The influence of Henry Moore.

Walking though the different galleries at Tate Britain last Friday we came across the work of one of my favourite British artists, Henry Moore.     An artist whose work has influenced me.

So much strength, gentleness and emotion captured in this large bronze of  The Family. 

From early childhood when I first saw the work of Henry Moore,  I have been drawn to its simplicity of form and how within that form a myriad of emotions are evident.

I painted this large oil on canvas in 1984.    This painting and the subsequent series were Influenced by Isle au Haut an island in the Penobscot Bay, Maine part of Arcadia National Park, and Henry Moore’s sculpture.

I saw within the boulders and rocks on Isle au Haut the human form.   It felt as if I was surrounded by Henry Moore’s work.   

My series of work which began in 1984 on Isle au Haut is still in progress.   Over the years it has evolved.

This large watercolour/gouache was inspired by a tragic photograph I saw of a Mother and child who had been killed as innocent victims of the Mexican drug war.

I painted this to restore the Mother and Child’s dignity.   The swan symbolises transformation and the hummingbird guides them from this world to the next.

 

A Magical Hummingbird for today.

 

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A Bientôt

Floating free of time…..

Floating free of time like Magical Hummingbirds – wouldn’t that be wonderful:)

Have a lovely day.

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A Bientôt

Start as I wish to proceed……

I like to start the new year as I plan to proceed…..

I began preliminary work on this large oil painting just before Christmas -(5′ x 4′)   It’s part of the ‘interconnection’ series. 

As the painting develops, I will post the progress on this blog…..and at the same time show the watercolours I use to formulate ideas. 

It’s also back to a normal with diet and daily exercise:)

Wishing everyone a beautiful Thursday.

A Bientôt

 

The Arrival of Sasha

This is a good time of the year to talk and think about people and animals who are homeless.    

Those of us who are fortunate enough to have a roof over our heads, heating, and food in the cupboards often take so much for granted.   

The stories i have told in the last week about Phoebe the Jack Russell and Christeve the Cat finding loving homes, are metaphors for all those in our world who are searching for a place of their own. 

Today’s story is about Sasha finding a loving home, and how often things happen when least expected. 

Watercolour of Sasha.

 

In 1989 I painted several murals at the Pennsylvania Animal Hospital in Philadelphia.    It was a huge veterinary clinic, catering for small and large animals.       I worked there for about one month.

Just before the work was completed a lady suggested that I come and look at a little kitten that had been brought in that day.    As she put it….the kitten looked like she had fallen into a paint pot:)      

At the time I was living and working in my West Chester, Pennsylvania studio and already had two beautiful cats in residence.     My initial reaction was that it wouldn’t work to bring home a young kitten…….that was until I saw her………………………..

As I approached the cage the little kitten, who did indeed look like she had fallen into a paint pot….put her paw through the cage and touched me…..the rest was history:)

I remember the moment I took her into the studio….my Tom Cat, whose name was Tushy and this new, tiny kitten immediately bonded!   It was quite remarkable.     

Now named Sasha, the following four photographs show how close she and Tushy the Tom cat became.    He was so patient with her. 

 

By the way, every time I set up a still life in the studio…the cats would consider it their new place to hang out…

 

As we partake in the season’s festivities, its important to remember all of the refugees and  people around the world who have so little at this time.     By showing gratitude for what we have, is to acknowledge those with so much less. 

A Bientôt

 

 

 

Christeve the Cat finds her home…..

This is the true story of Christeve the Cat who found her home with Janet the Artist in the Magical Town of Crickadoon. 

In this portrait, Christeve looks like the cat who swallowed the canary…….:)

 

During a wild storm in The Magical Town of Crickadoon on Christmas Eve 1996, a little cat ran for shelter into a nearby cottage.

 

 

The cottage belonged to Janet the Artist.    After the storm had passed, Janet the Artist looked for the owners of the little cat, and was told that they had moved away two years before, and that the little cat had been homeless ever since. 

 

The little cat settled into the cottage immediately and because she had arrived on Christmas Eve…Janet the Artist named the little cat Christeve. 

