"How long does it take you to paint a picture?"

When people talk to me about my work they tend to ask similar questions, so I thought perhaps it was about time a wrote a post about it. I have to admit it doesn't seem like a very interesting topic to me but that's because it's just what i do every day, but I guess to other people it may be of interest.So here goes...
How long does it take you to paint a picture like that?
That's a popular question, infact someone asked me it on the falconry forum just yesterday.There's not a definite answer though. It depends on the subject and background, whether it's something I'm confident about painting, the size, and whether it's a piece I'm enjoying painting. Some pieces take days others weeks. Generally once I start a piece I work on it until it's completed but sometimes I get stuck or fed up with a piece so will leave it for a while to work on something else then come back to it with a fresh eye.
What sort of paints do you use?
I use acrylic paint, which is water based, it dries fairly quickly and once it dries is water resistant. This means it's convenient as brushes and palettes can be cleaned with water, and it allows me to easily build up layers of paint on a picture . It also means I can add washes of colour over an entire piece or an area of painting without disturbing what's already there. On occasion I have used oil paints but this requires a different way of working and the oils take a long time to dry which is not always convenient when you've got a deadline to work to! Though I will be doing more oil painting in the next little while.
What do you paint on?
I use 6mm MDF, which I prime with at least 2 layers of gesso, but often up to 4 layers, and between applying each layer with a roller I sand the board smooth to ensure a good base for my work. This preparatory work is time consuming but necessary to ensure a good finish. Occasionally I have on canvas and plan to again in the future especially for really large pieces.
Where do you get your ideas?
I do a lot of sketching, and take a huge number of photographs- thank goodness for digital photography- it used to cost a fortune getting numerous rolls of film developed!Then once I have gathered all my material I play around with ideas for compositions taking elements from different sketches and photos and combining them. The ideas are worked in pencil on a small scale in my sketchbook and sometimes i will try adding colour at this stage to give me a better idea of how the finished piece might look. I make use of technology too using adobe photoshop to change parts of the composition and alter the scale etc. I get a lot of ideas when I'm out in the countryside flying my falcon, and also when I'm involved in the small scale gamekeeping and management of partridges that I do. Sometimes I arrange fieldtrips like the recent one to Skomer, but from time to time I just go out to favourite spots with a scope and sketchbook, and see whats there.

Free print offer

Your chance to win a signed Andrew Ellis print.On 1st December we will put the names of everyone who is on the website’s online mailing list, into a draw. One name will be pulled out and that lucky person will be sent a print. Go online to www.andrewellispaintings.com/newsletter.php and add your details to the mailing list.

The winner will be able to choose one of the following prints, "genghis" or "gyr and sharp tail grouse"- see pictures below. Both of these are popular images which would make a great christmas present for yourself or someone else.

Andrew Ellis Limited on facebook

We've now added a page on facebook for Andrew Ellis limited, so it gives you another way to keep up to date with special offers, and new giclees/ greetings cards being added to the online shop. Three photo albums have been set up on the page so far and these will also be added to over time.To get updates you will need to register for a free facebook account, search for Andrew Ellis limited, then click on the link to "become a fan". If you'd rather not recieve updates, just go and look at the page when it's convenient to you, and carry on reading this blog.

Website special offer

Just to let you know, from now until the end of November( unless stock runs out sooner) we're running a special offer on the website. Buy 2 packs of greetings cards and we'll send you a 3rd pack free! Each pack contains 4 cards, one of each of the following designs: sparrowhawk and blackbird, white gyr and willow ptarmigan, peregrine and red legged partridge, and goshawk and pheasant. They are all stunning images and each pack retails at just £6.50 (uk/ europe) including postage. So with this great value offer you'll be getting 12 cards for just £13.Hurry as when the cards run out no more will be produced.

collared doves

My latest piece is of two collared doves preening. I purposely kept the piece very simple , and without a background as such so that all the focus was on the birds. The inspiration for this piece came from photographs I took locally, early in the morning, it was a very tranquil time of day and I wanted to portray feeling in the finished painting.

Red deer stag

I’ve just finished 2 paintings of red deer stags. The first was a commission piece in which I portrayed a majestic looking deer in the Highlands of Scotland during the summer months when their coats are redder. The second piece, (pictured above) is set in winter when the coat becomes much coarser. With both these pieces I wanted to focus on the whole animal , not just the antlers which is so often the case in paintings of deer.

The puffins of Skomer

A couple of people have said to me you’ve not put much on the blog lately. It’s true, I keep meaning to update it then get tied up in other stuff… usually work! So I guess if I’m not on here very often you can take that as a good sign that I’m busy, hopefully busy painting , and not just faffing around as my wife calls it- obviously I’m not just faffing I’m mentally preparing myself.
Anyway so what have I been up to .

Well at the beginning of the summer, you may remember, I took a day trip to Skomer with friend and fellow falconer Vicky. Skomer is a nature reserve island just off the Pembrokshire coast. It’s a fantastic place to view many types of seabird, but I particularly wanted to see the puffins. It was a long day, but well worth it in terms of reference gathering, and also having the opportunity to observe these fascinating creatures.
On the day I took a lot of photos and did some pencil sketches (see earlier post )which I worked on when I got back to the studio, trying out different compositions until I came up with something I was happy with. It’s always difficult to narrow it down and pick one painting to do from a trip like that, I’ve got plenty of material to work with and I’m sure I will come back to it some time in the future and create another painting from it. Here's teh finished painting from the day.

If you’d like to find out more about skomer and it’s wildlife here’s some useful links
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/nature/thingstodo/walks/pages/skomer3.shtml
http://www.skomer.co.uk/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skomer