Still a world away

To bring things up to date, 3...

2011-12-29T20:41:00.011Z

These are all still quite a way from being finished and they're all at about the same stage, needing at least one more colour glaze and the detail picking out. They're all quite small too, the largest being 50cm x 50cm, the smallest 20cm 20cm. I paint just about everything at 1- 1 scale, so the roses in the paintings are about as big as roses, the magnolias as big as magnolias, etc... if you get what I mean.

To bring things up to date, 2...

2011-12-29T20:33:00.006Z

These two are both larger scale pieces with months of work left to do and I don't expect to finish either of them anytime too soon.

To bring things up to date...

2011-12-29T19:19:00.013Z

...

I finished this one a while ago...

And this one's nearly done.

What was the last thing I posted?

2011-09-11T05:59:00.002+01:00

Did I ever even post this finished? Click the image for a larger view.

http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/the-cribs/video/be-safe-mtv-session

2011-07-23T11:39:00.002+01:00

I keep promising myself that I'll sort this blog out... I've finished a few of the paintings that are on here as works in progress, reworked one or two that I'd thought were finished, and am starting some new work, so it would be good to try and bring it up to date. I will try and sort it out, but I've been saying that since last summer and not got anywhere.

Don't hold your breath.

2011-06-22T00:58:00.003+01:00

I'll try and update this blog soon. I'm spending most of my time at the studio working now, where I don't really have internet access, so I don't really have the time or opportunity to update as regularly as I used to.

2011-02-23T16:20:00.001Z

Nearly finished.

2011-01-19T01:17:00.002Z

London Art Fair

2011-01-15T11:09:00.002Z

I've decided to let the work that I finished for the exhibition go. There are four smallish magnolias, all untitled, going to London Art Fair with Beaux. The fair takes place in Islington and will run from the 19th to the 23rd January.

For any further information contact Beaux Arts.

Open Studio

2010-11-11T12:54:00.005Z

Still no progress.

My studio will, however, be open to the public this weekend as part of the Newlyn Arts Festival; so if anybody in the area is interested in seeing the work from this blog in the flesh, there's an opportunity.

Studio 3
Trewarveneth Street Studios,
Trewarveneth Street,
Newlyn.

Still a world away.

2010-10-27T02:36:00.004+01:00

You might have noticed that I've not updated the blog for a while. I'm afraid that there's nothing to report. I'm not working at the moment and have had to cancel the exhibition that was planned for next year as a result. I'll keep you posted.

Getting nowhere...

2010-09-20T01:05:00.007+01:00

...

Slow going.

2010-09-06T01:56:00.005+01:00

Not much to report. I've been finding it a struggle. Put another colour glaze on the branches of this one.

And started two new, small cherry blossoms, rough underpaintings; washed in black...

2010-08-20T15:33:00.002+01:00

Apologies for the lack of updates recently. Progress has been slow, despite the hours. I'll get some shots of the work that I've done on the large magnolia up soon. Until then here's a first layer of underpainting on a new, smallish landscape. 46cm x 46cm.

2010-08-05T09:09:00.008+01:00

I've been working on the two big paintings this week... As I still can't update regularly, I'll post before and after shots to give you an idea of the progression.

Click on the images for larger pictures.

The painting as it was.

More work on the sky, softening edges and cleaning the whites (which isn't really visible in the photo) and more work on the foreground, bringing out the greens and sharpening the detail. If I remember, I'll post some detail shots next time. There's still a long way to go with this one, but it feels like I'm getting there.

First colour glaze.

Second colour glaze. Painting the whole surface again, cleaning up the colour and contrast; using smaller brushes to bring out detail. There are a few bits I need to re-work, to bring them up to scratch, but I need to get the whole colour layer down first, so the I can see what's going on with the painting as a whole.

2010-07-29T14:42:00.003+01:00

I still haven't sorted out an internet connection, so updates are few and far between at the moment. Finished the next colour layer on this one. Still needs another coat on the sky and a bit of work here and there. I'm currently working on the big magnolia, but haven't taken a picture...

