Sizing Her Up 10" x 12" Oil

Or, if you prefer, 'At The Studio*2'. My task today was to paint something as fast as possible, instead of 'fiddling' for hours. No time to stop and think about it. This took an hour and a half, and I am quite pleased that I 'got him' with no trouble.

Rushden Hall 10" x 12" Acrylic

This is Rushden Hall, Northamptonshire, where my cousin Simon will be getting married on Friday. The Hall is about 400 years old and is the setting for many a family gathering, and many a playtime in the park. They have added to it apparently, but this is the Rushden Hall of my memories, and probably Simons' too. This is my gift to them.

I can see that I shall probably 'fiddle' with it tomorrow, should have waited til tomorrow to do it, as 'fiddling' never improved anything!

At The Beach *2 11" x 12" Oil

At the Studio 8" x 12" Oil

At The Beach 9" x 14" Oil

Old Guy 10" x 8" Oil

This was to be a black an white image, which I have never attempted in paint before. I always reach for the charcoal if I am thinking B+W. I hit a problem when I realised I don't have black paint, I always mix my own, so this is a study in Burnt Sienna, French Ultramarine and White!

Girl 12" x 12" Oil

This is actually a closer view of the girl with the bicycle, from yesterday.

I enjoyed painting this. However well a painting is progressing, there is always a mad rush to get it posted before Roy gets home. I could have carried on with this one, but I am happy.

At Cambridge Station *3 11" x 10" Oil

What an adventure to jump on a train with your bike, anywhere you fancied, and spend the day exploring somewhere new! I bet this girl was on her way home from work though!

It has been pointed out to me that I should get permission from people to paint them. I take lots of random shots and then if any little vignette captures my attention, such as this one, I paint it. Difficult to ask permission. It is not my intention to embarrass or offend, so if any one of my paintings does so, then please let me know and I will stop publishing it.

At Cambridge Station *2 9 1/2" x 14 1/2" Oil

I wonder if the rail officials' stance is confrontational or defensive? Together with the girls' wringing hands, I think there is no doubt this is a complaint, but I get the feeling it is a rare thing, just because the girl looks so surprised.

Of course, you may read the situation completely differently.

At Cambridge Station *1 9 1/2" x 14 1/2" Oil

I never saw if the person they were waiting for made it. I hope so, they sure looked anxious.
I tried a different approach with this one, instead of drawing an outline in brown or black, I blocked in shapes of colour, starting with orange! Much less intimidating. With the previous post, once I had 'got him' in the drawing I just couldn't continue with colour because I didn't want to lose him again.

Ken 10" x 12" Oil

Last, but definitely not least, is Ken, just as enthusiastic and passionate about his art, Pin Art, I think he called it. I confess I had neither seen nor heard of anything like it, but it seems to be a popular thing, with competitions and shows, etc.

Amanda 10" x 12" Oil

Another winner of The One Show Summer Exhibition. Amanda has a passion for all organic forms, and her ceramic 'Mushroom" is a glorious celebration of that. She did give me the url to her website, and although it may not be up and running yet I have put the link here.