Merlin Archives - Salcombe Art

25 February 2019 In Art

Merlins Crossing the Bar: in the Preview Sale on 5 April

Merlins Crossing the Bar (the featured image above) is the first of several paintings due to be on show at the 2019 Summer Exhibition of the Salcombe Art Club. It is currently on display at Beacon House Gallery and priced at £750.

Preview Evening – 5 April

On 5 April, the day before handing-in day, there will be a Preview Evening at Beacon House Gallery and this painting, and the others will be on sale at a discounted price for those attending the event. More news on that on Monday 1 April. (And no, it won’t be an April Fools’ post.)

The Preview Evening will be an invitation-only event – for those who’ve attended before, have bought one of my paintings, or other more affordable art – but contact me if you don’t receive an invitation and would like to come.

Merlins Crossing the Bar

This is yet another oil inspired by the wonderful Merlin sailors who love to race in our beautiful estuary with all its challenges. The spinnakers are not just difficult to paint but, in reality, need very good sailors to fly these.

I remember that as a skill I once had in Fireballs, many many years ago. Now my sailing days are over, I’m content to capture the joy and the challenge, through my painting.

From oil painting to a fine art greetings card

Many of my originals are also available as a fine art greetings card. For this particular composition, part of the image had to be cropped to create the required square shape for the card. If you compare this image with the featured image above, you’ll notice the Merlin with the pink spinnaker didn’t make it onto the card version.

Merlins Crossing the Bar

It still works as an image though, and I’m sure it will be as popular as other cards featuring Merlins.

Merlins Crossing the Bar cropped for card

ADVANCE NEWS! Merlin Rocket Week 2-13 July

Last year, I was ‘artist in residence’ during Merlin Rocket week: 8-13 July. It was not a success in that the weather was so hot, too hot, and the paint was drying on my brush before I could get it only a canvas. So, I abandoned painting and spent the week photographing Merlins and enjoying the event.

This year, I am taking part in a Pop-up Sale on Thursday, 11 July. As well as original paintings of Merlins, I will have on sale my full range of fine art greetings cards, and the new affordable art items: wooden placemats and coasters, glass coasters and chopping boards, key rings, fridge magnets, purses, and cushions!

6 August 2018 In Art

SOLD! Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

It’s a delight to support local good causes and charities.

As a member of Salcombe Yacht Club, this year, during Merlin Rocket week, Anne and I spent nine days in The Chart Room at the yacht club, welcoming the Merlin sailors and their families, and exhibiting my original works, limited edition prints, and fine art greetings cards.

The weather was too hot for me to paint, but I enjoyed watching the sailing, photographing the Merlins and talking with lots of art lovers, while Anne ‘manned the shop’.

SOLD! Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

Ebb Tide at Batson Creek As well as over 100 cards, I sold a painting, which swelled the donation to the Salcombe Yacht Club.

While I am happy when any painting sells, I’m especially so when I meet the purchaser and know it’s going to a good home.

A purchaser is a local person, someone I will see often, and I’m sure he’ll enjoy his purchase.

My paintings grace many a wall in Salcombe, and elsewhere.

See if you can spot one of my originals next time you go visiting?

Which cards were the most popoular?

I had painted two more Merlin compositions especially for Merlin Rocket week, and used them for new card designs, bringing the number of cards featuring Merlins to three: Merlins, Merlins Crossing the Bar, and Watching the Merlins Race.

Merlin cards for sale of Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

All three sold well, but they were pipped by two other designs: Salcombe Estuary Trots and Dappled Light I, a watercolour which is now sold but very much like the still-available oil painting Dappled Light III.

Salcombe Estuary Trots

Local artist, supporting local causes

This year so far, I’ve made donations to The Friends of the Redfern and Salcombe Yacht Club. If you would like me to support your good cause, contact me.

Anne and I are happy to attend events and we have specific cards being sold through charities, such as Salcombe Regatta and Hope Cove Lifeboat.

9 July 2018 In Art

Merlin Rocket Week: Artist in residence at SYC

Merlin Rocket Week: 8-13 July

Of all the craft I paint, my favourite, second to the lifeboat, is the Merlin. To date, I have three finished paintings:

Merlins

Merlins (original sold but available as a fine art greetings card)

Merlins Crossing the Bar

Watching the Merlins Race

The Merlins race in Salcombe every year. It’s a spectacular event. I’m usually there, with my camera, hoping to catch the action. Then, back home, I choose a few photos from which I’ll compose my next Merlin painting.

This year it’s different!

Artist in residence!

I have set up camp in the Chart Room, with my easels, my paints and brushes, and some half-finished paintings.

It has the most amazing view. View from the Chart Room

Do pop in and say hello.

I’ll have a range of (finished!) paintings on sale, limited edition prints at reduced prices, plus my fine art greetings cards: £2 each or 3 for a fiver.

Where is Salcombe Yacht Club?

Map

Cliff House
Cliff Rd
Salcombe
Devon
TQ8 8JQ
UK

01548 842593