HAPPY NEW YEAR!

GREETINGS - THIS BLOG CONTAINS NO GIMMICKS

IT IS SIMPLY A WISH FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE THE BEST, HAPPIEST, BRIGHTEST, BOLDEST, HEALTHIEST, HAPPIEST, MOST PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR YOU EACH CAN.

AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE MADE A RESOLUTION TO HAVE A GO AT ART IN THE NEW YEAR, PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING PIECE OF ADVICE

I WILL BE WATCHING YOU!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME IN 2009

PAUL

Black Coffee

Why, hello there!

You all know I like to start off with a welcome to new followers of the blog, after all, it's only right - you have made the effort, and today I welcome BJ and Carl - you are very welcome, and I appreciate your support.

Still sober? Why? - (Oh it's only a bit of fun, don't go getting upset.) But, if you are, this will be the best blog you have ever read! If you need to have a black coffee, then go get one now.

Only a couple days left to the New Year, and if I'm honest, I reckon I think more of this time than the rest of the holidays. We all have different thoughts, beliefs etc. and I think the end of the year certainly does mark some form of closure on many things, and the chance of new projects and experiences in the year ahead.

As some sort of artistic resolution - there are projects I would like to get more involved with:

• making more of the Life Drawing Class and progressing with my watercolours, concentrating on upper torso's as opposed to trying to get a full pose in during the allotted time;
• trying more portraits in acrylics;
• more cartoons, maybe some gouache and pen and ink samples too;
• a couple of larger acrylics done on hardboard (a surface a enjoy working on);
• and lastly, consider exhibiting my work a little more.

That sounds enough to me - we cannot all be masters of all things, even though at times we may all try, but it's the trying and succeeding that is half the fun of it!

Here is a small selection of what I have done so far at the Life Drawing Class, and as the weeks go by, I want to show some form of improvement. If you look at these too, you will be able to see things where I have gone wrong, and try work out improvements for yourselves, sort of an online class where we work together.

This one I found hard to get his left foot looking something like, which spoils what was turning out to be fairly reasonable work. The colours I was happy with, and this chap has the reddest head of anyone in the world I have ever seen! Before anyone asks - not just reflected from the red blanket.

Well here we are, the last two pictures for today, and I hope you can see something in them. They were both on the same sheet, but I have cropped them somewhat.

They are both done on the Saunders Waterford 300lb Rough paper. Skin tones I feel are getting there, made with my usual mix as described in one of the previous posts. But I hope you can see the pale tones as opposed to the richer one in the male above, done on the Turner 140lb paper - the difference is quite clear I think.

Right - that's enough for this post I reckon.
Time to close methinks.


The figures I know are not perfect by any means - it was the first time I had seen a female nude model and I was shy! But there is something there - and with plenty of practice and some committment on my part, they may well get there yet.

Until next time - whatever your art - enjoy it, and why not make your own resolution and pick that pencil or brush up and have a go!

Regards,

Paul

Wind Down?

Seasonal Felicitations to you all.

Hi everyone. As I usually try and do first off, here's a very big welcome to my new blog followers at the time of typing - Rachael, Sheila, Roger and Angus. Thank you, I do appreciate it, and I hope you enjoy it.

It's Xmas Eve, and I'm hoping that you are just about ready for it all - basically just sat clock watching, waiting for the starting gun to fire. And then? Well especially if you have small children, all hell breaks loose! Why do they never get up that early when it's school? Even if you don't have children, it still seems the same somehow, maybe we are, and always will be, nothing but Big Kids. Hopefully, if you have been good - you may just get some of the art materials you have asked for!

Post title is "Wind Down", and I'm wondering if you actually do something like that if you are of an artistic or creative sort. Do you halt, draw a line under things just because it's the year end? Probably not - it's a lot of wasted effort if you are part way through any work, then you stop it just because the end is nigh! But everyone is different, and there are subtle changes that some people may make. Some actually love to get outside or work from cards or photo's of lovely winter scenes. I suffer from the SAD syndrome, so each thing I work on has to be of a "bright" matter. That means bold, bright colours, or warm subjects. So the one thing I do not do is snow covered olde worlde landscapes.

Me at this time? Well, I'm just copying out and reworking some pen and ink sketches I did a couple of years ago, now having a go at watercolouring them. They are old tools, primarily used for cutting local peat - though everyone makes the best use of what they have, and they were probably used for other things too. I love historical things, and often imagine what tales they could tell if able to. Luckily I was fortunate enough to hold these items, and to get a real idea of what they were all about. Fascinating!

What I am saying, is although I do not relish this time of year weather wise, I can use the time to think of, and work on more cheery subjects for me as an individual. Using this line of thought, I work on smaller things, and use them as practice subjects - getting used to the new papers, paints and brushes I have purchased over the last few months. Having simple items like a 2B pencil, putty rubber and good paper is all that is really needed.

Actually, I was talking to a good friend today who said one of her relatives was an artist, and she had wanted to have a go herself. So I told her to just get the above items and simply have a go - copy as neat or loose as you want, simply shading in the darker areas with varying degrees of pressure. One tip here - do not use a sharpened pencil - that's for writing! Cut back some of the wood and leave a longer end to the pencil - mines about 1/2 inch, then use the pencil on it's side. Sounds wierd at first, and can be awkward to get used to, but it works a lot better when you get the hang of it. If you want to get really technical - using your pencil this way, gets you to use your nails to rest on the paper with, thus avoiding getting any grease or dirt off your hands on to your paper. Finally - always draw very lightly on your paper with your initial efforts until you are happy with the result, then you can start to press on harder. By drawing lightly, it's so much easier to rub out if you have to, and doesn't leave a mess or "dirty" marks.

Right - that's enough for this blog, or I'll have nothing to tell you next time!

Please have a very Merry Xmas, and an even better New Year! Regards to you all.

Paul

A Very Interesting Update

Hello there!

Blog read = tea-break, so pull up a chair, get a brew, and pop on your fave pair of slippers.

First a mention and welcome to 2 of my blog's new followers, Amanda-Jade and Matthew. Thanks for taking the trouble to follow - I appreciate it, and I hope you enjoy what you get to read.

Tuesday's promised report did not happen as I was unexpectedly snowed (oh it is winter) under with other things to do, and Wednsesday, well, I was rather ill, to be polite, and spent all day asleep and doing nothing!

So, today it is then. On Monday evening I took along one 1/4 Imperial size sheet of the Saunders Waterford 300lb paper, as I knew the first pose at least would be fast and furious! Try it for yourselves; sit down and take just 1 minute (timed, and no cheating now) to draw, sketch or even suggest something. It's not as easy as you think. Another couple of quick 1 minute poses, and we were all loosened up, and we set off for the luxury that is a 5 minute pose.

For this, it was time to break out the new paper! And as if by magic (how many remember Mr Ben?), the Hahnemuhle paper appeared. I find it to be a good handy size to carry about and to work on. It's a glued pad of 140lbs paper, and a good looking surface to work on it is too, obviously smoother, but also much brighter. My first impressions were that it takes a good covering of wash without running too much, and I'm not sure that I changed my skin tones any, but they seemed to keep more of their colour, not paling out as with the Saunders Waterford. As I continued working the rest of the colours all appeared brighter, and having more "life" so for me, it is looking like the paper of choice for this type of work. The SW paper is an excellent paper for landscape work, and one I will continue to use for that purpose.

One point on using watercolours; there is a big divide between watercolour artists about using white in their work and others who do not. I have never, ever used white in my still lifes or landscapes, but, for skin tones especially, I do not think that you can beat having white in a mix of cadmium red and either cadimium or lemon yellow. Just my observation.

Having worked my way through a couple of 5 minute poses, it was on to the "big one" - the 40 minute pose which always ends the sessions. The previous few poses had been good, I had enjoyed them and had begun to understand how the paper reacted to different situations (please note begun, and not fully) and so was feeling that little bit more confident in continuing. Now it was just down to me and my ability, so, brush loaded with a light coloured skin toned paint, it was off to draw in my initial sketching.............

