Thursday 10 December 2009
Sunday 6 December 2009
Guy's Portrait in progress
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Dog walking by the sea in Dorset
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Haven't painted for a while - was so busy with several exhibitions in a row. Today was a bit quieter with the last of my pre-Christmas shows over on Sunday.
Here is a bird scene I spied under the Richmond bridge back in summer. It's so cold and wet outside now so it's nice to go back to the warmer memories.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Tuesday 27 October 2009
Sunday 25 October 2009
Unfinished Business - Cats
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Sunday 18 October 2009
My Art Kitchen
Wednesday 14 October 2009
Tuesday 13 October 2009
Monday 12 October 2009
Tuesday 6 October 2009
Monday 5 October 2009
Tuesday 29 September 2009
To Play or Not To Play
Monday 28 September 2009
Autumn in Richmond
Sunlight buries itself playfully in the soft, pearly cloud cussions, popping out here and there only to dive straight back in. Richmond filled with a golden glow reflects majestically in the broad waters of the Thames, adorned with colourful boats. I walk briskly through the town, hurry to collect my girl from school and the smell of autumn fills my lungs, tickles my deepest memories. They are just shades of feelings too abstract for words even inside my head. They taste bitter-sweet, I want to hug these trees, this padded sky. On the way home we stop by the river. My girl loves looking at the water up-close. We look for stones which the river brought here from the sea. We take our trophies home. When Sasha goes to bed I start a new still life.
Tuesday 22 September 2009
A Pair of Figs
I place two figs on a window sill. They are withered slightly but probably still delicious inside. I study them slowly, squinting. Mild and soft September light is bathing the pair. The contrast between their plump, rich bodies and touching little pointy tops creates in me the familiar longong to paint. When it comes it's urgent. I rush for the paints, roll out the brush case with the jerk. Water. Where all the jars gone? Have to find a new one! The tap spurting tuns of frothy bubbles. Too much pressure.
Finally I'm down on the floor before my tantalising models and everything goes quiet again. The mystery begins. My needle-sharp long-leaded pencil is an extension of my fingers, my eyes and hands become one. I make the first, light, tentative strokes. Soon they grow bolder, more decisive. The firm contours reveal themselves gradually.
Now this it - the thick kolisnky sable is plunged into the clear depths of the former jam jar. Several brisk dabs at the colourful half-pens and a delightful muddy-blue liquid is trickling down the rough, thirsty paper. This feels good.
Finally I'm down on the floor before my tantalising models and everything goes quiet again. The mystery begins. My needle-sharp long-leaded pencil is an extension of my fingers, my eyes and hands become one. I make the first, light, tentative strokes. Soon they grow bolder, more decisive. The firm contours reveal themselves gradually.
Now this it - the thick kolisnky sable is plunged into the clear depths of the former jam jar. Several brisk dabs at the colourful half-pens and a delightful muddy-blue liquid is trickling down the rough, thirsty paper. This feels good.
Monday 14 September 2009
Plaster cast drawing - female hand from Bargue
I am teaching a class on classical drawing - Academic Art Class. It starts in the end of September in Ham, Richmond-upon-Thames. This is one of the demonstrations I did today in preparation for this class. It is going to be based on the 19th century teaching techniques. I am really excited and looking forward to it because I feel passionately for the cause. I think that the proper fundamental skills teaching has greatly diminished in 20th century and the whole of the art sector is suffering because of that now. Public is disorientaded and many young artists and art students are pushed towards negative, meaningless works artificially inflated by profound commentary.
Friday 11 September 2009
Magnolia Branch
Wednesday 9 September 2009
Sunday 6 September 2009
Heather Path in Isabella Plantation
Went to Isabella plantation today with my mum and daughter. It is a charming enclosure within Richmond Park. There is an area there full of flowering heather bushes. The fragrance is so nice. I found myself a cosy place by the bridge over a tiny brook an dedicated an hour to au plein air painting. Here is the result.
Thursday 3 September 2009
Chiswick House Study
Gouache
25 x 19 cm
Another gouach sketch from yesterday. I am having a new gouache period at the moment.
This is garden is a little gem of south west London. Built by Earl of Burlington in 18th century this house was one of the first palladian villas in the country. It is built by William Kent following the rational geometrical principles of Classicism. This building was never intended as a home but rather as a showcase of the owners art collection. It's a calm, harmonious place for walks and sketching.
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Taking Off
Monday 31 August 2009
Sunday 30 August 2009
One of the last fine summer days on Thames this year. Alas we didn't have many of those anyway.
"The Blue Sail"
15.4 x 11.4 cm
gouache
To Buy
"The Blue Sail"
15.4 x 11.4 cm
gouache
To Buy
Thursday 27 August 2009
Sweet Chestnut tree 1365
"Ancient Sweet Chestnut Tree"
14 x 12.2 cm, gouache
To Buy
This tree stands on the grounds of the National Physical Laboratory where we had an exhibition recently. It has been planted in mid 14th century!!! Usually there's no public access there so I've made sketches and photos of this tree while I could.
Friday 31 July 2009
Friday 17 July 2009
Saturday 11 July 2009
Thursday 9 July 2009
Saturday 4 July 2009
Thursday 2 July 2009
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Friday 26 June 2009
Thursday 25 June 2009
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Tuesday 23 June 2009
Sunday 21 June 2009
Saturday 20 June 2009
Friday 19 June 2009
Thursday 18 June 2009
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Monday 15 June 2009
Saturday 13 June 2009
Thursday 11 June 2009
This is gouache. I have bought a set of gouache paints on the spur of the moment recently. It felt a bit like the home coming when I was painting this picture. It's more then 15 years since I painted my last gouache back in the university. Gosh, it felt good! Didn't realise what a way I had come in those years! Will do more of this soon.
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