Just a quickie ....

5 1/2 x 7 inches - hardboard panel - SOLD

I enjoyed doing the reflections in the little silver bowl and the 'white' of the lily is always challenging (I use white, raw umber, ultramarine blue and a hint of lemon yellow).

Surprise! Another post ...

9 x 12 lead primed linen panel
SOLD - Tallantyre Gallery UK

I just thought I'd post another painting of the broken plant pot for your perusal seeing as it has been so long since the last post ;-)

Where does the time go?

16 x 12 inches linen panel
SOLD to Tallantyre Gallery UK

I never meant to let so much time go by until this latest post but I seem to be living in a time warp.
I have been experimenting with various panels and mediums and had quite a few failures but i felt it was worth the time and effort as I now seem to have found the ideal panel ... I used to use Belgian linen mounted on Gatorfoam panels but now I just use the Gatorfoam panels themselves (bare of linen). I give them two coats of acrylic gesso and then a coat of re-touch varnish to lower the absorbency.
The above painting was done on a lead primed very smooth linen but I didn't enjoy the process at all. It was very smooth but sucked the life out of the paints and took too long to achieve the finished effect so I wont be using it again.
If you are interested in trying the Gatorfoam go here: windriver arts
you can say you heard of them from me as they don't have the panels advertised on the site and I had to ask specially. They are very helpful :-)
I'll be posting some of the newer paintings on the Gatorfoam very shortly.

The Tallantyre Gallery in the UK has asked for 8-10 paintings for a show in London in April so I have about six paintings on the go at the moment (they have accept five others) so I have been very lucky in my start to the new year :-)

I will try and remember to post more work over the next few weeks (providing I don't mess them up that is ;-) but should I enter the twilight zone you will know that ..... I'll be back!!!!

Gone but forgotten?

10 x 8 inches, oil on Belgian linen panel

12 x 9 inches, oil on Belgian linen panel

Right, excuses for not posting for months ................ hmmm! Well ...... how can I put it? I was abducted by aliens, struck down by some debilitating disease, captured and held for ransom by the Crimes Against Bad Artwork fanatics. Well, nothing even remotely that interesting ;-)

I have been painting but everything seemed to be taking so long to finish and many of them were re-workings of subjects that have already been posted before so I didn't want to post them and bore everyone to death ;-)

I also had about three paintings that just didn't work at all and will be binned or painted over, it was a pretty self doubting couple of months.

Anyway, here are a few of the latest ones and I will post more over the next few days, just to prove that I haven't just been sunning myself on a beach in the Caribbean miles away from brushes and paints.

They are grapes and quinces and very seasonal at the moment over here in France.

These paintings are going to the Elliot Foutts gallery in Sacramento who have been taking most of my work for the last 5 months or so.

Blick Studio Catalogue Cover

I was notified a few months ago that one of my paintings was chosen for the Blick autumn/fall catalogue .... the big surprise was that I didn't even know that I was being considered! I was told that it was a choice between twenty other artists, living and dead, so they went for someone in between ;-)

Well, finally, here it is and I must say a big thank you to Stephen Swayne of Blick who actually put forward my work for consideration and is always a great source of encouragement.
While I am thanking people, I would also like to thank my sister in law, Sheila, because if not for her support and continuous encouragement I would not have made it this far ............ thanks sis :-)

A Cup of Lily Dear?

9 x 12 inches, oil on Belgian linen panel
For sale soon at Elliot Foutts Gallery Sacramento

Well ... my good news is that I am now represented by the Elliot Foutts gallery (link above), they have been great and made the whole gallery experience a pleasure for me and they have been so supportive and encouraging. They are also arranging an exhibition of realist artists in October (including my Blogger friends Neil Hollingsworth and Chris Stott) that will be covered in American Art Collector magazine so look out for that. If you can make it, here are the details: October 2nd - November 5th, with the opening taking place on October 9th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM (address and contact on the web site).
I will also be represented by the Tallantyre gallery in Newcastle in the UK when I manage to get some work to them.

Right, the painting ... I have dedicated this to the special person who sent me this lovely cup along with packets of my favourite Starbucks Sulawesi coffee (which I can't get here). To protect the innocent, no names will need to be changed 'cause I ain't giving any ;-)