Monday, December 21, 2009

Work in Progress - Tropical Island


The light is at the end of the tunnel now - there is still a lot more I want to do but it is at least looking finished.

I've added some gentle waves to the foreground and softened the horizon - I have also added a reflection for the boat.

I have also added some rope for the roll-up blind and have also painted some highlight details on the wooden shack.

It does feel quite bizarre painting such a theme when the actual weather outside is the complete opposite.







Thursday, December 17, 2009

Tropical Island - Work in Progress


Here are some more photos of the tropical island mural I am currently working on.

I have started to introduce some greens now - makes a nice change from all those blues.





Monday, December 14, 2009

Work in Progress


Here are some more photographs of the tropical island murals I am currently working on.

I am gradually introducing more colour - as well as some more wildlife.




Friday, December 11, 2009

DIY SOS 'The Big Build' - another pic


Here is another picture I forgot to upload yesterday - it has me in it I'm afraid but it does show how effective the Tardis mural looks with one of the doors open.

I've now decided that I want one of these when I re-decorate our bedroom - just how do I sell the idea to my wife : )



Thursday, December 10, 2009

DIY SOS - Kids in Crisis


If you blinked then you missed us : )

At least our Tardis wardrobe and star ceiling got a little bit of airtime - here are the photos as promised.
I will be appearing in the new series of DIY SOS next year helping out in a project up in Norfolk - watch this space for further information.





DIY SOS 'Kids in Crisis'


It's on tonight on BBC1 at 8:00pm - hopefully we didn't end up on the cutting room floor.

I'm sorry - I cannot divulge what it was we painted - Auntie would have me shot : )



Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Work in Progress


Here are some update photographs of the tropical mural I am currently working on.



I have decided to paint the door but not the architrave as it is my intention to have an exotic bird (feathered one) perched on top.
I have also added a boat, some more palm trees and a distant island.



I have also started to paint a very blue looking scarlet macaw which is perched above where the bed will be.
These chaps can grow to about 33 inches long so as he is perched right on the picture plain I have painted him life size.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Work In Progress


I thought it was about time I posted some photographs of a work in progress.

I have started painting a tropical island theme mural to cover all four walls and ceiling of a bedroom. Around the bed I am painting a driftwood shelter in the form of a four poster as well as a distant island, beach and a few palm trees.





I have also started this in a slightly different way to how I normally work - as you can see from the pics I have painted the entire room in blue and have then planned out the details in monotone. As I flesh the mural out I will gradually introduce the colour in tints - this should help unify the entire piece.
I will also have some wildlife dotted around including some parrots whose colouring will provide some wonderful contrasts to the cool blues.

The palm trees are always a challenge to get right - I have very loosely sketched the basic form in pencil and then just used a paintbrush to fill out the details.

I will keep posting the pics as I progress



Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Surprise Ceiling


I have been painting a glow-in-the-dark star ceiling in Middlesex today.

The project was a birthday surprise for my clients sister who was barred from her flat, had her front door key confiscated and was unceremoniously dumped in Starbucks for the day with her laptop and a dodgy Wi-Fi connection.

Her bedroom was then cleared so I could then proceed to cover the walls & floor, block out the windows and paint the stars, nebulae and a passing comet on the ceiling. There was also a picture rail in the room so I decided to continue the effect down the walls to meet this.

Once the bedroom was completed, all the furniture & nick-nacks were returned using photographs taken of the room that very morning to ensure that everything went back in exactly the same place.

I hope the surprise was well received and that the day spent in Starbucks was worth it : )

The only downside to the day was that heavy rain and roadworks on the M25 meant that a 50 mile journey home took me nearly 3 hours !