Work in Progress

Detail of one work in progress currently on an easel, as yet untitled, 24" x 36"  oil

King's Lynn

 Shimmer  16" x 16"  Oil

 Flapper  16" x 16"  Oil

 Goodbye Girl  16" x 20"  Oil

Fragile  16" x 16"  Oil

Went back to my old stomping ground, King's Lynn, to drop of these paintings to be considered for hanging in West Norfolk Artists Association Summer Exhibition, at St Nicholas Church. Fingers crossed for success, as it is one of those awful juried shows. I know, I know, they have to make a good show!

Next to lunch in Sunny Hunny, delicious mackerel salad, then to Heacham for a  choc chip double cornet for pud! Did Roy's diabetes a power of good.............not!

Next to say hello to the lovely ladies at the West Winch Art Club and have a cup of coffee and a good old natter. By golly I enjoyed that as I miss them a lot.

Then home...........yes, Oulton Broad is beginning to feel a lot like home! 

Life Drawing

Life drawing at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay, and today we got to use the auditorium, instead of  the small gallery upstairs. Much better to have room to manouvre. 

 We started with 10 minute poses...........and charcoal

 Then 20 minute poses..........more charcoal

 And, after lunch we had two 50 minute poses. Oil paint this time.

I had the BEST day. The model, Beth was fabulous, and I finally got to meet her, and draw her from life. I have  painted her portrait from a photograph, but nothing can beat life. Beth is a superb model, if you need one, she's your girl!

Paint

No painting today. I have been mixing up new paint, red, yellow, blue and white, with my wonderful newly acquired muller. It is true that the proper tools make a job easier. The small paperweight that I have been using really isn't up to the job! Can anyone tell me how to stop adding too much oil.....and then too much pigment.....and then too much oil..........and then too much pigment..................and then too much oil...................duh? Sorry, but, yes it was boring!

A Doodle + A New Start

 Just Watching   16" x 16"  Oil

Untitled Start  24" x 36"   Oil

Fragile 16" x 16" Oil

Tiddling

 Flapper  16" x 16"  Oil

 Shimmer  16" x 16"  Oil

Goodbye Girl  16" x 20"  Oil

( sorry about reflections and glare, forgot to photo before framing!)

I have been finishing off and framing ready for West Norfolk Artists Association Summer Exhibition in a couple of weeks. One more painting to finish. 

This is a part of a drawing I did as a getting to know you sketch prior to painting, but I started with the head too big and consequently squashed her a bit, so instead of tall and elegant I got her totally out of proportion. I'll how you if I get it right tomorrow! 

Work in Progress

A slap it on and see day today, and as usual, seeing it small like this tells immediately what needs to be done tomorrow.

Work in Progress

Not sure where this is going....................but, hey, isn't that the fun of it?

Life Drawing at Bungay

I enjoyed a life drawing session today, courtesy of Black Dog Arts at The Fisher Theatre in Bungay, with lovely model, Tina. Thank you Malcolm  for organising us again.

These poses were mostly short, 15 - 20 minutes, except for the oil, which was about an hour and a half.

Gracie 10" x 12" Oil

SAC - Southwold Art Circle - Portrait Group

Thank you, brilliant model, Gracie Wright, who is SAC member Steve's neighbour. How kind to agree to it for us. Glorious hair, pretty face AND able to sit still, nothing else could make a couple of hours more delightful.

Washout!

Went down to the Quay today, excited and expectant. Unfortunately, despite weather forecasts telling otherwise, the heavens opened as I had barely begun.

I took some photos to paint in my lovely dry studio!

WIP

Handmade  16" x 16"  Oil 

Circles? Bubbles? Where is this going, I wonder?

A Little Bit More

 Homemade    16" x 16"  Oil

Added more blue and more Yellow. So far so good.

Meeting of The Honourable Members of the West Winch Art Club  24" x 36"  Oil

Same again, more blue and more yellow. Not liking this yet.

Southwold Art Circle

I am finally finding my way in my new environment and have joined Southwold Art Circle, who have a life drawing and a portrait group, talks and demos, an annual exhibition, critique sessions and Saturday workshops. It's beginning to sound a lot like HAS!  WooHoo!

I went along to the portrait group today, and was given a very warm welcome, which goes along way to making a girl feel comfortable.

Rupert  10" x 12"  Oil

And the best of all was the model, Rupert Hannen, resplendent in a uniform of which I knew nothing, so I asked him.

Chief Officer (Systems Engineering)

43 years with the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries - the support ships of the Royal Navy

The RFA carry the RN's fuel oil, weapons, helicopters, food (both fresh and frozen) and a multitude of other commodities to provide disaster relief around the world. The RFA is manned by Merchant Navy personnel employed by The Secretary of State for Defence (Royal Navy). We enjoy the same privileges as Royal Naval personnel plus we receive a civil service pay rate and pension and very long holidays! For every month we work, we receive 17.25 days holiday. Mind you, we do work, at a minimum, 8 hours a day 7 days a week.

I have served during the crises in Northern Ireland, Borneo, the Falkland Islands, The Balkans and the Gulf War along with with a few voyages around the world supporting foreign navies and providing diplomatic presence as required by the foreign office.

I thank you Rupert for sitting very still, and for your service to your country for all of us.

Homemade 16" x 16" Oil More + Another start

 Homemade   16" x 16"  Oil

I am painting this using three colours, transparent red oxide, ultramarine blue and raw sienna, scumbling one colour over another until I achieve the desired effect, First was the initial drawing and block-in with red oxide, Today was ultramarine. A slow and steady build up of very thin colour is my aim. 

Meeting of the Honourable Members of the West Winch Art Club  36" x 24"  Oil

Initial drawing, also in transparent red oxide.......well, while it was on the palette!

Homemade 16" x 16" Oil the start

I met Alex at Castle Acre and obviously loved the hat, which I was proudly informed was homemade! So with permission, I took photographs to work from.

Castle Acre

Good day at Castle Acre with the wonderful George again. Go here for single pose photos.

Portrait Oil and Portrait Charcoal

Flapper 16" x 16"  Oil

I am not sure this is finished, the pearls need more work, but I shall turn her to the wall for a short while and look again with fresh eyes.

Black  24" x 24"  Charcoal

Started this new piece and shall fiddle and scratch and rub and scrape endlessly until I like it.