A Very Merry Christmas

Wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas 

Flesh Stained Angel

My painting Flesh Stained Angel is currently for sale at the Ben Oakley Gallery in Greenwich.  It will be there until Christmas Eve as with most of my work it does not photograph well so it is worth seeing in the flesh. (Sorry bad pun).   

                                                               

Christmas at the Greenwich B.O.G.

     

It's been a busy time for everyone down at the Ben Oakley Gallery in Greenwich.  There's been much hanging of Holly and Ivy, baking mince pies, running in Santa suits for charity and of course the displaying of a new collection of art work.  The show is on till Christmas eve and includes my painting Black Ivy Angel and works by David Bray, Rowan Newton, Pam Glew, Gonny Van Hulst, Asboluv and Ben Oakley.  All of the Christmas floral displays have been creatively put together by florist Sarah Williams. 

  

Angels and Bears

I have been busy working on an Angel I started awhile back. I had left it to start another as my eyes had become so accustomed to the image that I could not see what I needed to do next.  It is now complete and will be heading to a gallery for Christmas.  I will post more about that at a later date.

I also went into town early one morning and queued for two hours to see the Leonardo da Vinci exibition at the National Gallery.  It was so busy that you had to also wait once inside for people to move away from the paintings so you could get close.  You need to get close to see all the detail and wonder how he did it.  I think he must have had very tiny hands or a very strong magnifying glass as there is so much seamless detail.  There were many pieces that I liked including Drawing of the Head of a Bear that was only 7cm x 7cm but perfect. 

The First Angel Painting

This piece of work is finished and is the first in a series of Angels I'm working on.

Grey

I went to the Tate Modern this weekend and on the way there I saw this.  It was a bride and groom on the Millenium bridge having their photo taken.  The image of them really stood out amongst everybody around them in their grey winter attire.  In the Tate I saw the Gerhard Richter Panorama show.  I was waiting for something to catch my eye.  People seemed to be enjoying it but I did not, I was just not into grey that day I guess.

A softer Image

The rain stopped the other day and the sun came out giving me some time to work on this.  I have been working hard to make my images softer as I had been talking to a fellow artist who felt the stencils I had been using needed something.  Of course he is right and instead of running at it and being disappointed with the outcome I'm taking my time and looking at improving.   

Getting Darker

I have started painting something a bit darker that could be due to the clocks changing and the weather.  Painting outdoors I have really noticed how the light has changed, it's as if someone has turned a big dimmer switch and everything has changed.  There is also less time as I do not have cover from the rain.  Will have to sort something out.    

Cork Street to Trafalgar Square

A couple of weeks ago I went to the private view of Stuart McAlpine Miller's Cork Street show.  I think this is the most slick and professional one he has ever done.  His work is a mix of cartoons/superheroes and stylish European models that overlap in ghost like layers.

The show runs from 10th October - 5th November 2011 at The Hay Hill Gallery, 23 Cork Street, Mayfair W1S 3NJ.  On my way from Cork Street to Trafalgar Square I spotted this in a window.

It is an advert for eyestorm.com and has the work on show of David Bray (who I have met through the Ben Oakley Gallery in Greenwich).

New image same theme

Although I'm working on this I'm about three paintings ahead in my brain.  Not sure where this one is going so I have left this for awhile to start a new image but same theme.

Talent in the Room

A couple of weeks ago I went to the private view of Ray Richardson's show at the B.O.G in Greenwich.  The show consists of 94 small pictures that have a huge amount of character in them.  All deserve a look so I had to go back as the Private view was packed.  At one point Ray Richardson was being interviewed by the press as I was talking to David Bray while Rowan Newton sat in the corner,Gary Alford was outside the door, Ben Oakley checked the drink supply, Gonny Van Hulst drank the beer and a portrait of Guy Denning starred at me from the wall.

The show is on until the end of October 2011. 

      

A Blank Canvas

I carried this home today via the train a new 30"x 40" canvas.  It does not seem that big but when you're 5' 4" it's a bit tricky.  Plus there was a bit of a gale blowing.  I managed to get it back without denting it despite a few knocks. I will let you see how it looks as I progress with the painting.   

Focusing

The dragonfly is stitched in place and looks good.  The problem is I can not get a decent photograph of it.  I can either have background in focus or dragonfly.  I have tried different settings but still have the same problem.  I have settled on a side angle that gives the sharpest image.

The Red Sequin One

One of my little common prayer books sold the other weekend.  The red sequin one.  Now there are only two in the gallery until the show closes on 25th September 2011. I always wonder when I sell something where it has gone to and how it looks in its new setting.

 

New Design Museum

On Sunday I had a look inside the former Commonwealth Institute that was part of the Open House weekend.  Next time it is open to the public in 2014 it will be the relocated Design Museum.

At the Ben Oakley Gallery

I spent the 4th September looking after the Ben Oakley Gallery (B.O.G.) in Greenwich.  In the rush to be there on time I forgot to take my iPod so had no music.  Did not have to worry as Theo Szarowicz was working in his studio and was playing his.  Inbetween visitors coming into the gallery I made the above film which closes in on three pieces of work I have showing there.  They are my embroidered prayer books.  The day flew by as I had an interesting mix of people coming in to see the work and a few friends popped by.