Friday 28 December 2018

Last Paintings of 2018

These are my last efforts of 2018. 


Guess Who? This was in response to a n Xmas subject at my art group. 16" x 12 



Yellowhammer 12" x 9"


Heron 16" x 12" 
This was a free subject at my art group



Mountain Sheep 16" x 12"

The original was of more yellowish shades which my wife said was bland. I added reds and oranges and got a bit carried away away but I like it! Thats it for 2018. 


Sunday 23 December 2018

HAPPY XMAS & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

May I wish all my followers and everyone else who visit this blog a Happy Xmas  and Prosperous New Year. Unfortunately we face very uncertain times both in the UK and World Wide.

In the UK the uncertainty of Brexit and what it will bring - those in favour seem to think we'll be sailing into a land of milk and honey  with little evidence to back this up unfortunately - while remainers predict disaster. I have to say I'm a remainer despite my reservations about certain aspects of the EU.

Worldwide there are all sorts of problems not least the concerns over the political situation in the United States. There are far too many others like climate change to name them all. I'm basically an optimist in that I believe all problems are solvable providing the will to do so is there. Of all the species on Earth the human race, despite its destructive tendencies, is truly remarkable in what has been achieved.

On the painting front the Watercolour scene has never been better with literally hundreds of wonderful artists all over the World producing fantastic work. I have shown more than 200 of these paintings on the blog this year and continue to find new ones all the time..

So have a great time over Xmas and let us hope 2019 will be a more positive year.

Thursday 13 December 2018

More Information on New Van Gogh Watercolours


I have received a reply to my enquiries from Yogesh Karia, Country Manager UK & Ireland. These are the replies.



1. Available from immediate effect.

2.Tubes & Pans £2.95

3. Tubes & Pans Series 2 £3.95

4.10ml Tubes and Half Pans

5. Pigment Information https://issuu.com/royaltalens/docs/vangogh_wtc

In the Uk you may struggle to find a stockist but there are some. Try 'googling' 'Van Gogh watercolour stockists.
When you get to the swatches on the issuu site use the + sign to zoom in and see the pigment details which are small.
Looking at the pigments there are quite a few multi pigment mixes, all the 'dusk' and interference colours for example but don't let that put you off there are a good number of decent single pigments, After all who has 73 colours in their palette? Personally I would avoid the 'hues' where white is added, especially the Cobalt and Cerulean Blues. I think white makes the paints cloudy and they can harden in the tubes.
That said I found Van Gogh decent in the old range. The new one is vastly improved and if you find the prices of artists quality watercolours  eye watering give them a try. They are a middle range not a student quality one.
My current best value picks in Artist Quality  for a combination of price/ quality are Sennelier (21ml tubes) and Lukas (24ml tubes).

Monday 10 December 2018

Van Gogh Watercolours - New and Revised Range?


I was recently informed by a comment on the blog from Sebastien that a major revision of the Van Gogh range is taking place.  Added 11/12/08: Although I've still no acknowledgment from Talens to my FOUR e mails the new range colour chart is now on the Royal Talens website. No pigment details but colour swatches of all the new range. It's appeared in the last two days! Actually it's all a bit confusing. If you go to one part of the site following Van Gogh you get details of the old range of forty colours! 
However when I went on the Royal Talens site there is no mention of this and the only information is about the current 40 paint range. Sebastien gave me a link which is https://issuu.com/royal talens/docs/vangogh_wtc which takes you to this site - not anything to do with Royal Talens as far as I can see - and there it was in all its glory? Full details including swatches, reference to the brochure etc.  I have e mailed Royal Talens three times - and just sent off another one, the result being a deafening silence, no response whatsoever. Maybe this information is supposed to be under wraps and has been 'pirated' before an official release date. On the other hand is it only intended for 'certain markets'.

What does this issuu site tell us? The new range is expanded to 72, a major change in itself, and includes four 'dusk' colours, 6 metallics and 6 interference. Remind you of for example Daniel Smith? The new colours include Quinacridone Purple Red and Blue, Lavender, Turquoise Blue and Green and several interesting others. A number of existing colours are 'improved (it says) and overall this is a considerable upgrade. Pigment details are on this site although very small and difficult to read. There are no Cobalts or, only alternative 'hues", and quite a few multi pigment mixes. Some interesting pigments though , never before seen in student mixes, like PV55 and PY129. 

