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

Advertisements

WAITING FOR THE TRAIN AT FORMBY – WATERCOLOUR SKETCH

Another sketch just to get the feel of the subject. I had come out of a life session and was getting the train home. The sunshine was bright and the figures were set in deep contrast making me get my camera out. If I do it again I must get the tracks right – it looks like a model railway and there isnt a conductor rail but the use of masking fluid to get the glinting tracks worked better than I thought it would.

Paintings of Formby and other townscapes are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

THE END OF HOPE STREET – ACRYLIC PAINTING

I wanted to do a townscape with a little more edge. This is based on Hope Street in Liverpool with a lot of paring away and more reliance on colour. I did the same scene in 2014 in a more conventional way when I started to do a set of Liverpool nightscenes. I exhibited a few but didnt get much response, though this one sold.

I feel the new version still lacks presence and I need to let go looser when building up the backdrop – so back to the drawing board, or in this case, canvas.

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

TREES AND CHIMNEY POTS IN LITTLE CROSBY – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

As I said in my last blog I completed one project – now on to the next … . This is a painting for a group show in November. I need eight paintings for it and I already have a couple. The event takes place in the old Manor Hall  of  Little Crosby. This is a small village set at the northern end of Liverpool. So last Monday morning being bright and sunny I got up early and headed down to the area near the exhibition. I had to take photos  of Little Crosby as this small lane gets choked with traffic on the school run – not a place to be painting plein air – I could barely cross the road. This will be one of two paintings of the village. I have painted the scene before and the morning light warming  the faces of the  stone built cottages – some as old as the 17th century – gives great passages of light and shade. More will follow.

Other paintings of Liverpool and Little Crosby are on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com

ST PETER’S CHURCH 2 + – WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS

Well, I did post a version of this before which was very similar. This is another for my exhibition of local views. I put the first one in an earlier exhibition and it sold – hence the revisit. I am particularly interested in getting this view in, as the exhibition will be held at my framer’s shop, which is opposite the far end of the church – so local interest.

As compensation for a repeated image, it is birthday season in these parts,  so here are a couple of cards I have painted for the celebrations.

 

Paintings of animal, vegetable and mineral subjects are available for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com or grahammcquadefineart.co.uk

SPRING EXPLODES ON WALMER ROAD – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

Yep, another of the local series. Perhaps it was the pollarded tree,  spearing its overgrown branches heavenward, emphasising the outpouring of spring growth, that caught my eye as I walked to the newsagents this early May day. It foretold days of promise with summer yet to come.

Fresh greens and yellows against  purpled shadows – it was pleading to be painted – I couldnt refuse.

Other scenes of Southport are available on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com and grahammcquadefineart.co.uk

 

 

 

BIRKDALE LIGHT – WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

Back to my build up of local paintings for the  Christmas exhibition. This is just around the corner from the location of some of the previous ones I have posted recently.  In fact, I posted a version of this particular view on one of my first blogs in November 2013. It sold and later I found out is was my next-door neighbour who bought it. That was a bigger painting in acrylic.

Since then things have changed and the grasping claw of big business has pushed itself amongst  the rows of independent traders that make up the commercial community. A Sainsburys opened a convenience supermarket on the other side of the road. The newsagent – next to where the two figures are standing – diversified and became a very popular real ale/cider/coffee shop ( you can see the segregated, outside seating area) when Sainsburys proposed the selling and delivery of newspapers. The cafe/bar still sells newspapers and runs delivery rounds, but now you can get a coffee, or something stronger, if you, like me, pick up your paper. It was a very shrewd move by the owner.

Other local Southport scenes can be found for sale on my website: grahammcquadefineart.com or grahammcquadefineart.co.uk