commission Archives

Painting Thinle’s Portrait in Pastel

Posted on December 19, 2022December 19, 2022 by Tamsin

Painting Thinle’s portrait in pastel in six stages. This portrait was created with Derwent, Stabilo Carbothello and Conté pastel pencils on Pastelmat.

This portrait has been created on Pastelmat paper, so the colour of the background is the colour of the page that I used. Keeping this clean and free from any pastel smudges was a whole challenge in itself.

Thinle’s bone structure is different to that of others I have drawn, so I had to be careful to pay close attention and to not make assumptions based on what I am more familiar with.

Thinle’s skin tone has a warm blush to it. Capturing this next to the two different reds of his hat and the cords tied around it was very tricky. Any strong block of colour in a picture changes how we see the colours around it. So I had to bring in some of the reds at the beginning, and deepen them in conjunction with one another as I drew to keep my colours balanced.

I have only drawn a beard once before, in my pencil portrait of Paul. Painting a beard that is fine and wispy like Thinle’s was daunting to me. I always say that commissions are great for pushing me out of my comfort zone, so I regularly reminded myself that this was one such opportunity. In the early stages of the beard it looks more finished than it is. When I look very closely at my art I expect it to withstand scrutiny as well as when I view it from a distance. And till nearing completion of the portrait this beard could not do that. I could see the bare paper showing through, so I added more precise layers of shading between the hairs, building up the depth and the contrast whilst doing so.

This was a portrait that at times seemed to go backward rather than improve. It was a great teacher for me, and it has helped me progress as an artist, and face challenges which I have previously avoided. For that all I am very grateful, as am I to have had the opportunity to draw this fascinating man.

You can read more about Thinle the man, and his portrait, in the post: Thinle – commissioned pastel portrait

Charcoal Dog Sketches for Charity

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Tamsin

Back in the summer a good friend of mine adopted a dog called Bruno, who is an American Bulldog. I was unfamiliar with the breed before this, so if it is new to you too, imagine a muscly Staffy the size of a Labrador, with an easy going and fun loving nature, and that is Bruno. He is a remarkable dog, and we are eternally grateful to Help 4 Hounds who matched Bruno and my friend so perfectly. Help 4 Hounds is a small non-profit organisation based here in the South West which rehomes dogs through it’s network of foster homes across the UK. They went above and beyond to make the process as smooth as possible, and the foster family who were caring for Bruno so beautifully have been amazing too.

I really want to support the superb work of all the generous volunteers that make up Help 4 Hounds, so I have been hard at work learning how to sketch in charcoal with the aim of fundraising through dog portraits.

It has been quite the process as drawing quickly is rather alien to me. It has taken some time to develop a style of my own and to feel confident that I can be more loose in my mark making and still get a true likeness. I now have a collection of a dozen or so dog sketches and am ready to offer charcoal commissions to you all.

Do you have a handsome hound or pretty pooch that you would love a portrait of? Or perhaps you are looking for that perfect present for a loved on this Christmas, and you know that their dog is everything to them? If so, and you have a good photograph (it must be in focus and with enough detail for me to be able to zoom in and see the dog close up) then commission an original charcoal sketch and help raise vital funds to help find loving homes for even more dogs in need.

These original artworks are A5 size (15 x 21cm) and are £45 inc P&P within the UK.

£20 from the sale of each portrait will go to Help 4 Hounds, so you know that you will be making a real difference to these dogs lives, supporting their veterinary care, and helping them find homes where they can live happily ever after.

If you are thinking of a Christmas gift, please bear in mind the postal delays and get in touch early to ensure your artwork arrives in time.

Help 4 Hounds have a Facebook page where you can find information about all the dogs who are currently looking for fostering or adoption, though if you prefer you can email them on [email protected] or call 07516 279583

Thinle – Commissioned Pastel Portrait

Posted on November 7, 2022November 10, 2022 by Tamsin

Thinle is the subject and star of my most recent commissioned portrait. Thinle was Nepalese, and lived in the Himalayas. He worked as a mountain guide, and tragically lost his life in a mountaineering accident.

