Google+

Hi there

Not too much to report this time apart from I have been sort of technical for me and updated the blog so you can now all join in and follow it via Google+  I'm not quite sure how it all works, and I am a sucker for a good salesman, but if it all works to plan then it should help you all get to read my blog, and me to get more blog followers. That's as I understand it. Will someone prove me wrong?

Art wise we have closed the Goole club for summer, and the local one at Margaret's is open until we have a one month break, closing for August. So, it has been a case of catching up and reading through some art magazine's I subscribe to, also reading up on a couple of art books (mainly about Turner), and sitting in the garden planning a few pictures and messing about with watercolour sketches.

This is one I have had a go at copying from a photograph, an old time sailing barge, and one I think is probably the last of its kind.

Personally I love the sails, the colours have worked out just right in my opinion, and some good art group friends say the water is the best I have ever done, which I appreciate coming from fellow artists.

The sky, well I'm not too sure with, my wife doesn't like it, saying I have done far better skies, and I do value her opinion.

There are a couple of other vessels I have done in the same manner - I'm not of sea blood so cannot state confidently what they are. The first is so bad I have started a second attempt, using the exercise to learn from bad and silly mistakes. The second is not yet completed, so when I have them done I will post all three in one set for your comments.

Lastly for now - some of you may remember I have been working on some lifeboat station paintings, well one of them  has been seriously practised on and I have photographed it below. I can see one or two areas I want to improve on before I will be happy with it. I hope to produce at least two works for my friend to use raise funds for the lifeboat station near her at an event she runs at the end of August. What you see will be mainly what this picture will be, but if anyone has any valid comments, then please do not be afraid to say so; I can take constructive criticism you now!

Slowly there are a few more completed works for me to post now on my blog, just remember what I have said before - I can't just sit and churn stuff out. Maybe it's the one good advantage that comes from me not posting too regularly in that it gives me time to produce things.

One of my other aims is to be able to produce some oil paintings by the end of the year; nothing special, just smallish Impressionistic paintings as a change from watercolours, which will always be my main 'thing'. The occasional oil painting may just give me that odd break to do something a little 'different' but keep my hand in at working. Who knows?

Until next time, whatever your art - enjoy it. Regards,

Paul

Goole Art Society

Now then!

Regular visitors will know that I and a couple of others from our local group joined Goole Art Society towards the end of last year. It's a very friendly group of some 22 or so members, covering all mediums, levels of ability and styles. My Monday nights are a real pleasure, and the 15 odd mile drive across there with Phil quickly passes as we put our art world to rights.

Over the last year there has been an influx of members. We are currently having to use a bigger room at the town's College as we slowly start to become a little more established. We already hold an exhibition above the town's Library in the Museum around November time, and are regulars at the Hobbies Exhibition at the town's Leisure Centre in Spring, and of course, don't forget the Society's own Exhibition aboard Barge 58 at the Yorkshire Waterways Museum in Goole which we have recently held.

Hobbies Exhibition Stand

Part of the Barge 58 Exhibition

Julian & John on 'hanging day', Barge 58

What one of our members has now done is to start a Facebook page which we hope will help attract some interest and possibly a few new members too. Please go and have a look - even if you just tick the 'Like' box it apparently helps us. Go have a look at some of the 'works in progress' as Julian takes photo's on his mobile and uploads them each week. Hopefully folks will be able to see the progress members make, and the very wide variety on offer. 

Last Monday (24 June) was the last of the current year, as the college has closed for the school holidays. Seeing as we are in an educational building, I just hope there is no-one standing by the door, checking if we have done some sketching etc whilst we have been away come the start of the new academic year in September!

There is also the possibility of a website for the Society, but that will not appear until later in the year after the AGM to gauge members opinions.

I do hope you will find the time to pop and have a look if you are on Facebook, and please try and support us - after all, like many artists, we are a Comminuty Group who try and help and suport our local (and not so local) communities. Thank you.

Enjoy your art,

Paul

Thank Goodness!

Hello there

If you are new here, then a very warm welcome, hopefully what you read may entertain or amuse you enough for you to re visit. If you are already a long suffering follower who keeps popping back only to find no updates - my apologies, please read on to find why (and it isn't medical this time).

Thank goodness I have finally managed to sign myself into my OWN blog and managed to post something. Believe me, I have been trying on and off since my last post in March of this year - which is pretty pathetic, I have to admit. I may not be the most technically savvy, but since adding my blog to Google + and despite trying to follow Blogspot's own 'faults' help options nothing has enabled me to succeed. Maybe - and probably - it's all my fault, but I assumed that if I was already 'signed in' then it was simply a case of continuing to blog. WRONG!

So, how did I manage it I hear you clamour to know? Well, quite simply, I had used so many options I was coming to an end, when I suddenly thought 'sign out, then try sign back in again'. Behold, it worked, I fainted, and here we are.

Anyway, enough.

