HAPPY XMAS AND SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL

To all who follow the blog and those who pay a visit may I express my best wishes for Xmas and 2020 and thanks for taking an interest in what I do.

Latest Paintings

Here are my latest efforts together with my thoughts on where I am with relevant soul searching!

"The Strand Wolf or Brown Hyena" 16" x 12"

"Big Boy" 16" x 12"

"Guess Who?' 16" x 12"

I'm very pleased with this.

"Alex" 16" x 12"

Pleased with this also

Red Cloud in later life. 16" x 12"

Increasingly unhappy about this. Will decide whether to try and rescue it or scrap and start again. A difficult one. I tend towards scrapping. The basic problem is the drawing of the face  isn't right. Two steps forward , one ( and a half)  steps back. This is painting ! Just don't give up! As the famous American teacher Edgar Whitney said "Draw, Draw. Draw!" At least I remain very self critical. Added 08/12/19. Have scrapped this. A second attempt is going much better, at least I think so,  and here is the finished painting. I still have doubts though.

"Red Cloud' Circa 1900

This is better but still not a great likeness. The above is from his last years when the Sioux had been crushed and were confined on reservations. While many Amerindians have assimilated with the general population over the years others, who have been unable or unwilling to adjust,  remain trapped on reservations

"Contemplation" 16" x 12"

Quite pleased with this. Went back over my Charles Reid stuff and tried to be more relaxed with "Pieces of Paint " approach. Not perfect but getting there. Never too old to learn.

"Big Boy" 16" x 12"

My approach here is the Charles Reid way of "small areas of detail, large areas of generality`" My feeling is that it does go a long way towards this goal. I've been viewing all my CR material, videos, books and notes from my workshops with him. I realise it's very late in the day, s source of great regret, but there it is. If I could go back ten years I would as I feel I've wasted a lot of time and my path to where I am has been  a very tortuous one. I'm still not there yet.

Watercolour Paintings 61

Here are Decembers batch, a little late and rather hastily put together as I have been otherwise occupied most of this month. Hopefully there will still be much of interest. There are a number where I haven't been able to track down the artist. Any corrections welcome.

The incredible Yuko Nagayama

Direk Kingnok

Bhira Painting

Bev Jozwiak

Gerard Hendriks

Gerard continues to amaze with his widening range of subjects

Roberty Wade

Dianne Benoit

Edward Seago

This is one of my favourites of his

Luis Camara

The amazing Ted Nutall Look at the colours!

Zhao Zhiqiang

Luis Camara

 Shirley Trevena - Wow!

Henry Arfin

Tim Wilmott

?

Bev Jozwiak Another Wow! Love it!

Carol Hillsbery Terrific.

Vladislav Yeliseyev

Jung Hun-sung

Ann-Christin Moberg

Chien Chung Wei

Hope you like them. Some fantastic paintings in a wide range of subjects, colours and styles. Watercolour! You can't beat it!  BLOG INDEX JUNE 2014

The Pure Watercolour Society Exhibition

I visited my sister in Witney, Oxfordshire recently and took the opportunity to combine it  with a trip to the watercolour exhibition in the nearby small, delightful, Cotswold village of Windrush. This took place under the name of  the "The Pure Watercolour Society", something of a misnomer really as you can't actually join.  Well-known watercolour artists are invited to exhibit at this exhibition by James Fletcher -Watsons daughter, who continues to live in the Fletcher family home, which incorporates a small gallery. I'm not sure how frequently it is held but has been a regular event for some years. Paintings  and prints by James Fletcher-Watson were included, and there were books, cards and various other things for sale. The exhibition was staged between the 16th and 24th (today) of `November.

Jake Winkle

Nineteen artists took part including such notables as David Curtis, Trevor Chamberlain and Robert Wade. The latter, as far as I'm aware the only non British artist. Robert Wade, the doyen of Australian watercolourists,  had taken part in previous exhibitions. Three ladies, Judi Whitton, Josephine Neil and Vanessa Whimney were part of the nineteen. I counted approximately 60 paintings on the walls. On the day we attended there were quite a few visitors as one might expect.

Day and residential courses are held at the gallery and details are above and below.

This is the 2020 schedule.

Overall a very interesting and high class exhibition from a selection of top, primarily British, watercolour artists.

My Latest Paintings

Here are the most recent.

Amerindian Warrior 16" x 12"

On the top is the first version and bottom the 'modified' one.  I did more work on the eyes, the features, especially with regard to colour. I added Translucent Brown from Schmincke (PBr41) to get nearer to the actual face colour of the so-called 'red man'. I have been criticised in the past about my skin colours and while I accept this I don't want to get over-realistic - others can do this a lot better than me, Stan Miller for example and Harley Brown, although Brown's fabulous work is in pastel. I'd rather be 'unfinished' than otherwise. Charles Reids Indians are just great but emulating him is so difficult  and is it wise to do so in a copyist manner?

Musk-ox approx. 14 x 12"

I have now diverged slightly from my late mentor Charles Reid. He very much worked on the 'first try for a finish' principle. As a lesser mortal I've found I need to look at the painting several days afterwards and when I do can  discern that it may need some additional work, taking care not to overwork as I prefer paintings that are 'unfinished". In the one above I've done nothing so far but the blue looks not quite right so may try to soften this.  I know many like paintings' that are super-realistic and every inch of the paper covered with paint. That  isn't me so I'll continue to plough my lonely path. Just joking folks I know my limitations but I enjoy it so what!

Latest Paintings

Here are my latest efforts. Drawings done at home and painted at the latest AVA Thursday session. In general I'm reasonably happy with them - not 100% naturally! I keep trying.

"Two Brothers" 16" x 12"

"A Fine Fellow" 16" x 12"

"Nuts" - Unfinished 16" x 12"

'Black Redstart' 16" x 12"

Not sure about this one tempted to bin it.




Modified Version

Watercolour Painting 60

Here are the latest batch of paintings. They include some where I haven't found the artists names. . If there are mistakes corrections welcomed. A mix of old and newer (or less-known) artists and a wide range of subjects. Hope you like them

Ching Che Lin

Edward Seago - a British Great

Artist ??? (Chien Chung Wei?)

Charles Reid - Greatly Missed

Bev Jozwiak - is this watercolour , acrylics or mixed media. Never sure with Bev

Catherine Rey

John Singer-Sarjeant

Steve Griggs

Tim Wilmott- Never met him (yet) an artist local to me

Artist???

Gerard Hendriks - Particularly like the rich colours here/



Karen Knutson



Bhira Painting -Great



Another from Gerard

Stan MIller. This is on Yupo paper loved by some, loathed by others although increasingly popular for the effects that can be created

Z L Feng - Beautiful blending of colours



Sherry Schmidt



Chien Chung Wei



Ian Ramsey




David Taylor - Top Australian

Viktora Prischedko - Workshops at East Devon Arts in Sidmouth together with husband Slawa



Guilio Boscaing





Lucy Newton