I really enjoyed working with this paper, and will continue using it again for my life drawing group. One thing for certain though, is that I will deffinately be ordering some more. Perhaps in the future I will see what it's like for working still life's on, and maybe the odd bit of landscaping. There is also the probability of using it come next spring when I can sit outside and attempt some watercolours of my hens. There is also the interesting thought of using it with ink pens etc!

Hope this has been of some interest to you, and please remember that these are only my personal thoughts.

Until next week - whatever your art - enjoy it.

Paul

Spanners?

Hiya - put your brushes down and grab a cuppa.

As one of my dearest friends would say "hummm". The last couple of posts have been about my finding some sort of parity with my materials for these life drawing sessions. And, to be honest, I thought I had. However, just when I thought that all of my equipment was coming along all nice and organised like - I go and throw a potential spanner in the works.

There are no problems between my brushes and I - we get along just fine. The old saying that a tradesman never blames his tools stands, and my brushes are good ones. My paints and me are at one with each other. I respect their colouring potential, and they respect that they can stain my clothing.

Last piece in the partnership is my paper. For as long as I can remember, or more like since the last time I bought any, I have used Saunders Waterford 300lb rough. A truly grand paper - one I heartily recommend. Enjoyable though it is to use, I am not sure I have the experience to get the best out of it in the time allowed in these sessions, and have thought about using a smoother textured, lighter paper. Something that I can work with quickly, and gives me enough coverage with the amount of paint mixed to use for each pose.

So, last week, after taking things into consideration, I ordered some. Having previously used and enjoyed the Hahnemuhle bamboo paper primarily for gouache works, but also some acrylics, I decided to give their watercolour paper a try. Eventually I decided on some of their "Turner" 140lbs paper -10 sheets, roughly 9.4" x10.6" in size, in a glued pad.

How much excitement can you all stand I ask? A report from tomorrow nights session, plus some technical info on new papers too; will you or be able to sleep. Me? Oh yeah - definately!

Until Tuesday then, whatever your art - please enjoy it responsibly, and remember - a canvass is not just for Xmas - it's for painting on!

Paul

The Next Installement

Hi everyone - how's things?

Firstly today I have to welcome 3 new followers of this, my humble blog.

I am unsure if I welcomed Marie when she joined or not - and it's very remiss of me, so - Marie - you are very welcome! There are also 2 more recent followers, they being Phil and Jayne - and a really big welcome to you both too. Thank you all for having taken the trouble, and I do appreciate it. Don't forget, if you know of anyone else who may be interested in joining, then please guide them through the process.

Since Monday I have been practicing with some of the flesh tones and subtle changes that I have encountered at the life drawing sessions. The time I have spent at this venture has now started to come in really handy, as I continue on a couple of acrylics that I am currently working on. Both have fleshy tones and shadows to try and work on, and I hope that I have been able to give them some justice.

This coming Monday is the last one of the current session at the Life Drawing group, so I will have to try and get some good stuff down on my papers to carry me over the end of year break. Talking of that - wonder if Santa will bring me any art supplies or arty related stuff. Probably end up with another Paint By Numbers kit from one of my cheeky friends! Doh!

I have had a think (medication on the way), and there is an amount of my work that people have not seen for one reason or another. So, starting in January I will upload at least one image per week for you to look at, and hopefully enjoy. Some of the images in earlier posting of this blog will be repeated (it sounds like the BBC) but more people will be able to see all of my work over time.

Next post next week after Monday's Life Drawing session, so, until then, enjoy your art.

Paul

The Grindstone

How Ya Doin' Y'all?

Just thought I'd try out a little American - but never mind - maybe not.

Right, tomorrow night it will be back at the alleged grindstone that is the life drawing group, this time with our model Suzanne - and very good at being a model she is too.

Yes, I will once again be taking my watercolours with me, as I think I have finally settled on them as being the most portable and effective way for me to work at these sessions. After all the experimenting I have done, I do think that I get most out of the session this way.

One change I will be making is the following. Up to now I have been using 1/4 Imperial Sheet size paper, which gives lots of room, space and scope for a nice large work. However, the one drawback I have found for me personally, is that it needs an awful lot of water and paint to cover said size of paper. If you have read the last but one posting, then you may have some idea of what I am referring to. So, tomorrow I will be going with a spiralled pad of watercolour paper instead - 11" x7 1/2" in size. I do not do metric! My paper will still be the same - Saunders Waterford 300lb.

For those wanting a little more technical info, well here goes. My paints are all Daler-Rowney Artists Quality tubes of watercolour paint. I have 9 colours in my palette - 3 each of 3 primary colours, plus a tube of Titanium White, and a tube of Neutral Tint. All my brushes are Red Kolinsky Sable, but I do also have 2 Squirrel Hair brushes.

So, until tomorrow, I will take my leave of you, and as always, whatever your art, enjoy it!

Paul

A Recent One

Hi all.

Thought that seeing as I have not posted a picture on this blog for a while, I reckoned I would give you all the chance to see that yes, I have been to the life drawing art group, and that yes, actually I have done something.

So here you all are - just the one, mind!

Hope it's something you might like to comment on, or even enjoy.

But as usual, whatever your art - please, enjoy it.

Paul

Twister?

Hello again!

Crikey - this blog is seemingly getting carried away, as they now become almost daily. From my well below par initial hope of posting twice a week, I now find myself going to the opposite end of the scale! Anyway, let's make the most of it while we can.

Last night I went to the weekly nude life drawing session, armed with my watercolours as per last week's attempts. Apart from missing the first 3 poses (they are around 1 minute per pose!) while I got set up (lesson learned before even starting), I also learnt one other invaluable lesson - but more of that shortly.

A male on his first ever nude posing assignment was our model for this evening, and he was excellent at it. The only comment being his shaven head (and face) was the most brightly coloured I have seen. It did look at times unnatural, but it was there in front of me. However, it worked very well, as the colours of his head ran and merged into the rest of his body colour with using watercolours.

Now, to my second lesson: last week I mixed five differing skin tones, but often failed to mix enough of each colour. Silly man, you may well say. There is actually very little time in between poses - probably enough to change sheets of paper, never mind mix colours! So, this week it would not be a problem, as having mixed my initial five tones, I added plenty of water to make sure I did not run out. Well what's the problem, I hear you ask? Your five skins tones, and enough of them so as not to run out - what could possibly be wrong with that? Plenty!

Once you have mixed what you think will be enough of each colour, you then have to either be a world Twister Champion, or be such a contortionist that you are able to sit still, and not let the colours run into the adjoining pan on your palette and merge into one yellowy - pinky lake! Doh!

Looking back though, last night I learned 3 lessons; set up ASAP, mix the correct amount of colour, keep your palette still.

But, I really enjoyed the session, and whatever your art, I hope you enjoy it too!

Paul

Thank You!

Hi there!

I have just realised that I owe everyone who has ever read this blog, a very big "Thank You", and especially to those who have kept on reading it, as I have very recently passed the 1,000 mark on hits! That's excellent - thank you once again.

That is an amazing achievement when I sit back and think just how long it since I have been doing this, and the fact that I have not always posted, or been able to. This blog started, I think, in March of this year - 2009 - and I have had more hits on this blog than running both of my websites combined. What a thought that is. It's simply stunning when I think about it.

Hopefully if anyone feels they know someone who would like to become a follower, then please ask them to sign in; remember it's free, and totally safe, and they can become a part of the next 1,000 hits.

Whatever your art - just have a go and enjoy it.

Paul

The Colour's In The Water

Hellooooo

Monday we were back again at the life drawing group I go to. Not a class as such, nobody judges anyone else's work and it's not led by anyone, just a nice group of fellow artists who enjoy taking on the challenge that is nude life drawing. When it works well, we have an alternate male and female model once a week, but as with most things, we find that "It Ain't Necessarily So" as the song goes!

