Owner: Watercolour artist Tracy Hall URL:http://watercolour-artist.blogspot.com Join Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:42:33 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Realistic flower paintings, life like pet portraits and wildlife art from watercolour artist Tracy Hall. Work in progress from the studio and latest news. Site statistics:Click here
Farmyard miniature and a little goose 2007-11-29 04:50:00 A new miniature
- ' Peekaboo' 2" x 2" in watercolour. The collie lives on my friends' farm and in common with all sheepdogs, has a love of herding anything and everything. She is especially taken with chicks and spends literally hours mesmerised by them, her nose just inches away. It obviously infuriates the hens, but its quite comical to watch! This was great fun to do so small.And a little
painting of a Canada Goose for the Art Helping Animals December promotion to raise money for the Northern Rockies office of the US Humane Society. Other than that it has been a week of pigeons and doves on the easel (which were harder to paint than I had imagined), now replaced by sparrows and chaffinches. Read more:goose
Some Sparrows and a Puffin 2007-12-07 08:00:00 One corner of the current painting for the bird book showing the Tree Sparrows. They are similar to house sparrows, but a little smaller with a black cheek patch. Great birds to paint. And a Puffin sketch in watercolour this week for Art Helping Animals: My thanks to Brain Hewitt for his fantastic close up photos of puffins which I used for this one. It is 3.5" x 2.5" and framed ready to hang. It is getting close to my cut off point for posting overseas in time for Christmas, so if you would like a painting or print to arrive in time, please try to get your order in over the weekend! Details of late posting dates are here : Christmas Orders.
Miniature Squirrel Painting 2007-12-17 10:42:00 This is my latest miniature - a red squirrel in watercolour (actual size 1.75" x 2.25"). I have done this little fellow in coloured pencils earlier this year, but found him irresistible for a mini! He was a regular at a feeding station in the Highlands, so wasn't afraid of people even though he's wild. I've blown it up a bit below with the penny for scale: I'm just about to start on finches for the bird book, a rhododendron and hopefully fit in a bit of a break over the holidays! Related Links: Miniature Painting
s Read more:Squirrel
Watercolour bird painting 2007-12-14 11:26:00 This painting shows the house sparrow, chaffinch, brambling and tree sparrows for the bird book.The chaffinches are at 'Happy Valley' which is a very special garden in Stenness, Orkney. It was created by Edwin Harrold who planted trees along the burn that ran past his house half a century ago and, with incredible patience and perseverance, gradually turned a bare hillside into a beautiful wooded walk, an enchanted place, full of plants and wildlife. He delighted in welcoming visitors from all over the world to his home, and was a joy to meet, until old age finally forced him to leave and he died in 2005 aged 98. I think the gardens are still open to the public but I haven't been since he left so I'm not sure what state they are in. There are some interactive photos which give a taste of the place here - Happy Valley, and a rather lovely shot of the bluebells out here.
Old Dog Haven and Ducks 2008-03-10 13:38:20 During March and April, Art Helping Animals are highlighting the work of Old Dog Haven
in Washington, US. They are a small group of people who, along with their network of foster homes and supporters, care for senior dogs who have been abandoned or need rehoming. Old dogs are the hardest to find new loving homes for and through Old Dog Haven you can adopt, foster or sponsor a dog in need to help Read more:Ducks
Cat Portrait in Watercolour 2008-02-29 05:15:03 'Blink' Tracy Hall
2.5" x 3.5" Watercolour on Arches
This is my latest little painting for Art Helping Animals. A 20% donation from the sale will go to help Tabby's Place Cat Rescue in New Jersey. Tabby's Place is an amazing sancuary providing a cage free refuge for cats who have no where else to go. Click on the link below to find out more!I am indebted to pastel artist Naomi Heijmans for Read more:Portrait
Border Collie Painting 2008-02-28 13:54:52 'Snow Ball' - BorderCollie
in watercolour 3.5" x 2.5"
We had our first snow last saturday, and glorious sunshine which meant everyone was able to go out and enjoy it - even the dogs :) It was completely gone the following morning, but apparently if it disappears that quickly it will return...Those of you who have been buried in the stuff all winter may wish yours would go too, but we would Read more:Painting
Turkey Stag in miniature 2008-02-24 12:52:52 3" x 2" watercolour on Arches
This is a miniature
painting of Simon. It is probably nearly finished but almost certainly not quite...I will ponder it for a few days! Simon plays football, loves to be cuddled and needless to say is not destined for the Christmas pot - he is a pet on a friends' farm. He also displays at the drop of a hat and would happily pose for hours, so this is a portrait of Read more:Turkey
Finches and Ducks Revisited 2008-02-19 11:06:10 This painting shows linnets, redpolls, twite and the scarlet rosefinch. The birds are all in but the backgrounds are not finished yet. My scanner is being tempramental, so this is a rather poor photo instead.
