"Irish Servant Making Butter" - Oil Painting

Avril Brand

"Irish Servant Making Butter" - Oil Painting

Oils on canvas (40×40cm) (original sold)

Painting depicts an Irish servant girl making butter in her rich master’s kitchen. (County Antrim, Northern Ireland) – possibly early 1900’s

Update 21 February 2009

Finished…... at last!

This painting took a long time, inbetween all the others I am working on. Even my darling dog found a place here.

So, this is how it all began two years ago:

==================================

All my other paintings are drying out so I decided to work on this one. I did the drawing about two years ago and even painted the first wash but never got around to doing anything else. So, at last my Irish servant girl is being painted!

I had a very old, very blurry photo to work from. Maybe that is why I left it for so long. As you can see, it is not very easy to exactly what is in the photograph. But, supposedly, it is of an Irish servant working away at making butter in her rich master’s house. Probably late 1800’s.

I will update as I go along!

Update
Well, now my imagination has really gone haywire!!! Thanks to the blurry photo which I no longer want to use, I decided to do ‘my own thing’ and create items which I have always wanted to put in a painting but never knew when!!

Last night, as I was painting away just before midnight, my doggy sat watching me, impatient as usual, and he was so cute that he ended up in the painting too!!

I spent some time researching old kitchens of the Victorian era so in went the old cast iron wood burning stove, the copper pots and utensils and the cupboard in the passage. I changed the doorway (smaller), added a flagstone floor, etc.

So far, I am still only working on the left side of the painting and having so much fun thinking about all kinds of stuff that will be going into this old kitchen!!

Oils are so lovely to work with… you can change the entire look with a few strokes of the brush or the rub of a finger! Hope you like it so far!!

Update 1 October

What I love about the old Dutch Masters is how no detail was left out. The details and clutter of everyday life makes me see new things every time I see an old Dutch painting. Not that I am comparing my work to the Masters, but it sure is lots of fun to find objects in my house to include in this painting.

"Irish Servant Making Butter" - Oil Painting belongs to the following groups:

! * Irish Eyes * !, ! 100% !, All Around the Styles, Decorative and Traditional Art, Dimensions, Fine Arts, History, Nostalgic Art and Photography, Oil Painting, Out of the Past, Painters In Modern Times - TWO PER DAY, Prize Challenges!!, Realist Traditional Art, Remember When and The true beauty Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
"Irish Servant Making Butter" - Oil Painting by Avril Brand
"Irish Servant Making Butter" - Oil Painting by Avril Brand
  • Romo

    Romo

    Looking good Avril, it is going to be an excellent painting:)

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thank you, Romo… my photo of the painting is not much better! I struggle to take photo’s at night and tomorrow I will take a better photo, I hope!

  • hilarydougill

    hilarydougill

    Avril it is gorgeous, wonderful artwork, and beautifully rendered, and so like the photo, so very well done sweetheart, make sure yoi finish it, it is a winnder. hugsxxx

  • Avril Brand replied

    Aww… thanks, Hilary. I hope I can do it justice. It’s only in the beginning stages and a lot will have to depend on my imagination.

  • Jim Phillips

    Jim Phillips

    Looks like you’re right on track with the underpainting.

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thanks Jim. I will have to do a bit of research about butter making in the old days to see exactly what kind of tools she is using. As for the rest… artistic license… I put a larger window at the back and drapes… LOL! As longer as I don’t put a microwave oven in, I think it will be alright!

  • barnsis

    barnsis

    your prespective is perfect in this can’t wait to see more of it.

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thanks Byron. I remember that it was one of the most difficult drawings I ever did! My lines are just brushed in… I use an angle brush which makes it a lot easier to do shapes but I will be straightening the lines as I go along.

  • Samuel Durkin

    Samuel Durkin

    One of the best way to paint from an image that is blurry is to make the painting even more blurry. that way you don’t need to invent things. Although that isn’t really your style.

  • Avril Brand replied

    I have tried to sharpen the photo but that only fills it with ‘noise’ and makes it even worse. You know me too well, Samuel… LOL.. I will have to invent things!!

  • Walter Colvin

    Walter Colvin

    Great work Avril. Well done

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thank you Walter, :-)

  • EnVee

    EnVee

    I have no doubt that this will be another masterpiece :)

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thanks Nancy… I upload the changes and new layers as I finish them

  • Eva and Klaus Weber-Wanjek

    Eva and Klaus ...

