Another Work in Progress

Another Work in Progress.
(Acrylic on canvas board, 10x8 in)

Lacking the will to push on and finish anything at the moment, I continue to pile up the WIPs and started this one yesterday at the Club. I rather wish I’d used a bigger panel now, so maybe I’ll consider this a study for a bigger painting.

In another forum, I was asked why I was attracted to this subject. I often find it difficult to articulate what it is that attracts me to a subject because it’s that old “if I could tell you what it is I wouldn’t have to paint it” trope. But I do recognise potential subject matter as soon as I see it. In this case I’m sure it was an element of dereliction, the monumentality of it (possibly why I regret the smallness of the panel) and the geometric shapes. 

Streets in Bologna

Streets in Bologna [SOLD]

(Acrylic on board, 14 x 8.5 in)

Friday’s new start at the Art Club was this view of streets in Bologna. Several alterations later, and the Italian street scene is done.

It's a combination of a view I liked and the serendipitous finding of a panel that was the right shape. I’d do more of these views if the panels were readily available.

 

Shadows at the End of the Street

Shadows at the End of the Street
(Acrylic on board, 28 x 24 cm)

Started on Friday at Gateshead Art Society, finished last night. This is one of those views you spot abroad when you're walking down a narrow street and at the end of the street, framed by the two sides of the street you're on, is a fascinating composition. 

An interesting and challenging composition that I feel I’ve made work.

Rooftop WIP

Rooftop WIP
(Acrylic on canvas board, 8x8 in)

Something else begun last Friday at Gateshead Art Society. I'm finding my way with this one, not quite certain where it will lead. I'm interested in the way the shadows may not correspond with the light source.

Work Yard WIP

Work Yard WIP

(Acrylic on canvas board, 10 x 12 in)

The first few hours at Gateshead Art Society today left me with this scrubby start to a new, quite complicated painting of a work yard just round the corner from where I live.

I’m genuinely encouraged and find myself becoming more interested in the mundane urban imagery around me.

 

Boats at Night WIP

 

Boats at Night WIP

(Acrylic on canvas board, 10 x 12 in)

After a holiday break, it’s good to get back to some painting, but I’m never happy when I have to break off at this scrubby stage. I always doubt the viability of the subject or composition. “Boats” was this week’s suggested theme at the Art Club, continuing next week.

Bridges of Venice

Bridges of Venice

(Acrylic on canvas board, 12x12 in)

I put this composition together a few years ago, constructing it from several photographs taken slightly different viewpoints. As a consequence, I was left with one or two gaps in the image and in addition there were some figures in the foreground obstructing the view of the buildings. At the time I didn't feel able to make the necessary changes that would make the picture work, so I put it to one side.

Recently, the Programme suggestion at Gateshead Art Society was "Bridges" and the time seemed right to give this image a go. Sometimes I forget that a complex composition takes just as much work at this scale as the same subject at three times the size. The picture took a good deal longer than I thought it might and I found that some of the ideas I had to get over the missing parts and elimination of the foreground figures had to be changed several times.

In the end, I think the effort was worth it and I'm pleased with the end product. I hope you do too.

 

Boats in Harbour

Boats in Harbour

(Acrylic on watercolour paper, 12x12 in)

Another painting begun some months ago, finished off at Gateshead Art Society yesterday.

Buskers

Buskers

(Acrylic on canvas board, 8 x 10 in)

The result of a suggested theme at Gateshead Art Society. The buskers were spotted on a wintry Charles Bridge in Prague, and very good they were too.

 

WIP - Dietz

Dietz (WIP)

(Acrylic on canvas board, 8 x 10 in)

I’m working away on two different paintings at the moment, but Friday at Gateshead Art Society tends to signal the start of something fresh. And so it was today: I’ve been meaning to make something of a photograph I took many years ago of a butcher’s shop on Gateshead High Street. It’s no longer a butcher’s but still retains the interesting Art Deco character that set it apart from the surrounding vernacular buildings. Just blocked in so far.

alla prima 2022

Still Life alla prima

(acrylic on watercolour paper, 7x7 in)

One of the annual challenges at Gateshead Art Society is for everyone to paint, alla prima, from the same photograph. This is where I got in just over an hour last Friday, trying to share a photo with someone else. 

