A cottage near Cookham church.

The tonal underpainting in acrylic and just a touch of colour going in on the sky and cottage walls. 

I don't like the colour green much, especially dark, sombre greens so this scene may turn out a bit garish. You have been warned.

I like the composition though the lamp post is a bit of a tricky thing - a bit twee. The glass and its reflections might be a way of diverting attention from the jokey aspect of the shape and I have a horrible feeling that I have painted it leaning over to the left.....

A bit of a delay.

This is a painting from a photo I took of an approaching male swan, intent on food.

The fetching swirls on the right are the remnants of a stormy sky from an awful harbour seascape I did in class.

I spent a lot of time trying to portray the bulk and muscle tone of the bird.

The beak here was flat and lacked definition.

This beak is a great improvement and the body looks downy.

I have beefed up the legs but don't want them to become too much of a feature.

I have badly placed the bird on the canvas board - it is too low or else just too big.

 I forget I have to allow for a frame.