The client who commissioned this portrait knew Thinle from an expedition that he was on, and had taken numerous photographs of Thinle when they were spending time together. This meant that when planning the portrait I had a number of reference images to work from. This gave me a far better understanding of Thinle’s expressions, bone structure, and to some extent his personality than I could have gleaned from one image alone. There is an intimacy that comes from the subject and photographer having a relationship, and that in turn brings me a sense of closeness when I am getting to know them on my drawing board in my own small way.

This is a pastel portrait, drawn soley with pastel pencils on Pastelmat. The background is the colour of the page, and keeping this clear of smudges took a lot of very careful work and attention to how I was moving around the page. The client and I worked closely together carefully selecting the best image, deciding on the composition and how to crop the portrait, whether it should be in pastel or coloured pencil, and what to include and what to omit.

The client has commissioned a portrait from me twice before, so this relationship helped us both trust that we understood where each were coming from, and we knew that we collaborate well. Some clients prefer to be more hands off with the process, and others are more involved at each stage of the portraits development. To be honest I prefer the latter, as when there is an open line of communication throughout, there is less chance of the finished artwork not being what they expected or envisioned.

Thinle was enormously challenging for me as an artist for many reasons. Beards are something I have not had a lot of experience drawing, Thinle’s bone structure is quite different to that of the majority of people I have drawn, wispy hairs are always hard to draw sufficiently delicately and natural looking, and the both the colours and the complexities of the knitted hat and the cords tied around it were something I at times doubted I could achieve as I hoped to. I had suggested pastel as the medium as I knew it would suit Thinle very well, but it is particularly tricky to get very fine lines with as it is soft and blunts so quickly. This all said, these reasons this portrait was difficult to draw are also the reasons it was so rewarding. I always say that each of my artworks teach me something, and the challenges we face are equal to the sense of achievement we experience when we conquer them.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to create this portrait in memory of a remarkable man. And I am humbled to know that the original will hang in Cornwall, and a print of the portrait is being taken by a friend of the client to be gifted to Thinle’s family in Nepal. What a beautiful thing to have my art travel all that way, and to help him be remembered by those who knew and loved him most in the world.

Previously commissioned portraits by the same client, both drawn from photographs he took on his travels, are Bhutan Women and Wakhan Girl.

Drawing Murad’s Portrait in Coloured Pencil

Posted on October 23, 2022October 23, 2022 by Tamsin

I would like to share with you the creation of this coloured pencil portrait of Murad in six stages.

I am always fascinated by a portrait’s progress. Whether it is the approach taken by another artist, or my own work on the drawing board, I find myself captivated by the process and how a drawing evolves.

You may see in Murad that as the drawing grew his face changes in numerous ways. The main reference image for this drawing was a small passport photo which was out of focus, so it was really very challenging. What made it possible was the collaboration between myself and the client, Murad’s daughter. She guided the process with her feedback and additional photographs of her late father, and together we made something that will out live both of us. Murad’s portrait will, in time, be etched onto a black marble gravestone in his home counry of Turkmenistan, and will stand proud in the desert as a tribute to the aviation engineer, husband, father and friend that he was.

You can read more about Murad and his very special portrait in the post Murad – Commissioned Coloured Pencil Portrait

Featured in Artists and Illustrators Magazine

Posted on August 6, 2022July 16, 2023 by Tamsin

I am thrilled to say that I am on the cover of the September 2022 issue of Artists & Illustrators! My pastel portrait Bonny Miss Bonnie is smiling at passers by from newstands, gracing the computers of digital subscribers and cheering up coffee tables across the UK and overseas.

Inside the magazine there is a six page ‘In the Studio’ feature exploring my artistic inspirations, motivations and methods. Seeing my work in print is always exciting, and to have my drawings in a magazine I have enjoyed for many years is very flattering.

Being an artist can be a pretty isolating job. I am not one of those who spends a lot of time on social media connecting with people, and in-person events are few and far between at the moment due to other commitments, so having an opportunity like this to reach a wider audience than I ever would on my own is something I am very grateful for.

