David Hancock - One Day Workshop

Hello again.

One Saturday during the summer months of this unusual year, I took part with roughly a dozen others in a one day acrylic portrait painting workshop held by the renowned Manchester based artist David Hancock, held at my local art centre - the 20/21 in North Lincs.

David has an Internationally held reputation for very detailed portraits, often taking anonymous young people and putting them into fantasy come futuristic scenarios, but always with a meaning that the subject and the viewer can both relate to. His art is held in very high esteem by many people, and once you take in the amount of work and attention to detail he puts into each and every one of his works - then it's easy to see and understand why.

Before he arrived, you should have seen the faces on everyone when they took stock of their equipment supplied by 20/21 from David's instructions; no pun intended, but they were 'a picture'! (Tiny brushes No4 & No6 small rounds, and a large 20" x 28" canvass.) After introducing himself and setting out his background and aims, we all had our photograph taken, then printed off and covered with a pre-printed grid before David showed us how to grid up our large canvasses and use that method to get our photograph down onto it. Surprisingly, not everyone knew this way of working, and to those who did, then it is always good practice.

As you can see from the picture on the right, everyone's efforts were plenty and varied. David kept wandering round behind us all, keeping up a nice barrage of hints and tips; he was there for a purpose, and no-one would escape! This was taken during a quick break for a well earned brew, and a chance to catch up on each others work. As is usual in these circumstances, some work far faster than others, but I think only a couple had got close to anything like finishing come the end of the session.

That, of course, is not the whole point of the exercise. Learning, but above all enjoyment is the main aim, and we all agreed with that. Once we had 'finished' timewise, David photographed each of our work for his own records, and then stayed for quite a while answering a wide range of questions from those who wanted to ask. I think the biggest difference is that he takes up to 4 days to complete a work - we had around 4 hours!

A very enjoyable workshop, with many thanks to 20/21 for their help, to the other students for their banter and friendship, and of course to David Hancock himself. I for one will be looking forward to his next workshop visit this side of the Pennines.

Whatever you art - enjoy it.

Paul

The Last Cartoon!

Hi there!

As promised to you sometime (maybe a week or so) back, here is the picture of my last cartoon work.

I have done a number of these during the last couple of years, covering a wide range of popular subjects, some of them going back in time so as to incorporate as much of a cross-section as I could, thereby keeping everyone happy. Well, that was the plan at least.

It seems to have worked, as I've had many positive comments about them, but the most bizarre one at least as far as I was concerned was the eccentric chap who wanted one of a large Scooby-Do to go over the fireplace in his dining room as a talking point. That in itself, must speak volumes for his cooking, or so it appeared to me, and luckily it was not a place to which I ever received an invite.

This one follows the familiar format of acrylic painted onto hardboard, being roughly 24" x 18" and having a smooth planed timber edge on the back to support it, have something to fix hanging materials to and to finish it off nicely. Many people will know it is an 'Hello Kitty', but a friend of ours asked if I could do one of her little girls favourite character. It just seemed so obvious to me to change the name to that of the little girl, making it more personal and enjoyable. Her mother thinks it's great, and loves the idea. I just hope Ellie is too when she receives it.

Why 'the last one' I hear you all cry in unison? Well, as I've already said I have done these for a few years now, have enjoyed doing them, having learnt a lot by working on them in many ways, such as grid-drawing to scale, neatness, a certain amount of self-discipline, having patience with the black lines, and building everything myself from scratch to a completed work.

I also feel that it is now time to move on and to try and concentrate on other areas.

When someone first starts out on their artistic careers, I think deep down we are all basically the same. "My best work is pastels", someone may say, "and I will work in them." Fine - no problem, but then they see watercolours, or gouach, or oils, coloured pencils, charcoal, pen and ink - the list seems almost endless. And it so easy to get carried away, curiosity gets the better of us, and before we know it, that small box of materials we once had eventually turns into a cabinet or drawers full of differing things. And then of course we all have to have a certain container for each one of these mediums, even leading to easels, brushes and dozens of other things - big and small.

My hand goes up as I am just as guilty as thousands of others. But now, I want to just try and work with two of the most popular mediums, those of watercolours and oils. The first for use outdoors and especially when away on short breaks and holidays; the latter for working with at home on ideas I can build up over a long period of time, maybe getting inspiration from those holiday watercolours.

