Don't fiddle!

Finally found some time to get the oil paints out and start painting, hence the blog being late, well something's got to give, there's only 24 hours in a day! A bit rusty but eventually got into the flow... then the phone rang! I'm one of those sorts of artists that needs complete solitude, no noise and no damn interruptions. So I tend to work late into the night, sometimes until the sun comes up. It's wonderful, perfect silence, intense concentration, completely focused, just me, my two black labradors asleep at my feet and the comforting waft of turpentine.


I like to paint people, country folk in their natural habitat. Drawing on memories and experiences from growing up on the farm and the alluring characters that I come across in rural Devon. I try to capture moments that are natural, not posed or contrived, sort of fly on the wall stuff (without any walls!). Hopefully the end result is a picture of rural life, often a private moment, shared with the viewer, as if you were there.

First stage, drafting the figures in burnt umber

I start the painting by working out the composition and the drafting out the figures in raw umber, building up the shadow areas. It's always easier to paint pictures with sunshine as it gives you a positive light source direction, you can't go wrong. For this particular painting it was a dull day with a more even light so a little bit trickier to show depth and drama but it suited the subject. I wash in a background colour and gradually the picture builds up layer by layer.


Now, here's the important bit, and after thirty years plus I still struggle with it. Don't overwork it, be bold and confident with you brush stroke but don't fiddle. I said don't fiddle! This only comes with regular practice which in turn gives you the confidence. The key is knowing when to stop. I should practice what I preach!


To find out how the finished painting turns out (assuming that I'm not still fiddling about with it) come along to our Summer Exhibition at West Gallery from 16th July to 27th August 2012.


Anyway, I detect a glow in the sky and a lone blackbird is clearing his throat, I had better turn in, I will have to open the gallery in a few hours. Now does that jacket need a little more highlight? I'll just...

Euro vision?

I have a theory. It came to me after watching the first round of matches at Euro 2012 and it occurred to me that the success of each nation's football team may directly correlate to their political and financial status. You don't buy it? Well, it may not be the soundest theory but consider this.


Greece were in terrible trouble a week ago but have managed to hang on to the Euro(s). You have to give the Greeks credit (well, maybe that's the last thing we should be doing!) but they have made it through. That is, of course, until the Germans kick them into touch.


The Italians, corruption abounds, but, hey, let's keep spending and waving our arms about. The French have lurched to the left... the Swedes, well they were never in it (close though!).


Ah, what about the Spanish and the Portuguese, I hear you say? Well don't be fooled, it was only a matter of days ago the Spanish claimed everything was fine only to get a multi-billion euro bailout. Their football world will also come tumbling down sooner than you think. And Portugal? Well, one man can't cover up the weaknesses that lie deeper just with a step-over.


As for the Dutch not long ago one of Europe's stalwarts their dreams now in tatters. Trampled over by the Germans and bickering amongst themselves, even the Dutch Masters from the Premiership contingent of van Persie, Kuyt, de Jong, van der Vaart, et al, as talented as they are, couldn't do anything about it.


Talking of Dutch masters, here at West Gallery we have the talented Dutch artist Bert Bruins who has resided in Devon for the past 20 years. Bert works in acrylic mostly and paints West Country subjects that show the intense beauty of nature, sometimes in close up, sometimes in panorama. Maybe the Dutch are better artists than they are footballers after all.

Northcott Beach, Bude by Bert Bruins

So who is going to stop the Germans dominating Europe? Masses of Germans have poured over the border into Poland consuming all in their path. It will take a determined, plucky team to resist their forcefulness in the face of overwhelming odds. (You know where this is going, don't you?).


Yes, England! (Cue Jerusalem) Only England, backs against the wall and after a decade of political and financial appeasement maybe, just maybe it's time to assert ourselves and keep the Germans in check.


Hey, it's just a theory.

Invisible art? I can't see it myself.

It's all go at the moment, we're coming into the summer months and the gallery is getting busier, we are in the middle of organising our Summer Exhibition in July (more about that later), the website still needs lots of work, oh and I am trying to find some quiet time to actually paint some pictures. Not to mention trying to finish building a house... in my spare time! So the prospect of having to sit down and write today's blog was a bit of a distraction. 


Well, I thought, I could leave the whole page blank, just white space and call it "Invisible Art" and let you, the viewer, use your own imagination. Better still, I could charge you £8 for the privilege! Why hadn't I thought of it before?


