Dale End

The agony is starting to subside and I'm starting to enjoy myself.

Oh the agony

Switching into watercolours is as painful as ever. I decided to put this little one up just to encourage me not to get back into the comfort zone of oils. The way I work is by laying down what end up being hopelessly muted washes and then slowly building up the colours over the day. By the end I start to flow and the picture hopefully pops out of what sometimes can only be described as a horrible mess.
I'm going to hang on in there and hopefully get into my stride by Thursday.

Golden sunset on Whitby beach

It's been a quiet week with only one picture to show for it. The sun has swung nicely round and coastal sunsets may feature highly for the next few weeks. I've been clearing out the workshop ready for a little creative period. I've got a bit of a hankering to have a go at watercolours for a whille.

The mill picture was given as a leaving present and was tearfully recieved. I can see that in the future I will be known as such a bad artist that people would openly weep when presented with my work.

Ramsdale mill

The great thing about taking on commissions is that you get taken to places you would never discover, like this fantastic little mill with a restored wheel hidden away in the back of beyond, Robin hood's bay. The bad thing is that you have to take on what ever you find there. This has been one tough one to do and I will let you judge whether I've carried it off or not.

Bluebell fever

Bluebell woods No.6

I've been really enjoying my little jaunts into the woods, but this week the wind has switched to the East and has been dragging cloud in off the North sea. Whille everyone else in the country has been basking in sunshine we've had cold wintry weather. Because of that I've not been going out which is frustrating as the Bluebells will be coming to their peak now.

Bluebell woods No.7

The green is starting to get to me now, I may do some different subjects for a bit.

Glaisedale Head, winter dawn.

Just me and the Dog, not a soul for miles

The Murk Esk

This is the first time I've attempted to capture submerged rocks in a water scene. At present I'm quite pleased, on a technical level anyway. Looks like I'm going to need alot of mosquito repellent this summer.

Spring has sprung

I do apologize for neglecting you for the last few weeks, the exhibition took over for a whille. It went well, thankyou for asking and now I'm scrambling to get work reay for the Newcastle Gateshead Art Fair. Getting up and running again after the exhibition was a slow and painful affair but I seem to be making some headway.
Bluebell woods 2007 No.3
You will notice that I've got a bit of a thing about sunlight and woods, especially in spring when the light can still penetrate and the greens are fresh.
Bluebell woods 2007 No4

Already I'm struggling to stay on this one theme, I've never been comfortable about producing a series of work. Normally I flit between different subjects, making life hard for myself. Although today I'm going to do exactly that because I've run out of green and yellow paint


Bluebell woods 2007 No.5
This little part of the woods near Grosmont are my favourite, here the bluebells are thickest and the steep valley sides give a lovely back drop.

Footpath to Green End

This photo doesn't do the picture justice, but having said that I think it could do with livening up a bit.

Bluebell woods 2007 No.2

You'll have noticed I'm making life easy for myself and keeping the titles simple.

Bluebell woods 2007 No.1