Palette knife painting on board. Image size approx 19 x 19 cms.
Framed in a white 20 x 20 cms white frame.

One of two paintings of the same subject - approached in two different ways. This one is painted in impasto acrylics onto a gessoed hardboard. Gesso is the traditional method used by artists to prime the surface of the support ready for the paint to be applied. Here I have applied thick paint over the dry gesso layers using a painting knife. The result is this impasto, very textured surface. When I paint using a painting-knife I almost feel like I am sculpturing the subject rather than painting it. It can be a very meditative and addictive way of painting - because you can see the surface and the colours changing under the blade and the results can be exciting as there is an element of unpredictability.

Inspired by a freezing cold New Year's Day walk by Poole Harbour. This group of seabirds were methodically searching for food in the shallow lapping waves in this sheltered part of the harbour at Sandbanks. I loved the way the setting sun lit up the water and silhouetted the birds. It was worth shrugging off the gloves to capture a reference photo or two.