My last post found me putting online a brief resume of the Hobbies Exhibition our art society had taken part in, and very successful it was too. After that it was back to our Monday evening sessions, where we sit and paint, chat, have a laugh, and wander round having a nosey at just what everyone else is up to. No pressure, no 'teachers', just as much help and support as you want to ask for. Being amongst fellow artists, even for 2 hours a week, is quite inspiring and helpful. Being an artist of whatever level can at times feel a little 'lonely', even if you have your other half to chat to, they don't feel or necessarily understand what you are doing, or trying to achieve. Being a member of a society or art group can be such a help, and is not to be overlooked.

Like most art groups we do have guest artists coming in and giving us a demonstration as to their methods etc, and since the Hobbies Exhibition we have had 2 visitors.

The first was Alan Smith who gave us a very interesting night with his coastal watercolours - harbours and small boats in rural settings - small creeks etc. It was very enjoyable indeed to sit and watch him at work, as that medium is my favourite, so I had great interest in it. Working from a pre-drawn sketch he worked through to the final brushstroke, producing a mighty fine watercolour. As I am now learning fast, (it still is my first year don't forget), he brought along a fair sample of his work, materials and sketchbooks etc, answering honestly all the questions we could throw at him in the time allowed.

 Alan Smith

Second visitor was Dave Woolass who proceeded  to work us through a very good town scene (from Bruges if I remember correctly) working in charcoal and graphite, using only a putty rubber (eraser to you Americans) to help produce the highlights. It was fascinating to watch someone produce something so full using so few materials. Really, very, very clever. Just like Alan he answered no end of questions, from the most simple to quite technical. Hopefully we will have him back again next year as he also does a variety of talks including presenting and marketing your work. Should be just as interesting.


           Dave Woolass

Both are very friendly and approachable (so no being shy with your questions now), and produce interesting and unique work. In life we all know one or two folks who think they can walk on water, well rest assured, these are both down to earth artists.

That's about it for now, so until next time, whatever your art, Enjoy it.

Paul

Post Goole

Hello once again!

This time my blog mainly contains a short write up about the Goole Hobbies Exhibition which I attended for the first time this last Saturday - 2 March 2013.

Held at the town's Leisure Centre, this was it's 33rd running, so obviously a well established event. Not until entering the place did I ever imagine what a size the venue is - it seems enormous! I attended as a member of the Goole Art Society which I joined last year, and had volunteered to help man their stand. Because of the logistics involved it made more sense for me to stay for the duration, which from 10.30 until 4.00pm was not over long. Like most stallholders at these events, I had time to wander round, stretch my legs and have a look at what else was on offer.

John shows that men can multi-task, by sketching and eating at the same time!

 
As it turned out I only managed to stay in the room where our stand was sited, but it was enough for me (what with the run down to the cafe for a brew every now and then). The main sports hall was also full of stalls and stands, and to top it all, the outdoor sports pitch was converted into an archery venue for the day! There was a local radio station inside too, which 'picked' on random stands, societies and dignitaries to give their thoughts over the airwaves.

Another 'corner' of our four-sided display.

During the day there must have been simply, hundreds of folks through the doors - I exaggerate not! From opening to closing, apart from a slight lull during lunchtime, the place was heaving. Good news is we had plenty of interest on our display, Mel sold one of his elephant oils, and we have hopefully recruited 2 new members, which has to be a good thing. Plenty of our little 'fliers' and leaflets were taken, so perhaps some will follow those up and turn up on one of our Monday night sessions.

The whole thing was very well run, and have to mention the others manning all manner of stands. They were all very, very friendly indeed, ever so helpful with nothing being too much trouble, and they had as much time for you as you wanted to stand and talk to them, despite the crowds. It was a really enjoyable event, and I'll look forward to it next year.

The next 'event' is this coming Monday, when we have a Alan Smith coming to give a demonstration of  'Seascape With Boat' in watercolour. Venue is Room 20, Goole College, Boothferry Road, Goole, starting at 7.00pm sharp. Entry is £3.00 for non-members.

Whatever your art, enjoy it.

Regards,

Paul

Still Trying!

Hi there, and thanks for hanging in there with me!

Yes I know, it's been some time since my last post in December, but I'm finding that it's not always easy to post. Writing a regular blog is at times not as easy as anyone would imagine, plus there are certain issues that make it hard for me to post on a fairly regular basis, then when I have time to post I forget or seem to be distracted, but I hope that once the year gets warming up and I get more involved with things, then I can make more effort.

Xmas and the New Year have come and gone, and it's only now at the end of February that I'm back at the two art groups I'm a member of, and enjoying my art once more. Our very small local group which meets in one member's house broke up well before Xmas as that member had family staying from abroad, and we felt it only right that they have as much time as they wanted without us intruding!

The second group to which I belong - Goole Art Society - knew that I would not be travelling there in the winter along what can be very difficult roads come this time of year, added to which my health took a dip and was not able to go as the weather improved. HOWEVER, that is now all in the past and my colleague and I have been across to Goole a couple of times, and our small local group head back to the homely surrounding of Margaret's conservatory starting this coming Tuesday!