Since I've been going (a couple of months now), I have tried pen & ink, charcoal, pastels (hard & soft), and pencil works. I am trying to find the best medium with which to work quickly, and one that's easily transportable for me.

Recently I borrowed a couple of art mags, and in one of them was an article covering loose watercolour drawing, which was so interesting I just had to use it to give watercolours a try.

Without trying to appear clever or big-headed, one thing I can do is mix up a good level of skin colours and flesh tones. My wife sometimes says she does not like my works, but she does like the skin tones! Using this, I made up several mixes and had a go trying to reproduce a likeness of our female model.

And pleased with the results I am too. This must be the first time that I can think of that I have really got to grips with washes and limited palette colours all in one session. Of course, they are not perfect, but as with all things, that little word practice just seems to pop up again and again.

Why don't you get yourself some materials and have a go - I'm sure you would enjoy it, and maybe even be pleasantly surprised with your results!

Regards,

Paul

Hi there, and hope you all enjoyed your weekends.

By reading the previous few blogs, you will all have some ideas as to what it is that I have been up to, and am up to. For those who have not: chickens, grandaughter's art competition, practice.

Now that the big art competition is over, I am back to practicing and working on ideas, some of which include for my hens to make a bit of an impact on my work. Well, not them exactly, though I bet someone will have already thought of the idea of using hens feet dipped in paint to walk all over a canvass and sell it for thousands, if not millions!

I have, what I hope, are a few different ideas, that I have run past a very good friend of mine, who thinks there may be something in it too. There are now several pieces of paper with written ideas and scribbled notes on, and a similar number of sheets of paper with sketches etc on them that are now joining the "project pile".

Of course we all know and understand that ideas, notes, plans, thoughts and brainwaves etc can and usually do always end up in tears, or just plain old simple frustration. That is, of course, if they ever get past the "I'll just pop it over here and get back to it in six months" pile in the first place!

Hopefully all will not be lost; the practice will be worth it, the ideas will come to fruition, and the sketches will be a springboard for better things.

Whatever your styles - enjoy your art.

Paul

Pride

Oh Dear Followers...........

I just have to share this with you.

Last week our 7 year old grand daughter told us she was entering her school art competition, and could I offer some help. I put together some rough cat sketches for her, gave her a proper artists pad, pencil and putty rubber, and told her to take it home and practice. That is just what she did.

As a result her pencil work of her 2 cats was voted into the top 4 by pupils and teachers of the school, and she was all excited that this week the voting was going down to the top 3 places.

As soon as she got home from school she rang us: not only had she got into the top three places - she had WON THE COMPETITION!!!!!!

No massive prize, just doing so well was enough for her to appreciate the need to practice, and that is something we can all learn from. She did 5 attempts at each cat, and on the completed work even put a mouse in front of the cat! Artistic license.

On a very happy note, enjoy your art.

Paul

Eggxciting times!

Howdy Bloggers

Hope you are all well as usual, and don't forget - there are only so many shopping days left to Xmas!

As an update to all you eager updaters - here goes. Thursday I had 2 whitish eggs, obviously from 2 of my hens, both being soft shelled and of no use. Think on though - they are young hens and it's a "first" for them, with what could be quite a shock! However, Saturday I had the very pleasant surprise of an egg from my last hen to lay; we caught sight of her nestled in the coop, so had a good idea as to what she was hopefully up to.

Imagine if you can the thrill of discovering a perfect blue shelled egg once she had left the coop and gone outside to join the others!

Nothing else until today, when I had a second blue shelled egg - we are on our way!

As yet there is no repeat from the first couple of hens, but as I said, they are young, so I'm not worried.

This has given me fresh impetus to try and get them down on paper etc, and I have started to try a few loose watercolours and sketches as they explore and go about their new world around the back garden when we let them out of the run.

Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I may be able to show you the produce of my labours too.

Whatever your art, enjoy it.

Paul

Chickens!

Greetings Bloggers.

Today is only a short post - how can that be from someone who is 6'3" I hear you all say, but that is how it is.

I have to report, and quite proudly so - that yesterday 2 of my 3 hens laid their first eggs. Being overcome with joy, it's taken me until today to calm down enough tell you all, but I love my chickens and it's a big moment between us and our bonding process.

There are founded rumours that I may have started to attempt my first watercolour using one of then as a subject.

When it's done - you will see it here first - another World Exclusive for you all.

Until then, enjoy your art.

Paul

Roll on bedtime.

Hello once again - how you all doing?

Well - after my son's recent wedding, which combined a long weekend away and an even longer drive, plus all the other things that have been happening to us, I now have yet another occupation.

I have recently taken delivery of 3 chickens (does that make me a smallholder?), which after a 2 week confinement to their run, they now have free range over the back garden! It has taken me a good few weeks to build the run, bit at a time, and to be honest, I'm still tweaking with it, but they are wonderful. My eye though, is always watchful of them finding an escape route somewhere!

Maintenance I'm finding is quite minimal compared to other animals, plus sometime in the not too distant future, we hope to have eggs. THAT - I am really looking forward to. They are so much fun, even now, and I really can't wait for next spring and summer to stay out in the garden with them and enjoy them to the full.

One of my aims for next year is to try and produce some works involving them. That should be fun - being able to sit and sketch and work away in our own back garden with a living subject. Hopefully I will be able produce some nice works in watercolours, pastels, inks and acrylics. Wonder if I can get them to hold a pose????

That adds another string to my proverbial bow; something else to occupy me through the day, yet give me some inspiration. It's no wonder I get so tired at the end of the day (or even during). Roll on bedtime!

Enjoy your art - as ever!

Paul

Normality

Hello again - so, how's everyone doing?

Hope you are all well and ready for Xmas! - Hahaha - only joking (good job).

Tomorrow - Monday 19th October - I boldly state that I am hoping to get back to some sort of normality with my artwork. Yes - you read it here first. It's not a typing error.

I am looking forward to the restarting of the next sessions of life drawing, held locally with live models, a selection of pastel paper and a box of pastels. Hopefully, nice, free and easy working. Get that stiffening arm working and loosened up.

There is also a new venture I am looking forward to at home. We are now keeping a few hens, for the grandkids, us, and some fresh eggs too. But, I also hope to get to sketch and maybe do some work on them over their duration with us. Hope it all works out anyway; I can experiment with a few ideas and mediums, and all in the convenience of our own home.

Good lazy art eh?

Right - better get them in the coop then and look after them!

Until next time - enjoy your art.

Regards,

Paul

Update

Greetings Blogger Followers!

Not much in the form of blogging this last month I'm afraid to admit, but as usual, nothing quite runs to plan, but here is an update of sorts.

You may well be aware of my wife falling and injuring both her arms, and it was only yesterday (15th October), that we found out that she had actually broken one of her elbows. Previous doctors had been non-committal, presumably due to the modern culture of litigation. Doh!

I did take part in the Insight events, and had a few sales, covering the 2 weekends it ran.

Our bedroom has come in for some serious decorating and makeover. This has resulted in us living out of suitcases for the last few weeks in a near building site environment. Don't you just love looking back at those moments in your life, almost with a near fondness!

Last weekend saw the completion of one of my latest projects - keeping chickens!

Yup (ooo arrrgghhh - Mandy), I am now a smallholder(ish). Most of my good weather time was spent outdoors making a run and other bits for our new friends - again taking time away from my artwork. One of the plus sides is that come next summer, I hope to be able to sit outside and spend time working on some hen forms of artwork.

Failing that I could always decorate the eggs!!!

As ever - enjoy your art.

Paul

Treats

Hi again - hope you are all well.

Today - seeing as some of you - well go on then - all of you, have been so good lately, I've decided to give you all a treat.

