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Inspiration from Artists Wk 199 Featuring Artists : Ian Fennelly and Richard Clifton.

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Hang on Studio Wall
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Tessa Gwynne

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I know what you’re saying Russell, and I nearly said something similar, but was trying to be positive.

Jenny Harris

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Like Tessa, I’ve looked for the positive.  His work is beautifully painted, but mostly quite photo realistic - this one which I really like is a little less so.

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by Jenny Harris

IMG_3630

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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I have to be honest they are to bright for my taste but very well painted can’t say he isn’t  a skilled artist.
Entwined, abstract

Sandra Kennedy

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Have to admit that for me, like Paul, they are too bright with those harsh colours. Even though skilfully painted they don't appeal, agree with your comment Russell. I think that duck(?) in the first painting is going to impale itself on those stakes, whatever they are! Just my opinion but I've seen much more attractive bird paintings on POL.

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by Sandra Kennedy

IMG_3630

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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While paintings that are bright in colour or to photorealistic etc don’t  appeal to me I think it’s important to show the different styles of paint on these threads . There may not be a lot of remarks or favourable comments but that doesn't takeaway the skill of the artist nor does it dismiss the work as unworthy etc.  We learn by looking at all the different ways of drawing and painting , if I we pick up one little bit of information that is useful to use from a painting then we have gained, especially if we can incorporate it into our own art. 

Tessa Gwynne

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I don’t particularly like photorealistic paintings but I do like birds very much so the subject matter appeals to me even if the precision doesn’t. Incidentally for those of a like mind the Big Garden Birdwatch is looming next weekend.
IMG_1547

Russell Edwards

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I have to say my comment was 'tongue in cheek' as I use photographs for my work which I know many disapprove of. Sorry.
My Profile pic16

Lewis Cooper

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I like them.

Alan Bickley

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Nothing wrong with using photographs as a reference point - they can be so useful at times…

Jenny Harris

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I remember reading a while ago that one professional wildlife artist (can’t recall his name) not only used photos for reference, but he sometimes traced outlines of animals to ensure accuracy.

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by Jenny Harris

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Two very different artists, and like several of us I much preferred the first one - and wish I could do that.  With the photo-realism ..... well, it's nowhere near to what I'd like to be able to do myself, but I think the problem, if there is one, is the use of acrylic.  You don't have to be hyper-realistic with acrylic, but it really does lend itself to closely observed, minutely detailed work - and you can get quite carried away with that, as occasionally I have, and always regretted it.  (I couldn 't have painted like Clifton, by the way: just in case anyone thinks I'm deliberately repressing a skill!)  Of course, you can get precise detail in watercolour, oil, tempera.... but the acrylic just has a way of enabling what might be your greatest abilities, and might also be your undoing....  Another opaque comment from me, but well - these are not scientific discussions... On safer ground with the use of photographs - for one thing, you really need photos to depict wildlife, you can't just imagine the shape or markings of a particular species and say that's a good example of one; C F Tunnicliffe, on the other hand, often used dead birds as his source ... I think I'd much rather use a photo.  And for another, when we're getting a bit older, or are or become disabled, especially if we can't drive out into the countryside, photos become an indespensable source: it's either that, or make everything up...   the only note of caution is the obvious one: don't just paint a copy of a photo: not that it might not produce a decent painting,  but there's so little enjoyment in  it that you might just as well point and click and save yourself the effort... Summing up - I'm sorry I so often sound like an elderly judge ruling on a complex case  - the artist whose work I shall return to is Fennelly.
IMG_1547

Russell Edwards

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I like the work of both artists
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