BLOG/DIARY
- Wednesday 28th February 2018
- The 'Beast from the East' is here, and while the rest of my family pray for a day off school/work, there aren't enough hours in the day for me to do all the paintings that are half-finished, or exist in my head, and I'm happy to be in my art-shed despite the cold. Ten years of being a gardener prepared me for the extremities and 3 pairs of trousers, a bunch of jumpers, hat, scarf and electric heater will do for me (and the spiders). Picture shows a view (inc daughter pelting shed with snowballs) from my window this afternoon
- I am currently doing a double portrait painting, which is taking me longer than anticipated. My intention to 'loosen-up' (arguably the only advice I was ever given at art college) has become 'tightened' in my quest for likeness. I also like to live with a finished portrait for a while and put it before an objective eye, in case I have made some kind of error that I am blind to, being too close to it.
- On the subject of portraits, 'Wonder Woman' has been selected for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Open Exhibition, which of course I am really pleased about - that being the main aim of this winter's work.
'The Same, But Different', charcoal, 48x74cm, 2018
Wednesday 21st February 2018
I recently revisited an image which dates back to my days behind the bar in the King's Head, St Neots in the 90s. I was going through some old stuff and came across the original negatives for the image which became 'That Was What There Was' (see 'DRAWINGS/PAINTINGS') - a large drawing that sold quickly and got a fair bit of interest from some of my peers, who remember that time, and some, who remember the actual person, Dave.
I wanted to try something new with it, so I got a new print made, then jigged things around in Photoshop and was really excited about a poster format. The charcoal drawing, which I called 'The Same, But Different', isn't quite what I was after, so I may try again, a lot bigger, with paint, as for me the moment is very real, and these days I don't get to spend all day down the pub waiting for something, anything, to happen.
I recently revisited an image which dates back to my days behind the bar in the King's Head, St Neots in the 90s. I was going through some old stuff and came across the original negatives for the image which became 'That Was What There Was' (see 'DRAWINGS/PAINTINGS') - a large drawing that sold quickly and got a fair bit of interest from some of my peers, who remember that time, and some, who remember the actual person, Dave.
I wanted to try something new with it, so I got a new print made, then jigged things around in Photoshop and was really excited about a poster format. The charcoal drawing, which I called 'The Same, But Different', isn't quite what I was after, so I may try again, a lot bigger, with paint, as for me the moment is very real, and these days I don't get to spend all day down the pub waiting for something, anything, to happen.
'Wonder Woman', oil on board, 2018
Monday 19th February 2018
Until this year I’d never tried to exhibit in London before, but in February I had a portrait ‘pre-selected’ for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries - I spent most of this winter working on portraits with this exhibition in mind. Not all of them have been any good, but I guess I wouldn’t have got to one I did like without doing the other ones first. In ‘Wonder Woman’ (pictured) I decided to steer clear of the light vs shade thing I’ve been working on in the recent past, in order to show the character of the model more clearly - if it was a dinner on 'Master Chef' I would have said ‘I wanted to let the ingredients speak for themselves’!
‘Preselected’ means that the painting has to go to the gallery and be shown to a panel for selection to the final show. I have no idea how many pictures go through this stage, so don’t know my chances – fingers crossed. Instead of taking the very large painting myself I decided to use Picture Post, and had to meet with one of the business owners Tom at the Cambridge Services, which is pretty much to Cambridge what Luton Airport is to London. The handover took place at 8pm, in the dark, and rainy, and felt very cloak and dagger being new to the game. The painting then heads back in a van to storage in Doncaster before going to London in a week or so with a bunch of other paintings gathered along the way, safely in the hands of a company who do this thing for a living. I hope.
Until this year I’d never tried to exhibit in London before, but in February I had a portrait ‘pre-selected’ for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries - I spent most of this winter working on portraits with this exhibition in mind. Not all of them have been any good, but I guess I wouldn’t have got to one I did like without doing the other ones first. In ‘Wonder Woman’ (pictured) I decided to steer clear of the light vs shade thing I’ve been working on in the recent past, in order to show the character of the model more clearly - if it was a dinner on 'Master Chef' I would have said ‘I wanted to let the ingredients speak for themselves’!
‘Preselected’ means that the painting has to go to the gallery and be shown to a panel for selection to the final show. I have no idea how many pictures go through this stage, so don’t know my chances – fingers crossed. Instead of taking the very large painting myself I decided to use Picture Post, and had to meet with one of the business owners Tom at the Cambridge Services, which is pretty much to Cambridge what Luton Airport is to London. The handover took place at 8pm, in the dark, and rainy, and felt very cloak and dagger being new to the game. The painting then heads back in a van to storage in Doncaster before going to London in a week or so with a bunch of other paintings gathered along the way, safely in the hands of a company who do this thing for a living. I hope.
Grantchester - It snowed.
Tuesday 12th December 2017
On Sunday I took my first CDS workshop in ‘Portraits in Charcoal from Photographs’ in Grantchester. It was in the balance as this was the morning that the snow fell in buckets, but most people made it and really it added to the occasion. Though i have never been taught any of this stuff (they didn't teach 'technique' at art college!) over the past few years I have picked up quite a few things I think worth passing on for anyone who enjoys working in charcoal. What I like is that charcoal is so basic but is really adaptable with lots and lots of ways of adding to your tool kit and mark-making methods. I've got a variety of items that I've adapted to the job, but none so far that can beat the cat's toothbrush that someone brought in for creating texture. Always ready to learn!
I thought it was very kind of me to get my wife to make an apple cake for the occasion, which went down really well, and as the snow continued nearly all day outside all we needed was Robson Green and the naughty handsome vicar from ITV's 'Grantchester' to pop in on a break from their Christmas Special for a slice or a mince pie. Sadly they couldn't make it - their loss!