Some of the photo's you may remember me mentioning during our trip to the east coast I have had a go at working up into watercolours. The main one so far is of South Landing, Flamborough, which went on display at Goole, and was purchased soon after the exhibition ended. There have also been two works of the Lifeboat Station at the same place, one painted and the second sketched out, waiting for me to paint, plus a rough working of one of the sea angling kayakers, also from the same venue. In one of my watercolour sketchbooks there are a couple of works of Whitby Harbour that I tried and tried to turn into something half-decent, and each time failed miserably! One small work of a colourful rowing boat close to the harbour wall has some merit and I would like to have another go at working on that later. Completing the coastal theme there is also one grey seal laid on the beach I have worked on, which is a little unusual as I don't normally work on animals, but more of them later.

Trying to keep busy and occupied I also have a sketch done of the 'Cow and Calf' which is a rock formation above the town of Ilkley in West Yorkshire which also needs painting; a watercolour of Richmond Castle which I like, but think it could be better, so will think about it; one row of small cottages also from Richmond which I'm in the process of completing now, and as mentioned before - animals - a pencil sketch of two giraffes sits in my rack waiting for the paint to hit the paper. So as you can see, it's getting to be quite a busy time on the art front.

This Saturday - 2 March 2013 the Goole Art Society is taking part in a 'hobbies exhibition' at the town's Leisure Centre, with several of us taking a couple of paintings each to display. Hopefully we will generate some interest, maybe even a new member or two, who knows?

Right, I hope that has brought you up to date somewhat, and that you will be able to reap the benefits (???) as I try to link things together, like join this blog onto my Google+ account and vice-versa! If I can get a few more folks linked, it may help a little more with input etc and I won't feel like I'm just typing to myself each time!

Whatever your art, please enjoy it.

Regards,

Paul

Quick update

Hello there.

Not too much for you to read this morning - just a quick update as to what's been happening since my last post in mid-November.

The Goole Art Society's exhibition held above the Town's Library, upstairs in the Museum, has been and gone, and I have to say that I enjoyed it all. Living some distance from the venue, I have to be honest and admit that other than take my work across to a Society meeting night prior to the event, I had very little (if nothing) to do with it. A fellow local artist and I are lucky in that we have a very good artist friend who lives local to the event, and he was good enough to take care of our work and help make sure it was exhibited correctly as he was part of the 'hanging' team.

The first Saturday of the event we were all asked to go and take part in a 'meet the artist' venture, which was very enjoyable. As well as meeting members of the public who came to have a 'nosey' at the official opening, I also had a good learning experience from the other artists as we all wandered around talking to each other about our work, gaining insight into each others' techniques and tips.

Apart from plenty of 'little' technical tips, one of the main things I took away with me was that I must work BIGGER. I was relatively happy with my work and the size of it, but on average I must have produced some of the smaller works there at roughly 12"x10". Methinks a few larger watercolours are in order for the next exhibition the Society holds around the middle of June 2013.

In between the end of the Goole Exhibition and now, we have enjoyed a long weekend away at our good friends flat in Scarborough, where I managed to get three small sketches done of the South Bay area, one of which is now basically coloured. During the Saturday we had a very nice run out to Whitby, where despite the bitterly cold weather I did manage to take several nice photo's which I hope I can use at some point.

Monday of this week it was the usual club night in Goole, where I took the opportunity to use my w/c's and colour the sketch previously mentioned of Scarborough's South bay - looking south to Filey Brig etc. Once I get time I will upload a picture of it, and maybe a couple of the Whitby photo's too.

Until next time, whatever your art - enjoy it!

Paul

Goole Art Society II

Hello there

Hmmm - I seem to be getting a few posts in here over the last couple of weeks; it's a bit like the old 'waiting for a bus' scenario, so best make the best of it while we can, eh?

As previously mentioned, the Goole Art Society's Exhibition is now up and running in the museum above the library in the town, and runs until 24 November. I've never been to either of them before, and was quite excited and looking forward to things. The last post I did tried to set out my thoughts on 'Calls For Entries' as opposed to just exhibitions, and how I thought it was better to simply take part in an exhibition as a means to get your work viewed by the public. So, having taken part in my first exhibition, what did I make of it all then?

Being totally honest, I must say that I really enjoyed the experience. If it's fame and fortune you are looking for, I would say 'forget it', but taken as a means to look and learn, then it's a good experience. As a slight side issue to the 'fame' bit, the first member to arrive had hardly been there 10 minutes when the local Press arrived in the form of a photographer. The good lady neatly arranged us into a group pose, took half a dozen pictures and that was it. She was off, no names, no idea of where we lived, so anyone wanting details may have to hire a private detective!

On the plus side, it was very interesting and enjoyable to have the time to talk to other artists, swapping ideas and techniques. I also enjoyed getting to understand how the different mediums appeal to each of us. Being an artist can at times be a lonely occupation (not all the time) but I guess it's like plenty of other hobbies; there is that isolation that appeals, where you just sit, or stand, and concentrate solely on your subject. Locked in your own thoughts as to how to draw this line, what colour to use, tones, shapes etc.

One little bit of news for anyone interested is that I now have my Twitter account up and running again, so look for @paulastle1 and become a follower if you wish. I hope some of you will.

As I always close by saying "Whatever your art - enjoy it", and on this day I most certainly did.

Paul