The interview questions I was posed were excellent, they really made me reflect on what I do and why. And when I asked those who follow me online which 10 artworks people felt best represent my work, I received a brilliant response with many considered replies. All of those votes and comments helped inform the selection of pictures I submitted for this feature, so thank you to everyone who contributed and encouraged me.

You can get your copy of Artists & Illustrators in many highstreet retailers, major supermarkets and independent newsagents, or visit the A&I website and buy or subscribe online.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also be interested in this article about my feature in Cornwall Life Magazine.

Murad – Commissioned Coloured Pencil Portrait

Posted on August 3, 2022August 4, 2022 by Tamsin

Introducing Murad, a commissioned portrait in white coloured pencil on black paper.

Once in a while a commission comes along which has extra significance and importance, and Murad is one such subject. I was approached by the client, his daughter, as she wanted a portrait of her late father.

Murad was from Turkmenistan, and as well as a being a much loved man, he was a highly skilled engineer. Over the course of his 50 year career in aviation he developed over 190 inventions, of which over 120 were patented.

As a memorial to Murad, at his final resting place he has a gravestone with his image and a dedication engraved. The image however is not a true likeness, so although it is impressive, it does not capture the man he was for his loved ones who visit him there. His daughter, who lives in London, has long wanted to address this, so she sought an artist here in the UK who could help, and a wonderful collaboration between she and I was born.

As is often the case for portraits of those loved and lost, the photographs of Murad that were available were limited, and the one that best represented how his family wanted to remember him was very small and out of focus. This posed big challenges for me as an artist, especially as one who thrives on detail. With a lot of communication, additional reference images of Murad as a younger and older man, and taking an approach with some trial and error involved, his daughter and I were able to work together to create this portrait which captures the beautiful man that he was, in a way that all his family were happy with.

Turkmenistan’s borders have been closed for some time, so for now this portrait is living with his daughter in her UK home. When eventually she is able to return to her birth country, she will oversee the creation of a new headstone. This will be made from black marble, durable enough to withstand the harsh desert climate. It will be engraved with my portrait, and will remain as a monument to Murad long after I am gone.

To know that my art can have such importance in the world of a family thousands of miles away, and to think of it standing there and representing Murad’s life is both humbling and remarkable to me in equal measure.

Commissioning an original piece of art is a simple process which is a collaboration between us both. I can offer a range of options depending on your preferences and budget, and I make every effort to ensure that I exceed your expectations with the portrait created. As each picture takes many hours to create, if you have a date in mind for a gift for example, the sooner the commission is planned the better to ensure that it is possible to achieve. I am always happy to discuss any ideas you may have, so drop me a line or give me a call and I will help in any way that I can.

Creating Dexter’s Pastel Portrait in Four Stages

Posted on February 16, 2022August 4, 2022 by Tamsin

What a delight this Parsons Jack Russell called Dexter was to draw. I know just how precious a dog is to it’s family, and Dexter is a very much loved pet indeed.

This portrait was commissioned as a Christmas gift for Dexter’s people. The client and I carefully chose the best reference images to capture his personality and to ensure that we could see those patches on his ear. It is the little markings and details that make each of us the individuals that we are, so it is crucial to pay close attention to them when creating a portrait.

At each stage in the creative process I shared my work with the client so that she had the joy of watching it develop. This also gave her the opportunity to ensure that the artwork was exactly as she wanted it to be, it makes for a fun collaboration between artist and commissioner.

I chose to draw Dexter in pastel as this medium really suits capturing both the wiry hair and the softness of the parkland in the background.

You can see in these four stages how the beginnings of an artwork are loose and rough, this is where I block in the main shapes and lay a foundation to build upon. From there I add layer upon layer of pastel. These layers allow for blending of colours and as they develop, and they bring an increasing amount of texture with it.

The background was drawn in at the half way mark, this allows me to refine the shape of Dexter’s outline and ensure that there won’t be any gaps where the white of his hair meets the green of the foliage. From there on it is all about refining and creating the tiny details. The wispy hairs all around give shape and movement to his coat, and the engraving on his name tag adds a more personal touch.