One problem. Nobody is going to fall for that are they? Well you may be in for a bit of a shock. London's Hayward Gallery is doing exactly that with it's current exhibition "Invisible: Art about the Unseen 1957 - 2012". Effectively they are charging you to visit a virtually empty gallery with such exhibits as a bare plinth and a canvas painted entirely with invisible ink.

Jeppe Hein's Invisible Labyrinth at the "Invisible... " exhibition (or is it a squash court?)

Now don't get me wrong, I'm no Luddite and I am all for pushing the boundaries in art but this is a clear case of the Emperor's new clothes. As for invisible art, I can't see it myself.


If people in London are struggling to find quality art to spend their money on then they could do worse than take a trip to the West Country. An abundance of talent can be found within the region from St Ives to Appledore and beyond. Devon and Cornwall are fast becoming recognised as the place to find original art... if it hasn't always been.


Some of you may have visited the fantastic Appledore Arts Festival, which took place over the last few days highlighting the variety and breadth of artistic talent in the area. The Appledore Arts Festival is now in its 14th year, one of many such events held in the South West with the creative arts going from strength to strength throughout the region. London take note.


Anyway, after inspirational Appledore it's back to the easel to get on with my own paintings in time for our Summer Exhibition. Starting with a blank canvas is always the hardest, here's a sneak preview of how I'm getting on...

...wait a minute, it might just be finished! Yes, maybe this could be invisible art entitled "I saw you coming". Maybe not, nobody's that gullible are they? See how it turns out at West Gallery's Summer Exhibition starting on July16th 2012.


If you would like an invite to our exhibition preview evening drop us an email at info@westgallery.co.uk

Flying the flag

Hooray! Everybody's got a day off for the Diamond Jubilee. Well, not everybody. Here at West Gallery we are open every day, so if you're looking for fantastic experience pop in and see us. We even have our own Union flag on canvas, a great addition to any contemporary home. I'm pleased to say that our national flag is back in vogue again.

The patriotic fervour and flag waving got me all vexillological (easy for you to say!). I was pleasantly surprised to see most people flying the Union flag the right way up and, of course, unless you are a naval type, it's not the Union Jack.


It is often asked why Wales is not represented on the Union flag? Oh but it it is! As Wales is technically a principality of England, not a 'country' it is represented by England's cross of St. George. In much the same way the Cornish flag of St. Piran is not included. That will stir up the natives!


Flags were the early form of communication especially in the navy where we are all familiar with the famous message from Nelson's flagship The Victory, which started "England expects..."


Semaphore was also widely used, however, you do not necessarily need flags, it just helps to make it more visible.The well recognised logo for CND represents the letters N and D in semaphore.

Now, of course, waving flags to message people seems ridiculous, we just text them. In fact, for some of us reading a teenager's text message can be as complicated for us as semaphore would be for them. Here is a typical example:

YO LTNC, HRU?

WL I JST GT BK FRM CRTE.  ND WZ XLNT. GT UP2 SO MCH FRU OT D 2WKS. 1ST WK WNT FST.  . WNT 2 RSTRN LKN OVA D HRBR, D SCNRY WHR WE STAYD WZ MAZIN  I RLXD FRU OT D 2WS. DA WEVR WZ LUVLY AD NA RAIN!  WNT 2D BEACH KPL TMZ ND SPNT MST OFD HOL SUNIN MSLF. ONLI WNT RD NM LOL :$ GT BK 2DYS GO ND AV ALRDY BN SHPIN ND GN 2 WRK ND WNT 2GR8 PRT WZ SAL. <0-). IZA OGNIZIN BBQ 4 AL MI M8S NXTWKD ND WIL B OFF NOTHR HOL IN 2WKS WCH WIL B GD FC, HP 2CUSN.

ATB, BFN XOXOXOXOX

Don't ask me what it means, I'm going to have to find a hoodie to translate for me. It will make Countdown awkward in the future, I mean, consonant, consonant, consonant, consonant! Am I showing my age? Don't answer that!

Anyway, the message is simple. If you want to wave the flag for Britain and especially Devon and Cornwall, get down to West Gallery and see some of the country's finest artists work. What better way to spend a Bank holiday?

CU L8R  YUK!