Painting in Norfolk In September 2009 my wife and I went to Norfolk with our daughter and her two children to Norfolk for the week. Although it was a family holiday, I turned it into a painting trip. Every morning I would get up early before everyone woke up and I would go off painting. … Read more
Umbria Our first visit to Umbria was March 2002. It was a much appreciated break away from running an art gallery in Newcastle’s city centre. It was also an opportunity to spend time reflecting on what had been anxious year in 2001. Susan and I had major surgery together when I donated one of my … Read more
Paintings of Italy One of the subjects I often get our guests on our Painting Holidays to have a go at is Painting an Olive Tree. The grounds of Chiesa del Carmine are full of them. They are not too difficult to draw compared to other subjects. It’s relatively easy for the guests to spend … Read more
This post is following on from my recent blog post about the benefits of regular life drawing. I’m aware that it’s not always easy or practical getting along to a life drawing class. However one simple thing that most of us can do is have a go at drawing hands. My “warming up” exercises vary … Read more
Umbria On our painting holidays in Italy we take our guests to the various hilltop towns that are a feature of Umbria. This sketchbook watercolour was painted on location in a picturesque town called Todi. We have been there on a number of occasions over the years. Using a combination of the sketchbook watercolour, this … Read more
Sketchbook Watercolour Earlier this summer I painted a small sketchbook watercolour Painting of Seaton Sluice on location. As well as being a family day out, it was a typical summers day in the north east. Patches of blue sky with sunlight bursting through dark threatening clouds. I decided to work the sketch up into a larger … Read more
Tiree 2017 has been a very busy year for Susan and I both with business and family. Our son was married 13th May. As a way to relax after the build up to the wedding we planned a painting trip to a Scottish Island called Tiree. Some friends of ours bought a holiday cottage there … Read more
Portrait Drawing There are no short cuts to achieving sound drawing skills. Regular practise at drawing from observation will pay off in most visual disciplines in art, whether it’s painting, sculpture, graphic design or even photography. Before working on a commission or a painting for exhibition I will often warm up for 10 to 20 minutes … Read more
As I mentioned in my previous post, I will often start my painting days with a warming up exercise. My usual practise is one or two portrait sketches of John Singer Sargent portraits in my Moleskine sketchbook. Last year I did a few time lapse videos of these portrait sketches to show the process of … Read more
I’m often asked “which is my own favourite painting?” It’s a question which I find so difficult to answer. Over the years I’ve painted many different scenes which I’m really pleased with and on so many different levels. In more recent years I’ve been painting portraits of people, which again, I’ve become attached to. However, … Read more