Plein air painting 121 

Shown here is the distinctive form of the clock at Bitterne Triangle, on the outskirts of  Southampton. Originally situated in the centre of  Southampton along the high street, the 1899 structure was moved to its current location in 1935. 
The painting was done on a cold, windy Saturday morning (6th April 2024) in dull light with the Urban Sketchers facebook group. I was positioned next to a chip shop with smelly bin. Fortunately the wind did remove the smell from my immediate location.

Plein air painting 113 

Weston Shore (Hampshire) lies on the east bank of Southampton Water. Here the view is looking north upstream, toward the city of Southampton with the tide out. On the right side is 'Vantage Tower' one of the tall buildings at Woolston, and in the centre can be seen 'Moresby Tower', at Ocean Village. Southampton Water is the link to the port of Southampton, and would have seen many famous ships throughout history.

Painted on the 10 August 2023, in oils on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5".

Eight legged monster hunting the hunters - digital illustration

Two townsfolk decided to find out what has been killing all the livestock over recent weeks. Whatever it was, needed to be hunted down and removed.
A digital illustration created in Autumn 2023.

It can be seen in greater detail on this link.

Plein air painting 98b

Following on from the previous painting, done during 15th May 2023 was this quick painting done a few mins walk from the last location. Here the mouth of the River Hamble can be seen as it intersects with Southampton Water, across which can be seen Fawley oil refinery. Two tanker ships with red hulls are docked alongside the complex.
Painted in oils on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5".

Plein air painting 100

The New Forest, Hampshire is a large national park in Southern England, and is over 500 years old. It consists of moorland and forests. Blackwater Arboretum has some of the tallest trees to be found in the UK consisting of giant redwood examples. This painting, done on the 23rd May 2023, shows a path through the locality.
Painted in oils on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5".

Plein air painting 96

Painted in the New Forest, Hampshire near to the city of Southampton. The area is Fritham, with this abode being situated near to the Royal Oak Pub. Lyndhurst is the nearest town.
It was painted on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5 in oils, during 3rd May 2023.

Plein air painting 95

Looking across heathland on the New Forest, Hampshire, can be seen the venting pipes of the oil refinery at Fawley, a large industrial complex on the banks of Southampton water. The countryside landscape was painted on the 20th April 2023. Done in oils on mounting board, sized at 12" x 9.5". It was a very windy day when this was painted!

Plein air painting 112

Mayflower park is a public area situated very close to the port of Southampton, and is an ideal vantage point to see all types of shipping either in the docks or leaving. The park was created in the 1930s from spoil retrieved from the building works in connection to the massive rebuilding of the port at that time.
In this view we are looking from the park, across the River Test (where the main port is situated off right) and see Marchwood, a military port, on the opposite side. A boat can be seen with a crane performing maintenance on the floating jetty in connection to the International Yacht show due to be held there later.
Painted on the 17th August, in oils on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5".

Plein air painting 103

A grouping of tree trunks (Redwoods) as found at Rhinefield, New Forest in Southern England. The painting is sized at 12" x 9.5", and painted on mounting board using oils. It was done on the 1st June 2023.

 still life painting 14 

Still life featuring a bright yellow ceramic teapot with two pieces of fruit. Painted in a few hours using oils, alla prima on cardboard sized at 12" x 9.5. It was done in early February 2023.

Plein air painting 80

During October 2022 two plein air landscape paintings were done on Pepperbox Hill, just outside Salisbury, Wiltshire, this being the first. It was a little chilly when this was done early in the (sunny) morning. The viewer is looking NW in the direction of the city of Salisbury, with the A36 located on the right (off the composition). Pepperbox is the name of a brick built folly, dating from the 1600's, situated nearby.
This was painted in oils on mounting board, sized at 12" x 9.5"

Young Nephew WIP stages

This painting, of one of my nephews, was done back in January 2022 and is based of a photo taken early in the 2000's. It's painted in oils on mounting board sized at 16" x 12". The photo above shows a progression from and early stage showing the drawing, done in brown acrylic paint on a light brown wash. In the second panel, basic blocks of colour of fairly thin oil paint have been applied over the acrylic drawing. Moving on to the final panel, the finished painting can be seen. This used a thicker mix of paint over the prevoius stage with fine blending and details added. In addition a glazing layer was added, using part transparent layers on top of the thicker paint layer for added effect.
The final painting can be seen on this link in greater detail.

Stocktaking at the Victorian giant eye factory - digital illustration

An everyday scene at a giant eye factory, as to be found in the Victorian city of London. It is secret work and is carried out in large underground vaults. The eyeballs are grown in very large glass vessels, filled with a green liquid and gasses pumped through them. Stocktaking is progressing on this occasion.

This digital illustration was created during May 2023 using Sketchbook.  Started on an Android tablet as a small rough sketch, it is later in the process moved on to a desktop PC where the image is enlarged and fully painted.

The illustration can be seen in greater detail on this link.

still life painting 12

Copper Turkish coffee pot with fruit and bowl still life, done as 'alla prima'. Painted very late December 2022 in oil on cardboard sized at 12" x 9.5". 

Rodin statue 'Eve'

This alla prima sketch was done from life during a stay at the Southampton City Art gallery, and features ‘Eve’ by Rodin. It is a life size bronze cast from 1882. The painting is done in oils on an A3 sized piece of mounting board during June 2022.

Eve, together with a matching Adam, was to be part of a colossal decorative entrance for an arts museum being constructed at the time, in Paris. The collective artwork, called ‘The Gates of Hell’ was to consist of almost 200 figures, but never completed.

Plein air painting 60

A very early morning view in late August, from the city of Southampton, UK, shows an area known as Bevois Valley. Here the viewer is on the mount looking down the valley. In the far distance can be seen the city, outside of the valley. The suburb of Portswood would be behind the viewer a short distance away. The area apparently gains its name from a folk lore hero called Bevis of Hampton and his giant companion Ascapart.

Painted on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5" in oils.

Nephew oil portrait

This portrait featuring one of my nephews, was painted using a photograph taken back in the early 2000's.
Painted in January 2022, in oils on mounting board, sized at 16" x 12".

It can be seen in greater detail on this link .

Working on closeup 91

A small snippet of an oil painting featuring a young boy...

Artist David McDiarmid portrait

Painted in spring 2022 this portrait features an artist working on his sculpture. His name is David McDiarmid and is based in Southampton, UK. The piece shown is "Lucifer", with gold leaf being applied to the face.Painted on mounting board sized at 33" x 23" approx in oils.

The artwork can be seen in greater detail on this link.
#sculpture #painting #lucifer #figure #oilpainting

 

Man in his interesting shed - oil painting

This artwork features a local man relaxing in his hand build garden shed. It can be seen that it is quite a large shed, housing a number of armchairs for guests, and features a wood burner for extra comfort. The interior is decorated with various old tools and other antique equipment recovered from house clearances. The man in question is Geoff Rey, a resident of Southampton, UK, and is himself an artist, often using works by the artist Modigliani as inspiration in his works.
Completed in late 2021, this 33” x 23” figure in interior' painting was done in oils on prepared mounting board.
The finished figurative painting can be seen on this link.