Upon Reflection

For the twelve years that I lived in the Magical Town of Crickadoon, Wales, I walked every day….and part of my walk took me along the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal.       

Observing reflections in the canal became a constant source of fascination for me…..it was like looking into a different world…which seemed to go on for ever. 

We tend to think in terms of going forward and backwards – looking to the future or the past, when in fact if we take the time to look up, down, inside, around, underneath and into the other worldliness of reflections…..we see so much more – like connecting with other dimensions. 

 

In our fast paced, technologically based world, it seems that we rush past life, rather then taking the time to contemplate its beauty and mystery.      Whereas, if we look a little further than the obvious, we begin to see and understand so much more. 

The Geode – Cite des Sciences – Paris……Worlds within worlds. 

In Rachel Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ – first published in 1962, we were given an insight into what could happen if we didn’t take care of this exquisite planet that we inhabit.    She showed us the consequences of narrow thinking…..Reading the book today is even more compelling than it was all those years ago. 

A photograph I took in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland.    The beauty was in tidal pool reflections and wet sand….When the tide retreated, whole new worlds were revealed. 

 

Climate Change has been in evidence since the beginning of time.   Our world and the universe is constantly evolving….growing, changing and responding to seen and unseen elements, which includes anything that humankind contributes to the mix!   

Here in the UK, we sometimes forget that we are never further than 75 miles away from a vast ocean.     An ocean which surrounds our beautiful, tiny and highly populated island. 

Looking down into tidal pools…Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. 

We forget that not that long ago, England was attached to France….when looking at a map of the southern coast of England and the coastline of Brittany, France…..what we see is almost like a jigsaw puzzle, where the pieces came apart. 

For those of us fortunate enough to have a home, sanitation, available clean drinking water, and all the other luxuries that technology allows us to enjoy, it is easy to forget that Mother Nature can remove all of it in a flash.    

Reflections at The Hurlingham Club, Putney London – note the black swan peeking through.

 

Extreme weather is being experienced world wide.    In the UK, we are having severe floods and storms….floods that are affecting the lives of many, who are now feeling homeless and uprooted.      Floods that are encouraging us all to reflect and think in new ways.    

There are some who say, but this happened 250 years ago….and of course it did, but then there were no cars, a fraction of the population we have now, natural drainage everywhere, etc. 

As E.B. White said…..‘Our approach to nature is to beat it into submission’ – and clearly that is not working!

Photograph, courtesy – Kevin Chapman.    

Kevin teaches painting at the Boathouse Studio in Hampton just five minutes from where I live,  but for now all classes have been cancelled, and the swans have taken over…..

 

I took this photograph two springs ago close to where I live.    

 

A Bientôt

Mother and Child (2)

This is a follow on from last Friday’s post entitled Mother and Child.

During the first morning session, lulled by the warmth and quiet of the studio, Mother and Child totally relaxed.    This gave me the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time on this one pose. 

 

The following frames shows how I built up the painting….again using the basis techniques that i have demonstrated in my tutorials. 

 

 

 

 

This image shows me, baby and Mother on their second visit to the studio…just before they left for S. America where they now live.

  

I spent time with a friend this weekend who is a world class musician/composer.    We talked about what it is to be an artist….and the dedication needed to pursue a life in the arts.     During the coming week, I plan to talk more about this in my blog. 

Happy Monday:)

A Bientôt

 

Mother and Child

About a year and half ago I arrived at the Boathouse Studio expecting to paint an adult model.   At first glance there was a lovely young woman waiting to pose, and then I saw that she had a beautiful baby girl in tow!      I asked the model if she would be happy to pose with baby….which was the beginning of a lovely experience.

 

The studio was warm and quiet which agreed with both Mother and child, and so amazingly they were able to pose together for most of the day.     The only sounds Baby made were happy gurgles:)

This was a five minute watercolour sketch working from a colour ground.   I like to call these rapid images, exploratory sketches because they allow me to familiarise myself with the subject. 

During that day, I painted many watercolour sketches of Mother and Child.     It was one of those experiences you could never orchestrate or plan…..it just happened.     

Twenty minute sketch working from a colour ground.   Watercolour and Gouache. 

 

 

I like to paint details from my models.    In this image I was attracted by the tender quality of Mother’s hands enveloping the child. 

Watercolour on white paper. 

 

 

About six months after the first session, I arrived at the Studio to find Mother and Child had returned for a visit, before moving to South America.    

Baby was now full of life and energy.    At one point the baby was put on the floor which was when I made this quick sketch.

Watercolour on white paper. 

