From photograph to miniature painting...

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Painting tutorial by Kay Burton...

Most of my paintings are derived from photographs of actual paintings or just photographic images. Some are exact or as near to exact copies that I can make, in some, alterations need to be made to make a more pleasing painting.

For this exercise to demonstrate my technique of painting, I have decided upon a cat portrait (my favourite animal to paint). Using a photographic image, but changing it slightly. The title is going to be,”Sleeping in the Spring Sunshine”.

I usually print out an enlarged image from which I can work. I then draw a grid across the picture to help with the proportions when scaling down the picture for a miniature painting.

Work begins...

Stage 1. Lightly drawing out a scaled down grid on thick watercolour paper, I sketch on a rough image of the subject in very soft lead. Here, I have to add in both cats ears as one is chopped off from the photo and miss out the other cats paw which is in the foreground of the photo.

Stage 2. Once I’ve got enough drawn detail in the main subject, I start colour washing; the background first. I work with acrylic paint because it will water down to resemble watercolour or used thick you can create deep textures

Stage 3. Working down through the picture I “block in” with colour creating the basic under tones. Covering up all traces of pencil and rubbing out guide lines. I’ve added in some flower colour to the foreground, so that the cat appears to be sleeping outside

Stage 4 The painting is now taking shape, as I tighten up on the detail, looking really carefully at the original photograph. Highlighting the lighter areas and working in more detail to the fur. I’ve decided that the flowers are to be primroses.

Stage 5 The painting is finished having added in even more details - whiskers, fur, more leafy/flowery details to background and foreground. Hopefully the cat does seem to be “Sleeping in the Spring Sunshine”!Once I’m happy with the painting I coat it with a light varnish to protect it.

Stage 6 Now for the frame…I always make the frame to fit the painting then I’m always sure of a perfect fit. I use rebated wooden picture moulding, which has to be cut to size, mitred, glued and set.Once the frame is ready, I cut the painting down to size, to fit into the frame and back with thin card and paper.

All ready to sell!

Kay A Burton Miniature Paintings

www.kayburton.co.uk