2010-07-14T17:37:00.003+01:00

Finished this one, still haven't settled on a title though.

Detail.

... And finished this one too, again, still no title.

2010-07-14T17:34:00.002+01:00

Finally finished the first colour layer on this one...

Detail.

2010-07-05T22:41:00.000+01:00

More colour, more of my studio.

2010-07-01T22:24:00.001+01:00

...

2010-06-29T22:30:00.002+01:00

More colour on this one. Putting in long days in the new studio.

Detail.

Detail.

2010-06-24T22:15:00.002+01:00

More colour.

2010-06-24T06:34:00.003+01:00

Starting putting the colour into the flowers on this one. It's going to take a while.

Detail.

2010-06-24T06:16:00.011+01:00

A couple of shots of my new studio set up. It's nearly there and I love it.

Another colour glaze, just on the branches of this one. I should post a detail shot, but it'll have to wait.

Just some final tweaking to do on this one now.

New Studio

2010-06-18T08:40:00.003+01:00

I don't want to start gushing about how fantastic my new studio is, but it's pretty awesome.

http://www.bsjwtrust.co.uk/trewarveneth.html

2010-06-14T02:42:00.001+01:00

Finished the second colour layer on this one. Still needs another coat on the sky and a final touch up glaze.

2010-06-04T01:20:00.002+01:00

Finished the second colour layer on this one today. It needs another glaze on the blue of the sky and a bit of a touch up, here and there, but it's pretty much done.

Update.

2010-05-31T21:35:00.013+01:00

Where things are...

It's been a while since my last update, due to a computer problem that I won't bore you with. Instead I'll bring you up to date with all the paintings that I'm currently working on. There are eight in all, which is more than I'm used to and I'm keen to get some finished; though the bigger pieces are crying out for more work. They vary in size, but as a general rule of thumb, the subjects in the paintings are about life size. I'll list each one and where it's at...

Clicking on any of the images will give you a bigger picture.

Small piece, about 25cm x 25cm. First colour layer done on the flowers and branches, waiting for second colour layer.

Big painting, about 180cm x 75cm. Lots of the second colour layer done, still trying to make sense of this one, still quite a way from finished.

Medium sized painting, about 55cm x 55cm. First colour layer across the flowers and branches, waiting for second colour layer.

I think this one's 70cm x 70cm. First colour layer across the flowers and branches, waiting for secong colour layer.

Smallish painting, 30cm x 30cm. Almost finished. The photo is showing it lighter than it is. Just a touch up glaze to go.

This one's about 85cm x 85cm, so it's pretty big. First colour layer across the branches and flowers, waiting for second colour layer.

Big painting, just over 120cm x 120cm. First colour layer on the branches, waiting for the first colour layer on the blooms.

Very small painting, 20cm x 20cm. First colour layer across the whole image, waiting for second colour layer.

2010-05-17T23:24:00.001+01:00

Trying to get to grips with the foreground on this.

2010-05-10T22:12:00.002+01:00

Had the weekend off, then finished the underlayer of this one.

2010-05-07T23:25:00.000+01:00

...

2010-05-05T22:00:00.001+01:00

More work on this one. I should be getting some work finished though.

2010-05-04T22:07:00.000+01:00

Started another small one, this one's 30cm x 30cm.

2010-05-03T22:38:00.002+01:00

... and on a stretcher I prepared earlier, the first layer on a small (20cm x 20cm), painting of a cherry blossom.

2010-05-03T17:22:00.000+01:00

Making stretchers for smaller work.

2010-05-01T21:35:00.002+01:00

Didn't get much done today; decided to put another colour layer on the sky of this one to see if cleaning it up helps me to see what I need to do to sort the next glaze out.

2010-04-30T20:43:00.001+01:00

Another colour layer on the sky.

2010-04-30T00:35:00.000+01:00

Finished the colour layer on the sky.

