Oil Painting Demonstration, Rugby 6 June

Coventry Cathedral Glass

Kindly driven up by a friend, Tim, I went to Rugby via Coventry to give an oil painting demonstration to the Rugby and District Art Society at a village hall in Dunchurch, just outside Rugby. First though a word about Coventry - the stained glass in the new Cathedral is absolutely stunning and recommend anyone and everyone to go and see it. The demonstration in front of about 80 people seemed to go well with lots of questions coming from the floor. The club is very well organised with a video link to a screen and a mobile microphone for me so that everyone in the room could see and hear what is going on. Sorry about fuzzy photo's!

Monday Afternoon Life Session - 4 June

The model brought along a large floppy animal mask (not sure what of) as a prop, she is also holding lipstick to the mask's face. This was the first session, the second was'nt very good at all! I am happy with the colours and composition and bits of the figure - a step forwards I think.

Monday Afternoon Life Session - 28 May

The model, Frankie, brought her knitting along as a prop but as ever, I did'nt have time to get everything in. To be honest I am more interested in getting a painting finished that has some sort of worthwhile quality than I am in getting the figure right although I am hoping in time that the figures get better as well! To that end I am continuing going to the Tuesday evening life drawing sessions at the Sussex County Arts Club. These are not great but are being posted in the spirit of the original intention that they (hopefully!) show progress as time goes on.......

"People and Places" exhibition opens on Thursday 7 June

Cuckmere Meanders to Seaford Head

Approaching Rain, Devil's Dyke

I have nine paintings on show in a three-man exhibition called "People and Places" at the Medici Gallery, 5 Cork Street, London W1S 3LQ. The private view is 18.00 Thursday 7 June with the exhibition running to July 5. The "people" paintings are by Noel Bensted and Amnon David Ar, the "places" paintings are mine! Please try and see the show if you are in London over that period, Green Park is the nearest tube station and Cork Street is basically behind the Royal Academy.

Give Me Shelter

The Lost Garden

Under The El

Easy Street

Florence From Giardino Bardini

Full Moon, High and Over

Out Of The Blue

Artists & Illustrators magazine - Summer In The City finished

As I reached the end I realised that I did'nt like the water tower; it was a distraction and drew too much attention to itself within the composition so I painted it out and I am relieved that I did! I also changed the sky colour to a lighter and warmer hue. I was able to get the article to the magazine before my deadline and I believe that it will be in next month's issue.

Artists & Illustrators magazine - Summer In The City sixth day

I made a determined effort today to get in the left side of the picture. The blue of the sky is looking better against the sunlit buildings now and will probably only need a slight adjustment when everything else is painted in. I will also make a final decision on the shadow colour shortly. The sloping street was decided right from the start as I wanted to vary the very vertical/horizontal composition, this at least introduces a subtle diagonal.

Artists & Illustrators magazine - Summer In The City fifth day

I am working on different areas of the picture as I go along. The cinema is now ready for the final highlights, shadows and washes of green for the shade area. After that I need to sort out the left side of the picture and paint in the diner.