    Very lovely atmosphere Avril! Looking forward to seeing the finished result.

  • Avril Brand replied

    Oh thanks Eva and Klaus!!!

  • Alessandro Pinto

    Alessandro Pinto

    brilliant work..perfect !

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thanks Alessandro… it will take some time but eventually it will be finished! :-)

  • Laura Redmond

    Laura Redmond

    coming along wonderfully Avril,,:)

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thank you my friend!!! :-)

  • saleire

    saleire

    This is great!!!! I love it. I can’t wait to see the next layer….my god you are talented!!!!

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thanks Sal… new layer on… to the left of the painting!!

  • Avril Brand

    Avril Brand

    Not so long ago, I went to a car boot sale and found wonderful old copper and brass items… for a wonderful price!!! I knew I wanted to paint the copper but not all at once!!! LOL… so into the painting they go, along with my doggy… even my old range with a few changes here and there.

  • rightasrain

    rightasrain

    Such good colours all going so well together. I love the light and the quiet mood. Beautiful, Avril :-)

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thank you… a painting like this is lots of fun… I keep on carrying all kinds of things to my artroom and then I have to put them back again after painting them.

  • saleire

    saleire

    this is looking good Avril….....and I love the dog!!!!! In fact…I always wanted a dog like that :o) They are so cute. And your work is just outstanding….love this…reminds me a lovely lady I knew when I was a child..her kitchen was glorious…like this one.

  • Avril Brand replied

    Last night I worked with a magnifying glass on the little painting in the other room. Added a chair and some other little items. Its a lovely way to do small things. I could not resist putting my doggy in there although historically, Westies would not have been white at that time. Artistic license… LOL

  • Darren Burdell

    Darren Burdell

    amazing work…fab!
    BTW. Thanks for your comments…D.

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thank you Darren… I am so busy with other things now… I hope I will be able to finish this painting soon.

  • Brian Towers

    Brian Towers

    Well done Avril. There are so many things which work so well in his painting, not least the tones, colours and depth.

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thank you Brian!!

  • Lizzy0538

    Lizzy0538

    Wow that you started from the faded photo and end up with this is amazing. I think it is great how now your mind is racing and keep putting things in the painting. What a super one it is going to be when you finally “think” it is done. I hope you update and share the finished project. Fantastic!
    Deb

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thank you so much, Deb! And, at last, it is done!

  • Denise Martin

    Denise Martin

    How ambitious to attempt a painting from so little detail, Avril, but you have done a wonderful job.

  • Avril Brand replied

    Thank you Denise. It took a long time but at last, it is finished!

  • Pat Yager

    Pat Yager

    This is already a lovely painting, Avril. I’m anxious to see it when you’ve finished it to your liking! I used to work in oils but have been painting in watercolor for the past while. My grandfather lived in Belfast as a little boy, and I finally got to visit only southern Ireland about ten years ago. It is such a lovely place! You are very fortunate to be able to live there now! – Pat

  • Pat Yager

    Pat Yager

    Oh, Avril, I see just now from your replies to other comments that indeed you have finished it. I’m so glad, for I thought it was lovely as you had it! – Pat

  • cdcantrell

    cdcantrell

    Avirl ,very beautiful work.

  • sonjas

    sonjas

    I love every bit of it. Excellent work.

  • Clare Colins

    Clare Colins

    congratulations on being featured….much deserved :))

  • Taschja Hattingh

    Taschja Hattingh

  • Viv King

    Viv King

    What wonderful attention to detail- it is a lovely work. Well done!

  • TREVOR IRWIN

    TREVOR IRWIN

    Avril, this is my personal all time Favourite of your art. Wonderful Colour and detail. Lifelike and timeless. This is a Glorious work and I pray God will inspire you and bless you and family. Thank you for sharing Ireland with me. I sure miss home.
    I am off on Mission to India in June, Please Pray for me and the extreme poor. ,
    http://www.philadelphia33.org/

  • Shoaib .

    Shoaib .

    masterful work !

  • ragman

    ragman

    Excellent work Avril, your attention to detail is noted

  • ragman

    ragman

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