2010-04-27T06:39:00.002+01:00

6.30 am and my eyes are starting to blur. I'm only about a quarter of the way across the colour layer on the sky, but need to sleep; going to try and get a couple of hours and then carry on.

(Click the image for a larger picture)

Where you'll fall in love so hard that you'll wish you were dead...

2010-04-26T20:27:00.004+01:00

8.30 pm. My days are all out of sync. I'm going to work through the night and start a fresh colour layer on the sky of this one. I'm apprehensive; started this one a couple of years ago and haven't touched it for over six months. I don't know where to start.

2010-04-26T04:57:00.002+01:00

5am. A late finish to a long day.

2010-04-25T01:08:00.002+01:00

...

Detail.

2010-04-23T01:01:00.004+01:00

...

Detail

2010-04-22T02:15:00.003+01:00

Finished the first colour layer in the branches. It was hard going today; I've worked for nearly 20 hours and I'm shattered.

2010-04-20T12:27:00.001+01:00

2010-04-20T00:19:00.002+01:00

2010-04-14T22:12:00.004+01:00

I hadn't touched this one since the end of February. Started putting some colour into the branches today, a shorter day 'cause of other commitments, about eight hours.

Detail.

2010-04-13T18:18:00.001+01:00

Put another layer on the sky of this one today.

2010-04-12T21:54:00.001+01:00

Finished the underpainting on this one over yesterday and today. Around 18 hours (kept messing it up and having to clean it off and do it again).

2010-04-10T22:25:00.002+01:00

I know I said I wanted to finish the smaller painting over the weekend, but I'm not happy with the area of colour glaze that I put down, so I'm going to let it dry and work over it. Started the second layer of underpainting on this instead. 12 hours.

2010-04-09T21:30:00.000+01:00

13 hours into the second colour layer on this. I'm hoping to get it close to finished over the weekend.

2010-04-08T22:03:00.002+01:00

The buds in this one were sitting very flat after the first colour layer, so I spent a couple of hours bringing them out.

2010-04-08T21:55:00.002+01:00

Finished the first layer of underpainting and sky on this one; another 16 hours work or so.

2010-04-06T22:45:00.001+01:00

Started another new one today.

2010-04-05T21:25:00.001+01:00

Finished the first colour layer on this; another 15 hours. More priming and sanding and sorting through images for new work.

2010-04-04T22:02:00.003+01:00

Started the first colour layer on this one yesterday, didn't get very far, spent today working on the branches. About 18 - 20 hours into this colour layer.

2010-04-04T21:37:00.011+01:00

After spending a couple of days putting colour onto them, the two magnolias at the bottom left weren't sitting right with me. I didn't feel they were adding anything to the composition, so I took them out. It meant cleaning the paint back carefully with turpentine and sanding out any brush strokes with a fine grit sandpaper, so as not to leave traces of them in the surface; then painting the sky over the area that they were in. It's rare that I'll make such a major change this far into the painting, but I think it was worth the hassle. There's another couple of colour glazes to go yet and there should be no trace that they were ever there by the time I've finished.

2010-04-03T19:08:00.002+01:00

...

2010-04-02T23:25:00.002+01:00

About 10 hours painting today. Priming and sanding and taking pictures in between.

2010-04-01T21:30:00.002+01:00

16 hours today; not so many yesterday.

2010-03-29T20:54:00.002+01:00

14 - 15 hours.

2010-03-28T22:57:00.002+01:00

I might just start writing the hours down again. It must be getting boring reading "more colour" and things like that all the time... and I don't really know what to say.

2010-03-26T21:56:00.000Z

Getting back on track...

2010-03-25T20:46:00.000Z

Another colour layer on the sky of this one.

2010-03-25T14:19:00.002Z

Things came off the rails slightly this week; I'm hoping to get back on track tomorrow. Started working a colour layer on this one.

Detail.

2010-03-21T22:35:00.000Z

Finished the first colour layer on this. There's a lot of work to do with the next one.

