New Year's resolution......People painting.....

"Irish Eyes" Oil on board 20x24

copyright Elizabeth McCrindle

This portrait is one of about five, six at most portraits I've ever done and I mean in a life time, ok doesn't include jockeys wearing goggles or teeny wee riders with featureless faces. I could make the excuse that it's because I've been so busy painting horses, dogs landscapes e.t.c. I don't have time, but I think it's more being really way out of my comfort zone. Could also lie in the fact that I'm not really a people person, I communicate so much easier with animals, I don't have the same empathy with people. So my New Year's resolution this year is to do more people paintings....my fingers trembled as I typed that lol......well baby steps first, I'll start with little studies first and work my way up, yep feel braver already :)

Not into the New Year just yet so I'm off to look for something safe to paint. Thanks as always for looking in, have a great day where ever you are.

http://www.e-mccrindleart.co.uk/

http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/

http://imagesandwords-from-caledonia.blogspot.com/

"COLD LANDSCAPE" ACRYLIC 8X8

"Cold Landscape"

Acrylic 8x8

£250- SOLD

Copyright Elizabeth McCrindle

This painting is sold but if you are interested in having something similar commissioned, enquiries should come to me.

The snow has thawed a little since last week but not much and today a sharp wind has started to get up, fairly makes your cheeks pink. Have been trying to take things easy and relax, I'm not finding that easy and will probably find myself back at the easel tomorrow. It's all so confusing as I can't even think what day tomorrow will be lol.......oh for the 2nd January and back to some normality.

Have got my website back on line, but no doubt will play with it for a little while till it's jusat right :)

Thanks as always for popping in :)

Relaxing, eating, watching TV and planning new Website

"Whiter Shade of Pale"

Pastel 12x14

Private Collection

Commission enquiries can come to me.

Well I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, I certainly enjoyed it, relaxed, ate and watched some tv. Yesterday I was thrilled to see top chaser Kauto Star make it four in a row in Kempton's Boxing Day King George. It was a breath taking display of faultless jumping, while all the others seemed to be running in wellington boots he looked as if he had a spring board helping him over each fence, sheer class.

From what I've heard the commissions have gone down a treat with lots of smiles all round....including me, it's always nice to hear the blood, sweat and tears have been worth it.

Have been working on a new website, my original kinda dying along with my old computer, have bought new software and have been finding my way through it......hopefully it will be up and running soon.
Well I'm off to put my feet up again before going to the yard to see if we can get the water running to fill up the water butts......my arms have stretched a good couple of inches these last few days carrying water containers. Hope your having a lovely time where ever your reading from, and thanks as alwaysfor looking.

http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/

http://imagesandwords-from-caledonia.blogspot.com/

GREAT DANE FINISHED

copyright 2009 Elizabeth McCrindle

Last Christmas commission finished so can relax a little now and look forward to the Christmas break and we really do have a White Christmas. Was lovely just sitting tonight all the Christmas scented tealights twinkling, watching the snow falling past the window.
Finished the Dane today and will frame it up tomorrow, fingers crossed they like it but have to blow my trumpet and say I do it's very striking.
Well I've had some lovely Danish cookies and a wee glass of Bailey's and I'm now off to bed. I hope the spirit of Christmas is warming you where ever you are and thanks for dropping by :)

GREAT DANE PORTRAIT WORK IN PROGRESS

Funny how things keep getting in the way when your on a deadline....weather is causing chaos...plus have a doctors appointment tomorrow and have to take my brother to the dentist Wednesday and off course all the other little niggly things that delibrately happen to annoy me....bah humbug.

All that said I'm enjoying painting this Great Dane....she's such a gorgeous elegant dog like a super model don't you think? She's my last Christmas commission and has to be ready for Wednesday, eek so I'll be back to the easel after this wee break. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll like the finished piece. It's nigh on impossible to work from the two photos I have and about the only thing I can make out is her markings.....I'm on a wing of a prayer. One of the reasons I like to meet my model and take my own photos. Anyways enough gabbing and get back to the easel.

