Flight of fancy........

Blue Chicken in Pumpkin Space Hopper  2008
Acrylic On Canvas 20 x 20"
(c) Copyright Kate Lomax 2008 All Rights Reserved

This painting was inspired by a domestic disaster. Many years ago I bought a frozen chicken from a well known Supermarket, only to find it was covered in blue paint flakes, apparently
from faulty machinery!
For many years after, blue chicken jokes were a mandatory accompaniment
to any chicken dinner! Many years on, the blue chicken joke tellers have
moved on.  I miss them. The blue chicken painting is a memorial
to blue  chicken joke tellers everywhere.

There is something wildly therapeutic about painting a feather. On the one hand you need a delicate touch.  On the other, the stroke must be deliberately firm to create the shape and to layer the feathers, as they lay on a bird's flesh.  So you have to sorta hold the brush at a slight angle, to get the edge firmness and the lighter downy part of the feather with the slightly raised side of the bristles.

Charlie 2006
(c) Copyright Kate Lomax 2006
All Rights Reserved

It takes many years of patient technique development to be able to lay the feathers on systematically and almost automatically.  In a really detailed bird, such as Charlie (left) each feather is individually painted, and Charlie has about twelve layers. It took a while!  

The Rooster in Walk Through Green Lane (below),  has only about four or five layers, since he is smaller and therefore less detailed.

The same technique applied in the more relaxed style in Blue Chicken In Pumpkin Spacehopper featured above. He has quite a few layers.  Yes. I know his head is on back to front, and his crest is the wrong way round. It is part of his topsy turvy charm!

Walk Through Green Lane 2006
Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 18
(c) Copyright Kate Lomax 2006 All Rights Reserved

This painting depicts Green Lane at Hardway before they built a Naval Housing Estate on it!
They have since pulled that estate down, and built another, Priddy's Hard! I was raised in Priory Road, Hardway  and lived close by to my Grandparents in Fieldmore Road, and Aunt and Uncle in The Crossways.
Prior to the birth of my younger brother Bryan, my care was shared in the daytime by my Aunt and Uncle and my Grandparents.  As I child, Green Lane was my shortcut!  Can you imagine today? Gosh! It is so sad that our children have no freedom!
How I loved this walk, often picking Bluebells and Blackberries and stopping occasionally to fuss the horses in the adjoining fields.
This painting has been exhibited several times, and has been featured on the cover of Paint magazine.

Parrots are a joy to paint!  Oh how I love a parrot commission! I just love to look into their eyes and get to know them, their glint, their humour and their funny little moods. That is what I look to capture in any bird painting.  You know, the term 'bird brain' is sadly used as a derogatory comment.  Birds are actually amazingly intelligent, wise and spiritual creatures.  You have to work with nature to have nature work for you!

Any Dream Will Do - 2007
Acrylic On Canvas 80 x 100 cm
(c) Copyright Kate Lomax 2007 All Rights Reserved

 If you can dream it, then it can be.  Look at the bird in the picture  focus on it's head, now turn your head to ten o'clock, and it becomes a mammoth!
A little  demonstration of how we all see things differently!

Some other of my birdy paintings for you to enjoy!

Mac - Acrylic On Canvas - 1998
(c) Copyright Kate Lomax 1998 All Rights Reserved

Mac has stayed with me, simply because I cannot bear to part with him., although I have over the years sold many prints of this painting.  This is 'my' parrot! Mac has a wife and baby depicted in a painting that hangs right next to him.  These paintings were my special treat for myself!

Blue Bird
Watercolour Sketch 2005
(c) Copyright Kate Lomax 2005 All Rights Reserved

Two for Tea
Watercolour Sketch On Paper 1998
(c) Copyright Kate Lomax 1998 All Rights Reserved

Again, I chose to keep this sketch, a very popular print having won the hearts of many as a  Birthday Card.  It is so named, because I painted it in a extended tea break from other work!  It was a joy to just lay down the watercolours and watch them flow into place!

Toucan
Watercolour Sketch On Paper 1995
(c) Copyright Kate Lomax 1995 All Rights Reserved
And I am sure you all know of a  chappie just like this one, - this is one of my sketches  that I do prior to committing my ideas to  oil and canvas.  Inspired by a visit to a bird sanctuary!