WEST NORFOLK ARTISTS EXHIBITION ENTRIES

This submission for the East Norfolk Association's summer exhibition in Kings Lynn is called DANCING ON WATER. It was created with acrylic inks poured over each other with liquid diluted liquitex acrylic paint onto flat canvas sheet - a method I use when I want 'spiritually' inspired figures . Shapes appear which I then develop. It made me think of 'Walking on Water' demonstration by Jesus but more contemporary and 'dance' like - thus the title. Framed up in silver with a double white mount as if it were a watercolour painting, it measures 24 x 15 inches.

Then, of course, there is the one I have been posting as it developed - the FONT AT ST NICHOLAS. Here it is completed in its French sycamore frame.


Since my last post only been working on a commission which they do not want publicised , so thought these might be of interest. Quite pleased with the effect of the lighting in the chapel oil painting. Been preparing greetings cards from this work today for sale at the exhibition.

KRAFT PAPER LIFE DRAWING

I was staying at my daughters and left Tues to go straight to life drawing session in the afternoon so decided not to take too much equipment. Thus I bought a roll of kraft paper (sold as post office wrapping paper for a £1) and boxed up some white chalk, conte stick and charcoal to put in my weekend case. These were the results. Great fun and very direct.
Sorry Claire your thigh looks remarkably large - but I think there was some perspective in this as it was nearer to me - well thats my excuse..

When we got to the last pose of the session, I was very tired so decided to simply play a little and the outcome was the hand on the thigh and a view of one of Claire's feet.

VISIT FROM ANITA AND HARRY

Yes, this is Anita (the famous columnist Anita Davies!) who came for a few days visit with her wonderful son Harry. Sketching as ever - this time while we hired a day boat on the Broads waterways - and here's Harry steering the boat for us!!
We were very lucky with the weather and got out all day and part of the evenings. We sketched outdoors at How Hill yesterday and here's my effort of the brick built mill sitting amongst the wild plants leading along a little path up to the river.

Thanks Anita and Harry for a wonderful time together including the A-Z games late into the night!!!!

PAINTING IRISES IN MY GARDEN

If you have clicked on this image for larger version, you 'll see a little pencil shape on the righthand flower - it was a cabbage white butterfly that landed for about 2 seconds and the outline is all I managed!!! ...
This is me enjoying an afternoon in the garden painting a very free watercolour of my irises. Unfortunately we had had two full days of heavy rain previously and the heads were in great distress. In fact they were so heavy some were almost touching the floor and I had to stake them back upright.


I was so inspired by my afternoon's work that a few days later I redrew one of the heads much larger and painted it in my studio/den. I used my White Knights watercolours and mainly a Kolinsky sable Cirrus series long handled size 4 brush. The warm colours were mixed from prussion blue and violet rose and the creamy central petal raw sienna and lemon. The greens were a mix of lemon then adding bluey green leaving the lemon clean for the folds where the light was catching , followed by much darker washes and touches of raw sienna. Finally adding some dark lines along the length of the leaves following the folds to give movement.

JUNE WORKSHOP

This first photo is of a small section of the garden objects displayed.
The plan for the workshop on Saturday was manyfold - helping members select from a large array of garden equipment spread out over three heights from floor level and about 6 foot long by preparing two landscape, two portrait and one square thumbnails of a chosen portion. Then selecting one of these during discussion with me to sketch up larger and in some cases crop and change format.


These sketches were then used to draw a full scale piece of work in their watercolour pads to paint during the afternoon.

As you can see, I had added various old curtains drapped at the back to give an interesting contrast to the garden objects.

This was the first time members had drawn or painted from other than table top - to help them see how different things look (especially ellipses as one noted aloud) from viewing downwards. The selection process was to help them understand how to home in on a specific portion of the scene in front of them in order to prepare for working outdoors. Thumbnails helped them to understand about composition and how a slight shift to left or right, or change to the format used, can alter the whole concept.

We also had three new members on Saturday and they worked on graphite sketches of bottles, cylinders, balls and boxes to help learn about proportions, spatial relationships, negative spaces, etc. Then moved on to graphite and watercolour tonal studies of a large copper kettle.



We all had fun though hard work was put in by everyone, helped by tea and coffee with biscuits in the morning and chocolate cake and bakewells in the afternoon !!!

SORRY ABOUT POOR PHOTOGRAPHY BUT YOU CAN AS EVER CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE THE SKETCHES DETAIL MORE.

A DAY VISITING NORWICH CATHEDRAL AND NOVA EXHIBITION

DONT FORGET TO CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO GET A LARGER VERSION WHICH SHOWS THE DETAIL OF THIS STUNNING ARCHITECTURE.

A view across the lawn showing that repair work is in progress on this building that has been a centre of Christian worship for over 900 years.
The west door by which I entered to see the marvelous nave stretching out before me as below. You can see the organ at the end, under which you walk to the choir and then onto the High Altar. The choral tradition dates back to the Benedictine monks. I photo'ed a number of the ends of the misericords (seats) with their range of images.
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A shot of the cloisters on my way to the refrectory for a well needed pot of tea and fruit cake!
View of the spire through the cloisters across the green where there is a stone labrynth to walk round on a spiritual journey.

I could not believe I had a whole day to myself so got out quickly this morning and drove 8 miles to the Park and Ride service that takes you on a 15 minute journey into the city centre.

I had two points of call lined up and the first was to the NOVA (Norfolk Organisation for Visual Arts) art exhibition at St Margarets church in Benedict Street. I met up with a couple of the members and had an enjoyable hour or so chatting about art and looking at their sculptures from driftwood and stainglass works of panels and lighting. Some of the artwork was by artists I had visited during the Norfolk Open Studios.

Then I walked through the old cobbled streets with rickety tudor beamed buildings to the Cathedral. I've posted architectural photos, but took so many inside of marble figures, the lectern in the shape of a brass pelican. ... just been called to dinner so will complete this post later......

Now I'm back just to say I hope those of you visiting this blog from overseas will enjoy the beauty of our English heritage. We are fortunate to have many cathedrals dotted around the country... and believe it or not they are free to enter and enjoy and prayer in although I willingly paid a fee to use my camera . Whilst I was there the minister on duty invited us to join him in the Lords Prayer - it was a delightful touch to my day.

OIL PAINTING OF ST NICS FONT - Latest stage

Since my post on the 24th May, thought you'd like to see how I am progressing with this oil painting for the West Norfolk Artists Exhibition. My only concern is if the Michael Harding paints will be dry in time for delivery on the 7th July, so I decided to add the flower arrangement now, which is thickly applied to help the flowers stand out from the architecture - as if they dont with their colour!!

I've introduced Prussian Blue to my palette as an overlay in the shadow areas and a little Indian Yellow on the back wall but I think this may need to be warmer but I'll wait until I add the rings of circular lights which need to stand out from the background.