FOAL STUDY WATERCOLOUR 12X14

"Foal Study"

Watercolour 12x14

Private Collection

copyright Elizabeth McCrindle

Another little darling from a couple of years back....I'm having fun looking back. This is one of my favourite subjects, not just equine but foals. It must be the baby thing like human babies, their smell, their unsteadiness, the sudden bouts off mad energy followed by the collapse in a heap sleep. This little guy is of on one off those mad dashes round his paddock, short sharp bursts of speed, by now he will ready to take those short sharp bursts of speed in another arena and I wish him luck in running.

Well must get myself back to the easel, thanks as always for looking :)

http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/

"WAKING UP TO SNOW" ACRYLIC 12X12

"Waking Up To Snow"

Acrylic 12x12

£350- SOLD

copyright Elizabeth McCrindle

This one's sold but if you would like something similar enquiries can come to me.

We actually have woken up to snow this morning so I looked through my archives for a snowy painting and found this one. It's actually one of my favourites, you know the kind, that even if they never sell your quite happy for it to continue hanging on your wall. This did sell, which although sounds like I'm blowing my own trumpet, I knew would. I have no idea where it went, other than it sold at the Torrance Gallery. The draw back at times of selling through Galleries is that unless the person who bought it contacts you, you rarely know where they go. If by chance you read this blog I'd love to hear from you......I know a real stab in the dark.
Actually thinking about archives now that I've managed to get back some of my files from my deceased computer I might just post some for you all to see......oh whoopee I hear you all shout lol.
As I said at the beginning of the post we have snow, quite heavy actually and I wasn't sure if the car was going to make it up Busbiehill this morning....but we managed and the horses were happy to see me....mind you they always are....smile. As you can see from the photo not even a snow blizzard puts the mammoth of his food.
Well must go get the shovel out, have a great day where ever your reading from and thanks as always for looking in.

http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/

http://imagesandwords-from-caledonia.blogspot.com/

MISLAID LANDSCAPE AND MORE OF THE TEASER...

"Rain Gathering"

Acrylic 6x6

£130- unframed

£150- with custom frame

Slap my wrists for mislaying this little landscape, well not really mislaid I had forgot to photograph it before it journeyed up to Aberfeldy. I brought it back when I had been delivering to the Christmas show and in all the stir of Christmas commissions e.t.c. I forgot to post it. I know you've heard this before but it is much better in the flesh, the darkening rain clouds haven't been picked up properly. So if anyone would like a nice Ayrshire landscape you know where to find me.

Below is another piece of the jigsaw puzzle...aka the Teaser post a little further back. If you remember there was a problem with the ears well think I've solved that.....well I know I have cos I'm a bit further on than this.......just like to tease you lot and off course means your going to have to come back :)

http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/

http://imagesandwords-from-caledonia.blogspot.com/

SOLD....SEA THE STARS and on to last xmas commission

Sea The Stars

Acrylic 6x6

SOLD

copyright Elizabeth McCrindle

Busy day today.....sold Sea The Stars headstudy yesterday and I'm just about to put it in a frame, wrap it it up and send it off down south to a new collector. I'm down to my last Christmas commission a lovely Great Dane, her owner lives in Spain but is coming home for Christmas and this is a surprise from her family over here. Been held up writing Christmas cards so have to dash to the Post Office for stamps and send a couple over seas, fingers crossed they get them in time. Then maybe I can relax a little and hope I haven't forgotten anything.
Still working on pieces that aren't needed for Christmas so maybe manage some posts between now and January 4th but if I don't no need to worry I'll just be having some time out from the laptop.
I'm looking forward to next year and already my head is buzzing with some ideas. I'll still be doing my little landscapes and fingers crossed adding more galleries to my list but I would like to devote more off my time on equine portraits. Horses are in my heart always have been, always will be and I want to develop my skill on putting them onto canvas and spread that love about :)
Thanks so much to everyone who has visited my Blog this year and especially those who have taken the time to make comments, hope you'll continue to visit in the New Year and tell your family and friends to pop in too.

http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/

ALMOST A YEAR AS A BLOGGER........