I've always rated Van Gogh and used them at one time. They are a mid-range paint (in my opinion), despite sometimes called student quality. However Royal Talens offer Rembradt as the artists quality with Amsterdam as the student range. Van Gogh comes in the middle.

When whatever is happening comes about and they become available in the UK I shall certainly have a fresh look as artists quality prices are eye watering. I just hope they aren't intended for certain markets like the USA where Winsor & Newton offer a much better Cotman range than the one on offer in the UK (and Europe). Please come clean Royal Talens.







Saturday 1 December 2018

Watercolour Paintings 49

Here are Decembers batch. Another mixture of old and newer artists, including some of the very best and some of my favourites. 


Liu Yu



Trevor Lingard



Bev Jozwiak




Milind Mullick

 

John Singer Sargeant



Charles Reid


Karl Martens



Trevor Chamberlain


Morten E Solberg Snr


Thomas Schaller


John Blockley


Robert Zangarelli


Michel Jasiowicz



Robert Ferguson



Atsushi Matsubayashi




Claudia Artzmann



Jose Luis Lopez




John Yardley



Michele Clamp




Gerard Hendriks



Charles Reid



Andrew Wyeth

That's it folks. Hope you like them.

Catherine Beale

We don't have many demos  at Avon Valley Artists but have just had one by the Bath artist Catherine Beale -  https://catherinebeale.com/ - at our venue of Saltford Church Hall. Catherine teaches a method she calls 'Gravity Painting' using watercolour. In simple terms this is the application of wet in wet watercolour with the board vertical. 


The initial setup


Catherine starts and explains her approach and what she is trying to achieve.

Catherine begins explaining her approach and what she wanted to achieve.  However with this type of painting 'happy accidents' do occur and she improvises as she goes along, although having a strong idea of where she wants to end up. In the bottom right hand corner of her board you will see a small photograph of the clump of trees on Kelston Hill, nr Bath. This is a famous landmark and many people make the fairly steep climb up to experience the fabulous view. This was her starting point - but I emphasise not something she was trying to copy, just a guide.


 The paper is wet from the top using a one inch Protel flat brush- not the whole of the paper but in stages.. This together with a Protel rigger were all the brushes she used. She told me this is her normal approach and usual brushes. Only five colours were used. Indathrene Blue (PB60) from Daler Rowney, Moonglow (Daniel Smith PG18,PB29,PR177),  Phthalo Turquoise (W & N PB16), Sap Green and Raw Sienna. Moonglow has become something of a cult colour, a green, blue and red combination that produces a moody grey-blue, violet colour, perfect for shadows for example. Her overall preference for paints are Winsor & Newton artist watercolours. My choice of PB16 is the Lukas version, called just Turquoise. which is just as good and cheaper. A fabulous pigment and a favourite also of the terrific American artist Bex Jozwiak.

Paper used was rather unusual in that it is Watercolour board from Daler & Rowner, usually A3. This isn't very common. Catherine is also experimenting with painting on wood treated with Gesso.


Paint is applied with the flat brush and allowed to 'gravitate' helping it along but not overdoing the brushwork.


This is now now quite a way along with Sap Green and Raw Sienna being introduced in careful touches - placing paint I would describe this. The rigger has also been used for the tree trunks and the whole  
thing is now taking shape.  More work will be done on it after further thought and contemplation. She had reservations about the dark colour in the top corners but had yet to decide how to modify it.



The palettes Catherine used.



Salt - which she uses to create effects on her paintings.






Examples of Catherines paintings.



Catherine also paints Portraits as well as landscapes. Her landscape work covers real and imaginary images and arbitrary colours in some instances. Two of my fellow members of the AVA did a two day portrait course with her a few weeks ago which they thoroughly enjoyed. Although my portrait work (modest as it is) is a little different I intend to take a course with her probably in March.  I have an open mind and look at different artists all the time, hoping to gain inspiration and improve my painting. You are never too old to learn (I hope!).

Overall this was an excellent demonstration with an articulate  teacher. If you live within reach of Bath I would certainly recommend her courses.






Sunday 18 November 2018

INDEX

I have just updated the INDEX. This is in JULY 2014. I know accessing this is a bit of a fag BUT there is a lot of good stuff there, including by other contributors. Sorry I originally said June.

