New painting: Lydia and flowers

Just finished a new portrait painting. The model, Lydia, posed with killer lipstick for one afternoon at the Stamford Arts Centre. The work was completed from photographs, with flowers added to fill the space and to reflect Lydia's sunny and colourful personality. The whole aims to suggest femininity and fecundity. Click on image for larger version.

Lydia and flowers, oil on canvas, (c) Mike Todd 2011

Life drawing

Pen and ink drawing over graphite.

New painting - Blues guitarist

Completed a portrait in oil of a guitar player. This was completed over two sessions at the Stamford Arts Centre together with working from photographs. Blue was chosen as a background to complement the guitar and provide a 'blues' feel. The darkness and 'streelight' outside are fictions to give an atmosphere and provide colour echo and contrast, altough a real window was there. The guitarist, Andy, runs the Arts Centre Bar and performs in a band.

Blues guitar player, oil on canvas, (c) Mike Todd 2011

New painting - Three Pears

Completed a new oil painting of three pears. This is painted on canvas board. I've taken some framed still life paintings to the Backstairs Gallery within Swans of Oakham. Feel free to visit and buy!

Portrait Drawing

I enjoyed going back to pencil for this drawing of a pregnant model. I used an 8B pencil then moved to a 4B, with stumping and erasing. Click image for larger version.

Voodoo Lounge Drawings

Spent an enjoyable couple of hours drawing in the Voodoo Lounge cellar bar at Mama Liz's in Stamford. Thanks to the models - great fun.

Commission - Jokulsarlon glacier lake

I've recently completed an oil painting commission for two friends. This is a composition based on images of Jokulsarlon glacier lake in Iceland. The couple visited there and wanted an original painting inspired by the place. I used elements from their photographs with other references to create an imagined landscape. Adding a sunset element helps balance the blues of the painting and creates drama in the stillness of the landscape.

Jokulsarlon landscape, oil on canvas board, (c) Mike Todd 2011

Please contact me if you are interested in commissioning work.