So, please find enclosed the last three of my works. They all need no introduction - just a slight apology for the quality. Guess I was just too excited!

Hope you like them, and that you think that they were worth waiting for.

Enjoy your art.

Paul

Mixed weekend

Why hello there - fancy meeting you here!

Well, the big arts event has turned out to be a very mixed weekend to say the least!

Saturday was a little slow, but I still had 4 sales of smaller items, enough to keep things ticking over and helping to pass the time. The people who came in were more browsers and Saturday shoppers, just popping in for a look. Two surprise celebrity guest visitors certainly helped brighten up the day - anyone spot someone familiar???

Sunday was as different again. People visiting this day seemed more involved with their art; they stayed longer and asked more questions of the artists, crafts people and their work. This seemed to really lift the mood and atmosphere of the whole hall, and was a real pleasure to be a part of.

Towards late morning I sold my large Scooby-Doo work - acrylic on hardboard. The chap who bought it said it would be a feature and make a good talking point in his dining room. I couldn't agree more! A man of taste - just like me!

But then I had to pack up and leave very quickly - my wife had a fall and broke her arm. So that obviously took a priority and put paid to the event for me. As of now - I am unsure if I will be able to attend for the second weekend, but priorities must.

Until next time - enjoy your art.

Paul

Insight Eve

Good morning!

Hello, and a very warm welcome to you serious art appreciators, and to my regular followers.

Today is Insight Eve - the day before we open the doors for the first weekend to the public for our big art and crafts show - and the one where we go along and set up! Gosh - it's all so exciting.

My works are all wrapped up, easels etc in the car - bags of bits and accessories, but you know how it is, there is bound to be something forgotten. Still, I suppose that is all part of the fun - until you realise it is just the one thing you can NOT do without. Aaarrghh!

Yesterday I was interviewed by a good friend and presenter of mine for regional radio, which was an experience indeed. I think my reputation is still in tact. At least I have not received any threatening emails etc so far today, and I've just checked my post-box for hate mail. All clear.

As a result of all this workload, I have not had time to post any new photo's for you to peruse, but hopefully I will be able to post some next week, during the "lull" in exhibitions. I think off the top of my head there are 3 new works to show you, but a look through my art photo's may reveal a couple more.

OK - time to make another cuppa, sit with my feet up and relax until this evening, when I will be leaping out of my car like a SWAT team member and getting to grips with setting up.

Until next time - enjoy your art.

Paul

Looking Good!

My - how time flies - especially when you're having fun!

Only 7 more pictures to box frame, and 3 of those frames are already cut and glued; just waiting for me to finish the paintings so I can attach them.

We have had our final meeting for the forthcoming Insight art and crafts event held in the region, with ours being held in the Imperial Hall in Epworth, North Lincs, England on the 2 following weekends - September 19/20 and September 20/27 . We also have a very local member who is running a ceramics event at the same time - details from the above venue. But it is in very easy walking distance, passing a local art gallery as you make your way.

I recently ordered some new business cards (visions of grandeur or what?), and they arrived today; and, very nice they are too. That's a nice lift. Another is finding that one of my works has been included on the postcards to promote the event. Things are looking good!

Right, now you have all been updated - it's back to my painting, so please - don't disturb me unless it's important!!!!!!

Enjoy your art.

Paul

Excited!

Well hello there!

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my little old Blog; hope you enjoy it, and the life changing effect it will have upon your life. It does mine. After all, I've had to start and make time to write my Blog - so that has changed my life for a start!

As regular readers will be aware, I am taking part in an annual Arts & Crafts event called "Insight", which is now only 2 weeks away - and counting! Today I have been continuing my quest to get all of my hardboard works fitted with box-frames - ready for the sale. I now have 4 medium-sized works done; 7 smaller works have had their frames made today, ready for gluing to tomorrow, which leaves me with only 5 large works to make frames for, then attach them to in the remaining 2 weeks. Easy!

Also in preparation for said event, last night I designed and ordered some business cards - just in case. Well, you never know, and if the occasion arises and it turns out I have none - then who's fault is it? Anyway, they arrive next week.

What I really am excited about though is the fact that today I received a number of promotional postcards to distribute for the event - and one of my works is one of a number used to illustrate the cards and event!!!!!! And, it came as a complete surprise, I can tell you. How nice of the organisers too.

So, with all of this hyper activity going on, I had better have a rub down with a wet towel and a some of my medication to help me calm down!

Until next time - enjoy your art.

Regards,

Paul

Helpfull

Yo Followers!

Hey - getting back into the swing of things eh? - 2 posts on just about as many days and all that!

Well, actually it's a matter of 2 things: firstly I have started making box frames for some of my hardboard paintings (3 down, only another 12 or so to go then); secondly - I have been being helpful. Yes - that's what I typed - you read it here first.

Spirited chap that I am and all that, I have been setting up a Twitter account for my favourite Internet radio station. Oh go on - you all should know it by now - http://www.wildbeatzradio.com/ . Not that I'm a name dropper by any account you understand, but, I am probably their wildest listener. Well at the very least one of their official "Wildies" - so be warned! (He typed, laughingly.)

So, back to reality. Now when this glue has set by morning - I may be able to get it surgically removed from my hands!

Enjoy your music and your art!

Paul

Steady Now!

Greetings to you all - whatever your time zone!

Yes - 'tiz I - typing here once again from the heart of Edrick Central. Steady now - don't go getting all excited, and coming over all unnecessary. So how you all doing? Really? Great.

Well I have to put my hand up and admit that since my last posting in July, I have had times of forgetfulness, not being able to, and even times of lethargy. I know - shock horror - and I apologise for it. Even one of my followers has commented about it (and rightly so). Some of my art has suffered too, but hopefully there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

At the moment I am working hard towards a regional art exhibition held over two weekends at the end of September. I am trying to make sure my work is up to scratch: putting a backing onto my hardboard works for helping with mounting etc, and ensuring any watercolour, pastel or acrylic on paper has a cardboard mount on it to better present them; also sorting out packing and transporting arrangements.

These are easier said than done! And ........................ then there is the problem of displaying work inside a building where you are not allowed to mount anything on the walls. Lots of practice with what will go on which easel and sorting works into presentation folders etc. How to best use the table space provided; a cloth to use for the table; maybe even some sort of clampable stand? I also have made some hardboard figures and put magnets on the back to use as maybe fridge magnets, so I need a metal sheet for displaying them.

Gosh, it all seems to be go!

There - my post is just about complete for today. There are no new works to show you as yet, but as I make progress in this event, then I will be able to get on with other ideas I have - and yes, I do have them, and write them down.............................................. now where's that blooming bit of paper gone.........................................

Whatever your art - enjoy it.

Paul

New Post!

Wow!

Just looking over my blogs, website, Facebook and Twitters and I realised that it's almost a month since my last posting on here, something I can hardly believe - but it's true; it's in front of me in er, different colours.

But when I look back and think how, what and why, it does make some sense; I broke my elbow which curtailed my exploits, then went on holiday, then spent a busy week with my wife as she had extra time off work, and nothing seems to go faster than time.

I just know that you will all be thrilled to know that I did manage to get some sketching and painting in whilst away - I just knew those watercolour pencils would come in handy some day! Over the course of the week I got around 15 sketches done - some I think are quite good and some mediocre, but as in Egypt, I again drew (no pun intended) a small crowd and some interest. That's got to be good - as it does show people that there are artists out there of differing experience - often found in even the more modest places. Anything can be used as a subject, and it hopefully gives people a different view of usually everyday objects.

My time was also spent taking plenty of photographs of various subjects which are now safely downloaded onto my PC (no more Bank Holidays for those little Japanese men inside my camera); some of these I think will make some really nice paintings. Just hope I can do some of them justice.

So, as you may guess - no real work equals no new pictorial postings - for now anyway. Hopefully I will be able to rectify that sooner rather than later.

Until next time - enjoy your art.

Paul

Website!

