Elephant in Acrylics

Acrylics are a relatively new medium to me.While watercolour painting allows me to mix my colours on paper, letting them run and find their own space on the surface; painting in acrylic is totally different - a brush mark stays strictly where you put it! I don't fancy painting every hair or every cell of the body-- though I am in awe of those who can do it-- so I really needed to find a way to mix my colours on canvas. This is what I came up with, using brush strokes of different colours to create an impression of colours merging into each other, blurring the boundaries.I think it gives the painting a fragmented look which I sort of like.
Spent too many days on this one, now I am feeling the usual pain in the neck which means I won't be able to paint for a few days.How I wish I could paint 24x7!

Coral King

36''x24''

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

Misty the Elephant

I have always loved this style of painting, it involves instinct rather than planning. Not much emphasis on correct drawing or proportions, it comes straight from the heart!Hope you like it too.

Misty

10''x14''

Painted on 17/03/2017

At Dusk_ Elephant

A new painting in watercolor.Looks like this guy is off to his resting place as the night descends.
I have tried a slightly different technique here,extending the colors to the background--usually I leave the background mostly white or dappled...Well, results could have been better but at least its a start!

''At Dusk''

12''x 9''

Watercolor on Saunders Waterford Paper

Teal Tusker _Watercolor Elephant

16x20

Having recently acquired a couple of sheets of Two River NOT paper, today was the day to put them to test. I was stalling this for quite some time- the paper being pricey and I have not really been in my element lately.But  the 'test'  went well, after all.I chose a subject that was close to my heart; which I can paint without even thinking(though you can see- I went a bit too wild!)

This paper has a lot of texture and tooth- more towards 'rough' than a "NOT"; but it responded very well to my 'fast and furious' approach. The weight was 300 lb so there was no need to stretch.I am definitely going to use it again.Try out various styles and techniques.Lovely paper.

Elephant Painting_True Love

13x20

SOLD

I had a vision of this painting as I woke up this morning.I actually went and stretched a cut up Arches sheet (of an odd dimension- which had been lying around for quite some time) even before I had my morning cup of tea!Worked on it all late morning and finished it by afternoon.I am quite happy with the results.Talk about being 'inspired'!..

Arches works beautifully when stretched.You can paint it over and over,once the first wash has dried.My other favorite Hahnemuhle is only good for fast and loose work- but I am a fan of the swirls and blooms it creates .

Happy Together

Elephant Family _ Happy Together

14 x11

A happy family portrait of an Elephant family in multiple hues.It was initiated as a trial run for a commission but turned out quite well so I went ahead and finished it.I have since painted another one, a bigger painting for the client and she seems to be thrilled about it!I will post that later.

I hope life is treating you all very well. Past week has been very busy with painting, commissions and even a digital portrait assignment for three executives of a company- which, incidentally; was very well received.So I have not been on my blog or to anyone else's blog, for that matter.Hope to catch up soon!