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In this blog I will take you through step by step how I created the painting New Lands II. I explore the use of pigment sticks and solvents to create a base layer and then build up the painting using a brayer. See how I apply white paint with a brayer to create some lovely muted colours and how I use the brayer for blending along with palette knives and fan brushes.

I generally talk about using cold wax as a process of adding and taking away. The taking away is all about applying reduction techniques which is basically removing oil and cold wax with the intention of creating interesting effects and textures and to also reveal earlier layers of colour and texture. Here I will illustrate how you can use tissue paper to create some interesting effects.

There are all sorts of things that influence me when I'm choosing the colours I am going to work with. The influence behind this painting was the planning for one of my workshops where I was wanting to use some contrasting / warm / cold colours for people to experiment with. I was drawn to a number of already mixed greys which is quite unusual for me as I do tend to want to mix my own greys generally but these lilac / blue / greys in this painting really got my attention and have worked so well with the Senellier Chinese Orange.

So I am working on a new collection of work as I have a very busy schedule ahead of me this year and this painting just came out of my head the other day and I am really in love with it.  The palette is very different to what I've used before but I think this image has come about from a trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to see the Norman Ackroyd prints.

I originally approached this painting with a God's own type image in mind - think more brilliant summery greens.... Well... that didn't quite go to plan but I am really pleased with the results and the colours are a change for me and I love them.

I tend to use oil and pigment sticks when I'm starting a painting to get some initial marks down on the paper but they can also be used to work into a painting. The painting does need to be somewhat dry in order to transfer your marks and ensure you are not just moving paint about.