So... I'm starting a Blog

I have been trying to update this website recently but have been thinking I don't have a great way of showing what I have been working on recently, aside from the project page itself. So I have decided a blog would be a great place to do this. This will mean I am able to share progress pictures as I complete projects, and give updates on my newest ideas.

Amersham in Bloom Mural

I am currently working on the Goldfinch / Pied Wagtail mural at the end of Sycamore Road (Amersham), and it's going great! I started on Saturday by blocking out the basic shapes and colours, mapping onto the box where I want the elements to go. Optimistically, I told quite a few people I was planning on finishing up the birds on Sunday. However when Sunday came around, 4 hours into a long painting session on a hot day, I realised I had barely finished the Pied Wagtail!

More than 20 kind individuals stopped to talk about the painting just over the first couple of days, sharing stories of their own art, murals, or favourite birds. We even had a few artists speak about their own unique works of art, and some young children who wished me luck!

A lovely couple spoke of their own mural they were planning at home, and asked me the names of these birds; no - not the species, but their actual names. They suggested Daniel and Gareth, of course, after themselves (iconic). So these will be the birds' unofficial official names :) although I don't quite remember which was which....

After realising just how much time this mural would take, I had to reset my expectations and plan out how I was going to get this done as quickly as possible. I decided on taking some time off work on Wednesday (today!) and to get an early start to miss the midday heat. I setup just before 8am, had some food, and got started right away with the smallest brush I could possibly find (oops!).

Painting was going well, and as the hours ticked by, more and more people were starting to take notice. I had some more great conversations such as a lovely man who pulled an incredible watercolour 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' straight out of his bag! We spoke about Johannes Vermeer and Van Gogh, painting locations, experiences with art, and art supplies. It's amazing to see how many appreciate and create their own art - I never would have known if I didn't start this mural!

As the heat started to rise, I knew I had to get an iced coffee... lol

This is where I met Stephen/Steven, who was watering the flowers nearby, and I caught him just as he was about to head off and asked him to watch my array of paints and brushed I had splayed across the floor whilst I grabbed a drink. In a twist of fate, he recognised the work of my tattoo artist (Anthony Lennox)! Small world. When I came back, he was diligently watching the painting like a security guard - no one was getting past him. And of course, I thanked him with an iced coffee. Thanks!

I didn't just make friends with people either - a tiny jumping spider curiously watched me put down brushstrokes across Saturday and Sunday, and I had to keep chasing him away from the wet paint as I was applying it! He seemed to think this was a game however, and ran straight back every time! I'm sure he wanted to be painted too. Several bees and hoverflies also tried to land on the painted yellow flowers, before trying once more to land on the flowers on my arms... I gave another hoverfly a drink as he looked wobbly and didn't seem to be able to fly. After sitting in the shade and having a drink, he flew right away into the bush where he could recover.

I have just headed off for a break as the heat was starting to get to me, but I'm hoping on heading back soon to get some more work done. I have a fun twist in store for this painting too - so keep an eye out as I'm not giving it away yet!

Progress for today

Most of the Goldfinch is nearly done :)