What is on the Easel

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Rene Boast

Almost done, just a few more glazes……… This painting has taken me awhile, each part of this progress has been a struggle trying to get the colour right but trying to make it with a lot texture and still have a abstract feel to it. But I see that there is still alot of realism to this painting. I guess it will take time and practice, I’m still busy trying to create my own style.

Still working in progress in Feb.

:“Beyond the Clouds” – I have not really started work on the leopard trying to finish the girl’s face so that I can see what she would look like. I really just wanted to use copper and gold on her face but the acrylic I was using was too shiny, there was too much reflection and glare, so you could not see the textures. So by painting over a satin glaze and also using watered down sepia and burnt sienna I was able to take some of the the glare away but still retaining the copper hue.

Still have no name for this painting but it is coming along, I think I am enjoying this “abstract” feel to it. Thinking of of “Behind the Mask” and then the word “Pride” comes to mind?? But still work in progress. Progressing slowly as I only paint at night but I am enjoying this project though.

With the help of my face book friends this was named “Behind the Mask”.

This is the update of these two have not decided what to name them will have to ask my Facebook friends.

Going to really enjoy these two, no names have come to mind, but they will be abstract.

African Memories

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Rene Boast

African Dream , started in my mind when I wanted to try some mixed media and not so much realism. I bought a book written with illustrations from Lisa Cyr and she gives you so many usefull tips and makes you want to explore and try new things. I have always been afraid to try, do not want to waste canvas or paint and always thinking whether it will be sellable. So I used an old painting that had not sold for over a year and painted white gesso over it, before the gesso dried I used scrunched up cling wrap and blotched over the wet gesso. It made really a rough texture imminating the elephants skin. Once it dried I used a graphite pencil and drew my image with middle tones and darks and then then using raw umber and paynes grey washes to set the tone.

On morning I saw the most beautiful sun rise and so thought that I would use these colours in my painting. For the background of trees, the canvas was coated again with gesso and the a black image of tress was printed on paper and facing down the image on to the canvas. Once completely dry, probably 24hrs the back of the surface is rubbed with a damp cloth until the paper is completley removed and image is revealed.

Using many layers of washes and using metalic gold I started the underpainting.

Whilst painting this my father passed away, so this became “African “Memories”. I am remembering the many sunsets and sunrises my father and I experience. In my minds eye I saw that the large ele on the right is my father and the one on the left is me.

As this painting progresses I will rember his wisdom, his advices and picture us togther in eternity with our heavenly father.

Sword and Shield – War Horse

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Rene Boast

I am unsure what this painting will be called in the end but it started with Job 39: 21. Recently my husband and I went to see War Horse. Even though it was a sad movie as it was about war, the killing of people and animals. Yet the movie was so well produced one felt that the horse, Joey was going to open his muzzle any minute and words will come out. You knew what the horse was thinking and wondering. They made the horse very real, the ex-racehorse should get a Oscar for sure. Even though I was thinking of verse 21 “he paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength” and wanting to put that somewhere in the painting. But no matter how I tried, using all sorts of methods I could not transfer the words .

I also learnt how to print a reverse image of the words so not all was lost. My shield was also a struggle. I photocopied the cover of a very old Bible and cut out a section that looked like a shield and was hoping that I would be able to draw out a sword from the words on this section. I also wanted to stencil some swirly vectors or vintage ornaments and so spent quite a long time browsing the web looking for something that would attact my attention. I used a palette knife alot implementing the reds and oranges and instead of a brush I used ear buds on my horse. I used white gesso as underpainting to create a rough texture. I left the painting for a few days as the waves just did not work for me so I tried something else. Tried to get inspired by googling water. This is how it turned out.

I think I am going to stay with the background so now working on the horse, softening the white and adding more colour. Will see how it turns out at the end of the week.

Sunday Sermon

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Rene Boast

On Sunday our pastor Wayne spoke on the verses from Jeremiah 12. Wondering why life is unfair and why do we struggle. God wants us to to “surrender all” pastor Wayne said and the verse what he pondered on was 5 “If you have run with footman and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?” And as Pastor Wayne says, you can do reasearch about this verse and this is what it says ………… “If you have run with men of foot, and they have wearied you, then how can you compete with horses?” That is it. How can you run against horses?

