THE CLAYTON PLACE FRUIT STALL – ACRYLIC PAINTING

Another in the style of Colin Brown, the same style used in the painting I recently posted : Waiting to Cross the Strand. Except that it isnt in that style. It certainly started that way, but my good intentions were quickly usurped by my own usual methods and this is the outcome. I think it was the detail that forced me to get tighter.

Though it’s not to say I am unhappy with the result. I rather like it and it has some things going for it that please me.

The subject is, as you can see, the fruit stall. This comes into view when you exit the main entrance from Central Station in Liverpool. Central Station is the hub of the city’s rapid transport system, not he mainline station. The stall is in a bit of a down at heel alley that links to a new shopping precinct. When the sun shines on it, though, the stall seems to glow and this is what I have captured here.

It is also a welcome addition to my Liverpool Series.

Other Liverpool scenes are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

NEVER SECOND GUESS A JUDGING PANEL – WATERCOLOUR AND PASTEL PAINTINGS

Before Christmas there was a call for paintings of Liverpool for a book entitled The Liverpool Art Book. The authors have done a number of other cities starting with the Cambridge Art Book. They use quirky media such as CAD, collage and screen print etc so I thought my images might be a little staid. I also thought that they would want images of major landmarks.

This week they got back to me and said that they wanted copies of two of my paintings. One was a watercolour that could be of anywhere. I called it Shopping Can Create a Thirst and it was from images taken in Liverpool One (the main shopping area in Liverpool). I was pleased with the painting – but I actually threw it in the entry by accident.

I suppose the second one was more what I thought that they might want – it was a pastel of the area close to the waterfront

It is called Crossing the Strand and shows the Liver Building in the Background.

I have posted both these paintings in the past, but I must admit their selection was a bit of a surprise. Still at least I got two in. The book is supposed to come out later in the year.

Other, more unsurprising paintings of Liverpool can be found on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

WAITING TO CROSS THE STRAND – PASTEL PAINTING

I wanted to try some more townscapes and get a little more rawness into the image. This is one of Liverpool with the Liver Building silhouetted in the background. I have done this view before and put it on the blog,  but getting figures in this time and making them prominent gives the image more depth and vitality.

Other townscapes including those of Liverpool are available on my website grahammcquadefineart.com

 

 

LIVERPOOL IN THE WET – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

I have been asked to do a number of demonstrations recently, I think I mentioned a woodland scene earlier in the month which I need to do in a few weeks time. Someone else wants a demo on the subject of a townscape in the new year. I was unsure of which subject to tackle and thought I might try redoing a painting I posted in December last year. I made a few changes on this one to speed the process up and in fact I prefer this version to the first one I did.

The subject is good in that it allows me to complete it in a number of washes with the minimum of detail and so I can do it fast and this one was done in just over an hour. I believe I am performing after the AGM, so time might be of the premium. It reminds me of a demo I did a few years ago for  a Round-Table group, who let slip fairly close to the demo that they generally allowed 20 minutes for the speaker. I had to relook at the landscape I had prepared to see where I could shave time. In the event I completed the demo in 19 minutes.

I reckon I have a little more time on this one, but I think the hairdryer might have to do its stuff to keep the momentum going. In the meantime I am considering doing a less frenetic version for sale on my website.

Other scenes of Liverpool are also available  for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

THE END OFA SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN LIVERPOOL 1- ACRYLIC PAINTING

Normally I am in Liverpool early on a Saturday, but as my daughter came up for a few days to stay we went into the city for an early evening meal and before I met up with them I wandered around with my camera. Fortunately it rained and the reflections on the wet pavements really added to the atmosphere. I really liked the youths hanging around the newsagent and the reflected light coming past their bodies. I hear its going to be a wet Saturday tomorrow, so I might get back down, but in any case there may be a few more shots in the camera.

Other city  paintings are available on my website grahammcquadefineart.com

 

SHOPPING CAN CREATE A THIRST – LIVERPOOL 1 – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

This is another painting in the café series.However, it could also be part of the Liverpool paintings I have been doing. Last week I had been walking around the Liverpool Biennial, looking at all the art we have in the city, and I was coming back through Liverpool One (The latest shopping precinct) on the way to the railway station, when I turned and saw this. The people were making the most of the good weather and having a drink outside.

Other Liverpool paintings are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com