Licensed with My Tubed Art

I'm happy to announce that I've gone back to being licensed with MY Tubed Art.

So from now on all my tubes and images can be found at...

Click on the link above to purchase tubes and images for psp purposes.

My Fantasy work ~ Fearneve can also be found at MY TUBED ART < here

Graphite Commission prices

50% off the above prices during July 2011!

Sunday Walk in Kedleston Park

On Sunday we decided to make it easy and visited Kedleston Park again as its so close to home. We didn't go in the Hall this time, instead we walked through the pleasure gardens and took the long walk route as the short walk was closed due to some plant fungi that they were trying to eradicate.

During the first part of the walk we found Horse Chestnut trees in flower.

The south front of Kedleston Hall as seen during our walk. The history of Kedleston Hall and Park goes back to the 12th Century.

The wooded paths wore trickles of bluebells. The short walk is usually full of them this time of the year but it was nice to see some over here.

Back by the riverside.

The beautiful Marsh Marigolds.

Grey heron perched on the river.

The first coot nest I've seen this year. I counted five chicks(that I could see).

Isn't he lovely!

Hope you enjoyed my springtime photos :)

Gaynor ~ xx

A lovely April walk in Derbyshire

I thought I'd start to post about the many walks I do. I recently once again donned my walking boots and made off to the wonderful Derbyshire Peak District. This time we decided to try a walk we hadn't done before, which began at Black Rocks and then up to Middleton Top before heading back along the High Peak Trail to our starting point.

We started out at Black Rocks. This natural gritstone outcrop hangs high above th

e village of Cromford in Derbyshire. We saw mountain pansies and sandwort during the first part of our walk as we headed towards the village of Middleton.

Blackthorn hedges in full bloom added a spring feel to a very hot day, it felt more like June. We passed some beautiful horses grazing and it was so nice to get back out into the countryside once again.

Other wildflowers we also came across cowslips and honesty. Several butterflies, including Orange-tip were seen too.

Birdsong was abundant except when we came to the old disused New Hopton Wood Quarry. It was deathly quiet when we entered the area, almost as if someone had switched the sound off, but as we ventured back to our path, the sounds filled the air once again.

A beautiful walk with gorgeous views.

The High Peak Trail

One point of interest along the way was Middleton Top Engine House.

Oh, and a funny Highland Cow who pulled a face at us!

I take many photographs for my artwork and photography when I'm out and about.

Hope you enjoyed seeing parts of my walk in Derbyshire.

Gaynor ~ xx

Latest News

Latest News:

I am no longer licensed with MTA as from 18th April 2011.

After several months of debating this move, I am now happy to announce that I am once again offering my artwork and photography independently at my website.

All unlimited licenses will of course, remain valid as will all licenses, free and purchased to use my work. Any new purchases will be covered under my license numbers and credit as per my terms of use. Details will be sent to you with your tube/image.

Still working on my new website - same address http://www.gaynorlewis.com but updates will be posted as soon as possible about new additions.

I will be starting to update my long neglected group also, links will follow soon.

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday weekend so far.

Gaynor ~ x

New announcement - tags/tubes

I am very happy to announce that as from 30th July I will be a licensed artist with My Tag Art. My selected artwork/photography will then be available for tags/tubes, etc from them.

http://www.mytagart.com

Please visit their website and join their great forum for competitions and more!

http://www.mytagart.com/forum/

Update & Seasons Greetings

Hi,

I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and have a wonderful New Year too!

I'm sorry for the absence on here on my part. I've had a fairly bad year, losing members of my family and my pets and then my health took a downward spiral also. Hoping that this year brings a good one, I could do with it.

With all that has been going on in my life, I've not been able to get on with my artwork or writing as I would have liked to or indeed, intended to. A few days ago I at last, picked up my paintbrushes and began to paint again, working once more on my lioness.

She's beginning to shape up nicely and I'm probably about two thirds of the way through this piece now.

I've added many glazes of colour to this piece now and will continue to ad a few more before working more on the fur texture.

Thats all for now, hoping to exhibit in the New Year with some of my bird paintings, will update as soon as I know.

Keep well and have a wonderful New Year!

Gaynor ~ xx

New Photo Packs and Artwork tubes available now - Some Freebies too!

I'm almost caught up now with things and so it's almost time to sort out some competitions and announce the upcoming new pieces that will be on offer... but not just yet - watch this space!

Meanwhile I have another little freebie photographic images pack for you - Autumn Leaves.

****

New Tubes and images are available from my shop on my website:

Click HERE

New FREE photo pack released

today - Autumn Leaves

See details on my website.

This pack is free, just send me an email following the instructions on the item's page and I'll send you your pack as soon as possible to your email

address.

A few of the wonderful tags recently made for me using my art and photography ~ thanks so much to Dawn, Chelley, Estelle and Lori ~ xxx

Going Independent & other News

News and updates:

As from 1st September 2009, I will no longer be a licensed artist with Mistaken Art. After several weeks of careful consideration, I have decided to offer my artwork and photography independently at my website.

