NO SKY REQUIRED

Up until this morning I was planning to put in a bright blue sky because I thought the painting needed it. By the end of today I had decided it would be better as it is. The painting is so busy that some empty space allows the eye to rest a little. I like the bottom left area with its illuminated buildings, it now sits better in the space, it was looking a bit like a stage set yesterday. Its feels a bit harder back in the UK to get that dramatic impact of some of the Mexican scenes, that’s the challenge.

Cartington, Northumberland. Day 4

GOODBYE GREYS AND BROWNS

I have cheated a little by starting with a high summer photo from last year, just to cushion my return to the UK from Mexico. However, one of my primary intentions of returning to the UK was not to drop the stronger colour palette that is more at home in much hotter climates. I am liking the look of this painting, the colours are saturated but subtle, and I think the space is working well. Its a Byzantine trick of just stacking one object in front of another, I like the effect that has.

Cartington, Norhtumberland. Day 3

ITS DIFFERENT

Something did happen with my painting whilst out in Mexico, this landscape looks different to previous ones I have done in the UK. Its more an evolution of a style that was forming. I certainly have an interest in shape, significantly flat shape, decorative colour and contours. Happily, I don’t think anything has been lost from my experience in Mexico, I think the momentum will continue. I also think I will be doing more drawing, besides just the design of each painting.

Cartington, Northumberland. Day 2

BLUE SKIES AND SUNSHINE

Back in the UK and this is the best weather we have had returning in March, is this a signal to keep the momentum going?. Painting every day? I may have set the bar too high, lets see. The Mexican legacy on my painting going forward, paintings have halved in size, I have cut my palette in half, I am no longer using drying mediums (semi-varnish) which used to destroy my brushes. Back with linseed oil. In terms of painting style, more emphasis on drawing and design, shape and stronger colour. I am going to use the same approach for this painting as i did for the last painting in Mexico, ‘Tree and Condo’, the technical term is ‘winging it’.

Cartington, Northumberland. Day 1

AGAINST ALL THE ODDS

An achievement comparable with Michaelangel’s Sistine Chapel in terms of defying the odds. 13 boards taken to Mexico and 13 paintings finished. This current one could be improved but it is mostly all there. One option I had not considered, which I am taking, is leaving this painting in Mexico as it is still wet and would only damage in transit. Tomorrow Mexico City, then back to the UK to consider how to tackle the drab countryside, a return to mud green, browns and greys?

Tree and condo, Mexico

A FOR EFFORT

That’s the beauty of self assessment, normally I am less generous with myself. Despite the effort I am not sure the painting will be finished. Tomorrow is the final day on the pacific coast before we head to Mexico City for a few days. Tomorrow, packing, clearing the apartment and hopefully grabbing 2 or 3 hours for more painting. Happy with the way it is looking. The intention is to get the tree working as well as the foreground, although this is not finished either, and thinking about integrating the condo more into the painting so it has a similar decorative effect.

Tree and condo, Mexico. Day 3

TOO MANY LEAVES

Even though I have increased the size and reduced the numbers of leaves, the fact that I am insisting on painting each individually means it is a slow and ponderous process. I also insisting on not following the rather dull process and painting in a range of greens. I hope I am making the right decision on each one as I am not going to repaint them all.

Tree and condo, Mexico. Day 2

TREE AND CONDO

I have been coming here since 2006 and on an almost daily basis whilst here I have walked past this tree as it is at the main entrance to the condo. I have always liked it primarily for its giant leaves, its not the only one, they are everywhere. I never thought I would do a painting of it, I hope I can do it justice.

Tree and condo, Mexico. Day 1

TIME FOR ANOTHER

Well ahead of schedule and with 1 primed board left. Only one thing for it and that’s to start my final painting, number 13. Twelve good paintings with not one dud amongst them, surely this can’t be sustained? I can’t resist trying again, especially as it will be the thirteenth. This painting was done in double quick time, and the next one will have to progress just as rapidly if I have got any chance of finishing it. Better do an evening session tonight.

Island, Mexico.

NOTHING LIKE A REAL DEADLINE

If there is any chance for this painting to dry then I have got 2 painting sessions left. If I want to finish it regardless then I have 4. I think 4 will be enough to finish but then it goes back to the UK wet. I like the start to this painting. Painting in Mexico is quite a surreal experience and I want that to come through in the painting, I think it does and not just with this painting. Happy with the progress.

