I am still mentally reeling from the the images of the devastating Australian bush fires and here is another picture started in the firestorm series this time collaged paper and acrylic on canvas. In progress. 50x70cm
Wood & fire
Category: Uncategorized
After the fire
Yesterday I posted some digital sketches on the theme of the Australian bush fires. This painting in oils is called ‘After the fire’. It is 80x80cm on coarse Jute canvas. I used black oil stick to create the tree lines which worked well on the jute though used the stick up rather quickly.
Anguish
As some one who believes passionately that we need to take the issue of climate change much more seriously than we are doing I was filled with anguish and horror at both the burning Amazon and the terrible bush fires caused by drought in Australia. As an individual there is very little I can do but as an artist I can try to put some of this distress into my work, This probably achieves nothing but at least it gives me some relief.
I have been using my new iPad to produce sketches which I will turn into much larger paintings and here are a few examples.
Hello new decade
Well hello 2020, so far Australia seems to be on fire, south Africa in the grip of drought and famine, Jakarta is flooded, Harry and Megan have resigned and we are told by those who are really paying attention (unfortunately not the ones who should be) that we have ten years to get our act together or we are doomed to fry drown or starve before the end of the century if not before.
In the light of all that I thought I would share some of the good things that have happened for me last year starting with my lovely Garden.
Joie de vivre, finished
I’ve just realised that I never got round to posting the finished version of this painting so here it is.
Elmer Sands
I live in Elmer, by the sea, and sometimes I forget what a lovely place it is to be especially when harsh salt winds blow in to scorch my garden plants, but this beautiful September morning I took a walk to see the progress on the improvements being made to our sea defences. There are some lovely old Groynes washed by the sea but as I suspect some of them will disappear under more rocks I decided to do a photo sweep before that happens. I won’t say any more but let the images speak for themselves.
‘Riot in the garden’ finished?
This painting in oils which is 70×70 cm on box canvas started as a wild sketch but as I worked on it in my studio I was afraid of losing the wildness. I find most paintings end up as a compromise between what one sets out to do and what one is able to do. I’m sure I could go on working on it but feel to do so would end up with what I call knitting where all freedom has been lost, not that I have anything against kitting, just not in a painting. No doubt I will see things that need tweaking as it hangs around my studio though.
Street art
Whilst tidying in my photo archives I came across these street art pics. I had collected and I thought they were worth sharing. They made me smile again and bought back memories too.
What a year!
2018 has been a very eventful year so here goes….
Relandscaping begins. 
At last! 
The beast from the east round 1 
The beast from the east round 2 
World War 1 bomb found at Elmer but exploded safely. BBC photo 
Spring at last 
That was a storm! 
had a fairly successful trail with plenty of footfall. 
I’m loving my new garden, worth all the work! 
The bees came 
Olive in bloom 
Pussy Willow, acrylic 70x70cm 
Summer leaves, acrylic,40x40cm 
Acrylic painting 40x40cm box canvas 
Winter Alder, acrylic 40x40cm 
Storm Eleanor 
Summer place 
Happy days 
Caught at Calshot 
Heat wave at Elmer Beach 
Summer colour 
Teasel Patch, acrylic on canvas 
October colour 
Late Clematis 
Wow 50 years! 
Arcadia 
Lisbon 
Gran Canaria 
Tenerife, Mount Teide 
Dragon tree , La palma 
La Palma 
Madeira market 
Madeira botanical garden 
2nd highest sea cliff 
Goodbye Madeira 
Cadiz 
Cadiz 
Vigo 
Christmas
Cardoon
I know some people think I’m mad planting one of these architectural thistles but I do love them. It looks great against the wall of the house and yes I also know I will be in for a hacking time down the line but for now its lovely and the bees are flocking to it.
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