Cheddar Gorge Framed

Munch-esque

A work in progress I started in Wells, Somerset. Someone commented that it looked like a Munch painting, this happened quite by accident as I was painting this completely free hand with no particular thoughts as to style rather simply the composition of figure in foreground leading to the stand of trees above.

Forest In Progress

A few blogies ago I posted a picture of a finished painting of a forest, it was inspired by the time I spent in Cornwall and in Wells were it was finished. I am currently working on a second one started in Wells and inspired by the forests around there.

These are a couple of images of how its going, I am trying to get the sense of light and dark. The psychological feeling of being in the forest is important to me too.

Old Artworks

Here are some old artworks I have made over the past few years and given to my parents. I was interested how they had been framed and how this had really made some of the pictures into something quite different. I have never really thought about framing, it always seemed a little fuddy duddy to me, it does however make some things I have done (particularly the ones rough around the edges which with some older things I have done is most...) look a lot better.

Hard Ground etching on Hannemule paper. Early 2008 I think.. The date's on the back under framing! I like the colour of the frame matched the ink used in the print. It's of a forest near where my parents stay in Cornwall called Tehidy Wood. It has some very unusual snake like coppiced trees growing there. I think this was the third print I ever made, it's interesting how your style changes.

Grandad (2007) a picture of my Grandad for my mum. The crazy colours above Grandads head perhaps a sign of something to come. Again it's interesting how as an artist your style and competence develops.

Forest path 2007. The technique I used to make this painting is one I have used on others in subtle areas and it's one I like. Without getting into unnecessary detail it involves paint and varnish.. There, no unnecessary details. The subject is a forest path near Dundee with sharp contrast between light and dark. I really like the framing, I picked it and never saw it after I left Cornwall that summer so last week was the first time I have seen it in over a year. I will definitely remember this method of framing for the future.

Ardnamurachan 2007. Acrylic on board. Done after visiting the place that year, very beautiful I remember it from when i went there first time.

In case you are worried I have given up my older subjects and interests for woodlands from recent posts, fear not! I always seemed to make these paintings of more 'natural' subjects over summer to augment my other painting interests. I suppose they are more personal, I don't think I have ever showed these in public. Regardless I have so many, so many, so many ideas most of which are ludicrous and massive which I plan to make once I have a studio/metal/cogs.....

Wells Update

I am still in Wells, it has been great so far. I am using my time to document what I see and try to do as many paintings as I can (out of a suitcase that isn't always easy but it is fun). Anyway here are some pics I have taken in the past couple of weeks

Wells

Greetings!

I post from Wells, Somerset.

Not having none of the internets floating around the pub we are staying in to hijack I am forced to write from a Starbucks.

Thought I'd share a couple of photos I and Roz have taken of the place, it is very beautiful. I like all the medieval buildings there are around, although I am not hugely into religious buildings the ones here are very impressive.

I have also been working on some paintings but thanks to not being able to find some acrylics I am using oils.. I like the oils when in a studio but a little more frustrating when sitting in a bog. Even so I have been using the slow drying time to work on several things at once. The idea being I can return to the same spot several times to finish a drawing/painting and see how that changes over time. Nothing spectacular so far but I think I will use the drawings in future paintings.

Wells Cathedral, medieval sculptures on the outside. The sculptures are really beautiful, it's quite amazing to see so many figures on the outside of the building which are so old. I have a deep interest in the medieval so the strange poses and faces of these figures are fascinating to me.

Ye olde gateway, leads to the main entrance to the cathedral (this pic and one above courtesy of Roz McKenzie!)

The forests around here are really fantastic, very inspiring. Having been in Edinburgh for so long I forgot just how much I enjoy walking through mud and branches and leaves in the cold. The autumn is undoubtedly the most beautiful time in the 'wild' for me.

A view of the cathedral at night, kind of reminded me of Caspar David Friedrich's paintings. Although not what I would normally paint I appreciated the view all the same.

The forest is about 2 minutes walk from where we are staying. I took this photo at around 6pm when the sun was going down. I have been enjoying sitting in the woods with paints and drawing in situ. The different moods and light on the trees have been inspiring. I plan to make a load of paintings from sketches when I get back to Edinburgh as well as finishes works made in the forest. Very exciting!

Works in Progress

Hello! Sorry for the long absence between posts, between moving flat, working full time and getting logistics ready for our 12 months traveling it has been difficult to do much painting! Despite my excuses I have been working on a few paintings, 3 of which aren't far on enough to warrant being posted on here just yet..

It's always interesting I think to look at your/other paintings in progress, for example I saw a painting at the recent 'Spain' exhibition in the Nat Gallery Edinburgh (whose title escapes me) which I thought looked very good (if not better!) for not being finished. It was also very interesting in a historical sense as you could see how the artist built up the layers of the painting.

Here's a work in progress, probably 80% finished. Very precise percentage I know but thats how I roll..

The painting is part of a series I am doing on forests, a subject that I have always loved. I think I share Max Ernsts interest in the forest, their enchantment and the strong sense of place that I feel from them.

With this painting I am interested in trying to capture an idea of 'Night and Day' in the forest, one third bathed in sunlight the other two thirds in darkness. The idea came about from a couple of ideas, firstly my own experience investigating forests in Scotland and throughout Britain. The way in which the trees can create a sort of nighttime feel during the day under the canopy. It also came from fairytales, I was interested in the way stories throughout history have portrayed forest as being 'dark' and 'light'.

Another unfinished work, this one also looking at the forest. I am only just starting to build up the layers of trees in this one but I will again be looking at aspects of light in the forest.