July paintings

Here are a few from this month.

The portrait started life as a photo of Michael Fassbender (believe it or not ;) ). However I again got the proportions slightly wrong and then decided that I wouldn't try to reproduce the photo but would just 'see what happens'. So I ended up with a kind of solemn-looking painting. The style was a departure from normal, as I used thicker impasto paint. The lips are too blue and still need some work. What do you think?

Next up is a landscape painting which is now on my wall (Finally I'm happy with one).Again from a photo I found, but simplified and brightened. I used Aureolin for the sky- this is a slightly greeny-yellow from the excellent Michael Harding range. If you buy it, it is toxic so be careful. Ive had favourable comments for this one, so I might do a series (Number two is in progress !)

Lastly, a quick landscape from a trip to Norfolk last week. I was standing in the middle of a marsh near Burnham Norton, and swapped between painting this and watching a buzzard and a heron through my binoculars. It was done quickly becasue the weather was sunny, I was getting burnt, and a herd of cows including a large bull were getting too close.

The 'sunbeam' effect isnt part of the painting, it actually is light from the sun entering my camera lens. I like the effect, maybe I should have kept quiet and pretended I did it.