Copyright Elizabeth McCrindle

Sorry that posts have been scarce this month but I promise to make up for it next year....smile. Next year will be my second as a blogger and if it's as enjoyable as the year thats waning, then I won't complain. I had off course heard of blogs and seen some but it wasn't until I joined the Canine Art Guild that I started a blog of my own. As a full time artist who for family reason's hadn't been able to devote myself to my art for the last few years, it's been a case of getting back in the saddle this year, not helped by the economic slump but things have got better as the year has passed. I can honestly say that my blog has been a great encouragement to me, both as the impetus to work every day, even if it's just an hour and for checking out the wonderful artist's blogs I have found. There are too many to name on this post but if you take a look on the side bar of my blog you'll find them. There are three however I'd like to give a special mention to......firstly the young lady who got me started on blogs and a wizard with a pencil, only natural she's also a Scot, Sheona Hamilton, check out her work at Black on Grey on White. The there's Kim Santini check out her work at The Painting A Dog A Day Project she consistently climbs mountains everyday to bring us gorgeous dog portraits full of colour and character, and with the volume of work she gets through daily I swear she must be wired into the National Grid lol.....oh for half your energy Kim :) Last but not least Linda Shantz of Linda Shantz Equine and Animal Art, Linda doesn't know it but with following her beautiful work, photographs and stories of the horses in her care my passion for painting horses has returned ten fold and reminded me why I paint. So you've been warned there's going to be more horses on the blog this coming year. Thanks ladies for cooking my creative juices and stoking the fire within :))

Oh and if you don't remember the head study above, it was one of the first images I posted and is the young chaser Silver By Nature. Keep your fingers crossed for him on 28th December when he'll be running in the Coral Welsh National...exciting stuff :))

http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/

www.e-mccrindleart.co.uk/

CONNECTION PROBLEMS GRRRRRR.....

Sorry folks but I am having internet connection problems at the moment and in the interest of my sanity and the life's of those near and dear I will be missing in action till it's resolved. Hopefully won't be too long till I'm back :))

A LITTLE TEASER........

Thought I'd give you a little teaser of the portrait I started today. This isn't spoiling anyone's surprise as it's the owner of this handsome grey that commissioned it for themselve and I'll only show you little pieces as I work through them. Quite large at 24x20 and it's in oils hopefully the finished piece will be quite striking. As always I start with a good drawing not really detailed but showing bone structure and the placement of the eye. For me the eye is the most important and thats where I always start, without fail, the eye makes it alive for me. Even at this stage I can already see alterations need to be made to the ears...you can't see them so you'll have to take my word for it that they're just a bit to big. But thats the thing about painting it develop's a little at a time. Going to be a challenge putting in his distinctive markings but that's half the fun.
Well I'm having a day off tomorrow going shopping and lunch with a friend. Christmas Craft Fair at Troon then to Dobbies in Ayr for lunch and check out the Christmas decorations.
Thanks as always for looking :)

Now accepting commissions for 2010.

http://www.e-mccrindleart.co.uk/
http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/
http://imagesandwords-from-caledonia.blogspot.com/

Still working on commissions......

copyright Elizabeth McCrindle

Sorry still no artwork to see....still working on commission's, thankfully, not all of them are for Christmas but some have been outstanding for a little while. I really wish I could be more organised or stay focused on the project to hand but I do find comfort in reading other artist's blogs and realise it is a disease that most of us artistic types suffer from. I reckon our brains are so full of creative ideas it can be difficult to single one out......thats my theory and I'm sticking to it. It definately has nothing to do with getting older and being less able to multi task.....:).
Well I better get myself back to the easel instead of babbling away on here......sending this wee red breasted chap so you'll have something nice to look at....smile.

http://www.e-mccrindleart.co.uk/

http://art-from-scotland-gallery.blogspot.com/

http://imagesandwords-from-caledonia.blogspot.com/