All unlimited licenses will of course, remain valid as will all licenses, free and purchased to use my work, but I will need you to contact me for your new license number which will come into effect from the 1st September 2009.

The reasons for this is to prevent any confusion when using my artwork and photography. In the instance where you may wonder which number to use with which tube/image, to ensure that if you're using more than one of my images on a tag or stationery that you only use one license number and also to make it easier for those in the groups, one number - one artist.

So, to change your details, please contact me and let me know your current license number, name and contact email address. I will also require some proof of purchase, a paypal receipt or confirmation from MtA or AMI, if you purchased my work previously from them. If you cannot provide proof, please let me know and I will contact MtA on your behalf.

In the subject line of your email, please put 'License Number Exchange'. And that's all there is to it. I will be dealing directly with them and you will receive your new number within 24 hrs.

After you receive your new number, you will be invited to join my new yahoo group, though you can join before if you wish :D And from the 1st of September, please start using your new number on all your creations.

So that's the latest news I have for you, other than that, I've been real busy on my novels that I'm working on. I'll be making a new blog page for my writing soon. I was considering placing it on this blog but think it may be better to separate my artwork from my writing.

The August tag contest is now cancelled. I am away on holiday during the end of August and so wouldn't be around to judge it while still with MtA... but no worries, I will be back with several competitions coming up - watch this space!

I'm working on a new Snow White inspired girly picture and am totally lost on a title for her.

Maybe I will host a contest to find her a name, as soon as she's finished :)

Hope you're all having a wonderful week so far.

Gaynor ~ x

Whatever happened to June?

I can't believe that it is almost July - whatever happened to June!

Since my last blog, I've haven't done too much as family matters took me away. Amongst which, we sadly lost a few members of the family... also lost my dog Tyler and now one of my cats, the eldest one of 14 yrs is missing, which isn't like him at all :(

I'm undergoing more investigation into my health issues again. The doctors are once more saying Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I wouldn't accept that before, despite the symptoms agreeing... anyway I have 2 extra cervical ribs at my neck. It seems that now they can also do keyhole surgery to remove them if it's straightforward so there is a possibly that if I have to go that way there is a chance of a good result.

Ahh, I have to go for extensive nerve conduction studies on both my arms at the end of the week at hospital to see if anywhere needs decompression again before moving on.

Some days are hard going. The pain is strong at times through compression, trapped nerves, etc, and my hands don't always do as I want them to because of it - so annoying, especially as I'm normally one of those persons that doesn't want to sit still and just wants to do!

I've complete the painting of the Blue Tits in Acrylic on canvas. I haven't placed it online properly as yet as I haven't really got a good photo of it. If I can get one I'll add it.

Also completed is Smoo (digital version).

Still working on Peregrines at Black Rocks - did some more work on that one this month, Springer Spaniel, and also a new one - Lioness in acrylics and colored pencils.

In July, I'm taking part in JulNoWriMo - similar to NanoWriMo (write a book/50,000 words or more in a month), but in July, so will spend much of the month concentrating on that as it's easier on my arms than the artwork, but will no doubt have some new work to show you during the month anyway!

Take care and have a lovely week :)

New Photo Packs and Artwork tube - just released at Mistaken Art!

Three NEW releases at Mistaken Art for PSP >

The Sea Photo Pack contains sea themed images of a Blenny, a Sea Apple, a Grouper and Sea Anemones. A gorgeous pack for nature and ocean lovers.

and

Scapes Photo Pack, containing the following water featuring images - Twilight Reflections, Lakescape, Beachscape and The Quay.

Both will be $4.00 but are currently on offer at $3.00 for a limited time, so hurry to get yours now.

and

NEW artwork tube - Jeopardy. Currently on offer for a limited time at Mistaken Art during the Center Stage Artist Month for June - will be $1.85..... JUNE PRICE - $1.20!

Don't forget to check out the freebies I have at Mistaken Art also!

Center Stage Artist for June at Mistaken Art!

I'm the Center Stage Artist for June at Mistaken Art.....

 

which means that all my tubes and images are available for a limited time at a lowered price - and that includes my unlimited license too!

So call and see the special offers here!

Also NEW photo pack Click > - Fish, Fur and Feathers Photo Pack. This will be $4.00 but is currently on offer at $3.00 so hurry to get yours now.

Great pack - Tang, Soay Sheep, Giant Marmot and Ferruginous Duck.

Don't forget to check out the freebies I have at Mistaken Art also!

Painting in progress - Peregrines at Black Rocks

I started to layout and paint this piece back in Spring 2005. Due to my ups and downs with Fibromyalgia and what not, it gradually moved to the back on the pile and has been waiting for me to get back to it.

So starting at the beginning...