 

Christeve and Janet the Artist lived very happily together.    Christeve would sit with Janet the Artist  as she painted, and of course Janet the Artist made many paintings of Christeve. 

 

Janet the Artist wrote a little book telling the story of how Christeve the Cat found her new home…….The story is all about trust, love and believing in the unseen magic in our world. 

    

Here is Christeve the Cat enjoying the comfort and warmth of her new home.      

 

A Bientôt

Tutorial 14 – Luscious colour

This quick warm up exercise is all about colour…..wonderful, luscious colour:)

 

Here’s what to do.

Frame 1.

I have Applied some glorious violet to the paper….Note that I have left a white area….and then while the paint is still very wet, I have allowed  some Permanent White Gouache to bleed into the wet paint, which provides a lovely fuzzy edge. 

 

 

Frame 2.

 

I add some strong pigment into the wet violet paint and allowing it to bleed and do its own thing…..Any colours can be used. 

 

Frame 3. 

I now add some more crimson into the mix. 

 

 

Frame 4.

Note that I am using Daniel Smith watercolours for this particular warm up.    They are more expensive, and in this case prove that you get what you pay for…..superb pigments, however any pigments and colours can be used for this exercise…

 

 

Frame 5

When I am testing new colours and pigments, I allow myself to PLAY….which unto itself makes for a superb warm up exercise. 

 

Happy Wednesday and happy painting.

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

 

 

The power of suggestion.

In these three quick watercolour, the power of suggestion is key. 

In this image, just as I have shown in my tutorials, I have applied juicy paint into the negative space which automatically reveals the figure.     I used the same colours in the background for shading and detail in the figure.    Remember all colour reflects.     The whites are dry white paper.  

 

This quote from Orson Wells could well apply to painting……..

‘I want to give the audience a hint of a scene.   No more than that.   Give them too much and they wont contribute anything themselves.   Give them just a suggestion and you get them working with you.’

 

Rapid watercolours allow me to capture the essence and show the major characteristic of my subject.      

 

Remember fifteen minutes of play a day:)

Happy painting. 

A Bientôt

Wednesday watercolour tutorial – 13

In this quick landscape exercise, I am using some of the same techniques used in my life paintings.    There are only a few basic techniques in watercolour painting.    The key is to master each technique and this only comes with practise. 

A friend and fellow artist sent me the beautiful gift of Schmincke Aquarelle Lasurorange translucent orange and so I thought I would try it out in this warm up exercise….and it is indeed a beauty. 

Frame 1

In this frame, I have suggested an horizon line and then wet the area above the horizon, leaving the paper beneath the horizon line completely dry. 

 

Frame 2.

I have loaded my brush with paint and introduced the colour just above the horizon line….allowing the paint to bleed.    For this I am using a mix of Cotman Dioxazine Violet and Alizirin Crimson

 

Frame 3.

I now introduce some of the Schmincke Lasuroragne and allow it to bleed to the top of the paper.   At the very top I have added a little Naples Yellow, which is a more opaque pigment.    I love the way transparent pigments work next to opaque pigments…again an idea to play with. 

 

Frame 4.

I now add some more juicy paint  (mix of Violet and Crimson) into the wet area at the horizon line.   Then I take a clean, wet brush and gently pull colour down into the dry area….note that I am leaving some areas of dry white paper next to the horizon line. 

This technique of using a clean, wet brush to pull out paint is possibly one of the best watercolour techniques….It helps to prevent muddiness!

 

 

Frame 5.

In this frame, using the violet and crimson mix, I indicate tree lines and field boundaries.     Note that I am leaving a lot of dry white paper.   I also bring some of the violet and crimson mix into the foreground for balance. 

It is also important to note, that I am allowing the paint in the sky to do its own thing at this point….I am not trying to manipulate the paint.  

 

Frame 6.

I now introduce some of the Schmincke Lasurorange into the foreground….Remember all colour reflects on its surroundings.

 

Frame 7.

Here are swatches of the colours used in this image.   Cotman series Dioxazine Violet, and Alizirin Crimon.   Schminkcke Lasurorange and Winsor & Newton artists grade Naples Yellow. 

 

Happy Painting. 

A Bientôt.