A very hot, warm and sunny welcome!

Just a quick post to tell you that today I have managed to upload lots of new works onto the website. Some have recently been posted on here - but other's have not!

Go look now (please) at www.edrickart.co.uk at please - don't be afraid to send me an email and tell me what you think.

As ever, enjoy your art.

Paul

Here comes the Sun!

Hi there!

Welcome along to yet another thrill-a-minute-suspense-filled-installment that is (looks at the title) - yep - "A Colourful Life".

First off I have to welcome a brand new follower to the blog - Color Life - who I know lives in New Mexico in the good old US of A. I have been lucky enough to have seen some of her work which she sent me online, and believe me - it's stunning. Wood carving, weaving, blankets, ceramics - this lady does it all, and very well too I may add. At the moment she does not have a website, and I am having a go at helping her along, so if there is any news on that front, then I will give you the details.

I have had 4 or 5 days off now from painting related things, but as promised last week - here is the second of the recently finished Impressionist beach scenes. Perhaps as it's been Sooo hot here recently, and this one is more warm toned, I should call it "Here comes the Sun". Anyway - hope you like it.

Like the last work, the angle is slightly distorted due to my photographic prowess - but you get the picture (oh, great joke!). All the technical details are as the previous work, so if you are interested - go back a posting and re-read.

Whatever your art, until next time, take care and enjoy yourselves!

Paul

Life's a Beach

Hello again, and thanks for stopping by!

Here is another of my works that I have recently completed, and one that I hope you will like.

It is based upon one of my favourite Impressionist pictures, but one that sadly I do not have any information on, other than a photograph of my first attempt at this work from 2006. Attempts to find the title or indeed the artist have drawn (no pun intended) a blank so far. Please - if anyone can help in that respect then please do not hesitate to send me an email to edrickart@aol.com to put my tormented mind at rest!

This is done using my favourite medium of the moment - acrylics, but this time on artistic board (something I have never used before), which is roughly 16"x12" in size, though actual picture size is roughly 12"x8". To try and enhance my photographs of my works (again, see earlier postings) I have put this in a glass free frame on one of my easles. That's why it still looks a little out of shape - before anyone makes and comments!

There are 2 variations of this picture, this one being a cooler toned work. The second one is surprisingly enough a "warmer toned" one, but you will have to wait until my next posting before you can cast your eyes across that one!

Hope it meets with your critical approval, and I'll blog again next week.

Whatever your art, enjoy it.

Paul

Improved?

Hi there!

My creative rush is still, er ......... rushing, as I get a few more of my WIP's completed, mounted, photographed and safely put away in my portfolio cases (crikey - they are getting heavy). But, that's what I want and need, so no moans - just get on with it.

Yesterday was a stunningly hot, humid day over here, but up to mid-morning not bright and sunny. Ideal conditions for me to try and re-photograph as many of my works as I could. So, I took outside a picture frame with no glass in it (no reflections), and lovingly placed each work that would fit in, one at a time, and then got in front of the camera (which rather technically for me, was safely secured to a tripod). Each frame was also taken using the camera's timing facility (no wobbly or hand shake frames for me, thank you very much!).

Hopefully when I get them all downloaded to the PC they will have improved immensely, and all be of a far better quality. This time I have no excuses whatsoever, as I do have a really good digital camera. This workman will no longer blame his tools (weather maybe, but tools - no).

I have never sold any of my works in frames, just mounts. However, I have needed to place these in a frame to hold them flat for photographing, more than anything. In my web pages and blogs etc I have always maintained that frames are purely personal, plus if they are sold with one, it adds to the cost, and who would want to buy something that they were only going to discard? It also means I have heavier loads to lump about too!

Soapbox returned to owner - the pictures now have to be safely downloaded to the PC so as to be used in blogs and updated to my website etc. Best crack on with it then, make some progress, and see some return for my efforts come the end of the day!

Please, enjoy your art, and be happy with what you have achieved.

Paul

New Works!

Here they are!

Well, as I promised earlier this week, here are two of my latest new works. Probably it's just a personal thing, but I have to try and wait for a natural light with which I'm happy in which photograph my work. Before you all email me and say "But you're not very good at photography" - I know, I know, I may not be, but hey ho!


We all learn by actually doing things - especially hands on practical things, and eventually I will get the hang of doing it right, well somewhat better at least. In the meantime "what yer see is what yer git" - or word's to that effect.

This first one, I suppose, I should call something really original like "Green Vase". And, do you know what - that's exactly what I'm going to do!

The working surface is canvas textured paper, painted with acrylics: some of the colours have been mixed, but not many. One of my preferences (read-up on previous postings) is to use colour straight from the tube/pot without mixing, and I've done that same again here.

It's a roughly an A4 working surface, fixed in a single cream coloured mount.



This next one is taken from a photograph I took while we were on holiday in Mexico in 2007 - obviously some species of Green Parrot. We went to a couple of excellent nature / wildlife parks, where the animals were mostly totally free - the birds anyway - as they knew where to get fed - they're not daft are they!

This turned out to be quite a reasonable picture (perhaps I should re-evaluate my photography afterall), so I thought I would give it a try and see how it came out.

Not too bad overall I reckon.

Once again the picture surface is just over A4 in size, painted with acrylics on canvas textured paper. This time it has been finished off using a double card mount - cream with an inner burgandy coloured border, just to enhance it a little.


The parrot picture especially has turned out a little distorted, but I hope that it gives you at least a more than fair insight into some of my works.


Whatever your media - enjoy your art.

Regards,

Paul

Phew!

Welcome once again to the wonderful world of Edrickart!

I must admit, it did come as a bit of a surprise to find that I have not posted for one whole week exactly. But, then again, I have had fair reason, I suppose.

Friday was a bit of an off day, but the weekend turned out to be just hectic/total chaos. We had the hedges cut, grandaughter stay and I attempted to help do some gardening Saturday; and Sunday - well, we were still clearing up after the previous day, then out for a well earned family Sunday lunch.

Since then I have had an artistic spell and have so far painted and completed 5 works in progress - all gummed in their card mounts, ready to display, and have still another 6 to get on with - phew!

It is very satisfying though to be able to complete things - to see an idea through to an end product, and it be something you are proud to have done (just hope the rest turn out that way too).

All I have left to do is to wait for a sunny break in the clouds - then I can photograph them and post them all for display on my website, and some in this blog. Best keep watching then!

Enjoy your art.

Paul

Sqwark!

Hello, good evening, and welcome!

I have a few spare moments as I sit here blowing away at my mug of near steaming hot tea, trying to cool it enough to drink it, waiting to be transported to a friends house for dinner, and pick up some hanging baskets (hope it's not salad).

Today has been a good day in my little art world; my green parrot acrylic work which I touched up and finished off yesterday is now gummed to the back of its new cardboard mount. It has been left to dry under a weight of watercolour paper (well it's 300lbs so should be heavy enough) as it flattens overnight, then back into a cellophane wrapper for protection.

Two similar Impressionistic beach scenes have been started, this time a little different for me - on acrylic board, which I have never used before. There are also two works, both very similar but of differing sizes, of apples and a trug. Nice idea of a subject to work on - hopefully it will all work out well.

One last note - I have pencilled in two more parrot works (but I don't want to get too typecast). This time I'm looking at a red, yellow and blue bird, as I think this will stand out really well against a green foilage background, and is more in keeping with my love and use of bright colours. Maybe some time next week I will decide which one, if any, to get stuck in to.

Tea's cool - got to go eat!

Enjoy your art!

Paul

Agent!

Good morning, once again.

This is becoming too regular. I mean, virtually consecutive postings - I'm spending more time on here than painting (well, it seems like).

Today I just could not get back to sleep, so weakend and eventually arose before 07.00am; that's something I only do when we go on holiday and have to catch a flight at silly o'clock. My eyes have yet to adjust to this early morning light - perhaps I should have some of those reactalight glasses?