Island, Mexico. Day 2

THE LAST MASTERPIECE

Well, I have got to big it up, its the last painting of my first painting trip to Mexico and its been far more successful than I expected. Painting in Mexico has worked for me on every level, this will be number 12, I only bought 13 primed boards with me thinking this would be more than enough. The limitless number of subjects has surprised me, the colour (light) that is everywhere and the fact that I can paint small pictures in a small space and it has not compromised me. My progress, both in quality and stylistically has been noticeable, I hope I can progress at this pace when I go back to the UK.

Island, Mexico. Day 1

SUITABLY MAD

Everything in Mexico is turned up several notches, the food, the weather, the landscape, the colour and the wild and abundant growth of nature. That was the idea with this picture. Not just to illustrate but to give a sense of the mad rampant growth that is evident all around. Everything here is in full bloom, there are many varieties of plants and trees I cannot even name. I think that has come through in this painting and I am pleased with the final result. Its finished, I have decided to go for one more, I have a week to finish it though it may go back to the UK wet.

Palm tree, Mexico.

HUMBLE PIE

A slice of humble pie and a name change is in order. I said when I started the palm tree was a chalky white green, I then made the fatal mistake of calling it a blue palm tree. Well, just from a visual perspective I think my decision to stay closer to its actual colour was the right one. I believe a picture should be able to stand purely on its own merit and communicate visually without a need for a title or lengthy essay to prop it up. So now its simply titled ‘Palm tree, Mexico’. Despite all that the picture is going well.

Palm tree, Mexico. Day 5

WALKING THE TIGHTROPE

When I can write my own headlines why would I settle for something boring like ‘balancing the tones’. Essentially that’s the phase I am in now. I normally find I have to be at least half way into a painting before I can get a sense of where the tones are, or where I want them to be. I have decided to focus on giving the palm tree its strange blue aura whilst at the same time trying to push a high key colour range. I think its now going to work. I am also liking the bigger, bolder shapes that are simplifications of tones within the tree.

Blue palm tree, Mexico. Day 4

THE CLOCK IS TICKING

I am not just talking about my inevitable return to the UK, but about life. I have been ‘living’ in this holiday resort for almost 3 months and all the people here have the ‘ability’ to lie on their sun loungers day after day, all day for months. I can’t do it. Judging from my ‘sun tan’ you’d think I’d just got off the plane. I have never been able to relax. Its the creative curse and the endless journey with no point of arrival. I think on balance I am grateful for at least having the ambition to pursue something. Back to the painting, its going well.

Blue palm tree, Mexico. Day 3

A RESTRAINED APPROACH

Early indications are that I will stick closer to the subject in terms of colour and stylisation. I have no intention of illustrating every leaf, the boredom and tedium would be too much to bare. I think the initial drawing will be followed which leaves plenty of room for invention. This will be my only ‘blue period’ painting, from my modest output. Really liking the start of this.

Blue palm tree, Mexico. Day 2

ITS NOT BLUE

Its more a very light, almost white, chalky green. The intention is to start by sticking close to the trees colour but knowing me anything could happen and I may have to drop the reference to blue. I already think I will be introducing all sorts of shapes into the tree that don’t actually exist, that’s the way I seem to be going with these paintings.

Blue palm tree, Mexico. Day 1

WHAT DO I KNOW?

‘Not much to do’, as per the previous post was giving the egret a second leg, mostly. I couldn’t get away with just painting a one legged bird. However this morning included an additional 4 hours of painting. It has certainly improved, but that’s it, finished. The next painting is already lined up, number 11. Will it be the last one of this trip? possibly, they have to dry before going back into the suitcase. 10 paintings so far, all successful in my view, then its back to grey UK on the 25th. The horror.

White egret, Mexico.

NOT MUCH TO DO

Made such good progress in the previous day that there was just a bit of fiddling today. Its as good as finished, will check again tomorrow. I don’t know how significant this stylistic shift is, I do like the look of it but it seems like a bit of a curiosity, but only time will tell.

White egret, Mexico. Day 4

I WILL JUST DO

a little bit of painting. This was Sunday evening, 6pm. It was after 10 when I decided I should stop. You can never do just a little bit of painting when things are going well. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to make this painting work, it was a bit of an experiment. I was going to make a patchwork picture, the mid ground was easy as most of the shapes existed, as rocks, the sky was going to be a little bit eccentric. However, I think I have managed to make it work. Most of the painting is in place now.

White egret, Mexico. Day 3