On a cold icy day back in 2005, January 23rd to be exact, I went out on a circular walk which covered the Cromford area of the Peak District and took me around the farmlands and over to the Black Rocks. Of course, as always, I took lots of photographs including references for my backgrounds.

This is one of those photographs, of which I decided to use as my background for a painting that I wanted to do depicting wildlife in Derbyshire.

I haven't as yet spotted any peregrines during my walks into the Peak District but have read many articles about them being there. So my 'models' of peregrines are found from the range of birds of prey photographs I have taken over the years; the peregrine photographs captured at various bird stands, sanctuaries and parks. I will be turning to many of these when I finally start to work on the ones in my painting.

After priming the canvas, I sketched the black rocks background onto the canvas and decided where I wanted my birds to be. Then I laid several light washes of ultramarine, alizarine crimson hue and chroma white acrylics for the sky. I began working on the background and the foreground trees and gave a light wash of grey over the rocks. And then I put it away.

Until now that is :)

I decided to get back to this one today and after giving it a quick clean I began to lay in several light washes again for the sky, using the same colours as before.

After I was happy with that, I began to work more on the background and worked over the foreground sketch in paint to make it easier to see. Then I stopped but haven't put it away this time :)

Another update soon - this is the painting so far -

 

I'm hoping that I can achieve a similar end result to my painting of the buzzard at Lover's Leap in Dovedale that I painted in 2006.  

Latest update on the Lioness painting

Here is the latest update of my work in progress, The Lioness, working on Stonehenge 100% cotton - size is approx. 8.5  x 10 inches. 

I have coloured the background using Caran d'Ache Pablo pencils and then after working on the Lioness also in the pencils and adding some shadow areas, I began to use my acrylic paints.

Starting from the top of the head to her cheek, each layer of paint, each fine hair is painted using thin acrylic. I also add thin washes to the fur where I want to strengthen my shadow areas being sure to blend the edges for a soft finish.

Finishing for now at her cheek, the next stage in this works progress will be shown at a future update. 

Adopt a monkey -Kelloggs offer

I just adopted a vervet monkey by buying the special packs of cereals by Kelloggs. They've teamed up with Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Africa to help us to support the rescued and orphaned monkeys they have there with an aim to release those suitable back into the wild.

What a great idea!

Anyway, my chosen adoptee is Chico, a great little vervet monkey. 

And here he is - 

I can see me eating coco pops for the for-seeable future as the offer carries on until the end of next March - but, such it's a super way to contribute to a great cause.

MAY Tag Contest Winners!

© Gaynor Lewis Photo Pack + 1 Tube Single
MtA-P0270 - HiDBee

and

2 © Gaynor Lewis Tube SinglesMtA - F266 - WillowRaven


So many beautiful entries, thanks so much to those that took part and of course to the winners - stunning tags!
All entries will be displayed in the featured tags section on my website for 1 month.
The winners tags will be displayed on the Competition Winners page on my website.
To view all May Contest entries - click here

Blue Tits painting

Here is the finished painting:

Painted in acrylics on a box canvas

All sides have also been painted.

Many, many layers of acrylic paint went into creating this piece and a little paper texture added also here and there to add more interest to this painting featuring these sweet little birds - the Blue Tits.

New Drawing - Lioness - Part 3

Today I've been building up color and have worked more on the eyes. Unsure yet as to the background - I sort of like it how it is now, leaving it plain and light, however some color would set the lighter fur off at the edges.

Will put it away for a short while and think on it.

Meanwhile I have work to do on the Blue tits painting, the Peregrines at Black Rocks painting and also on the digital piece Smoo.

More updates on the Lioness soon.

New drawing - Lioness - Part 2

Today I worked a little more on the lioness picture. I worked at putting the base colors for about an hour but then stopped because of pain in my wrist during the layering and blending. 

Heres a visual update on its progress:

On Stonehenge paper, 100% cotton. 

More on this piece as I work on it.

New drawing - Lioness - Part 1

Today I felt it was time to start a new piece. This one isn't too big, which is great as I've started getting quite alot of pain in my right arm again. Total size approx. 9" x 10" inches... or thereabouts - haven't decided yet how big I will go around the main subject.

So after a doctors visit to sort out a hospital appointment to try to get it sorted out, it was back home to settle into a late rainy afternoon of drawing.

This is my subject that I am going to work on.

It's an Asiatic Lion, which I took several photographs for my art reference folder. 

I chose this one as it felt a little more majestic than the others I had, a few were really cute and I didn't really feel like they contained the 'awe' factor that a lions image should portray. 

So, having decided on the photograph I desaturated the image for ease of drawing and drew the lioness using a 3B pencil and a mechanical pencil.

Then I was going to scan it to show it before beginning the coloring. But, I got carried away and started filling in the base colors for the nose before remembering - whoops :)

Anyway, here is the image, drawn and nose partly done (colored pencils).

Next I will begin to color more in the colored pencils. This will be completed using colored pencils and either gouache or acrylics.