This past year my family have had some struggles and as a artist I paint to help me forcus and find that inner peace. It is my form of worship if you will. At the beginning of the year I was urged by a inner thought to paint “the wailing wall”. Do not do this normally, I am a wildlife artist and that is what I normally focus on. Why the wailing wall? Perhaps I am feeling closer to my roots? I know at this time I was reading alot about Israel and yes the beginning of the year there were many articles in the media about Israel. Or was this my wailing wall? That I needed to pray more, think of things in heaven and not what is in this world. Then an image of a wall was placed via projector on the background of our church stage one Sunday as soon after I painted my wailing wall.

Then Pator Wayne’s sermon about horses soon after my finished painting. I really wanted to paint the four horseman from Revelations but ended up with 2 horses. I then watched the movie “Scretariat”, and was encouraged by the verse the owner of the horse used “Job 39:19 have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane? Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men. He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin. He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.” He came round the corner 14 lengths infront of the second horse and it was as if God whispered in his ear “go”. All was silent, no shouting was heard, just the look of the audience in disbelief and then “Big Red” came thundering around and the song started “oh happy day”. He completed that race 31 lengths infront of other horse.

In a nutshell “God calls us to live life at its best and that will mean a life filled with adventure, challenge, purpose and mission etc. It also means that to live this kind of life will require faith and trust in a good God and a continual posture of humble surrender or obedience…even when life seems unfair or is hard and it feels like you are ‘running against horses’. But, that is the only way to really live, so surrender to and trust in God and run the race he has set before you!” thank you PastorWayne

Zebra Extract Now going to call this Zebra Copper Nebula

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Rene Boast

Thought I would try something new and add a bit of abstract to my painting. Added some gel and paper in the background. Enjoyed painting this, zebras are beautiful to paint.

Would look nice in any one’s lounge 18″ x 24″ canvas.

After showing this at various types of venues I thought perhaps it was the colours being too cool so decided to warm it up a bit and add some copperleaf….

Leopard Rock

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Rene Boast

Was watching Kevin Richardson on National Geographic playing with leopards, black leopards and lions. And was so exhilarated, wish I was there instead, so wanted to have a leopard play with me. Kevin is so blessed to be so near one of God’s truly beautiful creatures. I was so inspired to paint a black leopard after watching the documentary and Youtube clips. I called this “Leopard Rock”, notice the leopard is turning his head away from the black leopard as black leopards are so rare in africa.

I was staring as my painting for a while at an art event and noticed some errors to it, so decided to revamp it, adding more color to the black leopard and softening the rocks, I really enjoying adding more hues and depth to the black leopard as he seemed to flat. Some paintings are best seen in person.

I also saw a black leopard and leopard together at a Zoo in Naples, Florida which inspired me to paint them together. My 23″ x 18″ would look stunning in any home.

New Beginnings – Elephant

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Rene Boast

This painting was inspired by a wonderful photographer Marius Coetzee who resides in South Africa. he takes phenomenal images which are showed in the the African Geographic. Marius has allowed me to use his images and I am so very grateful.

This pieces is only a 11 x 14. I called it New Beginnings as I felt this summer of 2011 many new things have happened to my family; made new friends, achieved new challenges, tried new styles to my art work, son went to a new school….. is but a few of what has transpired this summer.

I’ve changed it again – can you believe should I just give up – Horse Power

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Rene Boast

Can you believe I did it again. I think I am done on this painting. Move it away somewhere where I cannot see it. Then look at it again.

How many times does one have to change something to be happy with . Do all artist have this same problem. I must confess I have never done this before. So I have put this painting aside for awhile but then spent a weekend with a wonderful family who had horses, so I was able to smell, touch and see these beautiful, inspiring creatures, God had put on the planet just for us to enjoy. I am reminded by that verse again.

Job 39:19 “have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane? Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men. He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin. He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.”

So I have changed my painting as horses reminded me of waves, their power and their beauty…

Jaguar – You’ve Got the Look

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Rene Boast

So this is certainly still work in progress, was working until 1am just working at the background. Still have to do some more hair. Easy to frame as it is 11 x 14 was worried about all that blank area above his head.. Hard to see if there is a difference in a jaguar and leopard, perhaps it is the spots around the face?

Lion Cub – Lazy Days and Sundays

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Rene Boast

My cub is finally finished, I am glad to say. Really enjoyed the challenge it gave me with various textures. I must thank my facebook friends for the encouragement and guidance, just hope someone out there in the public on the 20th will like it too.

Lazy Days and Sundays

Now to find a frame as it is a odd size 20 x 11.

I am blessed this was sold in August to a wonderful artist friend.

Rene's Wildlife Art Inc

Wildlife Art – Words from the heart