wrinkles 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

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.

Society of Women Artists Exhibition

Posted on September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 by Tamsin

The 2022 Society of Women Artists exhibition has opened in London’s Mall Galleries, and welcomed a great number of artists and art enthusiasts through the doors.

Although I can’t visit the exhibition myself, I have a friend, Freya, who attended the opening and took these brilliant photos. I am so happy to see my three pastel artworks as a part of this show, and so grateful to Freya for sharing this with me.

The SWA seeks works of the highest standard within its specific field, and promotes women artists with their annual show. The art is comprised of work by both SWA members and non members, and inclusion in this prestigious event is a huge compliment to all who are invited.

The pieces I have on display are A Handful of Salt, A Handful of Lotus Seeds and A Handful of Faith. These are three of a series of six studies inspired by the amazing Rehahn Photography.

The SWA exhibition is running till the 11th September, and more details can be found on their website.

You can learn more about these artworks in the following posts: A Handful of Salt in the Making, A Handful of Lotus Seeds in the Making and A Handful of Faith in the Making.

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.

Exhibiting with the Society of Women Artists

Posted on June 28, 2022September 8, 2022 by Tamsin

I am delighted to announce that I have three pastel paintings selected to be a part of this year’s Society of Women Artists exhibition. The SWA seeks works of the highest standard within its specific field, and promotes women artists with their annual show. The art is comprised of work by both SWA members and non members, and inclusion in this prestigious event is a huge compliment to all who are invited.

This will be the 161st SWA exhibition, and will be held at London’s Mall Galleries from the 6th – 11th September 2022.

I have been working towards my submission for this exhibition for over a year, and created the ‘A Handful of…’ series of six pastel paintings specifically for this opportunity. My portraits A Handful of Salt, A Handful of Lotus Seeds and A Handful of Faith will all be on display alongside work by many other exceptional women artists, and I am very proud to be in this number. Each of my artworks will be for sale through the exhibition, and once live I will share details of the online version of the show for anyone who is unable to be in London for the event itself.

You can learn more about these artworks the following posts: A Handful of Salt in the Making , A Handful of Lotus Seeds in the Making and A Handful of Faith in the Making.

Pencil Portrait ‘A Lifetime of Laughter’ has Sold

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

I am getting A Lifetime of Laughter ready to head off to her new home. A few years ago I met a lovely lady who brought her daughter to my studio here in Cornwall for a drawing lesson. She fell in love with this pencil portrait the moment she saw it and has longed to own it ever since. So as much as I am sad to be taking this picture off of my wall here by my drawing table, I know that she will be so loved in her London home where she is going tomorrow, and that is a very happy thing indeed.

A number of my original artworks are available to own, and a selection have limited edition prints and greetings card. Visit the gallery page and click on your favourite portraits to discover more about them, and get in touch to own your own piece of beautiful art.

A Handful of Artworks – the Finished Series

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

Here they are, the full series of six studies which have kept me company, occupied and challenged right through 2021. Having started this body of work last January, and completed it a few days before the end of December, it has been the biggest project of its kind that I have undertaken.

The idea to create this series was first sparked in a conversation about an exhibition submission (more on this later in the year). I typically create in a less cohesive way, moving from subject to subject according to commissions accepted and what catches my eye. Creating a specific body of work has been a wonderful experience, and is something that I plan to do again in time.

None of this would have been possible without the generosity of the fabulous photographer Réhahn Photography who so kindly gave permission for me to reference his work. And of course thanks must also be extended to the models themselves, all of whom are Vietnamese, apart from the Buddhist monk from Ladakh, who is seen in A Handful of Faith.

Now that the full series of hands studies has been completed, I will be taking them to my local fine art printer who will create the most beautiful limited edition giclée prints for me. I hope to be able to share with you all that these are available soon. Once they have been professionally scanned, I will then be adding these designs to my collection of greetings cards, though this will take a little longer.

Pre-orders are being taken now for prints of A Handful of Chillies, A Handful of Salt, A Handful of Lotus Seeds, A Handful of Faith, A Handful of Love and A Handful of Coffee, each at £65. For more details including print sizes and delivery options, please get in touch.

Clockwise from top left: A Handful of Chillies, A Handful of Faith, A Handful of Salt, A Handful of Love, A Handful of Lotus Seeds and A Handful of Coffee.

Blessed – Pencil Portrait

Posted on January 31, 2022June 10, 2022 by Tamsin

This is Blessed, my latest pencil portrait. She joins my collection of studies of old Vietnamese women whom I have drawn in graphite pencil, and she brings a sense of calm with her.