I can do better under less stressful circumstances, and this isn't how I might ordinarily approach the subject, but I'm not displeased with it. Indeed, I might go back to it at some point and make it more presentable. If you'd be interested in buying this work of art when it's done, please get in touch.

Gateshead Art Society’s Xmas Exhibition (Part 2)

 Three more new paintings in Gateshead Art Society’s Annual Exhibition, opening on Saturday at 11 am:

At the Maritime Trust

(acrylic on canvas board, 12x12 in)

Horchata for Two

(acrylic and collage on board, 9x9 in)

The Last Ice Cream of Summer

(acrylic and collage on board, 9x9 in)

Gateshead Art Society’s Xmas Exhibition (Part 1)

Three new paintings in Gateshead Art Society’s Annual Exhibition, opening on Saturday at 11 am:

Flowers in a Green Vase

(acrylic on canvas board, 12x12 in)

Still Life with Presents

(acrylic on canvas board, 12x12 in)

Lindisfarne

(acrylic and collage on board, 30x30 cm)

A New Beginning

 

Street scene (WIP)

(acrylic on board, 10 x 10 in.)

Yesterday at Gateshead Art Society, while everyone else was doing an exercise in alla prima, I began work on this new one. It's based on a photograph I took in Crete and I think it’s going well, but there’s a figure to be added which might give me bother. Watch this space.

Gateshead Art Society Annual Exhibition

 

Six of my paintings (including this one) in this selling exhibition and all for sale. Great Xmas gift ideas!

Wok and Chair

 

Wok and Chair

(acrylic on board, 10 x 10 in)

Last week's challenge for Gateshead Art Society members was “Chairs or Chimneys”. My previous post showed how I tackled "Chimneys".

This week, old wok 'n chair’s got me (If I didn’t say it, one of you would, assuming you're familiar with the Hoagy Carmichael classic).

Staithes Chimneys

Staithes Chimneys

(acrylic on mountboard, 10x10 in)

The current challenge from Gateshead Art Society is to make a painting on the subject of Chairs or Chimneys. I decided I'd have a go at translating this sketchbook drawing from 2012.

As I worked, I was reminded how much I hate green, especially when set against red/orange, but I wrestled it to a satisfactory conclusion, I think.

Beetles

 

Star Beetle

(Collage and acrylic on watercolour paper, 7x7 in)

Stone Beetle

(Collage and acrylic on watercolour paper, 7x7 in)

A Gateshead Art Society challenge on “Insects” set me off on a new idea this week, but before I start on a larger work, I decided I’d try out some ideas for single imaginary beetles. I rather like these and think they’d look good framed up. More to come, I expect.

Evening in Lisbon

 

Evening in Lisbon

(acrylic on mountboard, 10x10 in)

Have you ever regretted starting a painting? I knew quite soon after beginning this one that it was a mistake but I was reacting to a prompt from Gateshead Art Society and didn’t feel I could give up. I think, in fact, that it’s turned out well if a little romantic (clue: we spent our honeymoon in Lisbon), so I shouldn’t moan. But something about the painting of it (the paint layer’s too thin for a start) meant that corrections were needed just about every day for over a week. However, enough hair shirt. Onward!

Three Men in a Bar

Three Men in a Bar

(acrylic on canvas board, 8x8 in)

Week 3 of the Shipley Art Gallery's Lockdown Challenge gave us this 19th C painting  and challenged us to "paint your friends, family or neighbour."

Grandfather's Tale 

by E J Davis

My painting is based on a photograph of me and a couple of friends at my stag night in 2014. The painting doesn't set out to be three portraits, although some might think they recognise two of the people in it.