Water Vole

This is lovely Robert, I like the dry brush marks.

ahh haa I have found you!! What medium did you use for this? Is it watercolour? I love the delicate brush strokes....he look so cuddley

I am an elusive little devil, as is the water vole. Painted in Chromacolour, which is a form of fine-grain acrylic available in tubes, for thicker paint, and pots - more fluid, and these were the ones I employed here. You'll find them at www.chromacolour.co.uk. Thanks to both for comments - I'm afraid my poor old vole got shunted off the front page rather quickly, but I intend to add other animals to this portfolio (when I get round to doing them).

Very nice picture Robert, I love the sky, or lack of it, which serves to gives the little fellow the centre stage he deserves. To reply to your comment on interactives made in my gallery I would say give them a go. The larger your canvas the greater the benefit you will get out of them, particularly for skies, due to the increased blending time you get from reactivating them with water. Even on a relatively small work such as this one it would be useful to do this to get the blending on the fur or the water without using the dry brush technique.

Beautiful colours in this one Robert. Agree with Carole - like the dry brush marks - so effective.

Like this one, and the badger as well, I like to use Chromacolour as well when painting with acrylics, they are great to work with, I thought it was a pastle painting at first glance then realised it was just the dry brush giving that impression, its quiet lovely any way, as is all your work.

Love the vole , it's lovely so " cute" love the Badger too, Never used Acrylic , I've just been to the Patching's Festival and they were demonstrating the Liquid acrylic in pots with dropper's , it looked an interesting medium and thought I might havea go , the colours looked so vibrant ....

I love the way you have controlled the detail Robert, I can understand the time involved and how involved you must get with such fine work.

I assume 'Barry' doesn't paint! Thanks for your comments, Robert - love your watervole, and the fine details of the grasses - not the 'focal point' but so important to the atmosphere. Marion Bailey

Are you the same Robert who did lovely landscapes ? your turn of phrase is similar ! great animals with a hint of humour in them especially the rabbit and pig !

Hallo Norah - lovely landscapes, me? Well, I paint landscapes, certainly.... far be it from to apply the word lovely to them, but, if you'd like to, I shall be more than happy. Haven't stopped doing so, just taking a break.

Your paintings of animals are beautiful, Robert, so delicate and lifelike. Thank you for giving me encouragement.

Hey Robert, I heard that you were feeling a bit poorly. Hope that you feel much better very soon, I'm missing your wisdom and interesting blogs, as we all are, I'm sure :) This watervole reminds me of one that used to live on my pond. A lovely little creature who liked to run up our willow tree and eat the leaves etc..... A lovely picture. Best wishes .