Procrastinating!

Remember this? I didn't want to do what I should have been doing, so I got this out. Wasn't happy with the red and yellow, and the jug didn't sit on the table!

Not Mine! 16" x 20"  Oil

So I remedied that and I'm happy. Sorry, Pam, but I love this!

Self Scrutiny Too  12" x 14"  Oil

Miserable again! Well you'd think so........:)

I had a lovely afternoon slapping the paint about...in my usual reserved manner........and I like how I look ten years younger.

The Shire Seen

Today I went to Lincoln, specifically to see the

 'The Shire Seen', a joint exhibition by Greg Kapka and Fraser Scarfe, held in The Chapter House at Lincoln Cathedral. 

I loved Lincoln, the magnificent architecture, the cobbled streets, the nooks and crannies, though not the traffic and the oh, so slow traffic lights!

  

Then, the exhibition, which, as you can see, is in the glorious Chapter House! What a venue!

But I have to say the paintings made their presence felt even amidst such grandeur. How could two such different artists come together and make it work? But Frasers' flamboyant energy was complimented perfectly by Gregs' meticulous calm.

I have only recently come across Fraser, and found him to be like a breath of fresh air, blowing away some cobwebs and getting me thinking along new lines.

I followed Gregs' blog for a couple of years, blown away by his work, admiring his determination, and then he disappeared! Now you can imagine how thrilling to see these two exhibiting together! Fantastic!

We had a lovely chat...Fraser is off to London to study but Greg has no immediate plans. I just hope he doesn't disappear again!

The exhibition runs for two more days...go get there, people!

Self Scrutiny 12" x 16" Oil

Happy enough with the likeness..........but, oh how I wish I would put some PAINT on the brush!

WA - Summer Holiday

This is where I was at the end of play on Wednesday afternoon.

I carried on today and reached this point where the quetion is ' the sea or not the sea?'

What do you think?

Seb Coe 12" x 14" Charcoal...Tiddled

I had to tiddle this up a bit as I felt it was wishy-washy....happy now.

WA - Olympics

Seb Coe  12" x 14"  Charcoal

Fifteen 12" x 14" Oil

Life Drawing

Went to Sheringham.....fabulous North Norfolk coastal town......for a day of life drawing and tuition with Peter Kavanagh.........brilliant, enthusiastic teacher and, as I discovered today, a fabulous model.

Please go to my other blog, here, to see the rest.

Fifteen 12 " x 14" Oil WIP

Getting in the basic structure and I'm very pleased with this.

Because I did 'Thirteen' in colour, I made a start, but only had about 20 minutes. I prefer the black + white but, hey, it's not finished yet! Maybe I can bring her back.

WA - Americana

I remembered my camera! So here is the groups' efforts.

Jacqui

Jacqui

Christine

June

Veronica

Judith

and me.



backlit 12" x 14" Oil

Adam 12" x 14" Oil

Steve 12" x 14" Oil

Steve, friend, painter of glorious landscapes, and owner of the Walkern Gallery in Hertfordshire.

Beth 16" x 16" Oil

I like this head so much I did it again!

Penny 16" x 16" Oil

Morning 12" x 14" Oil

Just noticed the ear......slap bang dead centre! No, I didn't do it on purpose!

On The Easel (detail)

Started this today, rederenced from a photograph taken at a Hertford Art Society life drawing session. She looks really lovely if you squint!

Andrew 14" x 18" Oil

Progress?

The hands are getting there, I think.

Roy WIP (detail)

Andrew 14" x 18" Oil

I re-visited a favourite photo of my youngest son, taken when he was about three, I think.

I cannot remember what he has in his hands, but I love the look of delight on his face.

needs some tiddling, especially the hands.

A reminder of my first attempt, done in pastel and smaller, and by the date on there, 22 years ago!

It was one of my first ever paintings.

WA - Fair / Circus

This is a terrible photograph of a painting by Trevor Chamberlain called 'A Corner of the Whitsun Fair, Hertford', dated 1989. I fell  in love with it then, and if I had had the funds, I would have bought it!

I couldn't find the painting online, so took this from his book 'Oils - Trevor Chamberlain' in the Ron Ranson Series Painting School.

The brief at the WA was fair / circus, and not having my own photo of such a subject, took the opportunity to copy.....well.....sort of!  Needs a lot of attention to bring it up to scratch.

Stella 10" x 12" Oil

Not sure Stella deserves this, I hope she forgives me, but practise is practise and all valuable.

WA - Hands/Feet

I was totally taken aback by how many people drew their own hands for this, something which didn't even occur to me!

Margo 10" x 12" Oil

Jan 12" x 14" Oil

I have decided that once a week I would delve into my stack of 199 (!) paintings and either finish one or paint over it. Remember this? My sister Janice, which I thought would be a good start, as I shall visit my parents next week.

After a couple of hours it still isn't Jan....almost, but not quite, her mouth and eyes.... maybe I should have started again!

Check 12" x 16" Oil

Better....looks more like Roy.....but I can see a few places need tiddling. I forgot my palette knives yesterday, and the black ground was still wet, so this was mostly done with fingers. Very enjoyable!

WA - White on Black

'Check'  in progress

It will be my husband, Roy, when it's done, who says to use artistic license and give him more hai and less chins!

I'm In!

My studio! I'm in! It is brilliant! It still needs racks and shelves and a wash basin, water and electricity, maybe, but hey, I can paint in it! I feel so humble, so much work and effort, I feel unworthy, why would Roy do so much for me? I can never thank him enough, I am so thrilled!

It didn't take long to get the paint out! I have been tiddling these today and they are getting there, I think.

Thirteen 10" x 12" Oil

Grandpa's Hat 10" x 12" Oil