Another scratchy painting. Paint it on then scrape it off to reveal the textured under-painting. This is a re-work of my original watercolour sketch of Shanklin Bay at the end of a spring day. I used the original composition for the structure, but referenced another sketch to convey (I hope) the heaving, weighty movement of sea and air as a storm gathers at the end of a hot day.
Painted in water mixable oils on board.
October 2018
Very pleased to be exhibiting some of my work this weekend at the Old Bluecoat School Art Experience Exhibition in Thatcham. The exhibition is one of many events taking place during Thatcham’s Arts Festival running until 19th October and will be open this weekend, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, 10am-4pm.
This is one of five pieces I have put into the exhibition. It’s a mixed media painting entitled ‘Clear Vase’ painted in the spring when there was colour and light in abundance.
So pleased to say this little painting has sold – it was one of several produced when I was at a painting workshop in Sidmouth during the summer. The memory of it is filled with sun baked days, screaming seagulls (who can steal a sandwich at lightening speed!) and meeting new artists. We were working with acrylic paints and inks, using 4” brushes and old credit cards!
The painting was sold during the regular Newbury Art Group exhibition in West Berks Community Hospital, with a percentage of the sale going to the Friends of the hospital. The exhibition changes every six weeks and there is always something worth seeing there.
September 2018
Just put several pieces of my work into Kintbury Art Exhibition, including this one, as yet unframed, painted when I was in Sidmouth this summer. It is a mixed media piece, worked with acrylic paints, inks and oil pastels.
The exhibition is raising funds for The Friends of St Mary’s Church in Kintbury and is open Saturday 8th September, 10.30-8.30pm and Sunday 9th, 10.30-4pm.
Just spent two lovely days at a mix media workshop in Sidmouth, Devon. Splashing around acrylic paints and inks, letting accidents happen and become integral to the painting. #chrisforsey #eastdevonartacademy
Looking forward to next weekend – putting on a pop-up exhibition of my work as part of an open day at 87 High Street, Hungerford, supporting Noreen’s Kids charity. I’ll be selling cards and prints from my work, plus a few paintings. £2 entry to the open day with music, plants for sale, face painting, food and more – plus the amazing secret garden to wander through. Saturday 7th July, 10am to 5pm.
…at The White Horse Bookshop, Marlborough, in their annual open art exhibition running from 3 – 26 May 2018. Opening times of the shop can be found here.
Just dropped off another painting for show, this time with Newbury Art Group’s exhibition at West Berks Community Hospital in Thatcham where they have a gallery. As part of the Open Studios initiative, the theme for the exhibition was movement.
This is my entry; Evening Swell, oil on paper. It is worked up from a water colour sketch I made some time ago of Shanklin Bay on the Isle of Wight.
Today was handing-in day for Insight, the flagship exhibition organised by West Berkshire and North Hampshire Open Studios. This is my piece – Pilgrim Path, oil on board. Insight opens next weekend (12 May) at Arlington Arts Centre and runs to the end of the month.
Pick up a painting with your daily paper! Currently on sale in Kintbury village store – one of five paintings for sale. Mixed media.
Good way to spend a grey and rainy Saturday morning – coffee and sketching in Waterstones with friends.
I’ve spent the week sorting work for exhibition and sale which in itself is a dreadful business and so time consuming – several hours ruminating on what to submit is the greatest consumer of time. Then there is the mounting and framing when the tiniest speck of something always manages to find itself between the mount and the glass – even if you check it a zillion times. Where does it come from? And the pricing of everything – another minefield! This is punctuated throughout by spikes of doubt about the work – is it actually worthy of framing and putting in front of people?
But here is my therapy. What started out as a not very satisfactory acrylic painting of a view on the Dorset-Wiltshire border has turned into a satisfying colouring-in project! As the week has progressed I have added and subtracted acrylic paint using scalpel, palette knife or whatever tool was to hand, added chalk pastels and soft crayon, de-structured and re-arranged, thoroughly working out my angst with a satisfying result. You can probably see some of my week’s frustrations in the more random marks. It’s all part of the learning curve and more fun than trimming and mounting work.
So where am I?
Exhibiting with the Newbury Art Group in the Town Hall, Newbury, until Sunday 3rd December, 9.30-4.00pm
Selling some of my work – cards, prints, originals – at City Arts Christmas Fair, also in Newbury, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December, 10-4pm
A watercolour sketch from my fleeting visit to the Poitou-Charente this summer. In our part of France, when the fireworks go off on Bastille Night they also mark the close of the summer harvesting for most of the farms around us. By the time I was there the fields had been laid bare to reveal the characteristic chalky soil, creating a landscape bleached-blonde by the sun.
On this dismally grey August day I am missing the brightness of this painting. It was sold at the HADCAF art exhibition and now hangs on someone else’s wall. Better unpack the acrylic inks and get cracking!
A wheat field in Wiltshire, as the day is fading and shadows start to take over.
back to the drawing board... Andi Mulholland 