What I did manage to read (and later print a version off for legal purposes), is that I have now been awarded the sum of 5% commission on sales of a friend of mine's work! Fancy that, me - an agent! Who would have thought it; so all I have to do is sit back and let the cash roll in.

She knows who she is - so everyone in the Hastings area of England, tourists or day visitors, get out and buy some local fine art and help towards sending me to, er ...............................

Anyway - just thought I would share that with you all; I'm so excited I could make another mug of tea!

Whatever your art - enjoy it!

Paul

Careful does it.

Well hello there!

As you would expect being a trainee part-time temporary artist (allegedly), hidden amongst the little pile (my wife would argue very strongly otherwise) of reference material I have, is a selection of floral pictures (amongst other subjects) - some with vases, some without, that I always thought had potential. I suppose it's just a matter of putting various components together to try and produce something that looks good as a completed work. Almost everyone who has seen my work will testify that I do not produce "real" looking flowers - there is no way I am a floral artist, but we have to get our inspiration from somewhere!

However, with a little practice and perseverance, even a little luck as you just drop on to some techniques - you can portray a reasonable looking floral "bouquet". It's just a case of "careful does it", and it's amazing as to what you can achieve.

Your levels of success are enhanced should you use better quality items. That is an issue I always thought was more of a cunning "sales" ploy than anything else. However, a few months ago I bought a set of acrylic brushes from Rosemary & Co, and can honestly say they are a pleasure to use, and have helped me achieve much better results than I was previously getting. Various types of surface had been tried, along with differing makes of paint. It was the paint that most disappointed me; big name paint gave me small time results! But, the quality brushes used in conjunction with the Reeves acrylics paints I had used for a long time, gave me really pleasant and impressive results. This workman cannot blame his tools now!

It is worth doing a little experimenting and shopping around to a certain extent. We all can achieve results, and not everything works for everyone - it's just finding that fine line - that balance in your subject, materials and ability, to get the results you want. Though whatever you do, please don't look around for too long or you will never settle on anything and be satisfied with your results!

Whatever you do, enjoy your art!

Paul

Happy Days!

Good morning the World!!!

Me again. Yup - 3 times in one week - no need to check your stats. It's true.

Without wanting to seem "boring" (see previous postings), I have been somewhat restricted in my activities. This usually revolves around "colouring in" previously sketched themes in a variety of practice sessions and experimental ideas (some of which have ended up looking terrible, but we all live and learn). But, not any more, happy days!

Yesterday I got down to doing a reasonable pencil sketch of an item in our back garden during the day. It's not perfect, and needs some "tinkering" but I'm quite pleased with the first attempt. It will make it past the "drawing board" stage. My only problem is watercolour or acrylics.

However, last night while listening to the best Internet radio station, I managed two more drawn works, now ready for "real" colouring and working on today (hopefully) - first on my beloved bamboo paper, second on acrylic canvass textured paper. That's how much better I feel. I can just sense from your vibes you are enthralled.

Some of the art materials I purchased earlier this week consisted of paper, which I thought was pastel paper. Er - NOT! Never mind, I say, let's get on and try it out. Hmmm - it's not quite what I expected, and so far it's not had the best of results (well, I don't think so anyway). Ho hey.

It's all part of the learning curve, as they say, and I'm sure it will not be wasted.

I have also helped a friend of mine (she knows) set up a blog of her own. "You're a good man", I can just about hear you all mumble; it's all about life - being friendly and helping each other. Anyway, point being that part of the building involved a "counter" - every good site has one! Unfortunately, the young lady concerned cut and pasted my counter; this results in her now having a couple of days old blog with over 500 hits!


That's enough for now I reckon, or I'll never get anything done. I will leave you with a previously done pastel sketch of some parrots, photographed on a holiday to Mexico in 2007. It's this work that got me thinking of using a parrot in my work. I love birds, and wanted to use them in a lot of my work, but they never quite looked right. Hopefully this one will. See what you think.


Till next time - enjoy your art.


Paul

Hoorah!

Yes - a hearty hoorah!

Today's visit to see the hospital consultant has ended in complete success!

The elbow is well on the way to recovery; the medical man was more than satisfied with my recovery so far, and it is now only a matter of time for it to be fully healed. A bit obvious I know, but I'm so happy I don't care - say what you want.

Apart from stopping on the way home to buy some new art materials (you can tell I'm really feeling so much happier, can't you), I'm just so ready to start working "properly" again.

That's all follks!

Enjoy your art.

Paul

Mini's

Sundrenched hello's from a sunny England.

Yep - it's true - it is sunny - and even H.O.T.

This, I am afraid, is a mini posting; enough to tell you that you can now find me on Twitter as well (does that make me a "twit?).

The elbow is recovering, slowly but surely, and I sincerely thank you all for the countless messages of support, chocolates and flowers that I have received. I am now able to sketch - of sorts, and have started to put a few things together to start and work on in earnest shortly. So confident of this am I, that my selected acrylic colours are out ready!

Please note, that this is not an "interesting, funny or even cool (not in this temperature, anyway) posting".

Whatever your medium - enjoy your art.

Paul

Official!

Well hello there!

Hope this edition finds you all in the best of health, fighting fit, mentally alert and raring to go! Oh it's a Friday for goodness sakes. Everyone in the known Universe is always up and buzzing on a Friday; the weekend and all that. And so should YOU be. Get on with it - smile - NOW!

Yep - it's official - my elbow is broken, so it's only another 5 weeks to go and I will be just like you all; well, sort of. That's all the bad news for now I reckon, except the weather which no-one has control over [bit like me and my body really], but I can't think of anything else that readily springs to mind, so that must be good.

My real painting is obviously curtailed for now. It was pencilled [no pun intended] in as a possibility last week, but now I find myself confined to running ideas through my head and trying out some practice sessions in my little home studio/office. You would think it's fairly easy to work with just one hand, after all, how many brushes etc can you use at the same time. It's weird though - taking tops off paints [I couldn't open my inks last week], holding stuff, mounting papers etc onto the easel to work on, using and tearing masking tape or simply trying to balance and support yourself whilst working. Oh enough of that!

My watercolours have been given some hammer, now the problem of transferring water to my desk without spilling any on the laminate flooring, thereby enabling me to slip and possibly do myself an injury [another - haven't you got enough already - how many do you want] has been successfully overcome.

There is a slight chance that with a lot of luck and plenty of perseverance on my part, that I may just be developing a bit of a style of my own. Yeah - thought that would shock you all - make you splutter on your cereals and all that.

As a standby I am also doing reasonably well with one of my newer bestest friends, the gouaches. Although we have only known each other for a couple of weeks now, I feel we are getting along famously. Those who have seen stuff on my website will be aware that I like doing cartoon type drawings, as I call then; oh you know, things done with black lines round them all - whatever the subject. My iris have been given a work out using these on a smaller scale, and the poppies are in for the same treatment soon - but please don't let on to them. I don't want them to start putting themselves into a forced "wilt" just to spite me.

Last night we were at a party for a friend's birthday, I saw on his walls classic railway posters from the "Golden Era" of rail travel. The same style I was working but minus the black outlines. Now I have never seen these, and I was sort of taken aback. I wasn't sure if I was pleased things like these were popular, or that what I was working on had already been covered. The only outcome was that they looked good and somebody else liked them too. Best develop some more ideas for subjects then!

Whatever you use, please, enjoy your art.

Paul

Given the "Elbow"

Welcome to a dull, cloudy and quite breezy part of England, but at least the sun will be shining on other parts of the world. Messrs Brown and the Cabinet have probably had to repay their claims for sunshine and their receipts returned for such. Hence a dull day!

Oooohh - Paul - being sarcastic - controversial. Stop it!

So, hmmmm, er, not a lot to report apart from I have a suspected broken elbow after falling on Monday. That, may curtail my artistic temperament somewhat. If it's not broken, which is hopefully the case, then I may be forced into doing simple sketches and matchstick figures.

