Michelle Wrighton Fine Art and Photography

Finally here is the last of the graphite pencil drawings I did before my daughters accident, its taken a while to post it I know, but better late than never;)

This image is a photograph of the drawing, I had quite a bit of trouble getting a suitable image of this one, my scanner made it look very scratching and textured and even the photograph (although better than the scan) looks to have more texture than the original drawing which actually has smooth blended pencil strokes and much smoother tonal transitions.

Cricket - Thoroughbred Horse Pet Portrait sketch © 2010 Michelle Wrighton

I have some new graphite horse drawings (Clydesdales in harness) and a freisian cow that I hope to start on next week – or at least as soon as I finish a couple of digital portraits that I am still working on that are just not coming together the way I want them too.

I’ve also started to throw some paint on canvas in order to learn some new painting techniques – I’ve lost enthusiasm for painting in thin glazes (layers) and taking weeks on end to finish a painting so I plan to develop my skills painting alla prima/wet in wet and also plein air landscapes.  Suffice it to say that at the moment I think it was easier to paint photo-realistically (you just paint what you see)  than it is to paint more…painterly with less detail and more textured brushstrokes while still creating an end result that looks like what its meant to look like (as opposed to looking like an abstract pile of mud!) I would love to follow in the footsteps of the Daily Painters and create a small painting every day as that is the best way to develop new skills and techniques, as well as see tangible development over time.  I know that I can’t commit to a daily painting, but I do have a goal in mind of 100 small paintings in this new, less detailed , more painterly ‘loose’ style – not sure how long it will take to complete, but as they say its the journey thats important not the destination, so as long as I enjoy the process and learn something along the way then its time well spent.

Bright, bold and colourful, this impressionist digital oil painting is based on a photograph I took of Canola fields in full bloom north of Kojonup.

Canola out of Kojonup by Michelle Wrighton

Greeting cards, laminated, matted, canvas and framed prints of “Canola out of Kojonup” can be purchased from my Redbubble shop:

Impressionist digital oil painting created from my original photograph.

"Stars and Stripes" original painting by Michelle Wrighton

Greeting cards, laminated, matted, canvas and framed prints of “Stars and Stripes” can be purchased from my Redbubble shop:

Skipping Stones - Having Fun on the Blackwood

Greeting cards, laminated, matted, canvas and framed prints of “Skipping Stones” can be purchased from my Redbubble shop:

Bosco at the Beach - Labrador dog Painting by Michelle Wrighton

Cards, laminated, matted and framed prints of “Bosco at the Beach” can be purchased from my Redbubble shop:

Kookaburra Australian Bird painting by Michelle Wrighton

Greeting cards, laminated, matted, canvas and framed prints of “Kookaburra” can be purchased from my Redbubble shop:

Digital Painting of a gorgeous chocolate Labrador at the beach.

Bosco - Chocolate Labrador Beach Painting Pet Portrait by Michelle Wrighton

I know I was supposed to make this post way back in November, but things have been so hectic with the house and christmas, so I am still playing catch-up.

The awesome news is that I was awarded a lovely blue and gold sash and certificate for receiving the most points in the art competition at the 2008 Canning Show:)  I have to admit to being very surprised and pleased, because there were a huge number of entries of really good quality work.  The artwork that received awards were:

First Prize: Painting – Pastel category: “Peaches & Cream” Pomeranian in Pastels

Frist Prize: Painting – Drawing Any Subject: “We Three Kings II – Lion” Colour Pencil

Second Prize: Painting – Drawing Any Subject: “Blink” Cat in Colour Pencil

Third Prize: Painting – Drawing Any Subject: “Noble” German Shepherd Dog in charcoal

LOL yes that was a hat trick in the Drawing Any Subject category:)

That was the same weekend that we saw our new home for the first time, so all in all it was a wonderful day!

“Black Footed Rock Wallaby”

8″x10″ oil on prepared mdf board

"Black-footed Rock Wallaby" oil painting by Michelle Wrighton

$150.00AU unframed

Wow the weeks are whizzing by, we are definitely in the ‘business end’ of the year! I did actually manage to get my things together and enter some of my work in a show last weekend. This was only the fourth show I have entered and clearly I didn’t learn from the previous experiences of farming at the last minute as I was matting and framing until 2.00am on the morning they were to be delivered!

I am very pleased to say that I did quite well, one first and two seconds – and I have to be a proud mum and brag that my 12 year old was awarded a first for her graphite drawing of a marguay and first and second awards for her two sculptured dragons in modelling clay.

My oil painting of a Ringtail lemur “Midnight in Madagascar” was awarded first place in the ‘Animals and Birds – any medium category’:

My charcoal painting of German Shepherd Dog “Noble” was awarded second place in the

‘Drawing – Any Subject category’.

“Noble” is also for sale as part of the Canine Art Guild’s Helping Paws exhibition. To view a better image and purchasing information please visit the blog post for this German Shepherd Dog painting. Part proceeds from the sale of “Noble” will be donated to the Animal Protection Society.

My pastel portrait of the pomeranian “Peaches and Cream” was awarded second place in the

‘Pastel – Any Subject’ category

(the painting on the right of the dog chasing the hose water was the first place winner).

“Peaches and Cream” is for sale as part of the Canine Art Guild’s Helping Paws Exhibition. Click to view a better image and purchase information of this Pomeranian painting, part proceeds of the sale of this art will be donated to K9 Rescue, Mandurah.

Thanks for looking at my art, and please don’t forget to vote for your favorite artwork in the Canine Art Guild’s Helping Paws exhibition – the animal rescue group supported by the artist who is voted Peoples Choice at the end of the exhibition will receive a cash donation from the Canine Art Guild!

Michelle