Hi This is John,s Blog

HI, Welcome to my ART blog.I hope you like it.Your comments are always welcome.

A paddle

A paddle

Sunday 19 August 2018

 Watercolour pencils and the iPad and "cheating".

I recently got hold of a brilliant book on Portraits,but I noticed a lot of them were enhanced using an iPad.I initially thought, well this is cheating..a bit.Then I suppose if you are a commercial artist its got to look right for the client or the publisher, after all David Hockney uses an iPad so why shouldn't I.You make up your mind.

The original Aquarelle pencil

The original Aquarelle pencil



The original Aquarelle pencil.


Thursday 26 July 2018

Add caption
If you've got "artist block" then what do you do?.

Make a cigar box guitar of course.It was a winter project that went on a bit, having just finished it.It is now July.


Ive built cigar box guitars before, but using cigar boxes.This time I wanted to do some thing different.So I've used aluminium plate for the body and fitted a humbucker,ally knobs for tone and volume,and bolts for the bridge and nut. 


To my surprise it sounds good and plays well, that,s the guitar not me!.

Got to think of another project now .Ive been told no more guitars...Ive only got 4 plus a Uke and a Banjolelee.Cant play any of them very well, but thats never stopped me.



This is a pen and ink drawing with a Watercolour wash.The two below are digitally enhanced using Enlight on an iPad. 


Another watercolour, but using Caran d'Ache Neoart Aquarelle.I drew it in pen and ink and then used the Neoart as a crayon,then wetted the paper using a fine spray and finally filling in the detail by brush.




This is a pen and ink drawing from a photograph with a Watercolour wash applied afterwards.


Top.A pencil drawing digitally enhanced using Enlight on an iPad.By the way its supposed to be Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.







Left.A pen and ink drawing enhanced using Enlight on an iPad.

Sunday 22 April 2018

Quick draw animation

Nowadays, animation is relatively easy due to new animation programmes, but a few years ago it was pretty hard going and took some time to animate a few seconds,I tried it and both animation and stop frame were a real chore to get out some thing that resembled a half decent result.

You can see the result here https://youtu.be/xrdWppU7cUQ?t=8.If you are offended by bad language this might not be for you, may also contain nuts.
I started off with a sketch on my iPad using "PAPER"


I tidied it up a bit for animation.Then used "CRAZYTALK" for the animation  and finally used iMovie.

Thursday 8 February 2018




             Here's a new painting it,s Acrylic on canvas apron 60cm x 45cm.

Friday 29 December 2017

Both are Acrylic on canvas aprox 24 x 24 inches

Here are a couple of new paintings. My partners daughter Michelle, wanted a painting for her birthday.She was pretty specific about it.It had to have a Buddha based on a previous painting, be simple and calming. So no challenge then !. Thats the top painting.The second painting is obviously the same theme which I painted for my partner June for Christmas.Beats petrol station flowers.