Work-in-progress: Oil paintings

I have two oil paintings in progress at the moment. One is a ‘normal’ scene with moored boats and little going on. The other is action-packed.

 

Oil painting 1: Salcombe Harbour

This first oil painting is a Salcombe Harbour scene taking in Cliff House through to the Ferry Inn as seen from the Venus Cafe on the East Portlemouth side of the estuary.

This is one of my source photos, showing the grid pattern I set up for my composition.

This photo also reveals which craft were present when I took the photo, and which ones made it on to the canvas. Notice that the yacht on the right of the photo is on the left in my painting. Also, notice that I’ve introduced some other smaller craft to my composition, to create balance.

The source photo above is one of many photos I took that day, in changeable weather: some with cloud cover; some with the sun breaking through. I’ve tried to capture sunshine on the scene – and that colouration will have come from my other source photos, not shown here.

In all, for anyone painting, I may have a dozen or more photos to inspire me. I draw from as many of them as necessary to arrive at the composition and my palette of colours.

 

Oil painting 2: Merlins racing up Salcombe estuary

This is the other work-in-progress oil painting – four Merlins racing up the estuary.

My source photo for this one included a view of the Venus Cafe umbrellas, which I decided were a distraction, as I wanted to focus on the action on the water.

Notice that I changed the relative position of the boats, and eliminated one. My aim was to capture the sense of speed through the water. I maintained the colour of the spinnakers, but only because they worked in this combination.

These two paintings should be completed in time for the 2019 exhibition at Salcombe Art Club and will keep me busy during the dark days of winter.

 

New card designs

Apart from painting, one of the tasks over the winter is to select new card designs.

Usually, rectangular ones are cropped to create a square. For the Salcombe Harbour image, we might have two cards. Which do you prefer?

 

Giclée prints: available to order

Every original painting is professionally photographed so I have the opportunity to use the image for giclée prints, fine art wall plaques, coasters and place mats – and my fine art greetings cards.

 

What is a giclée print?

Giclée is used to describe a fine art digital printing process combining pigment based inks with the highest quality acid free papers to achieve prints of superior archival quality, light fastness and stability.

Using Fine Art papers, the result is very similar to the original. They are more expensive to reproduce than the bulk prints made using traditional lithography and they are priced accordingly, but, it goes without saying, that they aren’t as valuable as original works.

 

Limited edition prints

I have a range of limited edition prints. Five images.

Each print may be purchased as a rolled canvas, as a cellophane wrapped double mounted print, or as a framed mounted print behind glass. 

  • Smaller print prices: £65 rolled (29cm square with a 6cm border), £95 mounted (50cm square) or £195 framed (55cm(h) x 54cm(w)).
  • Larger print prices: £95 rolled (40cm x 51cm with 6cm border), £145 mounted (62cm x 71cm) or £240 framed (67cm x 76cm).

Plus P&P at cost.

Giclée prints of other images

It’s possible to order a giclée print of any of my images, whether the original has been sold or not. The print is supplied as a rolled canvas. Price available on application.

I recommend you visit Tidal Gallery in Kingsbridge and talk to Anna Ventura about available options for mounting and framing, and costs too.

For the SHAF trail, I created this poster with example costs for a single sample image.

So, if you’ve seen an image you like and it has already been sold, don’t despair. You can purchase a high-quality giclée print.

If you’ve seen an image you like and the original is too pricey, don’t despair.  You can purchase a high-quality giclée print!

To order a print, contact me.

Spring Courses at Salcombe Art Club

2017 exhibition scheduleI know, it’s not even Christmas yet and I am booking my place on several art courses for next spring.
As a member of Salcombe Art Club, I enjoy many courses with highly skilled tutors.

How can you join Salcombe Art Club?

There are three categories of membership.

  • Lay members may take part in workshops, courses and social activities and generally assist in supporting the club but may not exhibit.
  • Associate members may take part in most club activities including exhibiting in the Little Studio section (but not the main gallery) of the Annual Summer Exhibition. Associate members also have voting rights at the annual AGM.
  • Full members may take part in all club activities and exhibit their works in the Annual Summer Exhibition when they are required to carry out their share of stewarding duties. Full members also have voting rights at the annual AGM.

The first step is to enrol as a lay member; it only costs £12 per annum. After that, there is an annual selection process to become an associate member or a full member. For full details, check the How to Join page on the SAC website.

What courses have I applied to join?

Several!

michael hill

Acrylic and Watercolours with Michael Hill

I always take Michael Hill’s Painting in Acrylics or Watercolour courses. Michael is such an experienced and highly accomplished painter and teacher. He demonstrates both acrylic and watercolour in all his classes, taking in a drawing, painting techniques and composition. It’s a friendly and informal class welcoming beginners and more experienced painters alike.
We meet on Tuesdays; eight sessions starting 15 January and ending on 12 March (not half term week).

Life drawing

I also try to attend as many life drawing classes as possible and have put myself down for the untutored classes as well as a weekend course with Martin Brooks.
Having attended a recent course with Martin Brooks, I much admire his teaching style and feel I can learn a lot from him.
His life drawing class is a weekend workshop: 9/10 February. Martin says:  “We will look at the structure, finding strategies for constructing and understanding the human form. We will be using toned paper and pastels, using tone and colour with an expressive line to create dynamic yet accurate life drawings.”

Portraiture

Having already attended one weekend with Martin Brooks, I’ve signed up for another. I have a lot to learn!
This is a weekend workshop, 16/17 February. And Martin says: “On both days, we will warm up with some pastel drawings and then work directly from the model (a different subject for both days) in oils with an emphasis on conveying the sitter’s character and presence.”

What haven’t I signed up for?

Salcombe Art Club offers a wide range of courses: printmaking, bookbinding, woodcuts, plus drawing, and working with various mediums (pastels, watercolour, acrylic and oils, and mixed media).
There’s something for everyone. For more information, visit Salcombe Art Club’s website.