Alex by Yvonne Chapman Brooks

Yvonne’s Artwork

0466 467 153
0466 467 153

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“Paint your pet” workshop August 2025

What a great way to spend a weekend 5 ladies attended my latest workshop, in my studio in Pinjarra WA. The workshop runs from 9.30 am to 4pm both days. The first day was warm and sunny but the second day the weather turned wet and windy.  Our first day was supposed to cover stretching paper to use for the weekend, but as the forecast wasn’t looking great, I pre stretched some Archers 300gm paper onto MDF boards for the ladies to use. One lady used a Langton Watercolour block in a 12 x 16 size, I use these blocks too, being gummed on all sides with just a 2 inch gap for separating the paper after use, they are convenient to use without having to stretch the paper. , Day 1: Drawing and background Day 1 starts with the drawing using a grid to enlarge an A4 photograph up to and A3/ A2 size painting.  The grid is a very useful tool for this purpose creating an accurate image, that is proportionally correct to the photograph.   All the backgrounds on these images are fantastic. This is a challenging workshop, the artist has to work with a completely different technique than they are used to, plus use colours in a very bold and bright way.  They have to think about which colours will work together side by side, as some colours do not mix well with others,  plus learning how the warm and cool colours will affect the finished painting.  Day 2: painting the subject Now the fun starts. Day 2 is very full on with a lot of work to do. Using my warm and cool colour technique to create highlights and shadows, they begin to paint the subject. I do not expect them to go home having mastered this way of painting, it has taken me years to develop my style, and it is constantly being tweaked and adapted as my paintings are created. At first they are nervous to make a start, but with plenty of guidance they all create such wonderful images. Suddenly the bold and bright backgrounds are no longer the main focus as the subject emerges.  Another workshop completed and 5 very happy students have taken away paintings they can all be very proud of. My aim in these workshops is to give the student the opportunity to play with colour and to learn that there are so many colours you can use to create the  finished painting, even if they never use these colours like this again, just learning that black dogs, for example, are not just black, but blue, purple, green even pink, that white can also have pale tones of blue and purple in its shadows.  If you are interested in attending a workshop or if you have a group that wish to attend,  let me know via my contact commission form.

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My Therapist

Reflection

Painting reflective surfaces in watercolour I love a challenge almost as I love “My Therapist,” A Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe that I have called Dixie.  I have painted this , and other Harley’s in acrylic, so I used watercolour this time.  The process is the same as any of my artworks, grid up a photograph for the sketch, and then I paint one small piece at a time. As the engine is the hardest and most visually complicated part I start there first.  By concentrating on a small area at a time I can paint what I see, not what I think I should see. It is very easy to get distracted, and often I don’t actually see what is in the reflection until I look from a distance. For the chrome I use a mix of Art spectrum (AS) indigo, and a wash of AS Lemon yellow that I have dirtied with a tiny but of purple to make a brown tint, and diluted. There is also some AS Phthalo blue and a hint of Holbein Bamboo green, the black is a mix of Dioxazine purple and indigo.  The tank is Windsor and Newton Cobalt blue light, in places with a Phthalo blue mix.  This bike doesn’t have chrome but has a lot of shiny painted surfaces, the red was Daniel Smith Deep Scarlet and Pyrrol red, with a hint of Quinacridone red to create the crimson colouring. I had to change the back of the seat to add the red cover after I had painted the seat, as the client requested it be added, this was not  the easiest thing to do, as the paint has a staining quality that can be hard to remove.  Luckily the painted area did lift a little with water, but some of the staining remained, so the back cover is not quite the brilliant red of the tank.  Not just motorbikes Now this commission was a challenge.  My art journey included a BA hons degree in Graphic Design, so Typography was something we covered, and something I don’t do very often.  This was commissioned as a gift for the sponsor of the car, Geo Tech, and this was made up from a couple of different photographs, and to add a degree of extra difficulty, from different angles. Luckily both client and recipient were very happy with the result.  The Series 2 SS Holden Commodore was a commission for a friends Husband. This was one of the last cars produced in Australia by Holden, hence the  number plate 1OVTHELST.  I enjoyed this commission but had to brighten the photograph to see any subtle details in the paint work. when I had painted the bonnet it looked really abstract, I had to remind myself, paint what you see.  The best part was painting the side of the car, that hint of green in the indigo worked perfectly.  My colours were Indigo (AS) Bamboo Green (Holbein)and the browns made from Australian Red gold (AS) and Dioxazine Purple, (WN) with some Phthalo blue (AS) and Cobalt blue light (WN)

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Going Incognito for a great cause

This year was the first year I have entered the Incognito Art Show. An amazing 20,000 pieces of art were submitted this year! three of them were mine. Every piece of artwork is A5 in size and is sold for just $100. Profits raised go towards funding programs, supporting artists working with disabilities.  There are some very famous prize winning and very well known artists in this show, but that’s the beauty, you don’t know whos art you have until you have bought it. “Our mission… To support arts organisations / To provide emerging artists with professional pathways / To inspire and develop a new generation of art collectors and supporters. The Incognito Art Show is a not-for-profit organisation supporting Australian artists. We run Australia’s biggest and most inclusive art show. “   Give it a go! With this in mind I was eager to have a go. I realised that with so many art works on show, in one place and online, the art had to be bright enough to stand out on first glance, be a recognisable subject that would appeal to a wide audience, be well executed, and a good example of my individual style. So my subjects were easy. Firstly there had to be a greyhound, as greyhound lovers tend to be drawn to art with a greyhound on it, and why not!So my first image was Otis in his sunny spot.  Being A5 in size the detail was important to me. I used watercolours,  gouache and pen on my finished Image. Second was a Tiger. I love painting tigers, their colours and markings are so beautiful,  and they also appeal to a wide audience.  I have painted this close up tiger face before on an A2 size.  This time I added splashes of gold Alcohol inks to catch the light. With this intense stare it is a hard image to ignore. Thirdly, “The head tilt” a beautiful brown and tan Kelpie. Kelpies have a wide appeal in Australia,  the ultimate working dog and loved family pet. Their keenness to work and eager to please attitude makes them a firm favourite. I have painted many kelpies in the last decade or so, some examples were prize winners for me too, so third choice was an easy pick. This one also had that splash of gold alcohol ink to catch the light. So, how did I go? Otis and “The Sunny spot” sold on the first day! My other two sold in the first three days. I was thrilled to be able to contribute to this show and ecstatic they all sold for this great cause.Next year I will encourage more of my students to enter and get a “group pack”. My process will be the same, bright and well executed artwork, plus an appealing well known subject.

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