Some say green is a soothing colour and, like everything in art, others differ. Well this view had a calming effect on me – though, perhaps it was the subject not the hue. I originally did this in watercolour, sitting on a wall in the Cotswolds early one morning and posted it in Two More From the Cotswolds a few weeks ago. This time I wanted to focus on the tracks made by the tractor which I omitted originally.
I was in Green Park in London last Saturday. We had just come out of the Royal Academy after seeing the summer exhibition and were walking through the park to the Mall. Most people were sitting in the sun but this group had pulled their deck chairs into the shade and were in deep debate. I might have another go at the grass by the deck chair. As I look at it now, writing this, I feel it could do with a bit better finish, but I do like the overall feel to it.
Well someone once said that great art moves the viewer…
The troll is very moved. Hopping. Frothing.
It announced in one of its missives that it was angry. Then, in subsequent messages, it seemed to get lost for words, so could only issue one word expletives to express this rage.
But the fact remains that Troll was truly energised by my last offering causing it to pound the keyboard with its hooves in what might be described as a religious fervour. My paintings certainly seem to have moved the fascist art ayatollah. Therefore you must be viewing great art.
To tell the truth I think that this concept is silly. If you create a hierarchy – ie even good bad and indifferent – you need a universal, objective measure – there is none. There’s just different art.
Though not much different in this offering I’m afraid. My second go at the begonias. I also had a mad dash at some gladioli, see below. Hope troll is impressed. I’ve a reputation to maintain…
I’ve been staying away from life drawing of late. It started after coming back from holiday and then through putting on my solo exhibition and just continued. I am certainly underwhelmed by the lack of thought applied by the people who run them. which results in stiff poses and poor lighting and demotivates me further. But this week I took a deep breath and launched myself into a couple of sessions. I’m not sure how long this will last.
The above model got so relaxed that she nodded off – so I started adding watery effects.
I had a painting of begonias that I liked, but it never sold ( see below) so I felt maybe I should do another version. As my floral paintings have been a bit hit and miss of late, I got hold of an old painting, turned it over and tried out a sketch on the reverse. Here it is. I was quite pleased with the result. There are a few things that I could and should change – so be warned the final one may be coming your way soon.
I had a bit of time to get out and do some sketches in the last few days. This one is a view from Bexhill to Hastings, in the distance, on a bright summer’s evening after the dark clouds had passed.
This is one from Hastings of an old lighthouse ( built around 1850 to replace an earlier one) which stands on the West Hill over the beach where they pull the fishing boats up on. There is also another light below it on the beach. The idea is returning boats line the upper and lower lights up as they approach the beach which means they have a safe passage past the submerged rocks. Now they beach on a different location and this lighthouse is redundant.
Here is one of the fishing boats on the beach waiting for the tide or fish quotas to reset before setting off again.
With family issues dominating of late I have had little time to paint. The day before yesterday we sat on Cooden Beach in Sussex and I sketched this scene with part of Beachy Head in the background – rather a sparse scene, I’m afraid, but time constraints pressed.
I also manage a couple of abstract pastel landscapes. I was just playing around with a loose idea, but when I reflected on the outcome, I was disappointed to see a woodland scene had evolved. Hopefully I can build on this – it certainly wasnt the vision I had in mind when I started. It never fails to amaze me how the mechanics of the process can take over and lead you away from where you wanted to be.
I know I put one of these out in May, but it has been sitting in my pile of dissatisfaction since. Then the other day I felt I knew what to do, so I had another go. Whether this is the case, time will tell, but at the very least I feel I have advanced the cause.
I have missed some sunny mornings of late due to other commitments or sheer laziness, so guilt nudged me from my bed the other morning when the sun was shining bright and early.
I had decided to go to a specific spot as there was a scene that had caught my eye on a previous outing. The trouble was when I got there the effect was different. I suspect the trees had filled out and the light effect had vanished.
Anyway, after searching about I found another couple of spots to sit and paint and I enjoyed a tranquil morning in the summer warmth, serenaded by birdsong and fortified by a flask of tea.
It’s a dirty business, but someone’s got to do it.
A few years ago I reroofed my garage which entailed reboarding it. I had a lot of off-cuts and, being naturally parsimonious, I stored them, despite having no idea of what to do with them. A couple of months ago an idea trickled into my head and after a few sketches and a pretty useless maquette, I came up with this. I still need to do a bit more filling and then paint it to give it some weather proofing.
Yesterday it came out of the workshop and I thought I would try it out on the centre of the lawn – the wife didnt complain too loudly, so that was some kind of victory.
With the sun shining, the facets were accentauted, so I thought I might as well photo it and post the images. I am quite pleased with the outcome – so long as those pigeons dont use it as a perch…
graham mcquade 