Watercolour Demonstration

As the year draws to a close I know that I will be taking my usual time out to review the year. Like most of us, it’s a combination of being grateful, and thinking of those less fortunate. Spending time working in one of the north east’s prisons does give you a greater sense of appreciation for the freedom that most of us take for granted. Here’s my Review of 2023.

Early on in 2023 I was invited to do one of several watercolour demonstrations for local art groups. In February I showed the group how I would start a cityscape by laying the initial washes for the painting “Sandhill, Morning Mist”. This was later published as a limited edition print.

Turin

In February Susan and I celebrated 30 years of marriage. We spent a week in Turin, an amazing Italian city which is well worth a visit. I painted several sketchbook watercolours which I intend to develop further into some studio paintings. One of the sketches featured the distinctive dome of  the Mole Antonelliana, the National Museum of Cinema, which is well worth a visit.

Painting Mallorca

Another highlight of 2023 was our first visit to Mallorca for a painting commission of a clients holiday home in Pollenca. I spent four days making sketchbook studies of the property and the famous Calvari Steps. The client was delighted with the large original watercolour of their holiday home. They went on to commission two paintings of Pollenca which I’ve published as limited edition prints. They both feature the Calvari Steps but from different viewpoints.

Below is one of the smaller original watercolours of the Calvari Steps which can be seen at our gallery in Ponteland. The Mallorca commission sparked off several other commissions of Spain including Cadiz and Deia.

Pen & Ink

Another interesting commission was a sepia pen and ink drawing of a Kuwati Dhow. The client had seen some of my drawings of Omani dhows, similar to the one below and wanted a much larger drawing. It’s a refreshing change switching to a different medium.

I’ve still had the opportunity to work in gold leaf this year. I love the effects of gold leaf in my paintings. A client purchased this oil painting of the Tyne Bridges with 22 carat gold leaf and asked if I’d hang it in her new home. I usually don’t get the chance to see my paintings in situ so it was great to see it hanging her living room along with my other paintings.

Painting Commission Review of 2023

Another interesting commission I received was a client’s home in Germany. The inside of their home was just as interesting as the outside of the house with their well kept garden. We flow over to Germany and stayed several days to enable me paint several sketchbook watercolours of the house including various artefacts inside. It was our first time in Germany. We were well impressed with the friendliness of the German people who helped us navigate some the challenges of delayed trains.

The client decided to go for one large watercolour of the outside of the house, but also to include three smaller studies featuring details inside and their front door. The finished painting was an eclectic mix of detailed interior features and their colourful garden.

Sycamore Gap

Like thousands of others, I was shocked and dismayed to hear about the senseless cutting down of Sycamore Gap. It’s not an aspect of the Review of 2023 any of us wanted.

I had produced several paintings of the iconic tree over the years. Indeed, it was one of the subjects I’d chosen for the prisoners to paint in watercolour for the “Landscapes in Watercolour” project for the charity Junction 42.

I decided to revisit my original studies to produce a fresh homage to this much loved tree. This new watercolour is available as a limited edition print with only 45 prints in the edition.

Black & White Army

Newcastle have started the new season with some amazing wins including PSG in the Champions League. Despite a more recent run of disappointing results and injuries, my Toon Army print is just as popular. I’ve just completed a new painting of match day for a client who wanted me to paint his son and grandson into the crowd scene. He also asked me to capture match day with the new skyline. Newcastle Breweries has long since gone so there’s a different feel to this new painting.

The shirts are also different with the player’s names and numbers in red. I mingled with the crowd to gather the fresh reference of the Black and White Army. The client is thrilled with the outcome which is also available as a limited edition print.

My Review of 2023 leaves me in anticipation, wondering what 2024 will bring.