Hey, come to think of it, Picasso didn't do too badly out of it! Neither did Lowrey! Hey - I could be famous! Yeah, and the Government innocent of money laundering; right!

Ooops - there I go again!

That means of course that my pastels are sat getting dusty; my acrylics have "welded" their tubes shut; my watercolours all but dried up, and my "dipping" ink pens have picked up their towels and gone in!

You may be interested to know that I eventually got my camera to download its contents to the PC; I offered those little Japanese figures inside some sushi - and opened them a tin of tuna. Simples! eeeks. - That's for my buddy Claire!

For my very good friend DJFreeSpirit - here's an unashamed add for her radio station - http://www.wilbeatz.com/ - some of the best add-free sounds you will hear, and unlimited requests. It's like painting to my ears! How's that for a plug!

Right, I'll see what I have to post this time and hope you enjoy it.



If you have seen this before, then I apologise.

It's a soft pastel of my old fireman's helmet, done
on Spectrum Colourfix paper which has been
finished off with a spray of fixative.

The actual size of the paper is A4, but the card mount that finishes it off makes it just that little bit bigger.

Enjoy your art.

Paul

Frustration!

Evening all - and especially to my new "follower" with the world's longest title!

Have you ever played "Frustration" which was a game I think marketed some time in the 80's? If it wasn't actually the 80's, then there's usually someone who does know such life maintaining facts, and can put me right. This edition of the blog is so called due to the fact that this week I have spent most of my time working on my art, producing so far 7 works of varying degrees of success and experimentation. And, it's only early Friday evening!

I now have a small, steadily growing mound of work. "Great", you may say; so what's your frustration? And a mighty fine, intelligent question it is too, given the above mentioned facts.

The frustration comes in the light of (or non light as you will soon find out), a distinct lack of photography and PC production. I personally prefer to photograph my work outside, in good light, maybe even "sunshine", but as we all know and love living here in England it is not always so. More often than not the floodlights "fail" - and that's only in daylight. So it has been once again this week.

Whereas it stayed dry enough for me to do a couple of small outside jobs, it was no-where good enough to get my camera, tripod, easel and works out.

Aha! I have a cunning Plan "B" to turn to (no - I was not a boy scout!). There are some pictures still on my camera which I can download onto the PC and work with them for my files, website and blog. Simples!

Nah - not in your wildest dreams. For some reason known only to the little Japanese men working within the confines of my camera, nothing seems to want to transfer from camera disk to PC. Is it some sort of a holiday in Japan I wonder?

So, as you can now see - this is leading to large chunks of frustration, coupled in between washes of watercolour and swathes of ink upon paper. Don't forget the continuous supply of tea too!

I am at somewhat of a loss, even though I have been "productive", and it's not really my fault. Ah well, at least it has not resulted in loss of life or limb, as my wife would say; so that makes it all right then!

Guess this just means you will all have to log back in again next week to see if it has corrected itself, and my face is once more a smiley. Until then, er .... here's one a did earlier!

It's after Paul Cezanne - soft pastels worked on pastel paper, sprayed with a pastel fixative and enhanced with a cardboard mount.

Enjoy your art.

Paul

Update

A very good morning to you from deep inside "our house" (it's a bungalow actually!)

Right, not much in the form of "content" in this posting, I suppose, but it still counts as a posting nevertheless, Claire!! (She knows who she is!)

The main reason is to let you know that I have been slaving over a "hot" keyboard since my last post, as I try to improve the layout, look and content of my website. It's not as easy as you think, and things that are placed in a certain position with love and care, magically re-position themselves once you decide to upload it to the internet! So, all I am really doing is to get you to try and take a look - all those who have yet to be arm twisted to do so.

Try it - you'll like it (allegedly.)

Also, and in a vain attempt to "bulk out" this posting, I have managed to sit outside on a warm, hot (almost), sunny day here in England and watercolour paint. Devout followers of this blog will know what's coming next - yes, it's the bamboo paper - which is fast achieving it's own "blog" status.

As inspiration, I followed an excercise in an art magazine - the content of which is meaningless to this blog and in the grand scheme of things in general. Important thing to note though is that I found the paper to work admirably for me. Although I did not put wash upon wash of heavily watered medium on it, the washes I did put on went on well, did not "bobble" or "peel", and the paper took it all very well, drying nicely, evenly and quickly. Bear in mind though that I was outside which does effect drying time, though not in direct sunlight. Colour retention once dry was very good.

Up to now I have to say that I have found it to be a very good paper to use, the only claim left for me to try are pastels. I have both soft and hard pastels, and will maybe give it a quick try on something small, just to complete the series of mediums. Please note that I do not use oil paints, so will not be trying them. I do have access to some, but will still not be using them.

These are, of course, only my personal observations, and I do not possess any doctorate in paper construction, colour pigmentation formulation, vario medium analytical thesis essay or shares in the paper company.

Enjoy your art.

Paul

Flying

Hello my 3 blog readers (that's how many I know read regularly for sure - so who is everyone else?).

Now then - how's things?

Named this post as "Flying" due the fact that a new cyberfriend of mine - Claire - mentioned to me I had not posted for a while; my, how the time "flies" as they say. And ...... it does. No sooner had I settled down after writing last Tuesday's "epic", than here we are again. I mentioned when first setting up my blog that I had wondered what it was that I was taking on!

Do not despair for me dear reader. It's not that bad at all - honest; it's just like many other things, down to that old friend, time!

So, using the theme of flying - here are two of my earlier works. The one on the left is of a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, done in 2006, and is worked on plain cartridge paper, mainly done using pen and ink (yes, all the strokes are all individual and lovingly done using just an ink pen and not a brush in sight). Other media used in this are a couple of soft pastels, and a little touch of soft pencil.

Just to be on the careful side I sprayed it all with a pastel fixative just in case the pastel was smudged. Size wise it comes out fighting, measuring a massive 7"x5". Once done I simply put it under plain glass, backed with a small piece of hardboard, with no borders etc.

The right hand side work is of a Bittern, and is done purely using acrylics on pre-stretched canvas. These are very secretive birds, and I tried to capture it "blending" in among the reads where it lives in an Impressionistic, almost Abstract way. This one worked out being 16"x12" in size, again unframed or mounted, and was bought last year by a local lady.

In one of the earlier postings I mentioned that I was starting to have a go working on bamboo based paper - a "multi media" paper, and so far I am impressed with using it along with acrylic paints. Please be aware that this is only my opinion. Recently I purchased a small gouache set, and have used them too, but not in great depth. It turned out OK though, as did the brush and ink that I used. It's pastels and watercolours next, and I just know that you are on the edge of your seats!!

Paul

Amazed!

Dear Bloggers

It's Tuesday already, and though I don't write every day, I do try in theory to blog something at least twice a week (well, alright then - whenever I can or remember to).

I have to say, that since starting this 'ere blog in March, I have been totally amazed by the number of hits the blog has received in such a relatively short time - far more percentage wise than on a webiste for over a year! These things I have to admit I find quiet unreal.

In the grand scheme of things, I am not a prolific artist; my work is not well known around the world, and both my website and blog have started from total scratch with no-one having the foggiest who I am. For that I have to thank each and every one of you so very much.

One of my biggest and most sincere "Thank You's" goes to a young lady (well she's younger than me) who hosts a top internet radio show - http://www.wildbeatz.com/ no adverts, just great music. DjFreeSpirit has become a good friend through cyberspace - and long may it continue!

As mentioned recently, I am now trying out my work using bamboo paper - and I have to say I reckon it's really good - so far. Who would have thought that - bamboo paper? I wonder what great artists like Turner and Monet would have made of it all? Posting of some of that work will appear shortly.

For now - here's one of my works from last year - 4'x2'8" acrylic on hardboard hope you all enjoy it.



