On the 29th November 2026 you will find me at the Goode Christmas Market at the Pioneer Stadium.Although I no longer attend the New Brighton Market, I am still drawing portraits and will be bringing some familiar as well as new drawings/paintings to the show.If you are interested in gifting a portrait, simply email your reference photo to me at [email protected] along with your instructions.Remember, the easiest way to create a personalised gift for an animal lover is with a pet portrait. Whether it's a cat, a dog, a horse, or something completely different we can create a truly unique and meaningful gift for you

All paintings are originals and come framed unless otherwise requested

Image Size: 15.54cm x 15.54cm
Square (6" x 6")
$50.00Image Size: 20.32cm x 20.32cm
square (8" x 8"
$55.00Image Size: 18cm (H) X 13cm (W)
(7.09 x 5.12 inches)
$60.00
Paintings containing more than one portrait: $70Image size: 20cm (H) x 15cm (W)
(7.90 x 5.90 inches)
$80.00
Paintings containing more than one portrait:$90Image Size: 25cm (H) x 20cm (W)
(9.90 x 7.90 inches)
$80.00
Paintings containing more than one portrait: $90.00Image Size: A4 (29.5cm (H) x 21.5cm (W)
(11.60 x 8.50 inches)
$150.00
Paintings containing more than one portrait: $160.00Smaller and larger paintings are available,
poster size being the largest.
All paintings are originals and are framed unless otherwise requested whereby you will receive instructions on framing.I do offer 'Layby'.

How to use the Grid Method to enlarge or Transfer an image.

The grid method is an easy way to reproduce or enlarge an image that you want to paint or draw.
It can be a time consuming process, depending on the painting, size and detail. However, it does have the added benefit of helping to improve your drawing and observational skills.I have been using this method for years, making grids of various sizes depending on how large I want my finished work to be.You can draw the grid over your reference photo but my preference is to create my grid on clear acetate with a permanent marker and attach it to the reference photo.For grid lines on Pastelmat: use a pastel pencil in a light grey or a colour that almost matches the background. Hold the pastel pencil loosely making your grid lines as faint as possible. Heavy lines grip the Pastelmat tooth and become nearly impossible to erase completely.Alternative marking: Instead of drawing full grid lines on pastelmat, use your pastel pencil to make tiny, faint dots at the intersecting corners of the grid squares. These small dots are easily covered later by your pastel layers.Erasing tips: If you need to remove stray marks on Pastelmat, avoid traditional rubber erasers as they will grind the pigment into the tooth. Use a kneadable eraser instead.The important thing to rememberwhen drawing grids is that they must have a 1:1 ratio. This is very important – otherwise your drawing will be distorted!

For example, say you have a reference photo that is 5" x 7" (I’m using inches in this example), and you want to make a 5" x 7" painting from this photo. Drawing the grid will be pretty straightforward. But if you want to make a larger painting, that is 10" x 14" or 15" x 21" or 20" x 28".

Why those sizes and not other sizes?Because those sizes are the same ratio as the 5" x 7" reference photo. In other words: The size of your artwork must always be equally proportionate to the size of the reference photo.

You now have a grid on your work surface that perfectly matches the grid of your reference photo.Because your painting will be the exact size as the reference photo, the squares will also be 1 square inch. If this painting was going to be 10" x 14", then the squares would each need to be 2 square inches and so on to ensure the enlargement exactly matches the same proportions as the original.If you're not sure whether you've done the math correctly, just count the number of squares in each row and in each column, and ask yourself:• Are there an equal number of rows and columns on the pastelmat as there are on the reference photo?• Are the squares perfect squares, just like the squares on the reference photo? If you can answer yes to both of those questions, the grid is correct.So now your task is to transfer what you see in the reference photo, block by block, onto your Pastelmat (canvas or paper). When I use the grid method, I always work from left to right, across and down to avoid smudging my work.As you are transferring the image, pay attention to each individual block. Try to copy exactly what you see in each block in the reference photo to the corresponding block on the pastelmat or canvas.Continue on in this manner, until all the squares are done and the image is completely transferred.By focusing on one square at a time, you end up drawing what you actually see, and not what you think you see or even what you think you ought to see. Once finished, you now have a pretty accurate rendition of your reference photo, ready for your pastels, (or acrylics)When you are done transferring the image, gently erase the grid lines (if you’ve used any).Congratulations, time to paint!In summary...
The grid method has been used by artists for centuries as a tool to creating correct proportions. Renaissance artists, even the great Leonardo da Vinci, used the grid method! The grid method dates back to the ancient Egyptians. It is clearly a useful method for artists and aspiring artists alike.

You can view examples of my work below.

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For Sale

'For Sale' paintings are not commissioned paintings.

Painted from a reference photo on Clairefontaine's Off-White Pastelmat using pastel pencils.
The size is 19cm wide x 24cm high and is framed.Price is $150.00NZD
Incl. postage 'n packing

This little Dachshund is painted on brown Clairefontaine's Pastelmat using pastel pencils.
It measures 15cm x 15cm and has been framed in a 20cm x 20cm frame.Priced at: $60.00 Incl. postage/packing