6 Steps to the RA Summer Exhibition

After skipping a year (and quite some time off this blog), I've decided to return to floral paintings but with a little more edge this time. The colours I chose for this painting have been influenced by a commission I'm working on which is for a Spanish styled kitchen. In order to make sure of a colour match, I'd bought some sample wall paint. I used this emulsion colour to prime the canvas for my floral work, and its the first time I haven't started painting a design straight onto a white. I shall definitely be trying this technique again since it really adds vibrancy to the tone.

This is the acrylic painting in 6 stages. I had no real plans of what I was going to paint when I first stood in front of a 60 x 90 wall of orange, but just went with the flow. I realise paintings occasionally have to be planned, especially commissions, but its also fun to start with a blank canvas, some music, and see what emerges. :-)

Step 6Step 5
Step 4
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Step 1

Been a while....

since I've posted on here.

But I now have a few painting projects on the go again, and so I've got something to share rather than random wittering.

Its the Eynsham Art Groups 40th Anniversary this year and there is an exhibition to coincide with it, so I have reworked a nude I started some time ago and I'm in the process of changing it beyond recognition. I have a week to finish it - so a few late nights coming up I think.

The painting itself is quite big (60 x 90) and I've used acrylics (quicker drying time than oil) and have just started putting on some gold leaf highlights. When the size has set, I'll overpaint parts of the gold and see what it looks like.

Threadneedle 2010: I am a number

On Saturday, I ventured into London (via car of all things on a day when the Blackwall Tunnel was closed), to take my submission for this year's Threadneedle Art competition.

This is an oil of the first wedding shoes of the landlord of the Queens Head, Eynsham. He kindly provided me with some 'blurb' to accompany the shoes...fingers crossed they appeal to the judges. Each entry gets a number and the numbers of the paintings accepted for the competition which are to be exhibited at the Mall Galleries, are published this Friday. I am 549.

Change your shoes, Change your life VIII: "These shoes winked at me in Coventry, circa 1974,
whilst looking for wedding attire. They cost me a week's (apprentice) wages...in fact twice the price of the wedding dress! Elton John and Slade were Top of the Pops and I enjoyed my elevated view of life."

Aging rockers...

More shoes for Artweeks....

A work (still) in progress.

Word doodling....

From all the words on this blog.....try for yourself at www.wordle.net

....they are art forms in themselves I think....and a great way of saving some treasured words....

More shoes

Framing always takes ages. I get the painting in the right place after numerous attempts, scrape chunks of skin from my fingertips trying to get the back on, and then turn the frame over to view huge bits of dust or crumbs ....where do THEY come from? I check my surfaces are clean before I start. But it gets me every time....actually about six times...before I give up and go make a cup of tea and regard the whole mess on the work table with something akin to malevolence.

Red shoes

My mother always used to say 'red hat no knickers'....but I have always aspired to owning red shoes. And what better red shoes to aspire to than a pair of Louboutins?

This isn't finished yet. But you get the idea....