Michelle Wrighton Fine Art and Photography

There is nothing quite like the power and majesty of a Thoroughbred Race Horse, and this digital painting is the first in a series of Racing Paintings that I have planned (for both Standardbreds and Thoroughbred race horses).  Thanks to photographer Cathy Sheeter for the wonderful reference photo.

Ready to Run Race Horse painitng by Michelle Wrighton

100% crop of Ready to Run detail

"The Sentry" Meerkat Portrait painting by Michelle Wrighton

I created this digital painting fom a photograph that I took of one of the Meerkats at the zoo, but I thought he needed to be put back into the wild, so painted a more natural background environment for him to live in:)  This is another one of the first digital smudge paintings that I did, but I had to leave it for a while as I had removed the background and couldn’t work out to put a layer in behind him.  LOL in the end I just painted the background around him and then blended the edges of his fur in with the background.  I know most digital artists get the most of the program they use by createing layers for each element that they paint, but I find it much easier just to paint from the background forwards, just like I do when painting with real paints on real canvas!

Digital painting of a Quarterhorse after working cows.

Cutting Cows Quarterhorse painting ©2009 Michelle Wrighton

100% crop to show detail of Quarterhorse painting

I have always loved Highland Cattle and finally have had a chance to paint one.  This was the first painting that I completed in Corel Painter using my wacom graphics tablet and digital pen.  I am amazed at how similar to real painting it is in regards to how the paintbrushes lay down and blend the paint!

Highland Cattle - Farm Animal Art Portrait