It’s not often that I get to cuddle my models…..however in this case, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience:)    

This photograph of me with baby was taken on the second visit.    Baby was growing into a lively little child full of character and personality. 

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend.    I will be back here on Monday. 

A Bientôt

 

 

Observing the Human Form

September is always the beginning of a new work year for me.   A time to re-evaluate.

I was fortunate enough to go to art college in the early sixties when life/figure drawing was a key element.     In fact, there  is no better way to hone observational skills than to work from either a nude or draped model.

It’s good to see that this traditional way of training the artist’s eye is back in vogue.    I see that life groups are springing up all over the place.

Note that in this watercolour, I am again using the same techniques as shown in my tutorials.     By applying juicy paint into the negative space surround the model…..the model is revealed.     All the white you see in this image is dry white paper.    

Twenty minute watercolour from Boathouse Studio series.   

 

In an ideal world, I would work from a life model at the beginning of each day.     As I have mentioned many times before on this blog, artists are no different than dancers, athletes or musicians…..we need to warm up….and the most integral part of warming up is to hone observational skills on a daily basis. 

In a life drawing/painting session it is the norm to begin with a series of very fast one to 5 minutes sketches.      When I tutor life painting sessions, I suggest that people use newspaper for the very fast sketches.    As mentioned before, this frees people up to make rapids marks without the fear of messing up good paper.    Consequently, this is often when the best work is done.     

It is during these fast sketches that we begin to observer the model’s form, and equally as important the space surrounding the model, (negative space.)      By observing and sketching the human form we hone all our basic skills.

In this fast fell tip pen and watercolour sketch, I have left the space surrounding the model (negative space) as dry white paper.    

In these sketches it is my goal to capture the gesture and essence of my subject.    Once again, less is more comes into play.     We don’t have to fill in all the spaces, the viewer’s eye will do that.

Twenty minute watercolour from the Boathouse Studio series. 

For those who are concerned about their drawing skills, here’s something to think about.     None of us came into the world able to write our own signature.    We had to learn how to do this……and it is exactly the same with drawing the human form or anything else. Remember the fifteen minute a day exercise….This quote from the book Buddhist Offerings, says it so beautifully……

Do not take lightly small, good deeds, believing that they can hardly help.    For drops of water, one by one, in time can fill a giant pot.

A Bientôt

 

 

Beware of the Chattering Monkeys

I was fortunate to go to art college in the early sixties where  the importance of figure drawing/painting was emphasised.    During the coming week, I will write more about this discipline and how it formed the foundation block for my creative life.

For today, this twenty minute watercolour portrait of a model painted at the Boathouse Studio demonstrates some of the same techniques that I have been showing in my tutorials.  

 

All the white, is white paper.   I have used a mix of Burnt Sienna and Prussian Blue for the darks with hints of Cadmium Orange and a touch of violet. 

One of the key elements in preventing creatives from working on a consistent basis, are The Chattering Moneys. 

Chattering Monkeys are the little demons that fill our heads with reasons why we should not, and cannot do something!

They are the Yin to our Yang…..

I am sure just as you begin to paint, they are telling you that you don’t have time and that you can’t draw or paint anyway!

Ignore them. 

Just begin, and eventually they will go away……..

‘Do not encumber your mind with useless thoughts.   What good does it do to brood on the past or anticipate the future?   Remain in the simplicity of the present moment.      From the book Buddhist Offerings. 

A Bientôt

Less is More.

Perhaps a real understanding of less being more, comes with age.    I have certainly found this to be true with painting and life in general. 

I met someone yesterday who is at a turning point, and wanting to put more emphasis on being an artist rather than endlessly driving from A to B and organising a house full of STUFF.

This quick watercolour study of a model at the Boathouse Studio is an example of less being more.    Note that all the techniques I have been showing in my tutorials are in this quick sketch. 

 

 

Perhaps one of the many lessons we learn with watercolour painting is the art of letting go.    Getting out of the way and allowing the paint to do its own thing. 

It was only when I began to understand this concept in my own life that I was able to let go of all the unnecessary stuff, which in turn freed me up to immerse myself into the creative process. 

In today’s fast paced world, it’s very easy to live our lives in boxes, all the time being plugged into some sort of technology.    A little of this is necessary, however, too much of it deadens the senses….and consequently our creativity. 

This quote from the book Buddhist Offerings, says it all. 

‘Our five senses are like openings through which we receive all the perceptions that are then transformed into concepts and ideas.’ 

Wishing everyone a magical hummingbird weekend:)

 

A Bientôt