Christ Church, South Manchester by Stephen Slater

I'm sure they will be thrilled to receive such a personal gift Stephen. Your drawing is excellent especially the way you have portrayed the intricate windows.

Thanks Fiona, I have to ashamedly admit to tracing the drawing, as I really did not want to paint this. But I did end up enjoying painting it!

Nothing to be ashamed of Stephen, you wanted the painting to be right and besides, tracing is another tool to get to the end result. I've done it in the past when it's been a difficult subject, in my case I think it was a tractor! Now there is no pressure, have another go and do it freehand, just to prove you can do it!

It's lovely, Stephen. I'm sure they'd be pleased with their gift. Your use of positive and negative spaces is very well done.

Many thanks once again Seok for your encouraging comments.

Thanks Stephen (honest) for pointing out my over large people! I hadn't noticed and probably because I kept painting over them they got bigger and bigger. Your words have made me think that I should take more care with the proportions next time! I'll just say that Mancunians are big and our cars are little but you know that to be untrue..lol

PS I've just slimmed the fatter lady down and she looks a lot better and smaller, so thanks again for your honest opinion!

PPS I was so wrapped up in my large people that I forgot that I wanted to ask you what colours you used for the brickwork here if you don't mind telling? It's a good painting and if I'd got married there, I'd be delighted with it!

I think it was mostly Burned Sienna, with a little Cobalt or Paynes Grey to dull it a bit. I'm glad you took my slight crit of your figures well. It is really hard to get figures, cars and buildings in correct scale to each other isn't it?

Thanks Stephen, I have trouble with brick colours and mine end up looking too muddy sometimes. I'll try those colours tomorrow. Part of the trouble with my figures was that one was too fat and round. She's slimmed down now and looks a bit smaller and I managed to make the front of the car slightly wider as well ! I don't mind criticism at all and would prefer it if more were totally honest.

Thanks for the brick colour mixing tip Stephen. I used it today.!

Lovely Stephen

many thanks Ros.