Shoot it Sketch it

Shoot it, Sketch it: Flow (WIP)

| Anna Cull
Flow (work in progress) – acrylic on canvas
Flow (work in progress) – acrylic on canvas
Hamurana Springs, original photo, 2013.
Hamurana Springs, original photo, 2013.

This week’s Shoot it, Sketch it painting is an abstract inspired by the reflections in the crystal clear waters of Hamurana Springs. If you’re ever anywhere near Lake Rotorua in New Zealand, this magical spot is nearby and well worth a visit. It’s the largest headspring in the North Island and is an impressive 15 metres deep (15 metres!). If you want to know more, click on this Envirohistory NZ link.

The painting is still a work in progress. I hope to have it finished next week…

Shoot it, Sketch it: Between the lines

| Anna Cull
Between the lines – acrylic on canvas, 305 x 405 mm, 2013.
Between the lines – acrylic on canvas, 305 x 405 mm, 2013.
Telephone lines – Tauranga, 2013.
Telephone lines – Tauranga, 2013.

I have a thing for telephone poles ― I know I’m not the only one.

Painting this was a bit of a mission and took, on and off, nearly two weeks! I’ll post my work-in-progress photos later in the week to give you some idea of the to-ing and fro-ing this painting had to endure.

Shoot it, Sketch it collaboration

| Anna Cull
Harbour wall – graphite and watercolour, 255 x 205 mm, © Anna Cull 2013.
Harbour wall – graphite and watercolour, 255 x 205 mm © Anna Cull 2013
Newlyn Harbour Wall, Cornwall © Poppytump, 2013.
Newlyn Harbour Wall, Cornwall © Poppytump 2013

Last month, fellow blogger/artist/photographer Poppytump posted a wonderful photo of this wall (used with permission) ― and now it’s the world’s first ever Poppytump shot it, Anna sketched it. Thank you, Poppy : )

Harbour wall detail — the texture is a kind of ‘dry brush’ watercolour effect.
Harbour wall detail — the painted texture is a ‘dry brush’ watercolour effect.

Shoot it, Sketch it: The colour of snow

| Anna Cull
The colour of snow – acrylic on canvas, 315 x 315 mm, 2013.
The Colour of Snow – acrylic on canvas, 315 x 315 mm, 2013.
The colour of snow, detail, to give you a better idea of the texture.
The Colour of Snow, detail – click on the image to get an even better idea of the texture.
Spreydon Domain, original photo – Christchurch, 2011.
Spreydon Domain, original photo – Christchurch, 2011.

When Christchurch became a winter wonderland a couple of years ago, we hopped in the car, drove around the corner, took a few photos of the park looking as pretty as a picture, discovered the car was stuck in the snow, dug the car out of the snow (with a little help from the neighbours) and drove home again. The next time we get this much snow, I think I’ll venture out on foot.

I’ve never painted on stretched canvas before ― and I’m in love… with the woven texture, the way it bounces with every brush stroke and the way it takes layer after layer (after layer) of paint. I’m getting ready to paint my first commissioned artwork! It’s going to be a triptych on canvas and so a little practice beforehand seemed like a good idea.

Shoot it, Sketch it: Sunlight is green

| Anna Cull
Sunlight is green – acrylic on watercolour paper, 205 x 295 mm, 2013.
Sunlight is green – acrylic on watercolour paper, 205 x 295 mm, 2013.

Here, as promised, is my painting of the sunset in Hagley Park (taken from the same photo I sketched last week). If you’re wondering about the title, it was inspired by something I read in The Acrylic Artist’s Guide to Exceptional Colour by Lexi Sundell. Apparently there is research to suggest that sunlight is not yellow but pale green. Think about that for a minute. Green is a cool colour but sunlight is warm. Other research suggests it may be pale blue. Whatever it is, it seems sunlight is not a warm colour. I don’t know about you but that thought really messes with my head.

Sunlight is green – acrylic on watercolour paper, detail.
Sunlight is green – acrylic on watercolour paper, detail.