I know that this portrait will be cherished just as Dexter himself is. And I was delighted to play my part in such a meaningful gift, that the client was thrilled to be giving to her son and daughter in law.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like The Stages of Shadow – Pencil Portrait.

Dexter – Commissioned Pastel Portrait

Posted on February 11, 2022June 10, 2022 by Tamsin

Dexter is a very handsome Parsons Jack Russell. As a much loved family dog, this commissioned portrait was the perfect choice for a thoughtful and personal Christmas gift.

When I met with the client who commissioned this portrait, she had a number of beautiful photographs of dear Dexter from which we chose the best reference images. We wanted to capture his personality and also to show off his markings, including the tan spots on his ear, so agreed on this pose and composition. I love how he looks both alert and relaxed, and I can imagine him bounding around the park having the time of his life playing with his family.

Dexter’s portrait has been drawn in pastel. This medium lends itself to capturing the rich colours as well as the wiry textured coat which is so distinctive of a long haired Jack Russell. And it blends beautifully to create a smooth and creamy backdrop of soft focus trees, giving a sense of time and place as well as a rich colour for Dexter to stand proud against.

As someone who really loves dogs and relishes every opportunity to make a new canine friend, I had a wonderful time studying Dexter and drawing his portrait. I know that this artwork is treasured by his family, and will serve as a lasting celebration of a very special pet.

Budgie Buddies – Commissioned Pastel Portrait

Posted on February 5, 2022June 10, 2022 by Tamsin

I really love drawing birds. Every day I get so much pleasure from watching the birds in my garden and those which I see and hear when out and about. Their antics always entertain, and I am fascinated by how robust and vital such tiny and fragile seeming creatures are. I have previously only drawn wild birds, but had often though about drawing a budgie. So I was delighted when I was commissioned to draw these two beautiful birds, what wonderful colours they are!

Budgie Buddies is a portrait created as a personal gift from the client to someone who means a lot to her. These birds are treasured pets, and the portrait a symbol of the clients love and appreciation for her friend. What a beautiful and thoughtful birthday present to receive.

In the client’s own words: ‘The budgies arrived today, Oh my god they are so amazing! And thanks 100% for the care with the wrapping, so well protected. Off to the framers tomorrow!’

‘A bitter sweet story behind this wonderful portrait. I commissioned Tamsin months before the birthday of one of my fantastic volunteers in my CIC business as a special thank you for her hard work. I arranged a meal out to hand over the surprise (it was so hard to keep the secret) but the day before Sparky (the blue bird) suddenly died. I was in a quandary whether to give the portrait or not as Denise was so upset. Anyway I decided I should and she was so thrilled as she hadn’t even got a photo of him (her neighbour and I had secretly taken one). Denise found the portrait a wonderful tribute to her beautiful bird! Rosy (the green one) now has two new friends to keep her company! So thank you Tamsin for your beautiful work and ever lasting memory’

Budgie Buddies is drawn with pastel pencils on grey Pastelmat.

Funds Raised for SOLA from Fine Art

Posted on February 3, 2022June 10, 2022 by Tamsin

Last year I pledged to donate 25% of profits from my art sales in August – December to School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA).

A few years ago I was commissioned by a client to draw this coloured pencil portrait, Wakhan Girl. It features a young girl whom he had met and photographed whilst travelling in the Wakhan Corridor. There is something about this girl that spoke deeply to me, she and her fellow Afghans are often in my thoughts, and all the more so with such struggles over the last year.

When watching the recent changes unfold in Afghanistan with a heavy heart, and feeling helpless to affect any meaningful change, I realised that there was a small way I could hope to make some difference, and to show solidarity with a nation of people from here in the UK. This also gave me the opportunity to share news of SOLA with my small following, and to try to humanise the work that they are doing so many miles away.

I am delighted to say that with your support I donated £250, which thanks to match funding from a generous supporter of SOLA, was doubled to £500. To give you an idea of the impact, £500 can provide a whole year of meals for one girl. £500 can provide one year of books and supplies for two girls. And £500 can provide one year of health and hygiene care for five girls.

So from SOLA, the students, their families, and from me, I say a big thank you.