HAMILTON SHAND

Greeting the big dog Dad pushing the pram Been shopping Look at the little doggie The Chav's... Scottie Dog? Guide Dog off duty Another treat Been out for hours and he still isn't worn out yet! It's the wife's dog Itchy Buckfast Monk Been out doing mini sketches of the people who passed through the park today. As the people in my urban landscape paintings are going to be very small it is essential that I capture what it is that makes us instantly recognise a tiny figure in the far distance as human. Not only do I want my tiny figures to look human (I'm not asking for much here...) I also would like them to have character.  It would be nice if you are able to recognise what they are doing, as without this they'll have no purpose and will not belong.  Everyone I saw today was in the park for a reason but they moved so fast that it was difficult to capture them. Once I got into it, I was like a mean little voyeur making up stories abou

Edinburgh Orange Sunrise -  Painting number  44 revisited Daily Painting - Original Oil Painting on canvas paper 9x6.5 inches . Previously this painting was just sky with a few made up trees added. I didn't put much thought into the trees, I simply plonked them on as an afterthought. It's those silly little pompom trees which caused me to have to have a week long hair pulling re-think about painting. I had spent hours and hours painting the sky, trying to create the billowing depth in contrast to the wonderful glowing brightness as the sun touched the edges of the clouds and lit them bright orange like a fire in the sky. I was pleased with the results and then I decided I needed to add something in the foreground to give the sky scale and...ruined it. I have spent so much time studying trees around me, their branch structure and leaves yet I forgot it all and painted the first thing that popped into my head. I think, that precise moment in time my head held the image of somethi

Morning walk for the Sheep dog -  Painting number  47 Daily Painting - Original Oil  Painting  on Oil Paper 7x5 inches. The lady and her dog are only 25 millimetres tall in this painting. I will need to sketch and study mini figures more carefully if I wish to add them to my paintings. It's not easy when you have so few brush strokes with which to express so much. I think I have captured this little Sheep dog pulling on the lead, keen to get running in the park.  Also, as I have decided to paint exactly what I see, the lady is a very responsible dog owner and has picked up after her pooch. I don't think she was quite awake though as she dragged her feet along the grass as the Sheep dog enthusiastically tried, with not much success, to make her move a little quicker. Elena xxX

Edinburgh Lilac Sunrise -  Painting number  46 Daily Painting - Original Oil Painting on canvas paper 9x6.5 inches . It has been a week since I have updated this blog. I have needed time to decide which direction I wished my paintings to go. Although I love painting the sky I realised that not many others would share my enthusiasm. I needed to add something, something which would  give my sky scale and purpose. After a week pulling my hair out and having major doubts over my painting abilities (as all artist frequently do) I have found something which pleases me enough to paint. I simply decided to paint what I could see. Edinburgh is a mass of beautiful houses and greenery. I have been focusing so intensely on the sky that I have missed the beauty below it. I think I have been obsessive of 'nature' and haven't wanted to add anything man made. But once I started studying what I saw beneath the sky I've found myself quite happy to add it. My favourite time of day is

Red Sunrise -  Painting number  45 Daily Painting - Original Oil Painting on canvas paper 9x6.5 inches .

Orange Sunrise -  Painting number  44 Daily Painting - Original Oil Painting on canvas paper 9x6.5 inches .

Standing Buddha Gandhara- Painting number  43 Daily Painting - Original Oil Painting on canvas paper 9x6.5 inches .

Perseus after Benvenuto Cellini -  Painting number  42 Daily Painting - Original Oil Painting on canvas paper 9x6.5 inches .

Pieta Virgin Mary after Michelangelo -  Painting number  41 Daily Painting - Original Oil Painting on canvas paper 9x6.5 inches . During the Renaissance there was many a debate regarding the merits of painting versus sculpture. Which one could emulate forms of classical nature most successfully?  I can't say, I like both equally.  But... there is one sculpture which takes my breath away- The Pieta   by Michelangelo. I decided to do a little traditional studying and paint sculpture, I've started with my favourite. Hope you like her. I painted her with her eyes closed at first, but she looked so very sad and I felt upset and uncomfortable looking at her, I have included a close up of this so you can see. Elena xxX

Tangerine- Painting number  40 Daily Painting - Original Oil Painting on canvas panel 9x6.5 inches .

Red Grapes- Painting number  39 Daily Painting - Original Oil  Painting  on canvas panel 9x6.5 inches . Work in Progress I was very brave and attempted to paint wet red grapes without eating any. I have also taken bleach to my hair again, I think I might end up blonde before the month is out. Better learn to smile if I'm going to be a blonde lass. Hope you like the homemade hair look in the photo below. If you wonder why my blog is called The Oracle, it's a name I was given by the M.I. Department at work. I was in a meeting, and this bloke I'd never met before said "We call you the oracle". He never expanded on why I had been given this name. When I went home and said that this random bloke had said "We call you the oracle" it kind of stuck. Now I'm going to be The Blond Oracle, which would be a better description of me, as I could hardly be considered a source of wise counsel with precognition inspired by the gods! LOL. So.... as The blond Oracle.

Asparagus- Painting number  38 Daily Painting - Original Oil  Painting  on canvas panel 9x6.5 inches .

Chilli- Painting number  37 Daily Painting - Original Oil  Painting  on canvas panel 9x6.5 inches . I just got up to make a cup of tea while I was uploading pictures and when I turned around my seat had been nabbed by my German Shepherd Dax. He's quite big for only 8 months old isn't he! Elena xxX