Exhibiting in the Longitude Art Gallery

You are perhaps wondering if I am ever going to show you the finished painting that I abandoned when I wasn't well in the New Year.
Well, I once I began to feel better and the sun shone in my working area I finished it - and this is it. 

I rarely leave a painting half way through for more than a day or so but this one was so appealing as it sat on my easel, I just couldn't wait to finish it.

This is one of a group of paintings which are now exhibited in 

Longitude Art Gallery
Lee Carter House
off Castlegate
Clitheroe 
BB7 1AZ

This is a lovely Gallery, a really unusual space, full of inspirational pieces. I loved the sculptures that are on display, its really worth a visit if you are in that area.

Using Collage ideas

The February issue of Leisure Painter magazine arrived this morning and in it is my article on using collage. There is a really nice simple little idea for you to try if you haven't used collage before, as well as some nice little still life ideas, well... cute tea cups. January can seem gloomy at times so having something bright and cheerful to paint, that doesn't need sunlight is so important to keep up our creativity levels.
I've also included an example of a more complex painting which I recently did wet into wet. I enjoyed doing this so much that I am planning to do more.

We had to sit on a railway station in France for a couple of hours this summer (I won't go into that one) and I began watching the people come and go, the shapes became quite fascinating, especially the contrasts of the sunlight through the station glass roof and the movement of colours. I made a note of a few ideas, did a couple of rough sketches and peacefully whiled away some delay time, which turned out to be the start of the holiday I want to forget. At least SOMETHING came out of it!

A speechless new year!

Happy New Year to all of you who read my blog from time to time. We had a lovely Christmas with family as I hope you did too.

As you know I have been off painting outdoors quite a bit over the last couple of weeks and I think the damp air has got to me... last night I had a bit of a cough and a sore throat and this morning.... no voice. Not a peep!  Maggie May just can't understand why I am not chatting to her, calling her and giving her treats. Terry on the other hand is enjoying the quiet!  He seems to ask me a lot of questions!

Maggie May on Christmas Day

I am half way through a painting I began outside, I decided to add some snow, but today I just haven't the energy to stand at my easel and finish it, so I think today will be a 'planning day' or perhaps a napping day.

This is how far I have got with it. Its looking good so its something to look forward to doing soon. I'll show you how it turns out when its finished. 

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WINTER AT THE ALLOTMENTS

I love this time of year, especially when we get lovely bright, crisp mornings, and since getting our little schnauzer, Maggie May I have found some lovely new painting locations, I'm now just waiting for some snow!
I find I return to my favourite subject in all weathers, the allotments, although I have recently found another two in the village so there will be more subjects to inspire coming up soon!

I decided to share with you this final painting of 2014.

I like to begin with a coloured canvas, sometimes its multi coloured, perhaps swirls and blocks of colour using up paint already on my palette, then I get down to blocking in what is actually there using a dark colour. The advantage of this, is that I can block in the colours I actually see, rather than just an overall colour.

In this case however, as I was taking my canvas outdoors, I pre-painted it all over in an ochre colour. You can usually spot these pre-prepared canvases as the ground is always the same colour all over rather than multi coloured. 

Once I have established the overall shapes and values I begin to add blocks of bolder colour. I usually only use about 6 - 8 colours in any given painting, sometimes fewer.

It is my intention to paint the 'feel' of the subject and gradually 'bring it into focus' as I go along. 
I can never understand how other artists paint a tiny detailed area leaving the rest of the canvas untouched, then slowly extend the detailed area until the entire canvas is filled. 

I need to see the 'whole' so that I can tell if my composition is going to work, the total balance and finally the colours. I tend to work from the back to the front as I build up the details, so for example, once I am satisfied with the background I then add more tree branches and twigs. Then I find the need to plunge in with the bright colours, I just block them in. I love it when they 'zing' against the background, the blue water pots almost pop out of the canvas! and the little blue cart is in the perfect spot.

As it happens, this little cart was not here at all, it was more to the right, out of view, but in order to make the composition better, I moved it into the picture. That's the joy of painting, being able to change things!

Of course, you can't just move something and paint it exactly as you see it unless it is fairly close to where you want it, otherwise the lighting is different. If I had to turn around to see it, the lighting would be totally wrong, but just mentally moving something a few metres is what I like to think of as... 'tweaking'

I suppose that is the difference between painting exactly what you see and using artistic licence, at the end of the day, who cares? The only person that knows is me... and now of course, you!

I am looking forward to painting more in 2015.

If you have enjoyed reading  my blog, do let me know. Tell me what you like to read about and I shall try and do a a little more next year. Meanwhile, I wish you the very best for 2015... happy painting!

Merry Christmas

Today is the final day before I engulf myself in Christmas. I have been painting each day this month to complete a series of paintings for Galleries and today the final group will arrived all beautifully framed and ready to hang. Its so exciting to see a painting framed, and I have to say, it is with a little pang of sadness coupled with excitement that I wrap them up to hang on someone else's wall. They will all go to loving homes and give pleasure to others and surely, that's what painting is all about.
I get so much enjoyment from painting so its perfect that someone else gets enjoyment from living with them. 

Many of you are probably well organised for Christmas, all our gifts are wrapped and under the tree but the fridge is looking pretty bare and as the family all arrive tomorrow I had better get my skates on! I did however make the cranberry sauce yesterday afternoon and collected our turkey from the farmers market. There is not a mince pie in sight though!

So to all of you who enjoy painting and take the time to read my very infrequent blog, have a very Happy Christmas and a healthy, happy 2015 :)

Paintings sold

My new collection of winter paintings are now at the gallery in Burford, I dropped them off less than two weeks ago and was thrilled to get a call on Monday to tell me that a third had sold on the first week-end, and to please bring in some more!
Goodness that was quick, they can't have been on the wall long.
I have five more ready to take this week-end.
These are a couple of the ones just sold.

This is a lovely walk I do in all weathers, the trees are so varied and the snow clings to the branches. We were lucky with a big snow fall, so I painted this one.

This is the view from the other direction looking towards the village.

I know I shouldn't really wish for snow, but I do hope we get some this winter, I really missed it last winter!

A busy time - new workshops planned

My feet have not touched the ground this summer and life has sped by at an alarming pace!
Ive done lots of paintings and taught in some lovely workshops, a particularly nice one was figures using water soluble media. I do so enjoy painting figures and have introduced collage to some of my work lately (which will appear in an article I am almost finished writing for LP).
Here is an example of what I have been up to, flooding in washes and glazing colour over text and line - great fun. This painting came about after a trip to France where I spent far too much time sitting on station platforms people watching. Something did come out of it though, lots of people studies to use! Hoorah! (Always look on the bright side)

With my last workshop here in the Cotswolds being this week I have been planning the Spring subjects for 2015. I know many of you like to get organised with your dates so I have been super efficient and have just added four dates to my website taking us up to June. As you know, I don't offer many workshops so I try and make them as varied as possible. The water soluble media workshops were very popular this year and I think quite a few people were surprised at what can be achieved, drawing skills was also something we spoke about with many people wanting a fun day learning how to draw, so I have a 'seeing' day planned for the Spring which will be lots of fun.
If you didn't manage to get to the Cotswolds to join me this year, perhaps you will in 2015.