Paul

Stealth!

Happy - whatever ..............

(there's bound to be a festival or carnival etc somewhere in the World going on!)

Would you believe it - this last little Bratz painting that has only just been completed this very weekend, has been snatched up and claimed already.

Remember the recent tale about little hands rummaging through a pile of stuff and saying that this one looks good etc, but it needs finishing? You do? Great, you have been reading and taking things in. Well, those same little hands have now laid claim to the finished piece.

Methinks it is a case of acquisition by stealth - or some other legal waffle, but you all get what I'm thinking of. Especially all those who have the pleasure of grandkids, or access to little ones close to you in your families that you can spoil.

I'm not complaining really. It's just so nice to see a very genuine look of pure pleasure on a little one's face when you can give them something that they really want and treasure, however simple it may be. They think they have in their hands the very prize of prizes - the ultimate item for them - until something new comes along then that goes in the back of a drawer, wardrobe or cupboard, and they rush off to get the next new thing!

Now, if only that stealth could very occasionally be transferred into movement around a house - sort of a "quiet as a mouse" type stealth. Wouldn't that be something!

Till next time.

Paul

Blistered Brushes!

Avast there, me hearty bloggers!

Well it sounded a good, wholesome, hearty welcome to me.

Anyway, gosh, it seems as if I have been painting non stop for, er ................ a long time.

Well to me it does anyway. But, at last, there is light at the end of the tunnel or tube - probably because it's empty due to me using so much. BUT, and it is a big but because it's in capitals (note the correct spelling our little American chums), very good progress has been made.

My last Bratz thing has been done, completed, finished, ended, so now I can take a little rest, recharge my battery powered drawing hand, and look forward to something else I have in the pipeline, as they say.

It really does seem as though my poor little brushes have blisters on them, they have been working so hard! But at least they have now seen the back (well, front really) of this batch of hardboard paintings.

My next paintings I must admit, I am rather looking forward to having a go at - in the nicest possible sense - because I am going to start and work on bamboo paper! Now don't go start getting all excited; I am not going all Oriental, far from it. It's a new medium (to me) that I have stumbled upon, and am really intrigued by its possibilities. More details to follow.

So don't miss the next thrill a minute, suspense filled edition that is "A Colourful Life".

Paul

3 Buses?

Good day to you, dear bloggers.

Ever heard the saying (familiar to all British types, but no doubt other languages have their own translation), that you can seemingly wait ages for a bus, then typically 3 come along at once? If not - it doesn't matter.

As you are all no doubt aware, having read the last post, I have just completed my 4 small Bratz acrylics, but now 2 more larger ones have appeared almost straight after them. Obviously I knew I had drawn them out, probably months ago, but I had forgotten they were "there" so to speak, until being rooted out by little hands seeing what was in a certain pile. "Oooo - these look good, you must paint them too."

Yeah, OK, it's not like I have anything else to do is it? And, you all know the situation: - those big eyes looking upwards at you, from a grubby face, full of love and expectation, almost with a tear of hero worship in them; and you start fumbling in your pockets, looking round for a collection tin. Then you snap out of it and realise you are being given your next task to keep you safe and occupied.

Safe? Correct. If I did not sit in and paint, then chances are I would have to go out, no doubt crossing the road at some point, and having checked to see if it's safe to do so, stepping out into the road, and 3 buses come along at once....................


Paul

Pictures!

At last bloggers - here they are!

Despite overcoming every technological hurdle known to man (and believe me, new ones are purposely invented daily, just to test me), I am pleased to be able to reveal my latest 4 acrylics.

Yeah, they are of the Bratz origin; those noble, cute, loveable forms so endeared to our children and grandchildren, mainly of the female variety (though other genders are readily avaliable).

Each one of them is painted on hardboard using acrylic paint, primed with up to 3 coats of gesso - each one lovingly applied by mine own hand, and sanded in between coats to reveal a surface akin to, er ................. primed hardboard!

I have to be honest, and ask you - what more could you possibly want or ask for in a fine work of art?

As I hope you are already aware of (this is a test to see which of you have been reading all of my previous blogs) - none of these 4 gorgeous pin-up girls are for sale.

BUT! I hear you all gasp - such and such a one is:

a) just like my current girlfriend

b) just like my sister

c) nothing like anyone in our family

d) like one I saw on "Most Wanted"

e) the girl of my dreams and I need to get out more.

So there you have it (well, them technically speaking, as there are obviously more than one of them). Each one of these roughly speaking 8" x 10" beauties is one her way to a bedside in a hospice near me!

Seriously - hope you like them, and they add a bit of colour to the day.

Paul

Kids - eh?

Hello there.

I know you will all be on the edge of your seats, dying to find out the next exciting installment that is part of "A Colourful Life". Well, here it is!

Like all good laid plans, there is always that small moment in time that we dread that throws a proverbial spanner in the well-oiled works. You know the sort - earthquakes, swarms of locusts, world migration etc - OR - asking a newly reached 7 year old a simple question! So it was with the newly "completed" acrylics and my granddaughter.

"Oh Paby, they are just so good so far that I could faint, but they are not done, yet." She lovingly told me. "WHAT!" I turned in slow motion - mouth agape in disbelief. Where, why, what, how?

"Well, you haven't painted in their eyeshadow or eyelashes yet." Don't you just love kids; especially smart ones, even though they are your own?

But, to be honest, once I had come back off the inhaler and the medication had been given time to kick in, I was glad of her honesty. It was such a blatant mistake on my part - one of those so glaringly obvious that I had missed it.

Now we are "cool" or "chilled" again - let's take a practical look at the situation. I had given a fresh pair of eyes a chance to cast a critical eye over what I had done, and those young eyes had found a very valid fault. This brings me to say, that no matter how finished you may think something is, always leave it for a time so you can keep looking at it for faults before handing it over, or get someone else to take a look at it for you and give you their honest thoughts. Better still - DO BOTH!

A situation such as this also highlights the fact that everyone, no matter how young they may be, can have a truly valid point to make, and should only be discarded at your own peril. It gives you that final chance to make sure you have gotten it right, whatever it is you are working on, and saves you making the silliest of mistakes. Then, and only then, can you hand it over, safe in the knowledge that you have achieved your aims, and that the child really does have the right to faint!


As a result, the photographs will now appear in a future edition. Stay tuned!

Paul

Finished!

Good evening dear reader.

I lead a fairly simple life, my wife tells me, and as such, I have to tell that my latest "bits" are now finished - 4 small acrylics of "Bratz" characters.

Now, before any big, high-powered legal counsil starts court proceedings, these are NOT FOR SALE - savvy? They will be going along with my other donations to a local children's hospice to hopefully bring a little cheer into their difficult, young lives. OK?

My master plan is to photograph them tomorrow, weather permitting etc, then get them uploaded onto this young blog so you can mull over them at your leisure.

That is all.

Blog over.

Paul

Frustration!

Yes, I have missed 2 days of postings after having previously done 2 consecutive (can you follow that?), but the reason is FRUSTRATION. Agghhhh!!!

My watercolour paints, brush and palette have been non-stop for the most part of this last week, using most of my free time (and time allotted for painting) - but, I am afraid to say, all to no visible success! The drawings have been fine - I've been pleased with them, but on the downside I have to admit that I'm disappointed at the results. BUT - at least I'm being honest.

Everything I've touched has not quite turned out as I was hoping - I'm not sure quite why just yet; perhaps I'm still trying too hard, maybe I'm doing things wrong, it can't be my equipment, and my drawings have been more than reasonable.

On the positive side - I could put it all down to practice. Time spent working is never wasted in my eyes. Everything done can be used as a learning experience. The more you draw - the better they get, and if we think logically about it, we all learn to draw before we paint.

The alternative - I'm refreshing myself by doing acrylic works of 4 girly cartoon figures for my granddaughter.

Hope she likes them or my frustration may just sink into depression!

Paul