Friday 28 May 2010

Shoreline 24" x 18" Oil

I have been sorting out which paintings to submit for two local exhibitions because the forms needed to be posted today. This one,which you may or may not remember, needed brightening up, which is what I did. I am happy with it now.
Best wishes for a very happy weekend, everyone, and happy painting!

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Bread + Water 12" x 8" Oil

The brief for the afternoon at the WA was 'Bare Necessities'. Well, I've been humming the tune all week! I couldn't think of a better idea than bread and water, so took a photo of this set up. Among the ideas were a nude, a pair of boots, a row of coloured pencils, a matchbox and a cute child with a bare bottom. Maybe I could photograph the other work done in the group and show them here in future. An amazingly diverse group, and endlessly fascinating how folks minds work! The star of the show, though, was the delicious home made cake, presented by Pat, of which I had two slices. What diet??

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Beginings

Stretch 20" x 30" Oil

Tumble 20" x 30" Oil

I have had a splendid day! I think I have mentioned it before, but I love these trampoline images, especially the initial drawing/blocking in stage. Slapping on the paint and moving it around to get what I am after is something I find particularly exhilarating, and even more so after the intense 'fiddling' of trying to get Janice right.
Welcome to all my new followers.....enjoy! Happy painting everyone!

Janice

I shall let this be for a couple of days. I can't see for looking!

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Janice in progress

This is my sister, Janice. I have painted her before but yesterday I wanted to do a perfect lovely pencil drawing. I had a wonderful afternoon, taking my time and thinking it was going very well.


This morning I notice that everything was 'out' because her face was too long, and several times I sat, eraser poised...but I couldn't do it. It certainly brought home to me how important it is to keep drawing, hand-eye co-ordination sure suffers if you don't.


Not to be beaten I took her to the WA this afternoon and, so far, it's better. I find oil paint is far more forgiving than graphite, but because I forget to erase before correcting and I hate that shiny thing that happens! Her features are better proportioned anyway, and her face not too long, but there is some work still to do. I vow to get back to the pencil....one day.

Next week at the WA the brief is ' Bare Necessities', which no one will own up to suggesting, and which caused a lively discussion. Judith said she expected me to do one of my nudes and perhaps she could draw a statue, and everyone else confessed to being stumped for ideas. Of course 'Bare Necessities' can be interpreted in many ways, bread and water, anything you couldn't live without (like painting), etc, and Judith thanked me for broadening her thinking, and breathed a sigh of relief that she didn't HAVE to do a nude! It should be interesting to see what they all come up with.


Friday 14 May 2010

Idea 2....(Carolanns')

This wasn't as easy as I thought it would be and I had to stop before I wanted to. But you get the gist? I had thought that I would do two figures but Carolann suggested 'lots more children and lots more balloons'. Three is getting there.
My heart wasn't in it today as my niece has posted 60 photos on Facebook of herself and her sister on the trampoline! Fantastic photos, and with her permission, I can't wait to paint them. Luckily, they tie up nicely with my ideas for the hospital paintings. Life is GOOD.
Have a brill weekend.

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Friends

MARY

The task today, at the WA, was to draw each other, a 20 minute sitting each. Penny asked me to give a few pointers, as I do portraits, but the the others generally don't. I decided to demonstrate, but did my usual thing of concentrating on the job in hand and forgetting to talk!
I chose a carbon pencil because it looked like mostly everyone else had pencils. I prefer charcoal, though, as I find it easier to work and far quicker to get a good result.

IRIS


JUDITH




PAT

A jolly enjoyable afternoon, as agreed by all, even those who found the subject difficult, and we vowed to do it again. I would like to meet outside one week and do a landscape. Now, THAT would be a challenge for me!


Tuesday 11 May 2010

Idea!

I have been thinking about the HUGE painting for the hospital and this sketch was my first idea. I felt that even coloured in it would not be happy enough! Ilike the idea of balloons and a figure, so......



This is the very rough sketch of of the next idea. I wanted to keep it simple, but attention grabbing! On the balloons, which isn't very clear, will be depictions of ice cream, jelly babies, cats + dogs, dolls, ballet shoes, things that create happy memories. If I go with a boy it would be scoring a goal, boating, trains, skateboards, etc. Maybe both? I would very much appreciate feedback. Do you think it will translate to huge? Would cartoon depictions on the balloons be better than realistic? So much to think about and I really want it to be GOOD!
Happy painting!

Thursday 6 May 2010

Re-visits

UNSURE 16" x 20" Oil
No theme at the WA yesterday but painting for the exhibition we are having in September. I took 'Unsure' to liven it up a bit as I had felt it was tonally dull. I am happier. It was a weird afternoon, everyone was totally silent, totally engrossed in their work.... there is usually someone chatting, or asking for guidance. Then the kettle went on and it was all change...everyone talking nineteen to the dozen! That's better. No cake though!



AT CAMBRIDGE STATION 9" x 14" Oil

Remember this from last year? I had painted it on very smooth board and the paint had not adhered very well. I painted it over it, today, which reminded me of painting by numbers, but it certainly is better for it.
I did think I would tiddle up some of the paintings I have already started for the several exhibitions looming, but I am having second thoughts. I find it very difficult to go back. Sometimes I don't see what got me excited in the first place, and to rekindle past feelings is impossible. You can end up with a totally different painting, so you might as well start fresh anyway! So all the paintings have gone back in the shed and a naked ( should that be bare?) canvas on the easel.
Thanks for your visit, and I appreciate all comments, good, bad and indifferent!
Happy painting.