Exhibition at Bursledon Brickworks,Southampton,UK

Exhibition at Bursledon Brickworks,Southampton,UK, April 2012

On Sunday 15 April I exhibited work at the Bursledon Brickworks industrial heritage museum in Hampshire,UK, during their 'spring steam up', the second of which I have attended. Over 60 artists and crafts people attended and the event seemed well attended by the public. As well as showing four paintings (1,2,3), one of which is not on this blog curently, I did a small painting on site which draws attention. The painting was of 2 cows in a field, painted in Acrylics and is shown further down in the post.
In the two following photographs I can be seen at my stand, showing four oil paintings (one hidden from this angle, and display boards with colour printouts of other pieces of work. I prefer this location, rather than being beside a wall as more work can be displayed and I am not so easy to miss! It also give space for people to view me from behind while working.

interior of Bursledon Brickworks showing the art and craft fair

Two cows in Field

The painting that was produced during the day at Bursledon Brickworks was of 2 cows in a field, painted in Acrylics on a canvas board measuring 10" x 12". It drew a lot of interest from other artists and the public. The use of acrylics is rare for me as I usually use oil paint , but is a good medium to use at times like this because it dries quickly ( in seconds) so a painting can be built up speedily in front of the public, providing some entertainment, rather than literally watch paint dry.

Southampton Bursledon Brickworks small railway engine

This is another demonstration painting produced in Acrylics during 2011 at an autumn crafts fair again at Bursledon Brickworks. The painting is 10" x 12" and is of one of the steam engine rides held at the museum.

from the website... 
This painting of two cows standing in a field was done in acrylics on a canvas board measuring 12" x 10".
It is a smaller painting than the more usual sizes I work to, but this was done as a demonstration painting in public at Bursledon brickworks art show, so a quick drying, small scale project was needed. I did prepare the drawing and canvas the day before however. The artwork is based on a photograph that had three cows within it, but it looked too confusing.

Southampton Bursledon brickworks open day april 2011

Southampton Bursledon brickworks open day oil paintings

Southampton Bursledon brickworks open day 01

Southampton Bursledon brickworks open day 02

These images are based on a number of photographs taken at the April 2011 open day at Bursledon brickworks, Southampton, UK. The brickworks is a heritage center celebrating the industrial past of the area. They are both painted july/ august 2011 in oils on a canvas 20"x16". The two paintings were then displayed at the open day in september and proved popular with the public and organisers. The engine featured in the bottom posting is a Aveling and Porter traction engine, built 1899, registration TA 1063. The tall chimney in the top image is a local landmark but was taller originally.

from the website...
Southampton Bursledon brickworks open day 01
This is a painting of an open day at Bursledon Brickworks, Southampton UK during the early morning startup of vintage traction engines. It is a heritage museum site, based in a old brickworks. This display of traction engines takes place during the spring each year, and this artwork depicts the line up during April 2011. The engine in front is called 'Little Lucy', and is a Wallis Traction Engine. The tall brick chimney seen in the background is a local landmark, although it is shorter than it used to be when the brickworks was in operation. It was fun painting the shining brass, copper and the paintwork on the engines. The woman polishing part of an axle adds extra interest and scale to the scene. Getting the perspective correct in a scene like this is very important. It helps to sell the viewer of the painting the scale and weight of the machinery. Mechanical objects can not be cheated on when trying to ignore perpective, it has to be done right. The ariel perspective (colour fading in the distance) helps to sell the scene and create a smoky atmosphere. The painting is done in oils on a 16" x 20" canvas.  


Southampton Bursledon brickworks open day 02
This is a 2nd painting of an open day at Bursledon Brickworks, Southampton UK . It is a heritage museum site, based in a old brickworks. This is a display of traction engines put on during April 2011. The engine featured is a Aveling and Porter traction engine (TA 1063). It was fun painting the shining brass, copper and the paintwork on the engines. The woman on the right photographing the engine was added later to add extra interest and scale to the scene, as was the boy in the trailer on the left. Getting the perspective correct in a scene like this is very important. It helps to sell the viewer of the painting the scale and weight of the machinery. Mechanical objects can not be cheated on when trying to ignore perspective, it has to be done right. Getting the ellipses right within a painting like this is very important.
The painting is done in oils on a 16" x 20" canvas.