Todays work on eider ducks - its rather nice to be back at sea after all the receding grass of late! This was actually the first test painting I did for the bird book way back in 2004, but Read more:Ducks
, Revisited
Finches & Buntings Painting 2008-02-07 06:48:14 A little late posting, but here is the latest painting for the Bird Book - Hawfinch, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer and Lapland Bunting in Orkney settings. I haven't quite finished it yet, but for now its done and I'm currently working on linnets, redpolls, rosefinches and twite. These were lovely colourful birds to work on :) Read more:Painting
Sparrows miniature 2008-02-03 04:30:27 Here is the miniature
of the young sparrows finally finished. I have yet to come up with a good title for it (or even a bad one actually!) It is 1.75" x 2.25" in watercolour and I've added the penny to give an idea of scale as its blown up considerably here :)
Little Visitor 2008-02-01 16:08:44 We had strong winds last night and this little atlantic puffin must have been blown off course - my dad found it slumped in a ditch and bought it over. It soon perked up, and was uninjured so we released it (and just hope there are not more gales on the way tonight!). This is an adult in its winter plumage, and it seemed to be quite lively which was good - so glad I was wearing gloves. Nothing Read more:Visitor
Miniature - sparrows wip 2008-01-29 01:26:43 This is a work in progress shot of my latest miniature painting - young house sparrows in watercolour 1.75" x 2.25". The birds are mostly done, just detail to add to the stones etc. Hopefully I'll have it finished in the next few days and I'll post a better picture of it then :)
Macaw study 2008-01-28 13:54:46 A small painting for Art Helping Animals to benefit True Blue Animal Rescue in Texas, USA. This study of a macaw is in watercolour on Arches, size 2.5" x 3.5". Brilliant birds! If you would like to purchase this painting framed ready to hang, click below. Related links: Small paintings for animal charities
Rhododendron flower painting 2008-01-22 13:25:23 It seems to have a been a while since I did any flower
s, so it was fun to work on this rhododendron for a change. I should have had this painting done for Christmas, but sadly illness put paid to that. However, its winging its way to the US as I speak (type)! This is watercolour on Arches HP.
I am also well underway with the latest painting for the bird book. Hopefully will post an update
Bearded Collie Painting 2008-01-19 15:02:34 'Playtime!' Watercolour 3.5" x 2.5" Supplied mounted in a 5" x4" wood frame ready to hang. A portrait of Trickle (yes, really) the bearded collie and his trusty frisbee. This painting is to benefit True Blue Animal Rescue, a non-profit animal charity in Texas, US for Art Helping Animals. If you would like to purchase please click here or get in touch! Read more:Collie
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Finches painting & Big Garden Birdwatch 2008-01-17 15:17:48 This painting for the Orkney Bird Book shows the first of the finches - Greenfinch, Siskin, Goldfinch and Common Crossbill. The Orkney settings are in Houton, Rendall, Finstown and Hoy.
The weekend after next ( Jan 26th and 27th) is the Big Garden
Birdwatch 2008 right across the UK organised by the RSPB. This has been running now for 28 years and according to Orkney RSPB manager Eric Meek the
Kitten Portrait in watercolour 2008-01-12 04:16:33 Goodness, where does the time go?! Another week flown by. Here is the latest little painting for Art Helping Animals - a tabby kitten painting 'Curiosity'. It is 3.5" x 2.5" watercolour
on Arches and will benefit True Blue Animal Rescue in Texas. The model is one of our kittens from a couple of years ago - it was so much fun to watch them exploring the big wide world (well, the garden anyway!). Read more:Portrait
, Kitten
Dachshund Dog Portrait 2008-01-05 05:56:44 This is Roxie, a beautiful little dachshund who was close to death when she was rescued in the US and gradually coaxed back to health by a patient volunteer at an animal rescue shelter. She now enjoys a happy life with her new family. Over the coming weeks Art Helping Animals will be highlighting the work of True Blue Animal Rescue in Texas (T-bar), a non-profit animal organisation who help Read more:Portrait
Happy New Year! 2007-12-31 04:49:53 This little painting of a bearded collie puppy was completed just before Christmas for Art Helping Animals to benefit the Humane Society, and he will shortly be winging his way to a new home in the US.