To access the Index. 

1. Scroll down list on right hand side.

2. Click on 2014.

3. Click on July.

4. Click on Index.


Saturday 10 November 2018

Latest Paintings

Here are some of my latest efforts. I make the usual proviso I don't post them as good just what I am producing at the moment. My painting has always been on the inconsistent side, partly because I never want to get into a rut and just turn out the same stuff painting after painting.


Hare 16" x 12"

This was an exercise at my art group using a limited pallette. In this instance my choice was  three primaries but not the usual ones. The colours were: Hansa Yellow Medium (Daniel Smith PY97), Permanent Magenta (Maimeri PV19 Rose shade), Turquoise )Lukas PB16). I wouldn't normally do this but it does force you into areas you don't usually go. 



I started this one as I had a short time to spare after finishing the days subject at my art group. This is based on Charles Reid's teachings in his books/videos and workshops. The features are done first. HOWEVER on re-watching his last dvd - Figures in watercolour - I noticed he'd changed his approach ,or at least I thought he had, by doing a wash overall first. I also was looking for inspiration  and  to correct bad habits that seem to develop in my painting. I think the root cause is not painting enough. I read somewhere that to maintain your standard you needed to paint at least three times a week, even more if you wish to improve. Given my advanced age it's also a case of not wanting the rot to set in!



'Dead Horse' Flathead. c 1905 16" x 12"

This is the finished painting. I quite like it even though I'm sure I do things wrongly. I tried not to overwork this one - a perennial problem.



'King of the Jungle - 16" x 12"

I feel, while a reasonable representation I have overworked this one. Lots of colour Translucent Orange (Schmincke PO71). Translucent Brown (Schmincke PBr41), Quinacridone Gold (Daniel Smith PO49)  plus Cerulean Blue, Burnt Umber , Raw Sienna etc. I also did highlights with some acrylic white,  using a little Pebeo Gum to mask the whiskers. I almost always paint from photos these days and that does incline you towards bad habits. I have learned though not to copy every detail.



'Model' 16" x 12"

This was done on the same session as the above. The left eye facing is not quite right and I may alter it but it was mainly an exercise  in getting the skin tones right which  has  worked reasonably well. I also like the jewellery on the facing left hand side.



Khadi rough A4

A very quick exercise of a treecreeper done on about 20 minutes.



'Big Cat' 16" x 12"



'Ptarmigan in Winter" 16" x 12"

An exercise in simplicity, although not deliberately so.




'Treecreeper' Khadi rough A4

This was done previously to to the  treecreeper one above.




'Jay' 16" x 12"



'Autumn' 16" x 12'

I'm not sure what this bird is.
The papers I am using sat the moment are Waterford High White, Stonehenge Aqua and Khadi rough.





Friday 2 November 2018

Watercolour Paintings 48

Here are Novembers batch. They are a mixture of different styles and old and newer artists. Hope you like them.



Gerard Hendriks

An excellent example of Gerards Bird Paintings



Edo Hannema




Dianne Benoit

I'm lucky if my Amerindian paintings get half a dozen likes but Dianne got a lot for this one. I'm taking note of how she has approached the subject!




Dusan Djukaric



Jerry de la Rosa

A new artist to me



Winslow Homer
The revered American artist




Trevor Lingard




Stan Miller



Morten e Solberg Snr



Francisco Castro (?)

An amazing watercolour



Yuko Nagayama (?)




Gerda Mertens

The notable Belgian artist



Charles Reid

I was on the workshop  when Charles painted this demo. It was at Burford, near Witney in Oxfordshire.The young man was a member of the hotels staff and and he posed in the garden. It was actually my first with CR and the standard was very high. He commented on this himself and I really struggled.  Although always of a high standard none of the following workshops reached the same level and I gradually adapted. There were artists from all over the World and several were professionals. 






Milind Mullick



The fine American artist Janet Rogers



Catherine Rey



Michelle Clamp


Another from Janet Rogers




Edward Seago - Legendary British Artist



Jean Claude Papieux





Alvaro Castagnet




Chien Chung- Wei



Another from Chien Chung -Wei




Jonathan Kegyir Aggrey

Different one from Jonathan.



Robert Wade




Jan Martens

This artist specialises in birds and they are actually very large




John Yardley



Janine Gallizia

Wonderful!


Thats it folks