The Steamboat

The Steamboat

(Acrylic and collage on canvas board, 8x10 in)

Another building portrait, this time of a of a pub in South Shields. I've actually drawn this pub on a sketch crawl, but it seems from the sketch that at the time I couldn't count the number of windows properly:

The Steamboat, Mill Dam, South Shields
(various markers in A4 sketchbook)

Low Fell Lane

Low Fell Lane

(Acrylic on canvas board, 10x8 in)

SOLD

Started at Gateshead Art Society last Friday and finished during the week.

The lane is just round the corner from my house and is one I walk up and down regularly to and from the shops. It's one of the delights of being an artist that you can suddenly be struck by something commonplace and see the potential for a painting.

I've since sold this small work to a collector who lives in Germany.

 

Up Pink Lane

Up Pink Lane

(Acrylic on board, 10 x 10 in)

In doing this small painting I was reminded what it was that put me off painting Newcastle: all those neoclassical windows and other details! Give me wonky vernacular any day.

 

Forth Lane

Forth Lane

(Acrylic on canvas board, 10 x 8 in)

A small painting, finally finished bar the varnishing. My first painting of the year and the first of Newcastle in quite some time. It's a lane just round the corner from Newcastle Arts Centre.

 

Anemones in a Bayeux Jar

 

Anemones in a Bayeux Jar

(Acrylic on mountboard, 20x20 cm)

I find using acrylic on such small format boards and canvases, lends itself to these still life paintings. although I don't find it easy to find interesting vases or the bunches of flowers to go in them. This little jar is based on one I bought on a trip to Normandy many years ago, although the shape has been quite radically simplified.

This little still life took all week because of umpteen tonal adjustments: change one bit, another needs work. So it goes. I’m happy with the result, but if I want to continue the theme I'll have to hunt for a new vase or jar.

Kastela Restaurant

Kastela Restaurant (Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 x 4 cms)

I made some finishing touches to this yesterday. Another small painting done.

Scrubbed In

Kastela Seaside Restaurant (work in progress)

It was a fine Spring day today and I really felt like getting things done, but I'd arranged for the Rat Man to come. He was supposed to call last week, but Something Went Wrong. I guess Something must have Gone Wrong again, because he didn't arrive today either.

As a consequence, the rats are probably still plotting a Second Front and I spent the day pottering. But I did get time to quickly scrub in this small painting which should help fill out the Small Works Collection quite well, I hope.

Holy Island Boat Shed

Holy Island Boat Shed (oil on canvas panel, 5 x 7 ins. Private collection)

I hope you all had a good Christmas. I certainly did and must thank Andy and Helen for giving us such a great time in Cambridge. And the Boxing Day revels with Helen's folks were much appreciated. Thanks guys!

The secret commission I spoke of a while ago can now be revealed. It was this small painting of one of the famous boat sheds on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, with the Castle in the background. I did it as a Christmas present for Andy and Helen.

It was interesting working on such a small scale again. When I first started painting, I did quite a lot of paintings on this sort of scale, especially while Northumbria Gallery were running their Small Works shows, but it's been a few years since I tackled one. Doing this one, and reflecting on the increased problem of storing large pictures in the house, has moved me further in the direction of a renewed interest in small works, I think. Hidden away, but lying dormant, is my Other Blog, Art from Tyneside, set up a year ago during a period of interest in the Daily Painters Movement. Maybe it's about time to get that project off the ground. Watch this space.