have completed so far this season has been different, exploring new images, shapes, techniques, and each has been an upward progression in my skill…. Don’t get me wrong, I have some beautiful things in the wings, but I feel that if I’m not pushing the envelope with each new painting then I am betraying something in myself…. But even more than this, I guess I need to remember that I don’t even know what a piece will be like until I am halfway through it.

I have been working on new techniques in my art. Previously my painting techniques involved high detail and tiny brushstrokes. Now I am looking to explore different subjects (rather than just portraits) and new techniques. I wish I knew what my next subject is, but I may continue with sex and the city for a while, exploring the concept more than the show.

Just plain Fun Originally uploaded by minxdragon. The second part of the shoes diptych.