I recently had the urge to create some large abstract pieces; someone had enquired about commissioning one and so I started looking at larger canvas sizes and couldn’t resist buying two while I waited to hear back- and just seeing what happened. Above are the results of the no-plan painting spree! I had the urge to play with block colour, texture and free strokes. I used a large, slightly haggard, old paintbrush, various palette knives and acrylic paint. I’m yet to decide if they’re finished but we took such a liking to them, they are hanging side by side in our hallway upstairs. It would be great to hear any feedback and if anyone would like anything similar just let me know!
Roath Park
A new painting of Roath Park lake completed on 40 x 40 cm square canvas board. I haven’t managed to capture the perfect image of this yet- I keep photographing it when there’s either too much or not enough light! But this shows some of the detail quite well. Completed using acrylic paint and a little ink. Will be for sale soon once framed 🙂
Rhoose Point ‘Work in Progress’
A ‘work in progress’ shot of a recent commission I did for a friend’s parents’ anniversary. This is a scene close to their house – ‘Rhoose Point’ (the most southernly point of mainland Wales) – which is now hanging in their house. This piece was completed using a palette knife and lots of acrylic paint to create the texture of the rocks and waves. It’s quite different to some of my other paintings as there are no manmade additions to this seascape (buildings, boats etc)- it’s all natural formations. I added quite a lot of white to this painting after this point- to create more texture in the sky. I’ll post a ‘completed’ shot later for comparison!
Sketchbook Experiments
Just a few photos from recent experiments in my sketchbook- a mix of acrylic, biro and pen and ink, all concentrating on abstract seascapes and playing with colour. I’m finding abstract painting very therapeutic at the moment so am hoping to have a go at some more large abstract pieces soon (baby nap pending)! I really like the freedom that comes with the process; no constraints on mark making and colour pallet and quite quick and thoughtless (in a good way). I’m also loving gold ink at the moment especially on dark blue backgrounds and am hoping to do some larger pieces using ink soon 🙂
Roath Conservatory (+ New Website)
Mac and I have recently been to Roath Park’s Botanic Conservatory a a few times. He loves all the sounds and watching the fish and birds. He also loves plants! So it’s a multi sensory paradise!!!
I love plants too and so left feeling inspired to paint. I had an unused long rectangular canvas in my little painting room so decided to use that to paint a snapshot of the scene. I just used acrylic paint and experimented with different textures. I’m not sure if the painting is finished yet. I keep having the urge to add more layers; I think because the conservatory itself is so full and lush.
This week I also made a new website http://www.shannonhaswellart.com. It will become transactional soon (hopefully in the next few weeks). I am in the process of photographing work and ordering prints and cards. So my new year’s resolution may be fulfilled sooner than I thought 🙂 It would be great to hear what you think!
Penarth Pier Commission
A commission I completed recently of Penarth Pier. Acrylic and ink on canvas board. I’ve painted this scene quite a few times now, but I seem to see new things every time I look at it and create something different each time. It’s a place that’s so familiar that it will always be blurred with memory and nostalgia so there are always hints  of things that are no longer there. I had a little play around with using ink as an addition to acrylic and I like the extra layer it seems to bring and the sort of scratchy effect it has in places. Would be great to hear what you think 🙂
Sketchbook Doodles
Here are a few photos of little sketchbook doodles I’ve done recently, all using my new set of artist pens from Cass Art (goo.gl/fTsyLw)! They’ve replaced my trusty old biro at the moment and I’ve become a little obsessed with doodling with them on everything! These photos though are of sketchbook sails and scrapings of leftover acrylic paint.
Pen and Ink
Two posts today! But I wanted to quickly post about a few little pen and ink pieces I’ve done recently. I received a pen and ink set as a Christmas present and so have been playing around with inky creations. Here’s a monochrome pen drawing of Penarth Pier, a doodle of sailboats using blue, black and gold ink and also a little experiment of an imagined seascape using black ink on yellow acrylic paint. I haven’t used ink since school so I’m enjoying playing around with it while I get to grips with it again! I’ll post some more photos of other ink drawings soon.
Christmas Commissions
This was the first Christmas that I’d actually been tasked with painting and framing specific pieces. I had quite a few commissions in the run up to Christmas and also quite a few sales of existing paintings. Here are a few pieces that were sold in December- Barry Old Harbour II, Penarth Pier  View and Barry Island. All  finished using acrylic paint. I’ve also just finished a commission for a birthday present – I’ll post a photo of this soon- and am working on a few new ideas for the new year. Hopefully 2017 will also be the year I launch my own website and finally get some prints of my work available! Watch this space 🙂
DIY Vase
A photo of a wine bottle I painted recently using acrylic paint, drip effect and a palette knife, finished with gold paint around the rim. There’s something quite satisfying about creating these- and I like the idea of them sort of corresponding with my seascapes in a ‘message in a bottle’, flotsam and jetsam kind of way. I have collected quite a few recycled bottles to paint, so hopefully will be able to create some more of these ‘DIY vases’ soon.
pew 