'29 Queens Street' - finished

I've painted this view a number of times now at various times of the year using various media. Each time I see it differently.

Sketches for new paintings

'Lucy's Door'
29 Queen's Street
'Priest's Door'
St. Leonard's Church
'Evenlode DIY
27 High Street

45 Mill Street

I am continuing with my doors of Eynsham series. Hopefully the series will be ready for exhibition next year. They have been very popular with people who have visited my studio.

'Rainbow Strike'; process-3

Good weather after the winter can cause all sorts of change of plans and this week has been no exception. So, instead of painting pictures, I have been painting linseed oil onto the garden furniture and 'encouraging' my son to do the garden for me. If he stays to plan there will be more to look at this year when painting out in my gazebo. I hope it will give him as much pleasure as it will give me.

So back to the painting ... it has surprised me by direction it has taken. I had envisioned brightly lit chimneys surrounded by the darkness of the receding rain storm. I am painting a more mysterious darkness with the rainbow being a more solid entity. Paintings do take on forms that were not intended so I will let this run and see where it goes.

Also the time to varnish Miss T's portrait has come. Yesterday I sprayed fixative on first as I had used oil pastels on the top layer and today, with some trepidation as it is such a large painting, I applied the varnish. It has been some time since I had seen the portrait and I am very happy with it still. I had a lot of fun painting it and I hope Miss T still enjoys it.

Old Harry's Game

'Armaleggan', "Apocalyptic Border Morris" came to Eynsham last week. Miss T tells the story. So this is the initial sketch for a new Morris painting.

Lighting

It has rained and rained here. The light has been poor so I have only been able to work on the small paintings and of course my flash work.

My friend Miss T has visited a local church which still has medieval wall paintings covering its' walls. I am ashamed to say that I have never seen them so will cycle over on a good summer's day to see them.

Miss T in full glory

Miss T has posted photos of her portrait on her blog!
Photograph by Miss T.

Miss T is finished

'The Boy' aka Miss T's husband came to view the portrait and whisked it off straight away. He has promised to photograph it in situ for all of you to see.

Face to face with MissT

The perils of blogging portraits is that clients are appalled to see how unflattering they can look during this process. A portrait is a concoction of many ingredients. It can require a good physical likeness so good draftsmanship is the first on the list. Achieving this is, for me, a process of exploration. Slowly and after some contemplation an image appears. Some of the mark making is structure for further work and at other times this structure fails and is removed. A portrait is a narrative about a person and as with all good story telling not all details need to be used and those that are used are important to the ending.

Miss T shows her bottom

Miss T looks out

I think this painting is, at long last, beginning to settle down. Miss T's face has begun to look like her.

"Not a five o'clock shadow!"

Miss T's face is now being painted in at long last. I must confess to anxiety painting my friend because it has become important that she likes the results. This anxiety keeps clouding my judgment. So I resolve to paint the best I can and try and put aside the issue of flattery.

Miss T avec de nouveaux verres et chaussettes de raie.

Miss T's portrait has been on hold while I waited an opportunity to photo her with her new glasses. I had not been happy with the way her face was going in the painting so I had painted it out. The long wait with the faceless Miss T eventually creeped me out so I was forced to chalk a face in to allow me to eat my breakfast in peace.

So at long last ... ta da! ... the new glasses.

No pencil!

Delivery to Golsby's Butchers in Eynsham
Watercolour paint
29.0 x 2.15 cms

The Miss T photo session was canceled as I had a job interview at the last moment. Once again it was a "over qualified and under experienced interview". They liked the quality of my degree but when it came down to the bottom line it is about productivity and not design.

Miss T en déshabillé

An appointment for further photos has been granted for Friday morning.

Miss T not ready for her close up

Miss T has new glasses which need another photo session to capture ... so I await for space in her appointments.

Miss T's face

Sigh!
Miss T's face is still not right. I have painted her mouth and part of her nose out and will repaint when it is dry. I am not blogging it as it is disturbing to see like this.
Meanwhile ... I am doing a small little watercolour and will go back the marvelous Miss T in a few days time.

Miss T is made over

Painted most of her face out and refined the proportions. Still have a way to go before I am happy with the result. Sorry about the bad photo but the light is bad and I used my camera. When the sun comes out I will get Keith to take some better photos. I most take some time to learn how to use his camera so I can take my own.

Miss T continues

I think in the last fortnight I have been aware of how little experience I have of working in oils ... stuff of thirty years ago not that useful now. Mixing colour both on the palette and on the canvas has needed a lot of trial and error. A whole new language on mark making has opened up before me.My son has taken some close up photos with his fabulous camera so that the detail of mark making can be seen.

Thick paint

Paint is being trowed on with palette knife with strong directional shapes. The idea is to give substance to the flesh before painting adjustments with more subtle marks and colours. I have painted with watercolour paints for to long and I am reveling in sensuality. Oh yes ... I am also a little scared as I have not painted in this way before!

My son has taken this photo showing me and the size of the canvas. I can hide behind it.

Under-painting

I have been using water soluble crayons for the under painting. When I start painting over it using water mixable oil paint it will become fixed.