There is no way on this earth that it is a unique, or new idea. I'm just treading on the same artistic pathways that artists and pleasure painters have used for hundreds of years. The only thing different is that it is now my turn.

And so it is: one journey has ended, and another has begun. I hope you like this last one.

As usual, what ever your art - enjoy it.

Paul

This Is Art.

Hi there

By tonight I will have completed the painting part of my latest acrylic cartoon, and once it is dry etc I will begin making the frame/support for it, and draw a line under it (no pun intended). I have not done any of these for quite a while, but this is one I have been asked to do by a family friend for her daughter - a 'Hello Kitty'. Once it is complete, I will photograph it and upload it onto here.

Although I have always enjoyed working on these, I feel it is about time to call it a day with the cartoons, and begin to concentrate more on my oils and watercolours. The freedom of being let loose with a palette knife after the strict colouring and black-lining that entails with a cartoon is amazing, I can tell you - and the ease and looseness of a watercolour is so liberating!

It was part of my collection of cartoon works that I used to take part in the 'This Is Art' event run throughout  parts of Lincolnshire during the summer of 2011. A range of events over a couple of months covered art, dance, music, drama, film making, singing etc. Although these are the usual sorts of event you would assume, the emphasis was also on the much lesser known forms of art - such as woodcarving, writing, story telling, story reading, needlecarfts etc

The artworks supplied by the artists were distributed for display to a variety of participating outlets around the local community. Many of the events had both an amateur and a professional element to them, and the whole thing was a great success. I think plans are already afoot to run the scheme again next year.

That sparked a thought (I try to have at least one a week!), asking myself how many artists (full time and amateur) support local events like this one - more often than not under their own steam, and for no gain at all except the thrill and satisfaction of taking part, and maybe a little publicity? In that sense is the spirit of community dead or alive where you live? Or - do you support local artistic events by attending them in your area? Like I said - just a thought.

For further info and ideas on the event, try searching for www.thisisart.org

Until next time, when I'll let you into another summer event I attended - whatever you art - enjoy it.

Paul

And then there were Two!

Hello there.

Quick update for you in between coats of drying acrylic - so you know it will be a speedy one.

Oh my - last week I was told that my art intake was dropping down from four to three sessions per week - and now I start this week being down to just two! How come I hear you all type back?

Simple; last night's Life Drawing Group was cancelled due to lack of numbers, which is an awfully sad shame, and hopefully will not become the norm. The folks who run it - the 20-21 Gallery in Scunthorpe, North Lincs, need a minimum of eight to make it a viable session, and it was down two last night to six artists.

Hopefully we can all try and bang the drum and try to get more support for it, because it is a difficult thing in itself to get models in some areas, and once this is gone, I fear it may be for good.

Brushes crossed for next Moday.

Whatever your art, please enjoy it.

Paul.

Last of the 'Full Weeks'.

Hello there!

Yesterday - Thursday - was the 'last of the full weeks' as such in my little art world.

After what seems close to being a lifetime of attending 4 art sessions a week (one Life Drawing in a nearby town, one Tuesday kid's group, one Thursday kid's group and one adults group on a Tuesday evening), I now find it down to 3, as the local art group leader has deemed it fit to drop the Tuesday kid's groups, due to falling numbers. It is hoped to be able to combine all the kid's into the Thursday session.

Obviously it may not go down well with everyone, probably more so with parent's who have their routines; some may sadly stop coming altogether, but it does not make sense to be open twice a week for just a couple of children per session, especially in this economic climate. My best hope is that those who really want to come and learn some artistic techniques, who want to progress and improve their abilities will be the ones that do accept the change.

Personally I would much rather sit with perhaps 4 youngsters who are serious about what they are doing or want to do, than have maybe upwards of a dozen or so who treat the place like some sort of after school club.

Hopefully after you read what I put in my last post you may remember we have around 3 youngsters who want to make a concerted effort with their art, so starting next week we will be able to see if they can work in a one day a week group.

Right, things to do, places to go, and some more blog pages to start and plan, so until next time - whatever your art - enjoy it.

Paul

The First Week Back

Now then Bloggers - how the devil are you?

Thought I'd have a brief resume of the first week back after the school holidays, and like plenty of places, that's the time when our kid's and adults art groups close down for the summer too, as well as the Life Drawing Group I'm a member of nearby. I guess in the long term it does do us all good to have a break: or does it?

