A portrait of two friends: Ana and Tchaka

Two friends: Ana and Tchaka, oil on card, 14.5 x 15.4 cm

A portrait of two beautiful women who posed most elegantly in their lovely frocks while it rained outside.

I am very happy with all my models: they have all shown great consideration and humour.

Portrait of Tony Alana II

Portrait of Tony Alano II, oil on card, 14.4 x 10 cm - discarded

The second of the series: perhaps there will be five in total. Tony is a great sitter, with an expressive body language.

It is delightful to be painting portraits again: the experience is very intense for me, like doing an important exam- you've an hour and a half to get everything right. Working with the same model over a period of time is very enjoyable: every session revealing a different aspect.

Making art without that element of risk is an insipid experience in comparasion. Tomorrow I shall be paiting Lucas again.

Chevrolet sign

Chevrolet sign, oil on card, 14 x 9.3 cm

Painted on Madre Benevenuto.

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I seem to be getting more responses to my advertisments for models- it's a truism that the year in Brasil really starts after carnival, so hopefully I shall be able to do more figure painting from now on.

Portrait of Tony Alana

Portrait of Tony Alano, oil on card, 9 x 12.2 cm

A little painting of my friend, Tony Alano, watching telenovelas.

Models - modelos - sitters

I'm looking for people to sit for me -male or female, young or old, beautiful or ugly. 

If you can help, please get in touch: Tadeusz- 3223 0461 or email: Tadeusz598@yahoo.co.uk. The poses will be easy and comfortable. I'll pay you 10 Reals an hour.

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Procuro modelos de ambas idades (feminino e masculino) com o intuíto de posar para quadros.

Obs: As poses não são nus.

O pagamento será por hora, no valor de R$ 10,00.

Caso haja interesse, favor entrar em contato

no telefone: Tadeusz- 3223 0461 ou email: Tadeusz598@yahoo.co.uk

The birds on parade following their first coat of paint.

Here they are. I dont have certain colours, so my choices are limited. But in a way that is good, because it lends a sense of unity to the collection.

I feel that the simpler the bird are, the more likable. There is another weeks work in tightening up the details.

Papier-mâché birds - stage 3; some lessons

Two birds after he first stages of painting.

I have learnt the following things about modelling in papier-mâché and plaster.

1. An armature saves a lot of grief.
2. While plaster can be used to smooth surfaces it cannot be used to model them, as it is brittle and breaks off the paper mache surfaces. Plaster cannot, therefore be used for modelling details either.
3. A certain plastic glue ("Puttex") is good for smoothing surfaces. But it cannot be easily sanded, so you have to smooth it carefully before leaving it to dry.
4. The surface of papier mache is perhaps never going to be eggshell smooth.
5. Papier mache made with white pva glue and water creates a stronger form than that made with wallpaper glue. It is also smoother.
6. Papier-mâché is not good for detailed modelling. The forms made have to be quite simple.
7. The process is quite slow. Allowing drying time betweeen papier-mâché sessions, I suppose one should allow up to two weeks to make a little bird such as the one above.
8. Painting hides some blemishes, but not many.

Papier-mâché birds - stage 2 - leg surgery

Bird with leg implantations.

I am using polyfilla to help make the birds' surfaces smooth for painting.

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Bird

The birds observe the leg surgery: Woodpecker's abdomen has been opened: he will subsequently recieve the wire implantation, which will then be bent to form limbs.

The Consultant Surgeon and Assistant Surgeon discuss procedure.

The Birds do not always balance easily. This Hornbill has cheated using blu-tack to hold on. Perhaps I will need to made a little base for him- I hope not, as this strikes me as inelegant.