Thanks for your comments. I feel I must emphasize what I am doing - this 'painting' is painted purely as I would any other - I use photographs ONLY for reference - therefore this is not a "touched-up photo" in any scope of the imagination - if you don't believe me look at the perspective of the cross base! The purpose of this blog is to show how I am building up a picture as I would with real paints and techniques that I could apply in reality. I am certainly not doing it to impress, more as a practise exercise - a further sketch if you like. As I also said - I have to travel light, and for me, a sketchbook, watercolours and laptop (!) is my temporary art studio whilst on the move (60% of my life!).

I don't know how you would have coped if you had started photography when I did. There were no colour films and the box brownie was the most popular camera. We coloured photographs with watercolour paint and applied it using an airbrush and sable brushes. LOOK WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW FOLKS!!!

I agree with Phil and Patsy. I firmly believe that there is a big difference between art and craft. Art is creative thought. Craft is how you convey your thoughts to other people, be it by painting, sculpture, photography etc.. Digital processes are a valid means of communicating ideas and by no means easy. It is a craft to be learnt. I just wish I had an 'undo' feature on my easel! ;)

Agree with Phil you go through the same artistic angst I presume...It's a good looking painting...for me at the moment acrylics, ink and water colour and a lot of angst

No it is another creative process that should be recognised in it's own right. Well done it looks rather good...but for me it will always be the masochism & mess of acrylics ending up on a canvas...