2010-03-20T21:47:00.002Z

Started the first colour layer on this. It's been a while since I used colour and I'm struggling, so I'm going to leave it for tonight and go back to priming and sanding.

2010-03-20T11:12:00.001Z

Another colour layer on the sky.

2010-03-19T08:25:00.000Z

Finished the underpainting on this one.

2010-03-16T23:44:00.001Z

Started second tonal layer on this one.

2010-03-15T23:00:00.001Z

Second tonal layer.

2010-03-14T22:39:00.003Z

Spent the best part of the day out with my camera; managed to get the linen stretched onto the frames I made the other day and the first coat of primer down though.

2010-03-14T00:01:00.000Z

... and this one. It's been a long day.

2010-03-13T23:46:00.004Z

First layer on the sky of this one.

2010-03-13T14:45:00.002Z

Finished underpainting.

2010-03-13T01:05:00.001Z

... and this is as far as I've got with the larger of the two for today.

2010-03-12T23:53:00.002Z

My days are fractured now, punctuated with photography. The magnolias are in flower, so if the light is right I'm out with my camera. There's little point mixing a full colour palette, so I'm doing a lot of preparatory work, making stretchers for new work and that kind of thing. Started underpainting onto the two stretchers I've been building up the primer on; this is the smaller of the two.

2010-03-10T23:09:00.002Z

Making more stretchers, more priming and sanding.

2010-03-10T08:42:00.002Z

Another colour layer on the sky of this one.

2010-03-08T22:38:00.000Z

More sanding, more priming.

2010-03-08T22:15:00.001Z

Finished the underpainting.

2010-03-06T00:28:00.001Z

I was out with my camera this morning, so only about 13 hours, despite the late finish to the day.

2010-03-04T21:37:00.001Z

14 - 15 hours.

2010-03-03T22:37:00.000Z

About 12 hours today.

2010-03-02T23:25:00.001Z

More work around top left; a long day.

2010-03-01T21:35:00.003Z

Working around the top left hand corner of this one.

Detail.

2010-02-28T22:24:00.002Z

No Picture.

I've spent the day working on, what should have been the final colour layer of, a small landscape painting that I started early last year. I'm not happy with it, so am going to bin it and use the stretcher for something else.

2010-02-27T22:58:00.004Z

More rubbing down, more primer. It's on ongoing thing, through the days; sand it all off, apply another layer of primer, let it dry... sand it all off, apply another layer of primer, let it dry....

2010-02-27T22:17:00.002Z

First layer done.

2010-02-27T18:25:00.000Z

About 5 hours so far today.

2010-02-26T18:26:00.002Z

10-11 hours work since the last picture.

2010-02-25T22:19:00.001Z

A broken day. Slow going.

2010-02-24T08:38:00.002Z

First colour layer on the sky of the new one.

2010-02-24T08:36:00.000Z

Second colour layer on the sky.

2010-02-22T21:02:00.002Z

Painted another colour glaze onto the sky of the large magnolia today. There's too much glare from the light to get a decent picture, so I'll post a detail shot and upload an image of the whole thing tomorrow.

2010-02-21T22:33:00.003Z

I've spent what little time I could find over the weekend, putting a pencil drawing down for a new painting. This one's 80 cm x 80 cm. It's not one of the stretchers I was making last week; it'll be quite a while before they're ready.

2010-02-19T22:12:00.004Z

Priming the raw linen. The first coat is an acrylic gesso primer, diluted one part gesso to five parts water, to seal the fabric. On top of that I'll apply anywhere between ten and fifteen coats of primer, sanding the surface down between each one, until the weave of the fabric is obliterated and a smooth, panel finish is achieved.

2010-02-18T12:34:00.004Z

Stretching linen.

2010-02-18T01:50:00.001Z

Finally finished the second layer of underpainting.

2010-02-16T22:56:00.001Z

Going to call it a night; done about 15 hours today.