Austrian Silver

The opening evening of "The Invited" Exhibition at Worthing Museum/Art Gallery last night was fun. We met up with some old friends and saw some excellent art. "Texting" didn't look too bad either IMHO.

This picture didn't make it into the exhibition. Fair enough really, as it would not have blended in! It is a development of two previous paintings entitled Silver Birches, and is based on a tree that we saw at Innsbruck Botanical Gardens, while we were on holiday this year.

Measuring approx. 2' by 3' it was painted with Atelier Interactive Acrylics on stretched canvas. Hopefully, it will find a home soon.

The Invited Exhibition

Wow it has been some time since I posted here.

The August exhibition at Lancing Art Club went really well. Personally, two pictures sold - "Brighton North Laines" and "Kite Surfing".

More recently the picture above, "Texting", has been accepted into "The Invited" exhibition running from 17 November 2012 to 09 February 2013 at the Worthing Museum/Art Gallery.

The opening evening is Friday 16 November and I'm, really looking forward to it.

The Hunger Games

This was a fun project - painting an 8" by 6" canvas to represent a book cover, as part of an exhibition entitled "Never Judge a Book..." My choice was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Painted with acrylic, this is the heroine Katniss.

Great fun, and I am seriously considering painting this as a full size picture.

Green frog

This picture is causing some problems. I simply can't decide whether I like it or not.

It was painted as an exercise in using a mother colour. In this it was case Phtalo Blue. All the other colours are then formed by adding "tube" colours to the mother colour.

It measures 10" by 10" and was painted with Atelier Interactive acrylic paints on Bockingford paper.

Maybe a crop of the head area would be better? Any feedback gratefully received.

Brighton North Laines

This painting measures 12" by 9" and depicts Kensington Gardens, Brighton by night. It was painted with Atelier Interactive acrylic paints on Bockingford paper.

The shop on the right is Snoopers' Paradise - a kind of flea market undercover. Jean could spend, and has spent hours in the place.

Fallow deer

Life drawing on Sunday 10 June went well. However, even with a strategically placed table leg, the paintings of Dave (the model) are probably not suitable for a public blog.

Instead here is a cute painting of a group of Fallow Deer. It was painted with acrylics on Bockingford paper and measures around 12" by 9".

The aim was to paint in the style of Kirsten Harris. I have not been brave enough with the colours, and the temptation to blend the brush strokes was overwhelming. Nevertheless, I am quite pleased with it.

Japanese prints have always fascinated me. This painting is of an iris grown by Jean, and painted in the style of Hokusai. It measures approx 14" by 10"; St Petersburg White Nights paints were used on Bockingford paper.

It was suggested that the image would make a good greeting card.

It is fair to say that abstract art is not my strength. After three weekly sessions on the subject, this is the only piece, that I am reasonably happy with.

Painted with pastel on coloured paper, it measures approximately 16" by 10".

Nicole

Another 3 hour life drawing session on Sunday morning. Wouldn't you just know it; in this Olympic and Jubilee year, the model just had to be draped in a Union Flag.

This was probably the best of the sketches. Measuring 12" by 18", it was executed with pastel on Windsor paper in around 30 minutes.

As part of the Sussex Road Group, I have been invited to submit work for an end of the year exhibition at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery. It will be a chance to do some new work, on a reasonably large scale. All we need to know is the title of the exhibition and the theme!

Sometimes simple works. This was drawn on grey paper with white pastel and black pastel. It must be my eyes, but the dog's lower face looks brown to me.

It was completed in one sitting from an excellent reference photograph. Given more time, a better likeness could be obtained, but as an exercise in simplicity, I'm pretty happy with it.

Dome by Night

With the Littlehampton Museum Open underway, and the Adur Art Trail, Worthing Open Houses and Lancing Art Club  Annual Exhibition all fast approaching, the focus is on finishing off some outstanding projects.

This pastel painting is of the Worthing Dome Cinema. Opened in 1911, it was extensively refurbished in 2007. It featured in the 1987 film "Wish you were here"  starring Emily Lloyd and Tom Bell.

A picture of the Dome did very well for me in the past. This one is painted from a different angle, and this time at night. Measuring approximately 9in x 9in it is painted with Conte pastel on black Windsor paper.

What a great week

It must be some kind of record. Three paintings sold this week, including Archie pictured here, and a new commission for a house painting like the one of Woodrough done a while back.

Perhaps I'd better buy a Lottery ticket as well.

Jean

This was a high risk strategy, painting your wife's portrait is asking for trouble. Thankfully, it seems to have come out OK and Jean likes it.

Painted with Atelier Interactive acrylics, it measures 14" by 10". The reference was a photograph from our holiday in Bansko, Bulgaria a few years ago.

Pole vault

With less than 100 days to go to London 2012, it seemed like a good idea, to think about my entry for the Ron Polwin competition, sponsored by Lancing Art Club. The theme this year is "The Olympics".

The aim here was to try and capture the strength, grace and movement of the event.

It is painted with Atelier Interactive Acrylics on Bockingford paper and measures approx 13" by 10"

Sussex sunset

Among the many joys of living on the Sussex coast are the sunsets, particularly at this time of the year.

This one is from East Worthing beach. It is painted in pastel on Windsor grey paper and measures approximately 16" by 12".

Spirit of Spring - Littlehampton Open Exhibition

Good news today. These two images have been accepted into the Littlehampton Open Exhibition and will be on display at the Littlehampton Museum from 21 April to 08 June 2012.

The preview is on Saturday 21 April 2012 - another chance to meet some new and old friends.

Lancing Beach at Sunset

The topic at Art Club last week was a sunset in pastel or watercolour. I diligently printed out some reference photographs, and ensured that I left them at home. Many thanks to Hugh who supplied a couple of excellent replacements, from which this pastel painting was produced. It measures approx. 16" by 12" and was painted with Conte hard pastels on Windsor grey pastel paper.

This could be one for the August exhibition.

Art on the Pier

A couple of local artists have persuaded the Worthing Local Authority to display the work of 100 local artists on the pier this summer. "Rain" was selected and has been reproduced on acetate. It will be shown on the glass walkway down the centre of the pier from March until September.

Jean and I are off to the opening party on Sunday. It should be an opportunity to catch up with some old friends.

The Kiss

Just in time for Valentine's day! This was supposed to have been in the style of Edouard Vuillard, but I fear it is a little too realistic. Nevertheless, it was great fun. Painted with Atelier Interactive acrylics on paper, it measures approx. 11" by 13".

Now that's cold

Painted at drop in class yesterday, this was an exercise in using blue, in all its forms. Painted with Atelier Interactive acrylics, a little cadmium red and cadmium yellow and a lot of white were used as well . It measures approx 14" by 10" and is entitled "Cool Blue".