Kitchen Sink Drama

 Watercolour

My own kitchen sink drama, leaving for London in the morning, very much looking forward to the art fair, not looking forward to leaving big Dave on his 50th birthday!

The Window of Her Maiden Name

The Window of Her Maiden Name
Watercolour
38 x 38 cm

Painting this was quite emotional, its not my child's room but as the last of my five left home six years ago I knew the feelings that this room held so well, and they came flooding back. 
This is the room of a daughter, tidy and almost empty, she has gone off to university, flown the nest.  Eagerly embracing her new life away from her childhood home, leaving behind her a wake of bitter sweet sorrow.  The deep longing ache that every parent feels, standing in their child's room, watching from the window of her maiden name, wishing them all the best that the world can give but crying inside for the loss of that part of your own life that will never return.
Another paintings for the Watercolour and Works on Paper Fair at the Science Museaum 2nd to 5th February.

His Old Chair

His Old Chair
Watercolour
30.5 cm x 41.5 cm

This old chair, battered, worn and comfortable it has born witness to a life.  Brought by a mother for her son for his first study room at school it has been with him ever since.  The boy grew into a man, life threw at him what it throws at most of us, he became a father and life moves on.  The chair sits, like a quiet guardian of a private history.  A lovely thing.  A possession like this is always a lovely thing and I really enjoy painting such a treasure.
This will be at the Watercolour and Works on Paper Fair.

Going to the Fair

I get as excited about going to Art Fairs as I used to when I was a kid and the fair came to town.  They are hard work but brilliant fun, meeting lots of people, selling work by our artists (including mine) and exchanging my very muddy, paint splattered, every day clothes for something a little more refined.
This fair Watercolours & Works on Paper looks to be very interesting, just take a look at who is being exhibited there.

Si if you are in London around the vicinity of the Science Museum please come and say hello, stand B30 and now you are reading this and thinking about it go and "like" their page on facebook, its the friendly thing to do and they have just posted up one of my paintings!

Framed

I am really pleased with the frame that I had made for the memorial portrait of the good dog Shiver.  It feels very traditional and fitting, it goes well with the fact that he was a much loved hound and his picture is painted on 10,000 year old mammoth ivory.  Behind the painting is a small area of gold leaf which gives a certain warm glow to the painting as the light reflects through the tiny brushstrokes.  All in all it makes a very special thing which I know will be treasured for many years.

New Year Shenanigans

January 5th 2012
oil on canvas
40cm x 60cm

Last year I began my plein air river project on January 5th and soon after I started it I was commissioned to paint a plein air painting on January 5th 2012 as a 50th birthday present. 
It was to be of this view, which is the mouth of the Helford river and it was to be painted whatever the weather.

The river project ground to a halt in September, due to the need to paint for exhibitions, which is a good thing indeed  (I plan to fill in the missing days on the river over the next few years so that eventually I will end up with a whole years worth of paintings.) 

Anyway back to the story of the commission... yesterday dawned with very strong winds, a far greater problem for the plein air painter than rain or snow or hot sun.  I hatched a very cunning plan...I drove my van to the specified place, set up my easel inside and with the side door open painted from there.  It worked brilliantly, shelter from the wind and a great view...

so I got the painting completed in relative comfort...

until I tried to leave when my trusty van became well and truly stuck in the mud

much splattering later

I phoned a friend, in the form of Big Dave and my lovely son Joe who came to the rescue with Dangerous Dom's land rover.

so I got home, very muddy, the van is a mess and I am wondering if a land rover would make a better mobile studio.

The painting was delivered wet, as per instructions and was very well received.

and here is is a little study that I did a few days before to try out the view!

The new year has started well, I have lots of paintings all being framed and ready for exhibitions and I shall post them on here over the next few weeks. I hope you had a very happy new year and I wish you a fantastic 2012.

Happy Christmas

Merry Happy Jolly Ho Ho Ho

Have a Fantastic Christmas

and a Brilliant

New Year

10,000 year old Mammoth Tusk



Shiver
Watercolour on Mammoth Ivory
3.5cm x 4.5cm
1.5inches x 1.75 inches

Yesterdays miniature painting demonstration in the gallery was painted onto a little slither of 10,000 year old mammoth tusk.  I wanted to paint something special so it is a portrait of my sons dog, Shiver, a beautiful young lurcher, who died a month ago.  I will get this framed and I know he will keep it and treasure it.

Trebah Path

Trebah Path
360mm x 365mm
oil on board
SOLD

More from Trebah Gardens, trees like fireworks exploding leaves and colours.  Such a lovely garden to visit.

Two Quinces

Two Quinces
55mm x 110mm
oil on board
SOLD

The Pie Miniature

Poppy, Three Days Old
Watercolour on Polymin
85mm x 105mm
3.3 inches x 4.1 inches

This is the painting done for the miniature painting demonstration at the gallery yesterday.  I wanted to do a small portrait and of course three days ago I got a willing model!  It was painted using Daniel Smith watercolours which are made from real earth and gemstone pigments.  I used the traditional technique of millions of tiny brushstrokes to build up the colour depth. 

This is the working piece with some of the colours used, check out the fantastic names!  The painting will be framed with a mount of deep red and a wide gold frame and this one I am keeping for myself.
Portraits like this can be commissioned and come framed at a cost of £300. 
Another demo on Thursday and this time I think I will be painting on a little bit of 10,000 year old Mammoth tusk, if I can source the image that I want to paint that is.

Demonstrating, Small Style

Today I shall be setting up a tiny studio in the Upper Gallery at Beside the Wave and getting on with a little painting.  I shall be demonstrating the art of painting miniatures, tiny paintings on a variety of surfaces.  I have some vellum, some very smooth wooden boards, some ivorine and a small piece of 10,000 year old Mammoth Tusk!
If you are in Falmouth today pop in and say hello.

Two Medlars

Two Medlars
110mm x 60mm
oil on board
£135
or £13.50 per month with own art

Fireworks Helford Village

Fireworks. Helford Village
500mm x 600mm
oil on canvas
£750
or £75.00 a month with own art

I have posted this up before but it is in the exhibition and now it is beautifully photographed by Amrita who does such a great job at the gallery photographing all of the work.

Welcoming Little Pie

Yesterday our daughter Becci and her Partner Nick became parents.  Little Pie was born at 5.10am on 13.12.11.  We went to meet her a few hours later, here she is, our granddaughter, little Pie.  No official name as yet but already she has begun to fill sketchbook pages!

Trebah Plein Air

Trebah Plein Air
150mm x 190mm
oil on board
SOLD

Painted in the summer on a visit to Trebah Gardens.  Lovely lush jungle gardens meandering down to the sea, leaves of different sizes and colours.

Wine in The Garden

Wine in The Garden
370mm x 360mm
oil on board
SOLD

Another friends garden, another beautiful haven and a great bottle of wine, they keep a fine cellar at this house!

Little Peace Garden

Little Peace Garden
250mm x 200mm
oil on board
SOLD

This one isn't a miniature, its a little plein air painting of a beautiful corner of my friends garden, known as the peace garden.  This was painted at the end of the summer, in the hazy lazy sunshine of September.

More Cups

Gold Spot
85mm x 85mm
oil and gold leaf on board
SOLD

Striped Cup
95mm x 95mm
oil on board
SOLD

Blackberry and Apple

Last Blackberries
65mm x 130mm
Watercolour on hot pressed paper
SOLD

You cant have blackberries without an apple

Apple
115mm x 75mm
oil on board
SOLD