Taste of Aveley - Restaurant artwork

It was great to hear from Raymond at the Taste of Aveley Indian Restaurant again. He called me to commission another 2 large canvases for the new wall space created by an extension to the restaurant. I have only posted one painting here as I failed to get a decent photograph of the other...

Firework night! - The Bison...

Clapham Commons annual firework display promted a call from the Bison & Bird, requiring an 'A' Board to advertise their mulled wine to take away... mmmmm. Like the fireworks on this one...

Tree of life - painting

This painting was a commission from a beautician who required a decorative canvas for her treatment room. I wanted to create something quite 'organic' and natural. To begin with, I became a little bogged down with the theme of massage and aromatherapy. Then I realised that a symbolic 'meditative' piece was more appropriate to the essence and atmosphere of the treatment room. My client agreed that a 'tree of life' would work well. The colours were chosen to match some of the soft furnishing within the room.

Last Days 34/35/36 Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Here it is! The 10th and final wall completed... A birthday chart with a seasonal theme. Again, the photographs of the children can be stuck in the area that corresponds with their birthday.

This job has been a big one, and quite an achievment. An absolute pleasure to work on. I really have enjoyed my time spent at Monkey Puzzle and am very happy with the final result. As are all the staff. A big thankyou to Maria, Kat, Tracy, Zoe and Helen for 'putting up' with me and keeping me supplied with Coffee and biscuits. The nursery is a fantastic place for kids. a lovely old modernised 1840's building. Set in a quiet corner of Chingford, just on the outskirts of Epping Forest. The biggest thrill for me is that the work I have been able to produce will be 'used' in several ways with the many children that I am sure will pass through Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries doors. I'll be a little sad to leave, but look forward to my next challenge! Many thanks once again and good luck. Paul.

The Kings Head - Kilburn

A quiet 2 days spent in the new Kings Head on Kilburn High Road. I was asked if I could copy the logo onto a wall space at the entrance to the bar. 'No problem' I said. The manager was amazed at how accuratley I had managed to do it... I wasn't sure how I'd managed to do it myself! It did turn out alright though.

Day 33 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Compared to some of the work I have done at the nursery, this alphabet was slightly easier to do. However I needed to be quite precise with the lettering as it will be used frequently as a learning tool for the pre-school children in this room.

Day 31/32 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Making the numbers from 1-5 a little more interesting. Being a relatively small wall, accomplished this fun little rocket in only 2 days. That's the toddler room complete! Now, on to my last two walls in the pre-school room...

Day 30 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Finished! Wall number 7 done... 3 more to go! Keep watching...

Day 29 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Reflections on the balloons, outlining underway. I'm liking how this is coming together. As this is Zoe's 'toddler' room, she asked that I didn't make the clown too 'scary' looking. This ones worked out fine! Zoe's happy...

Day 28 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Made a start on the clown birthday chart today. No white underpainting required, which sped up the process a little! Should get this one completed quite quickly.

Day 26/27 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Finished! 'Animal Fayre' rhyme wall complete. By far one of the most enjoyable walls to complete on this project. I'm so happy with the result and judging by the comments I have received from the staff at Monkey Puzzle. This is one of their favourites so far...

Day 25 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Started to outline, and not that far off completion. Really happy with the way this is turning out. Could so easily lose myself in detail!

Day 23/24 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Some good progress made over these two days, really happy with how it's all starting to look.
Can't wait to start outlining and breath a little life into it...

Day 22 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

The big baboon, by the light of the moon...
With the undercoat finished, can now begin to colour it in... 2/3 coats per colour.

Day 22 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

I went to the animal fayre, the birds and beasts were there...
Dark red walls in the teenies room require white primer/undercoat. Made a start today, positioning the characters and getting a composition that I was happy with took a while. Should maybe have prepared some rough drawings first. This ones going to look great!

Day 21 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Just need to add the months under each leaf, but so pleased with the look of these mini beasts. This one will be completed very soon... Watch this space for pics of the next wall in the Teenies Room. 'Animal Fayre'/Jungle theme.

Day 20 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Hello New York!!!

Looking good, can't wait to get outlining tommorrow...

Day 19 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Lovely! Mini Beasts starting to take shape... Very happy with how this one is turning out.

Day 18 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

The teenies room birthday chart. 'Mini Beast' theme. The childrens photographs will be placed on the leaf that corresponds to their birth month. Good progress made today, as the base yellow is a lighter tone than the other walls. The usual 2 x coats of white undercoat were not required.

Day 17 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Sleep Room, 'Twinkle Twinkle' wall completed...





'Hey Diddle Diddle' wall finished, with text...

Day 16 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Really, day 16 has been made up of two half day sessions. When, usually I would be working at Bedfords Park. It was quite important that I get the sleep room murals completed quickly, as cots were re-located to make room while the mural work was taking place. Have very nearly completed this room now. Just the addition of text for the two rhymes and I'm on to the next room.

Day 15 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Twinkle twinkle little star! Starting to take shape...

Day 13/14 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Day 13 - Filled in the last bit of colour work and began to outline the characters etc. Kicking myself as I forgot to take a photo of the work before I went home. So this pic was taken about half way through day 14!





Day 14 - Finished the art work, just need to add the rhyme text above the cat. Here's the result.





Also started on the 2nd wall of the sleep room today, this one to illustrate 'Twinkle twinkle little star'. Keep watching the blog for progress on this mural.

Day 12 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Worked for around 5 hours today, filling in some more colour. It's all starting to come together quite nicely.

Day 10/11 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Day 10 - Spent half of today coating the baby room murals with a protective glaze, so that it could be wiped clean if necessary. The rest of the day was spent drawing up some rough designs for the next phase of the project taking place in the sleep room. Some cots have been re-located for the time that I'll be working there. My work at Bedfords park has had to be put on hold, whilst painting these murals. So that, I can get the work done a little quicker and the staff at the nursery can get the sleep room up and running again.





Day 11 - With the design worked out, I was able to get straight on with setting up the next mural. The 1st of two walls in the sleep room. An illustrative piece for the rhyme 'Hey diddle diddle'. Made some good progress today! Already started to fill in areas with colour.

Day 9 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

Baby Room Birthday Chart Complete! Very happy with the finished result.
Keep watching this space for progress on the sleep room murals.

For more information about Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries please click here.

Bedfords Park Visitor Centre

Work continues at Bedfords Park, completion of this long job remains a little way off. The mural still requires the addition of 2 or 3 more varieties of wild meadow flower, plus the introduction of a silver birch tree, meadow wildlife and minibeasts. Visitors to the centre often comment on my patience to be able to work on the piece. My reply is that I keep in mind the image of the finished job. But, to be honest. I think that the patience of centre managers Fay and Daniel is far greater. As is that of Maria, manager of Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries. Both clients are allowing me to work on their projects at the same time!

Day 8 - Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries

More or less completed. All that this baby room birthday chart wall requires now are some highlights in the eyes of each animal ( see cat on top row, third from left ), and the names of the months written on each carriage. The idea is that each child attending the nursery will have their photograph diplayed in the corresponding carriage of their birth month.