FALLING WATER – ACRYLIC SKETCH

Another sketch for the proposed commission based on Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. Though I have a foreboding as I havent heard from them for over a week. This was one they said they liked. Silence can be a sign that something is wrong. Though I did have a commission a few years ago, where there were great spells of silence. It was only when they came to pick up the finished painting, about a year after we started the commission, that they told me the painting was a present for a family member in Canada. The other siblings were clubbing together to buy it and agreement was needed at each stage. If only they had told me at the outset, It would have spared me some anxiety. Then, I find many people assume you know what is going on in their head.

Above is another sketch I produced based on Robie House in Chicago. This one was less enthusiastically received.

This issue, when it comes on the back of an exhibition where I didnt sell anything, just chips away at your confidence. Hard times are now with us with the economic situation and paintings are first to go. I suppose I should hunker down and just enjoy my painting, painting for myself and the fun of it. Having said that I did complete a commission for a friend, but I cant show that as it is from a picture he took off a newspaper.

Still, if you are looking for a painting, check out my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

WAITING TO CROSS THE STRAND 2 – ACRYLIC PAINTING

I read an article by the artist, Colin Brown, detailing his approach to cityscapes. I thought that it could help energise my own work. As with many such demonstrations, there were aspects that I didn’t like, but his starting point seemed interesting. I suppose I had unconsciously used a similar approach in my life painting, but Brown provided a coherent structure that I felt was worth investigating.

So here is my first attempt, applying some of his methodology. The subject is the Strand on the Liverpool waterfront. Here you need to cross this very busy road to get from the city centre to the old dock buildings which have now been converted to shops, restaurants, apartments, arenas, art galleries and museums.

I wanted to contrast the people waiting at the crossing to the heavy traffic and the business of the early evening activities going on around and of course reference part of the Liver Building.

I originally did a version in pastel and it got used in a book on Liverpool, published a few years ago.

But despite being published the painting never sold. So this time I changed the angle and featured the highrise, which is supposed to reflect an ocean liner, and also pushed more colour into the piece.

As I’ve said many times before – you can but try.

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

SUNSET ON LORD STREET – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

A view I’ve done before, but this time I thought I would make more of the sunset and it’s effects. I’ve used the woman crossing the road with her shopping bags in another painting, but she fits in well here.

I think I’ve mentioned before, in earlier blogs, how the sunset in winter months is quite spectacular on Lord Street, the main street in Southport, where I live. I also spotted the light reflecting off the surface of a puddle in the gutter and, if nothing else, that was reason enough for me to do a painting.

Other townscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

FISHERMAN’S TALE – ACRYLIC PAINTING

Maybe it’s the time of year; approaching winter solstice, summer so far away. I spotted some old photos of balmy days in France. Enjoying a drink, chewing the fat and watching the world go by. This was the combination of a cafe and town scene.

It took me a while to knit together. I took an outline sketch with me to the pop up gallery on Friday and with only 22 visitors was glad of the puzzle to occupy my day. I only finished it this morning, on Sunday. It’s highly probable I may make further changes, but at this moment I am happy with it. I hope it brings you all a spot of warmth and anticipation at this time of year and as it a confection of images, it truly is a Fisherman’s Tale.

Other urban scenes and townscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefinearts.com

ON THE STREET WHERE I LIVE – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

Well it’s actually a Drive where I live – but Alan Lerner apparently lived on a street- so you do what you have to, to make the title work.

I was putting the bins out the other day and looked up the Drive to see the autumn sun piercing the remaining leaves on the sycamore trees and patterning the pavement. I thought that it would make a good painting.

I added the dog walker as a focal point. There are plenty of them about as evidence on the pavement abounds.

Other townscapes are available for sale 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

 

 

LUNCHTIME IN BRYANT PARK – WATER PAINTING

I did a painting of Bryant Park in Manhattan in July 2014 which eventually sold but subsequently  still got a lot of hits on my blog and website. So I decided to do another. In the bustle and noise of downtown New York, I loved the light coming in through the leaves on the autumn trees and the pigeons meticulously patrolling the ground for crumbs.

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

EASTER BLESSINGS – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

We wandered into Santiago Cathedral on Easter Sunday, sightseeing and unaware of the time. When we got in there was a service taking place, so we walked around the outside, but coming down the outside aisle came a procession with the head man. With incense and crosses they marched past us and I turned towards the main door and saw a lad holding out his hand. In the light there seemed a sense of spirituality, even to me.

Other paintings are 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