Wednesday, September 21, 2011

no painting lots of riding

After not holding a paint brush in my hand for many months I finally got back to work today on a new commission.  My subject is "Fina" a Lusitano yearling filly and I've got to get it done before the end of the month so you'll be seeing the result very soon. Here's a photo of her..



Despite not painting I've not been idle!  We've had a very busy summer digging ourselves a garage out of the garden, no easy feat when the garden is 3 metre's higher than the road.  No builders just Arron as the foreman and myself operating the cement mixer, we've only got the roof to put on before the rains start so a couple more weeks to go.  Here's a picture just after the digger had finished and before we started work.



Niamh & James have had a great summer and we've been spending most our afternoons at the local swimming pools, an absolute necessity during our hot months.  We didn't get chance to set up our giant paddling pool because the garden was a building site so having a great outdoor pool 5 mins away is fantastic.  Of course with school starting it's time to get the routine back, Niamh & James are happy to be with all their friends again and Arron & I are grateful for the extra time during the day.

In May I took the plunge and bought myself a 5yr old Lusitano Mare who's oficial name is Bonança, although her stable name in Indy.  Since the kids went back to school last week Indy & I have been doing a lot of work in the school, she's showing a lot of potential and is very quick to learn I just have to keep up with her!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Latest work

I've no name for this picture yet so if you've any suggestions please let me know.


Oil on canvas, 50cm x 70cm

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Local Bay

Oil on Canvas, 24cm x 30cm

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Back in the Real World

It's been ages since my last post so I've finally found some time to upload some current projects.  We've had a hectic couple of months working on our house and garden before the onslaught of the summer heat, and managed to get a two week holiday back with family in England once the kids finished school.

Of course the real reason for the England visit was Glastonbury Festival which was as usual brilliant, I've returned to Portugal with a sun tan thanks to the fantastic weather over the festival weekend.  My camera has been busy taking lots of photo's from which I'm hoping to find a potential painting.

What with all the washing, gardening and collecting the cats today is the first normal day. However they'll be no painting today as the onions need to come out & the chillies & peppers need planting, I'm hoping to be finished in time to take the kids for a swim at the local lido later!

 
Bay Lusitano, Oil on Canvas, 24cm x 30cm
I took a photo of this gorgeous horse at the horse fair in our town  in June and this is one of a few studies I'm working on from local horses.


Silver Coast, Oil on Canvas, 40cm x 40cm
This is my first attempt at the ocean and as you can see it's going to take a long time before I'm anywhere near close! This one's been shelved at the moment and I'm saving it for spare time painting, it may be a good few months before I get to show you the finished canvas.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Rocky

I've finished my painting of Rocky today, it's not the best photo but here he is, (Oil on canvas, 50cm x 45cm).


It's turned really warm & sunny this week which is great for my washing but not good for drying oil paintings! He'll be hanging in my son's bedroom, as it's the coolest part of the house for a few weeks and then I'll be taking him to England to his new home and the home of the real thing!

We're off to Glastonbury festival in June and I can't wait, looking forward to getting lots of photo's for a new collection, and in July I'll be helping out with a mare & foal so I should have lots of opportunity to get inspired for the summer.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Rocky

I've finally got around to posting some of my old work on the Slideshow, and halfway through an Oil Painting of Rocky the German Shepherd,  I hope to have him finished by next week.

We've a new addition to the family, Eric Clapton the kitten, found by my mother in a wheelie bin tied in a bag with his dead siblings.  Someone had drowned them but Eric survived & at 3-4 weeks old he's gorgeous, siamese colouring & loads of fun (now we've got rid of the fleas & worms!), Anakin Skywalker our black cat was not happy at all but is at least tolerating him.


Rocky - Oil on canvas (50cm x 45cm)

Friday, April 16, 2010

Busy, Busy, Busy

Having cleared a bit of a backlog of work I've been out with my camera round our area in an effort to collect different subject matter, and move away from just portraits.  We've had quite a lot of rain this week along with a few storms, the rain's been really good for our veggie plot and the stormy skies have inspired me to try my hand at a landscape (I'll probably try to squeeze some horses in!). 

Anyway as I'm not ready to show you any of my recent canvasses, I though it might be a nice idea to scan in some of my old work.  I'll dig it out this weekend and have some pics up next week, so until then I wish my followers a great weekend.
Alex.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Pigs

I've been working hard on new work and trying to build up a good collection so I can exhibit in Alvaiázere at FAFIPA in June this year.  However this little canvas was a lot of fun to paint, the client has a set of coaster's with this image on and wanted a larger version to match.  (This painting is a copy of the coaster and all credit for the composition must be given to the original artist (unknown)).


Oil on canvas, 50cm x 45cm (not a v. good photo!)



Alex.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Lusitano Stallion

The weather's been great this week, sunny and warm.   As a result I finally found some spare time and managed to finish my painting of the Lusitano Stallion (sat in the garden, much warmer than in the house!). I've only got three months to get at least 10 paintings done so I can exhibit at FAFIPA in June so it's brushes to the grindstone and no slacking.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Throughout February we've been battered by wind and rain and although it's quite cloudy today the sun is trying it's best to break through. I haven't had chance to get any painting done for a few weeks and it's driving me mad! On a brighter side though I'm starting a new business venture which I hope to tell you more about over the next few months.

I've not been completely housebound though, there's plenty of mucking out and riding at Quinta Do Cavalinho keeping me busy in the mornings.
http://www.centralportugalhorses.com/

Since I've got my first free afternoon in ages the kettle's on & I'm signing off to get some painting done. Fingers crossed I'll have something finished by the end of the week!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Lusitano Stallion


Just thought I'd post a picture of my newest painting, not quite finished yet so watch this space.

I've a poorly son at home from school today so not a lot of painting going on, fingers crossed I'll be back in business tomorrow & James will be back up to full speed & raring to go to school.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Friday 5th February 2010 Ted


I'm firmly back in the real world after a great xmas & new year. I've started marketing my work a little for the first time and have just completed my first commission (above), it's a pencil drawing of a friends dog "Ted".

At the moment I'm helping out in the mornings (mon-fri) at Quinta do Cavalinho, mucking out & exercising the horses. Brilliant for me as for the first time in ages I've stopped whining about owning my own! So afternoons are for me to get stuck into painting, I've set up this blog alongside Twitter & a Facebook page to put myself under a bit of pressure. I hope to be amassing quite a portfolio in the near future.

Today however, is a day off & all I'll be doing is making pizza dough for tonights tea & maybe some ginger biscuits for the kids!