New paintings and regular art updates.
My studio, I’m still nervous because of the delta variant of covid to go back into it. I need to paint but I’ve got that feeling that I’m on a knife edge, I don’t know what to do? It’s strange, I’m spending the money but for almost two years now I have felt very worried. Maybe I need some talking therapy, everything is getting too much….
In about 2006 and 2007 I painted several murals in the Arnold Bennett suite of the Leopard Hotel. It has appeared on Britain’s most Haunted on TV and until a couple of years ago was still open. Now no one seems to know what is happening with it. I’m sure it still needs a lot of work doing on it. No doubt my murals will get painted over if it is refurbished. It’s sad, because for a few years the place thrived. But there was also bad luck there. I wish things coukd be better for it. X
He’s almost done, looks like a Teddy bear so it needs some more attention.
I am struggling with the fur, trying to soften it, it looks too spiky at the moment. I need to get the ears right and his belly sorted out. The photo I’m working from has him in a dogs rain cover or coat, but that is covering areas I need to paint. Three hours of work and I feel like I’m only shuffling forwards. But I’ll get there.
Lit by led lights, this sculpture at Keele University is striking. Spires of reflective steel radiate outwards. Each line of them diminishes in size as them move outwards. It seems energetic, yet constrained. Like a frozen fountain. At the centre is a low metal plinth or seat. I wanted to walk into the centre of it and sit or stand on it. But thought it might be too fragile. A peaceful place to contemplate the universe perhaps?
It’s been a while since I painted this. It’s a cherry tree in blossom in the snow. I like turning trees into faces. When it happens that you can see faces in objects or photos it’s called Pareidolia. But if I create the pattern myself is it something else?
I may do some similar art soon. I will see if the idea appeals to me.
Acrylic on canvas, a few more layers. The rough edges of his coat, where they touch the grass, need sorting out. The dig has got a silver coat and a collar and lead on which I’ve left out so I’m trying to decide where the shadows should fall and his fur. I think I’ve made some of it too yellow, I need daylight to check.
A couple of cat paintings I did for a friend in 2018. The first was a work in progress. I don’t have a photo of the completed painting. I love painting cats, and any other animals. I’ve got a dog painting in progress then I’ve got to paint some purple crabs, that might be interesting! By the way the pink is a chair cover, not part of the paintings.
Grass painted and coat underpainted, need to work on the colour and details now. His coat is a bit greyer and I want to get more of the fine fur details.
Me a couple of years ago painting banners for our mystery play we did. These are pictures of the willow pattern from Spode that I was copying for the performance. We hold it on a Saturday towards the start of July. Unfortunately we could not hold it last year and only had an online event this year. I hope it’s reinstated when things get better.
I’m so busy with college work it would have been difficult to make the time but I love doing this. It makes me feel part of a community. I also miss all the friends I have through being part of it. X
Carved into the base of a tree trunk. This giant beetle sculpture was on the lakeside walk around Trentham Lake last weekend. It’s good to see sculpture in the landscape. I remember visiting Grizedale Forest sculpture Park in the Lake District around thirty years ago. It had world renound sculptors who created art works all through the forest. There is also something called the Merz barn? in the Lake District, but I can’t remember the name of the artist maybe Jeff Koons? (German?). I hope someone knows what I’m talking about. Must visit again before it’s too late. X
