New painting of the port

I have started something a bit different. It's come out of the cityscapes and I'm not sure where it is going but here is the drawing. You can just make out the cranes over the container ship.

It is bigger than anything so far and on a large easel which I can pull up and down using a small pulley.

You can see another idea I had underneath. A double portrait of Anita and Myself. I wasn't happy with it so am trying something new.

I've finished the painting of Tom at last. Anita suggested I get rid of the mysterious sheet behind him because it was distracting. so I've done that and kept it simple. I also brightened up the carpet area in front of him to create a pool of light there. I think it is better so I'm going to leave it as it is. You can see it at the Paintings site: www.gallerynewzealand.blogspot.com

I have got into an exhibition called the Original Art Sale at the TelstraClear Pacific Centre http://www.theoriginalartsale.co.nz/
which is happening at the end of August/early September, so I'm getting 6 paintings ready for that.

I've been painting a few oil sketches too. Cityscapes and views from the roof. Yesterday I was up there sheltering from showers which came every half an hour and trying to paint at the same time! One of the sketches is of Devenport and Rangitoto Island which I intend to make up into a big painting. Could be one for the exhibition if it turns out OK.

I thought I'd have a go at a still life because I havn't got anybody new to sit for a portrait. So to keep myself busy I'm doing a big cityscape during the day and this still life during the night.
The cityscapes are on a new blog which you will see at sidebar.

This one is oil on board, size: 24"x24" and shows the first coat on most of it plus a 2nd coat on the brown bottle.
I didn't do an underpaint on this, just a charcoal drawing which I scuffed out and then another charcoal drawing which I was happy with.

update on Tom WIP

It's a bad photo I know but it shows what I need to change in this new painting. That is the right lower leg length which is too long. I should have taken more time at the underpaiting stage.!!