art

Bird on a wire

| Anna Cull
Bird on a wire — digital painting, 2016
Bird on a Wire — digital painting, 2016

I’ve had a bit of fun using Photoshop’s ‘smudge’ and ‘brush’ tools to transform a slightly blurry photograph of a little kingfisher (see below) into a digital painting. It’s an interesting way of working because the photograph provides the colour palette and basic composition, but you still have to know what you’re doing to turn it into a painting (if you have you ever tried using those artistic filters, you will know they’re very frustrating and no substitute for being able to draw). And the best thing about painting in the digital world: no mess and no need to clean up afterwards.

What colour is a blackbird?

| Anna Cull

Flinders Street Railway Station, Melbourne — ink and digital colour, 2016
Flinders Street Railway Station, Melbourne — ink and digital colour, 2016

“Drawing makes you look at the world more closely. It helps you to see what you’re looking at more clearly. Did you know that?”
I said nothing.
“What colour’s a blackbird?” she said.
“Black”
“Typical!”

David Almond

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I am in it with all my heart

| Anna Cull

Fiery succulent — ink, watercolour pencil and gouache, 160 x 210mm, 2016
Fiery succulent — ink, watercolour pencil and gouache, 160 x 210mm, 2016

“I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart.” Vincent van Gogh

I’ve set myself a mini challenge to produce something arty every day for the next two weeks ~ this is art for art’s sake, art for fun ~ studies, experiments and what have you ~ things I’ve been meaning to do but something else always seems more urgent, more important. This is day two.

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Another year over…

| Anna Cull

Bamford (private commission) – acrylic on canvas, 150 x 305 mm, 2015
Bamford (private commission) – acrylic on canvas, 150 x 305 mm, 2015

This small canvas was my last commission of 2015 ~ and it was a wonderful way to end the year. When I was asked to paint this version of my little stick figure illustration, I had no idea how it would look (given that the original figures were ink drawings on paper). I needn’t have worried. This painting now has pride of place on my new Commissions page.

Wishing everyone a happy and creative 2016 : )