Winter Feeding set...

Just finished these two little 9 x 9" paintings this morning - probably not be too popular at the moment as everyone has had a bellyful of snow and don't want any more!! Come the summer, maybe???

Stirling Art Club's Pastel Demonstration

Friday's evening's pastel demonstration was pastel with a difference - working on 300lb Arches rough w/c paper, I did the underpainting in layers of translucent watercolour washes, then started working pastel into this while the washes were still damp. This is the stage I took it to, for the benefit of the group to come up close at the end and see how much the w/c plays an important role in the 'painerly' development of the picture. Now it's back in the studio, and I have contemplated it for a weekend, I am ready to develop it further - I do believe it could be a rather nice gallery piece as it has some good beginnings!!

new shoots spreading....

No - not just in the garden, but at Shinafoot! We are starting this Autimn with a series of short-break painting packages with Acarsaid Hotel in Pitlochry, offering full board, accommodation, and painting tuition, in a fantastic Perthshire setting. Watch this space for more news and let us know if you are interested....

Working from sketches

Just checking out a few sketches from previous trips to Malta, Tuscany & Venice and working on a few paintings from these...watch the progress of the boat..it is a dghajsa - typical Maltese boat. Will be working from these at this weekend's workshop 'Painting from Photos'

The pastel is only on stage 1 so will continue for the group and post the stages

After the Rain Venice

Still working on some figurative works for new exhibitions in April...here is the latest

Weekend distractions

gardening has dragged me out of the studio.....it is the first weekend it has been mild enough to get outside and a massive tidy-up is in order...can't leave it all to Malc! Went to garden centre for an purple acer, and came back with 2, and 6 new rhododendrons, all going at half price...we HAVE to stop buying plants!!!!! Back to studio tomorrow and will show the new gondolieri painting that's on the easel...WILL finish it tomorrow as I am teaching Tuesday ( and I've still to paint those flowers from Mothers' Day!

Oops...

In my enthusiasm to photograph the painting, I forgot to correct the oar on the gondola!!!

Sidetracked!

I know i know - I said I would definately paint Mel's Mothers' Day flowers today but I did get some incentive to do some figurative work, as Di Rollo Gallery in Edinburgh are asking for some new work!! I LOVE any excuse to paint from my Venetian ideas!! Can't think of a title though....any suggestions?

Old paintings revisited

You know that awful feeling when you see something you painted years ago and it ebarrasses you because (thank goodness!) you've improved? Well, now and then I find something that I have refused to clear out of the drawer because it still had 'potential' and this is one...simply becasue I was looking for a 3rd painting to hang in the Kenmore Club reception area, and had this local beauty spot field study, and thought 'aha!...this could do!!'

I AM quite pleased with it, I must confess!!

Good company - good location

This field study was done on the balcony of the Kenmore Hotel in Perthshire, while Maggie Price was over last year teaching with her Richeson group - the fun part about popping over to see Maggie was watching her demo, but then also working with Urania Christy tarbet next to me on the hotel balcony, painting the bridge over the River Tay. It threatened rain a few times, but we persisted in working outdoors under the eaves of the hotel roof!!

Sometimes the field studies go no further, but as I was looking for work of the area to put in the reception area at the Kenmore Club Timeshare Resort, it seemed a good opportunity. However I thought some of my bloggers and FB friends would appreciate the story behind it!

APF

Forgot to add the paintings!

Art du Pastel en France

The submission date for Art du Pastel en France Giverny exhibition is drawing near and I am about to send off these two little pastels for the exhibition....was delighted to become a member a few years ago after being invited as a 'Guest of Honour'. One of my ambitions is to go paint at Giverny, so it is so exciting to think the paintings will be there even if I have not made it yet!!! These are little 10 x 10" pieces, sending them unframed and they will supply frame for them...fingers crossed!!

Still playing

Still playing around with this one...it IS coming...the water is better - nearly there!!!

TCT event in Edinburgh

The Teenage Cancer Trust is holding a big event in Edinburgh tomorrow evening where 5 of my paintings will be on sale for fund raising...I do hope we have success! Next week, there will also be a grand 'Sportmen's Dinner' in Edinburgh where the attached painting will be auctioned also, alongside a John Bellany, and JoLoMo painting...two of the top Scottish contemporary painters of the moment - so I am in good company!!