Stuck in the Kitchen

So the spirits have conspired once again to keep me from packing the oils. Emergency baby sitting and other jobs all fell on the days when the sun shone and the wind receded. Today back to gales and rain, but the kitchen has become my bolt hole on days like this. So another still life appears.

Still life March 10th - Watercolour on Rough paper 20" x 16"

Christchurch Earthquake

In the Carney household we've been watching daily images of the terrible events in Christchurch. They have a particular poignancy for us because at this time last year we spent a month travelling round New Zealand and one of our last ports of call in that wonderful country was the beautiful city of Christchurch.

Pictures of the wrecked Cathedral took me back to a lovely day I spent with my watercolours and sketch book sitting in front of that building where I was entertained by people like the gentleman pictured who use the square as a 'Speakers' Corner'. The doorway that you see in the background is the main entrance to the Cathedral. The date on the page is February 16th 2010.

Speakers' Corner and Christchurch Cathedral - Watercolour sketch

February Project

This month my partner in crime Peter Ward (www.watercolourfanatic.blogspot.com) set a stinker. He sent a number of pictures of this barn/ farmhouse saying he had painted it a number of times and been unhappy with the results. The first job was to decide which image to choose and then decide on an approach.

The image that caught my attention was the one below and what attracted me was the range of foreground shadows. The perspective was another challenge.

Barn - Photograph by Peter Ward

Barn - Watercolour on Not paper

I've just viewed Peter"s version of this subject and I recommend that you view it, it's a cracker.

Now to settle down and find a challenge for next month.

Quick Sketch

Back to miserable weather and the outdoor projects are on hold till it improves. Sitting thinking about alternative painting tasks I noticed and advert on the television for a programme about watercolours presented by Sheila Hancock and as with many art programmes on TV there was the inevitable shot from Venice. That provided the answer to my little query, 'What next?'. I dug out my Venice photographs and sketches and the watercolour box and got down to a quick sketch. It's not the greatest but gave me the chance to create a glazed sky and the lovely silhouette of Santa Maria del Salute. Lots of fun.

Salute - watercolour on Not paper 14" x 11"

Paint in the Freezer

Yesterday was freezing but the rain had passed by so keeping a little promise I made to myself I packed the pochade and headed down the coast. I had to work quickly, as keeping the hands warm enough to hold the brush was something of a problem. I've got gloves that should do the job but once the finger ends seize up there's little control. You'll have guessed by now that I'm winding up the excuses for the failings of this week's effort. On the positive side I'm getting better control of the recession in these studies. The painting is not as finished as I would like, but it is what I completed at the scene. I'll probably make a few adjustments to call it finished, some blending and edge work could improve it.

Seaham - Oil on canvas board 12" x 10"

Fresh Air

Yesterday provided the first bit of excitement for a while - a promising weather forecast. The gales were predicted to die and the sun was to emerge for those of us who like to get outside with our paints. True to their word the Met Office got it right, today dawned as foretold.

It took no time to pack the trusty pochade box, a few tubes of paint and head up the coast to one of my favourite stacks. Whilst a little bit rusty with the hog bristle and palette knife it was good to start working the oil paint for the first time in some months.

Now that the tubes have been squeezed I'm hoping that there are going to be a few more days like today so I can start to get my technique into shape.

Marsden - Oil on canvas board 12" x 10"

Just to keep in touch

Very little to report on the painting front, life getting in the way and frustration building. A quick few washes with the watercolours to stave off the resulting irritation. Apologies to those who are sick of the same old subject matter.

Tulips - watercolour on Not paper 12" x 12"