Sunday, July 31, 2011

Learning to Trust



Learning to Trust... take 2


I started this painting sometime ago and wasn't at all happy with the way it was playing out.. so I decided as you do to start again...

Much happier second time around with the way the painting it is coming along..

Upon completion Learning to Trust will be travelling to the US as part of the Lamingtons & Apple Pie exhibition at the Sedona Art Centre Arizona... opening on the 15th August running through until the 29th August

Learning to Trust

10" x 14"  upon completion
watercolour


Catherin McMillan

Original Art Work for Sale
Commissions welcome

Gift Vouchers & Payment Plan Available

Pay Pal Accepted

Monday, July 25, 2011

Feather in my Cap


Feather in my Cap

Sometimes when you complete a work your not entirely happy with it when you come back and take a look later on.

That's been the case with Feather in my Cap it wasn't until I photographed the finished drawing that I realised there was a mark on the paper. Rather than rework the entire drawing I decided to add a back ground colour...

I think he blue back ground brings the horse and little girl more forward toward to the foreground in the drawing.. so thank goodness for that mark.

Feather in my Cap

19" x 25"

pastel

Catherin McMillan

Commission welcome
Original Artwork for sale

Gift vouchers and payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome


Friday, July 22, 2011

Paul & Dougie


Paul & Dougie

I must say that one of the joyful parts of my job as a portrait artist is to show the love people have for their animals...

Dougie the border collie is Paul's best mate his wife Jan wanted to capture there special bond as a birthday portrait for Paul.

Paul & Dougie
pastel portrait
10" x 14"

Catherin McMillan

Commission welcome
Original artwork for sale

Gift vouchers
&
Payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Over the Moon


Trainers in Training

I don't often enter juried exhibitions ... but when I received the invitation to submit to the Ingles Equine Art Prize, which is a competition organised by Australian Art Sale from New South Wales Australia...   I was so excited by this opportunity... Equine art competitions are few and far between here in Australia.. So it was an opportunity too good to miss.

The theme for the competition was "Around the Horse Stud" which conjured up all types of images of stallions with their grooms and mares and foals. The criteria was that it must depict registered thoroughbred horses.

So the search for a stud to liaise with began.. I found the perfect stud in Carrington Park at Roberston NSW.. after speaking to the owner Peter Beauman a time was arrange to go up to the stud too meet the horses.

I had an image in my mind as to what I wanted to paint but capturing it was the hard part.. several hundred photos later and one frustrated husband who is my photographer... we arrived home to go through the photos and select the image I would paint....

Well the best laid plans of mice and men went out the window when I saw the photo of the children with "Cirles of Desire"...  I had found the image that I just had to paint I couldn't stop thinking about the photo and the story it told to me... of these children discussing the virtues of this horse.. hence Trainers in Training 14" x 21" watercolour was born.

After sending off my entry for the jury process I crossed my fingers and waited to hear back from Mike Coward from Australian Art Sales the organiser... You can imagine my surprise when just 2 days after the closing date for the jury selection I received an email confirming my painting was accepted.... to say I'm over the  moon is an understatement and I'm still wearing the biggest grin 24hrs later.

Only 30 paintings worldwide have been chosen for the exhibit, which makes it even more special..

The exhibition begins August 11 at the Sydney Inglis Newmarket Complex. The exhibit will remain there until August 14, then be in Melbourne from August 18-24, and on to Scone from August 25-28.

Fingers crossed this leads to bigger and better things for my equine artwork.


Catherin McMillan

Original Artwork for sale
Commissions welcome



Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Gotcha


Gotcha

Gotcha.. the second last piece for the exhibition in Sedona.. I so love these black and white watercolours.. my head is briming with ideas for more works created in this way.

Gotcha
10" x 14"
watercolour

Catherin McMillan

Commissions welcome
Original artwork for sale

Gift Vouchers and Payment plan available

Pay Pal welcome