This universal pose, hands held as if in prayer or as a sign of reverence feel like a greeting and a blessing in one to me. And when I look beyond that, I see the hint of a smile on her face. This brings to life her personality and leaves me wondering what it is that she is thinking in this moment.

Once framed Blessed will be joining A Thirst for Life and A Lifetime of Laughter on my studio wall. These wonderful women keeep me company whist I draw, and remind me of all the good things that I have to look forward to.

I will be submitting Blessed and another portrait, which is yet to be drawn, to the Society of Graphic Fine Art 2022 exhibition. I hope that this portrait will catch the judges eye and that she can represent me in their show later in the year.

So the original artwork will remain with me for now, and I will soon have limited edition prints and greetings cards of Blessed available to purchase. I will of course announce the arrival of new prints and cards designs in my newsletter, and also on my website and social media.

On the Drawing Board – January 2022

Posted on January 30, 2022January 30, 2022 by Tamsin

During the first half of January I have been dividing my attention between this pencil portrait, Blessed, and two portrait commissions. Of course I will be keeping these tightly under wraps until they are with their clients, but I can say that each picture is very different from the others so it is fun switching between them.

You would be forgiven for thinking that I would have had enough of drawing wrinkles by now, but apparently not. I suspect that decades of social conditioning telling me that women should look eternally youthful and blemish free has encouraged this fascination with celebrating beauty in an older form. So here is another magnificent woman with her life charted on her skin, and I for one absolutely love how she looks and what she represents.

Blessed will join A Thirst for Life, A Lifetime of Laughter and An Age of Indigo to form a slowly growing collection of wonderfully aged women.

In both of these work in progress images, you may notice that the right hand side of the picture is further along than the left. I have favoured the right hand side initially as I am right handed, so it is easier to reach. I then turn the page upside down and work more on the other side. Turning the page upside down means that I do not have to reach across the drawing so much thus reducing the risk of smudging. And it has the added benefit of giving me literally a new perspective on the drawing which is a great help when observing as closely as is required here.

I will be sharing the finished Blessed with you soon, but for now, I will be losing myself in her delightfully wrinkly hands for a while yet.

My thanks go to Rehahn Photography for his beautiful reference image.

A Handful of Coffee in the Making

Posted on January 30, 2022June 10, 2022 by Tamsin

A Handful of Coffee is the sixth and final artwork in my series of studies of old hands. To share with you something of the process of creating this artwork, I have compiled this montage of nine stages from the initial sketch to the finished portrait. As with all of the ‘A Handful of …’ pictures, this is a pastel painting on Pastelmat paper.

When I first saw the image that I referenced for this study, I instantly knew that I wanted to draw it as a part of the ‘A Handful of…’ series. I often wondered if this was a wise decision as it feels quite different to the others, and I was concerned that the close to monochrome nature of the picture would be too dour, imposing or simply unappealing as an artwork. I will admit that this niggling doubt did not go away whilst I was drawing it!

However now that it is here in my studio with me, the gentle colour shifts and the earthy nature of it’s tones has a certain comfort to it, and a uniformity that is very pleasing to my eyes. I have fallen in love with this image all over again, and I feel that it rounds off the series beautifully.

What conjures a wry smile for me, is how before work began I kept telling myself that of course yes, it would be a lot of work, but aren’t all my pictures? How hard could it be? I soon had the answer to this question! After a lot of bean drawing I had a combination of four or so colours that I would use for each one, but they never did achieve the flow status that I was so sure would come with repeptition. Each coffee bean is an individual, and they all came with their own little personalities. And these hands, well, they have the finest wrinkes of the series, and the most elusive colouring of all.

What I can say is that the reward of an artwork can often be measured in direct relation to the difficulty that it presented in the creation. This may not be seen by anyone other than the artist, as the sometimes simpler looking elements can be deceptively challenging, however I believe that this one speaks for itself.

The completion of this artwork marks the end of a mammoth task, a series of six studies of old hands which has taken me a year to draw.

Now for a well earned cup of tea, coffee will never again look quite the same for me!

Now that the full series of hands studies has been completed, I will soon be making available limited edition prints and greetings cards of A Handful of Chillies, A Handful of Salt, A Handful of Lotus Seeds, A Handful of Faith, A Handful of Love and A Handful of Coffee.

Thanks go to Réhahn Photography for his amazing image.