Sunflowers, Art galleries and sketching outdoors

Recently I have taken a small break from working on the pheasant painting to use my easel to paint a field of sunflowers.

I wanted to paint them for weeks and couldn't shake the thought. I'd got my own beautiful reference photo, i'd done a little research on perspective and other artists work. Id bought new paints, I decided on a canvas type and size. I wanted to finish the pheasant first, but I gave in to the strong urge to paint, sunflowers.

The plan is for this to be a quick piece, working with acrylic means unlike with the pheasant and that being oil paint, I'm not waiting for layers of paint to dry for days. Acrylic paint dries within hours. So I've quickly built up to working on some details already.

I'm really enjoying painting this, though I also can't stop thinking of the pheasant too. I know that right now its best to finish these sunflowers and free my mind to focus fully again on the pheasant in the next few days or so as the bird needs it's feathers. Those small complex details require all my focus.

I have also been spending a lot of time with family, friends and enjoying working outdoors making the most of what feels like the last of summer weather. Sketching and painting away from home, in the car, on the train, in an art gallery. Going to art galleries and in particular the Berte Morisot exhibition at Dulwich picture gallery has been encouraging, insightful and inspiring. I'm also building up a good collection of photos which I can use as references when painting in the winter months too.

I have recently made new prints avaliable on my Etsy. I love these paintings and am hoping they will be sold by exhibition in winter. Check out my fine art prints by the link

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Artbybradshaw