Almost back to real time and I will be able to write about art again. Though since I have had all this time to research I now know that art history is all fake news. You tell me Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel I say, you prove it… were you there? Rembrandt’s self portraits were probably painted by the lady next door. I have all my paintings done for me in China, I am really a chartered accountant and not an artist at all. I am of course joking but when I was in France in a famous painting village there were artists sitting in galleries who had done just that. What is more they did better that the artists who did their own. I’m afraid the ones below are all done by me personally, but now I am getting a pension I might be able to afford to get them professionally painted in China.
The wonderful beech avenue on the way to Kingston Lacey. I have painted this several times but never been pleased with the result. I did this one after painting a terrible picture of Badbury Rings. Only 15min and more about rain and cars that trees but I went home feeling a wee glow of success. 6in by 6in Oils.
Chapman’s Pool, such a difficult subject to make into a decent painting. It is spectacular when you are there but that does not always translate into a good subject. Not entirely happy but easily my best attempt. 12in sq. Oils.
We have organised a small art trail of open studios in the village. I make the map and we publicise it. I am pessimistic but to my surprise it is a great success. I make my studio into a comic strip with pandemic paintings and captions, this is so popular visitors spend too long in there and I get queues. I do paintings like this of my yard to amuse the public. 12in by 10in Oils.
Summer moves on and I paint a local field of barley. I really don’t paint close to my house enough. 14in by 10in Oils.
The same field ready to harvest. I blocked this in but when I went back next morning it had been harvested overnight! 16in by 10in Oils.
I went to Paintout Norfolk at the kind invitation of James Colman to be a judge at the competition. I had never really been to that part of the world and was very smitten with the subjects on offer. I camped in my van and the weather was blazingly hot. This is Great Yarmouth and I nearly died from being baked. I had to slink off to the shadows for the final touches. 12in by 8.5in Oils.
In the evening a local man brought some of his car collection to paint. Who could resist… I even sold this one. 10in by 8in. Oils.
Norwich Cathedral I made sure I was in the shadow for this one. 10in by 8.5in Oils.
Norwich again a great place to paint. It was very nice to meet up with friends I had not seen since the plague hit. 12in by 8.5in Oils.
More Norwich I took my pens as well which meant I could wander about with very little kit and still get something done.
I did my Judging and went home pleased, I shall return next year.
Shaftesbury, I painted this very near a cafe and could hear the diners commenting on my progress. There is always that gratifying point when people notice that the picture is not completely pants… or mostly there is. 14in by 12in.
The famous Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, I painted it looking up this time, slightly distracted by being interviewed by local radio as I painted. 10in by 14in Oils.
A little girl was making a collection of seashells on Studland beach, she kept going to and fro with her treasures all the time I worked. As you might guess this one instantly sold. 8in sq. Oils.
Portland from Castle beach on a very bright day. 10in sq. Oils.
Those rocks in Kimmeridge bay again. I had not painted this bit at low tide before. Lovely light and a nice comfy rock to sit on, what’s not to like? 12in sq Oils.
Autumn by the Stour at Hanford, I didn’t realise that this bit of the river was easy to get to. My visit was in torrential rain, but having soaked me it it then cleared. 16in by 12in Oils.
That’s almost up to date. In the next issue I am struck down by illness that interrupts painting… no not that illness another one…
Hi Rob
Ellie from Invercargill, bottom of New Zealand, here.
I’ve just discovered your website up and running again, really pleased about that, so I’ve amused myself by reading through the last pages that you’ve done recently. I love your way with words. A good sense of humour is what the world needs. I agree with a lot of your comments. I like that you live in the real world, not like those investment purchasers like whoever it was that spent a measley 300 million on an Andy Warhol work the other day. I like your paintings; i like the descriptions; i love your drawings. I like your take on covid. And, yes, I’m an artist, not a potential buyer….sorry about that ! :)))
I’ve now put you down back on the list of my favourite artists FB pages 🙂
Comment by Ellie — May 13, 2022 @ 3:40 am