YouTube

As I write this my Venetian Window mural video on YouTube has now had just over 10,000 hits and my channel has 48 subscribers.

I am long overdue with regards to putting another video together - I have an idea for a canvas I would like to paint and it may be fun to film the process as well. All I need now is to find the time : )

The Chrysalis Collection

You may remember that I was asked to paint a picture of a butterfly to be auctioned on behalf of the Keech Cottage Children's Hospice.
Lots of famous celebrities have also been asked to paint such a piece and the group of paintings will be on display at the Stockwood Discovery Centre in Luton from 1st - 29th March. The paintings will then be auctioned on eBay between the 19th-28th March.



Please follow this link for more details - The Chrysalis Collection

Amongst the many celebrities who have produced a painting are Nick Knowles & Billy Byrne, Gail Porter, Martin Kemp, Noddy Holder, Julian Clary and Coldplay. My name also made the list which was an honor (not to mention a shock).

Sky Ceiling

I have been busy working on a painted sky ceiling in the heart of Oliver Cromwell country near Huntingdon.
The property dates back to Cromwell's time and it is rumoured that he may have even spent a night there.



As you can see from the photo I have been working from a scaffold tower to paint the ceiling on which I stand on as opposed to laying down. Everyone assumes that such murals are painted laying down.
In my youth I did paint my first ceiling in that manner but found it to be too restricting on the arm movement and there was also the problem that any paint drips would end up in your eyes or up your nose - I would not recommend it - even Michelangelo stood on his scaffolding when he painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling (I must add here that I am certainly not comparing my ceiling to Michelangelo's).

I start with a white base when painting a sky ceiling. I then gradually add subtle washes of light blue, pink and purple to help form the shapes of the clouds and the blue sky beyond.
This method prevents the clouds from taking on the form of lumps of cotton wool and also creates some fantastic pinky greys when you wash one colour over another.
I describe my sky painting method in more detail with a step-by-step project in my first book - 'Trompe L'Oeil Interiors'.