CAREY WITH DRAPE – PASTEL PAINTING

I went back to an old life drawing group and because you never know what time you have for a pose I took my pastels because I can get something quickly down with  colour. Fortunately the group decided to have a two hour pose, so I was able to work on a decent size and this means you can get some small details down which can give the painting  a bit more punch. The model was up on a plinth and I took a low position to exaggerate the foreshortening. I was quite happy with the outcome, although it was a shame I didn’t get her feet in, despite measuring out the painting before I started. Maybe next time.

THE BALANCE OF IMPROBABILITY – CARVED WOOD IN PEAR

A change of pace and materials. My old pear tree succumbed to honey fungus and I got myself a new one and decided to make something out of the trunk. As it wasn’t very big I was a bit limited to subject and thought about carving a backbone. In the end I opted for the easy option.

Other carvings and ceramics are on my website grahammcquadefineart,com

A LITTLE PEACE AND QUIET ON LORD STREET SOUTHPORT- WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

The bandstand on Lord Street is a well known landmark in Southport. A few years ago we staged some art exhibitions here, displaying our paintings around the bandstand. We sold a few paintings on the first morning but very little thereafter. It was very cold standing around in May and after a couple of years of poor sales we gave up.

It was only when I looked at the photo that I saw that the area behind the bandstand could better blend in with the shrubbery around. I will need to get the brushes out again.

There are other paintings of Southport on grahammcquadefineart.com

THE WAY BACK FROM AINSDALE BEACH – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

I saw an image of pine trees in the winter, after a snowfall,l and I was taken by the soft cool colours denoting the background trees. I decided to have a go, but when I completed it the trees were not native to the UK and I was not happy with the foreground trees, they lacked some authenticity. I had another go, this time making the pines our local variety and felt happier with the result. As there are a lot of pine trees behind the sand dunes on the nearby beaches, I decided to  ground it in our local area with the title. I have done a number of forest scenes with mixed success, some sell others don’t. I think the darkness of the subject  puts people off. Still I’m happy with the outcome and might do a few more.

 

CAMBRIDGE ARCADE, SOUTHPORT – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

On my wanderings around town I was taken by the contra-jour effect of figures walking in the arcade. The cafe blinds added further darkness making the lighter area brighter and the soft shadows cast by the people seem to imply a wetness.

Other townscapes can be seen on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

LORD STREET, SOUTHPORT, ON A SUMMER’S DAY – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

I went into Southport to get some more information for a painting I was working on and then wandered around with my camera. I have done a similar scene to this in winter, when the trees are leafless and the sun comes in low at the end of the road you see. The light can be fabulous.  I was pleased with that earlier painting. This one got a bit too busy, even though I started out determined to cut out the detail. The other painting is on my website grahammcquadefineart.com in the sold painting section

MALE AND FEMALE FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS – PEN AND INK WASHES

I have been trying some pen and wash work at the life drawing sessions I attend with mixed results.Here are two. The male was done in pencil, then with an ink wash. I am disappointed with this. The clear lines on the female done with the pen gives some clear demarcation which I prefer. I will be trying some more. Each one was completed in 25 minutes.

Other figurative work is on grahammcquadefineart.com

MORNING AT SCARISBRICK – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

I have done this painting before, but not in this format. I still have the paintings as they didn’t sell. I thought that I would redo it focussing on the gap between the narrowboats and the nearest trees. See how this goes in the exhibition. I have always been fond of the subject with its muted colours, although this time spiced it up with a bit of yellow which I continued into the trees. You can only try.

Other canal scenes are on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

WESLEY STREET, SOUTHPORT – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

I was sorting out all my sketchbooks and getting rid of all the rubbish and I needed some folders to store the extracts. I had just come out the shop with my folders and turned into Wesley Street and with the sun shining the place had a continental feel with all the blinds down and the buildings painted in different shades. I didn’t have a camera, but I came back another day and got a shot, although the sun wasn’t out then, but I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted. The painting did get a bit fragmented with all  the flags and flowers etc, but I did fight to tone it down and focus on the row of shops and the awnings.

Wesley Street is a collection of independent traders fighting to stay viable in the face of multinationals, out of town megastores and the draconian parking policy the council impose. As you can see they have done a lot to make the street welcoming.

Other townscapes and views of Southport are on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com