Can be better, not entirely sure how at the moment but tomorrow should be the last painting session.
MY TRUE CALLING
I have a potential portrait commission from one of the plumbers who is currently installing a new bathroom. Thankfully its of his dog, and not of his wife, I think expectations are not as high?. I was wondering to include it on this website, initially I thought this isn’t a ‘serious’ subject, but then , Goya, Titian and Velazquez painted dogs but I would not describe Las Meninas as a pet portrait. An interesting diversion and one that requires some consideration and application. This could be the beginning of the end in terms of my aspirations, at least I will have an income.
Lemington Bank, Northumberland. Day 3
TRYING TO FIND MORE COLOUR
The above is an ongoing process that most painters follow as it is an expressive force all by itself. In the photo, the large cloud dominating this sky is grey to black but there is a good tonal range within it. I have boosted the warmth as I don’t want it looking like a Lowry. I am liking how this painting is developing, the idea is to keep the emphasis on the strange mid ground hills, which are highlighted in the sunset so this shouldn’t be too difficult.
Lemington Bank, Northumberland. Day 2
DOUBLE BUBBLE
As Boris Johnson, or any public clown would say. My intention since retiring and moving out to the countryside was to paint everyday. However, I had wildly underestimated how much this ‘new’ 250 year old cottage would need. Well that’s pretty much behind me now thanks to working almost everyday for the last 2 years. Now the way ahead is clear, a very dull social life is now a positive giving me plenty of time to paint. Never a workaholic though, just constant plodding, this prevents burn out.
Lemington Bank. Day 1
A STRANGE LANDSCAPE
I don’t know what has happened to create these odd shaped triangular hills on the left mid ground of the picture. They almost look man made but are far too big for that? There is also this large dark circular cloud hovering, its a sunset so the light is low, catching the tops of these odd shaped hills.
Lemington Bank, Northumberland. Day 1
A SUNDAY ROAST EARNED
A mornings cycling sacrificed on a sunny dry Spring day deserves a final entry for this painting although it was a morning spent fiddling and deleting. Mostly in the foreground, subtle differences, but its always interesting when you think your source material is totally suitable but it doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the painting. This painting is now finished. No more thinking how this fits in with the Mexico legacy, just paint.
Cartington, Northumberland.
ALMOST FINISHED
A few areas I think need a bit more but it will be hardly noticeable. Will probably finish off tomorrow and just update the photo. I don’t think I need to worry about the landscapes in the UK being a bit too familiar (English), there is nothing I can do about that, there are no native cacti or palm trees around here. By just continuing to paint these landscapes the power of the imagery will come through in the painting process.
Cartington, Northumberland. Day 5
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