It is 3.5" x 2.5" in watercolour and was finished just as the dreaded lurgy descended on the Hall household; a particularly mean virus that has been doing the rounds and meant that the entire Read more:Happy
, Happy New Year
Buntings - bird painting 2008-03-12 15:08:31 This is the progress on the buntings painting I am currently working on for the Bird Book. It shows the snow bunting, corn bunting and reed bunting. There seem to be an inordinate number of bunting species, but that completes the ones we get in Orkney. The snow bunting is particularly striking in summer, but we tend to see them in the UK in winter plumage, which is actually pretty enough! The
Peacock Butterfly 2008-03-16 04:56:44 Spring feels like it might be arriving in the Northern Isles - well, today, anyway :) The crocus and snowdrops are looking beautiful in the garden and the sun managed almost a whole day with only the briefest interruption for rain. I still have a pitiful head cold that I cannot shake (although convinced the sun will help) but did buy some hyacinths which even I can smell and make the studio just Read more:Peacock
, Butterfly
Gulls 2008-03-22 10:51:18 The first of the gull paintings for the bird book is progressing quite well - they are tricky subjects and I'm not done with them yet! Lots of shades of grey in the adults, and trying to tell the youngsters apart is definitely an acquired skill. Tim (the author of the book) has been patiently explaining and I am getting better :) This plate shows the Little, Black-headed (its brown), Ring billed
Puppies, gulls and butterflies 2008-04-02 08:24:55 Another busy week meant I didn't get to update the blog. Lots of mundane studio work which didn't involve a paint brush :) Two new fun pieces for Art Helping Animals - the Scotch Argus Butterfly (we don't get this butterfly in Orkney, mores the pity, I photographed this one in Inverness) and a pair of collie pups, both watercolour and 3.5" x 2.5". Framed ready to hang!The latest gull painting is Read more:butterflies
Moth Orchid Watercolour painting 2008-04-06 12:18:12 Moth Orchid 16" x 12" watercolour
Each time one of my orchids flowers I make plans to paint it. Despite the fact that they flower for weeks on end, I rarely seem to manage it. But this time I did :) They are my favourite plants, and this one is Phalaenopsis (which comes from the greek for looking like a moth). Probably the most common and certainly very easy to grow.Painting flowers is so much
Gulls in grass cont... 2008-04-13 04:40:46 This is the progress on the gulls in the grass
painting for the Orkney Bird Book that I mentioned in a previous post. Getting there slowly :)
The Orphan Works Act 2008-04-12 12:26:34 If you are an artist and you haven't heard about this legislation currently before congress in the US (but rest assured it will come to Europe if it goes through in America) you should read this article by Mark Simon which spells out the consequences in frightening detail. This is a very short extract, please read it in its entirity (by following the above link) and pass it along to others - it Read more:Works
Horse Portrait 2008-04-19 13:16:03 This week I finally finished the gulls in the grass (helped by the fact that the schools' went back), started the next and final painting for the bird book (gulls again!) and also completed this painting of a pony. I hadn't noticed until I saw it on the computer screen that because of his markings and the angle, it could almost be a black pony with a strange white area behind it or a piebald. Read more:Horse
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On the easel... 2008-04-27 10:13:55 The final gulls for the Orkney Bird Book are gradually appearing with a backdrop of Stromness and Kirkwall harbours. Not a blade of grass in this one :) I'm also working on an Iris (16" x 12") and a new miniature (2" x 3") - with apologies for the dreadful photo, I snapped it quickly last night which is almost always a mistake!
I was delighted to hear this week that all my entries for the
Bearded Iris and red squirrel in watercolour 2008-05-03 11:30:59 Bearded Iris 16" x 12" watercolour
The bearded Iris is now completed. I loved the striking colours of this flower, but I have no idea what variety it is as I took photos last year in a friend's garden (and they don't know either!).
The best news this week (or year) was that my painting 'Red Squirrel' received the Mary Scott Kestin Award for Animals and Wildlife at the Hilliard Society Read more:Bearded
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