Millions of adults around the world will be saying the same thing - "It doesn't seem like 2 minutes since they broke up!" And, I guess to a certain extent it's true, though I feel that 'since I was a lad', the youngsters I know around here are now admitting to being bored and actually WANT to get back to school. Sign of the times eh? We always had loads of things to do to occupy our time, but even with all these modern gadgets, games and technology - they can't wait to get back.

Our art group and it's re-opening had not been properly promoted by the proprietor, so on Tuesday we only had ONE child turn up, and on Thursday we only had TWO children (both sisters). What I found interesting was that Tuesday's child had been carrying on practicing and using her sketch book during the summer, and the eldest of the two who came on Thursday had been doing the same thing (to a lesser extent as they had been away several times during the break). That's a great testament to both of them, and they both have even at this early stage of their lives and school careers (they are both not in senior school yet) - want to carry on with artistic based careers. Obviously neither of these two were bored!

I teach art to children, or should I say I help them and encourage them with their art as technically I am not a qualified teacher. But whatever the technicalities of it, I find it very satisfying to have children like these who actually sit and listen to what you say, watch what you do, intelligently question why you do things, then go and try their best at interpreting what they have just encountered. One wants to be a furnishings and interiors designer, the other is setting her sights on getting into private school for her art, finally becoming an artist in her own rights.

Both have a range of "cheaper" materials at home with which they already work, but both are seriously interested (and their Mum's know too) about buying their own "artists range" of products they can learn to confidently use with us and at home. They seriously experiment with styles and techniques based on what they have learnt, and even at their early ages are both slowly building their own portfolio's. What a comparison to those who were bored and couldn't wait to get back to school eh?

As always - whatever your art - please enjoy it!

Paul

Since Last Time

Hi there once again - remember me?

Long time no see as they say (or type, or read or whatever), and yes, it has been a long time - around a year in fact since I last posted anything! Shocking, I know, from someone who's been trying so hard initially to get a regular blog up and running, and making the most of what the modern world has to offer. I could guess that it has to be just about one of the longest 'time outs' taken in history - so what is it that has absorbed so much of my time since we last 'spoke'?

Well, various things, and not all technically art related - I have to admit. Here in my small home town some of you may recall that I help out at a local children's art group twice a week. At the same venue, once a week is also an adults art group - though this is purely a 'taking part' as opposed to a 'teaching or learning' group. The same can be said for Monday night's to which my art materials (more often than not my watercolours) attend a Life Drawing class in a nearby town. This is not a 'teaching' or 'taught' group, just something I really enjoy and look forward to, and I have to admit that my work has come on no end since starting - and is something I would recommend to anyone who wants to improve their work. My main tip here is to use materials you can work with very quickly, as our longest pose lasts only 40 minutes - and we only get one of those per session! The rest are split between one, two, and maybe five minute quick poses.

There are mixed views for me regarding Monday nights, as it's the same evening chosen by the panto/theatre group I'm also involved with. This means that a good half of the year the Life Drawing has to lose out to rehearsals, readings and other theatre related things, as we normally put on two shows per year. Theatre is deemed as being another form of art, and a sub-division from that comes the form of stage lighting, to which I have now found myself attached since our latest production. As I am deemed 'artistic', that means I'm a suitable candidate for future stage lighting requirements. Lost yet? Not as much as I am I can assure you!

One fun day I had was a day a good friend came over who wanted me to help her recreate a scene she had painted on a mug while doing a day's pottery/ceramics session. Her master plan was to paint a similar scene onto a canvass and hang proudly above her fireplace. One landscape canvass, around five hours and goodness knows how much acrylic paint and mugs of tea later and she was happily driving home with her prized possession still wet on the back seat of her car. Happily it survived the journey, and is now in pride of place in her new home. Result!

Like most 'artists' I have also been trying to collect plenty of material which one day may find itself on paper hanging on a wall somewhere. The Rivers Humber and Trent, weekends near York, time in the Cotswolds, to Blenheim Palace, and two weeks in Mexico, have been my main sources for this last year. Hopefully, sometime in the future, I hope to be able to sit and make something out of all this material. Let's just hope it doesn't take another year!

Until next time - whatever your art - enjoy it.