Author: Anna Cull

The SPF online auction

| Anna Cull
SPF 15 and SPF 30
SPF 15 and SPF 30

But first a few words about the SPFs. These paintings are experimental studies that mark a bit of a turning point in my art journey. While I was painting them, I realised something about the way I have been working and about the way I want to work in the future. I plan to start working more in series (I’ll tell you more about that another day) and these paintings don’t really fit in with those plans. The SPFs have served their purpose and now I want to do something a bit special with them. I had a lot of fun creating them and I would love to find them a nice home (or homes) to live in… and I’m hoping you can help.

If you would like to brighten up a room with an original artwork ⛱ , you can place a bid by getting in touch via my Contact page. Don’t forget to let me know which painting you are bidding on: SPF 15 or SPF 30 (or both). I would like to cover the cost of the canvas and paint but I will accept the highest bid, whatever it may be. If you live in the Christchurch area, I will deliver your painting(s) to you in person (no extra charge). If you live elsewhere and would like me to estimate the cost of shipping, or if you have any other questions about the paintings, please get in touch via my Contact page. 

The paintings are 505 x 505 mm (20 x 20 inches), unvarnished, on deep-profile stretched canvas. The SPF online auction ends 30th April. I will be in touch with the winner and post the results here in early May. The winning bid(s) will not be disclosed.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Gillian. The two SPF paintings are yours! I’m really glad they’re going to stay together. Thank you very much : ) 

SPF 15

| Anna Cull
SPF 15 — acrylic on canvas, 505 x 505 mm, 2016
SPF 15 — acrylic on canvas, 505 x 505 mm, 2016. SOLD

Here is the second of the sun umbrella paintings I’ve been working on this month. I’ve given it the title ‘SPF 15’ because the colours are less intense than those in ‘SPF 30’. I’m thinking of doing something a bit special with them… but more about that soon.

Enjoy the ride

| Anna Cull
Work in progress, acrylic on canvas
Work in progress, acrylic on canvas

“Do and give your best and let the results take care of themselves…. Slow down, lighten up, take it in, let it go and most importantly enjoy the ride. It is but a short one at that.” Kathie Pugaczewski, WordPress blogger at Cast Light.

SPF 30

| Anna Cull
SPF 30 — acrylic on canvas, 505 x 505 mm, 2016
SPF 30 — acrylic on canvas, 505 x 505 mm, 2016. SOLD

This painting has taken me on quite a journey. When I began, I thought I would stay fairly true to the digital study that I created as my reference image but when I started painting, I didn’t like the colours. They were bright but they were not happy. The sky was blue but it was too blue, unrelentingly blue. It was bright and bold but it didn’t feel right.

So I added some texture. And I found ‘the zone’ and added some more texture. Then I blurred the edges a bit. And then a lot. And then I took away some of the bright by adding lots of Titanium White. Oh I’ve had fun with this one. Does it show? So even though I’ve wandered away from my original vision, and in some ways I prefer the digital study, I’ve ended up with something that feels like a hot summer’s day. There’s also a lot of paint on that canvas now and I dare not add any more.

As for the title, I was going to call it ‘Market Day’ or ‘Sunny’ but they’re not very imaginative. My husband calls it ‘Beach Pizza’ (which I will admit I quite like) but I’ve opted instead for ‘SPF 30’ because the day I took the photograph was a very hot day and we really needed the shelter of those sun umbrellas.

‘SPF 30’ may not be what I set out to paint but it is what I wanted to paint.