Well it has been a good while since I sketched on the London streets; so with Liz going to a girlie thing the other day, off I trundled. The weather was on the hottish side, so walking and sitting in the shade with lots of water was the order of the day. Winding my way to Trafalgar Square and finding a shaded spot near the South African Embassy I seated myself on the pavement, leaning against a dolphin lamp post; very comfortable and out of the flow of pedestrians, so not in any bodies way. It was good fun, several people leaned over my shoulder to have a look, lots of friendly interchanges; very pleasant. 

The picture is of St Martin's in the Field from the South African Embassy side and it is the first street sketch produced by me for many months.

As an older person, I feel that there should be a compulsory coarse for the elderly; How to get up of the floor in the event of a fall. That I can manage, with absolutely no problem, so sitting on the ground is problem free and surprisingly rather comfortable.

This was followed by a couple of hours in the National Gallery. I loved Constable's painting "The Cornfield". 

I must get into London more often! Good fun.

My exhibition at St Columba's comes down on Friday, so last chance to see it.

Regards Duncan

 

Well it has been a while since my last blog, to be honest we have both gone through a tough time; as a result there has been little spare time or effort left to produce my blog. So lets put that right.

Still during the last few months, it has not been an idle time; those of you who follow my blogs will be aware that my ink work has moved up a mighty step to A2 size. That is big, for ink, very big indeed and the results are amazing me. Detail and impression of detail has leapt up in quantity and I hope you feel that is reflected in the quality as well. The time factor has increased as well, the above took three weeks and several hours each day to produce. 

I personally, am certainly very pleased with the work coming out of my pen at the moment. As this is all so new, your comments and input would be highly valued and listened to. 

My exhibition at St Columba's has only one week left to run, so this is a last chance to see my maritine look at the slow demise of ancient fishing vessels around our coasts. A warm welcome is always given there, but remember to ring before attending, because St Columba's often have sensitive events happening, as such the doors need to be closed.

Kindest regards Duncan

 

This is what its about.

I am always saying that art is not exclusive, for the clever, nor for the middle class peoples. Art must be for everybody at every level of ability whether artistic or intellect or age. There is a right place for excellence in art, but not as a way of exclusivity; rather for fun expression and involving all in the fun. Today in church was a good example of this in action.

It was mother's day and the plan was for a big thank you to all the mothers in our church; so I was asked to help produce a painting during the service, looking at the sun and everything lovely on this earth. About 10 children and I think 3 adults took part. I did very little painting, instead giving children brush's and paints then making suggestions and encouraging. Things like, I like that, more blue there and how about some flowers there. Amazingly there was no spilt paint (well not much) and the idea of painting each other did not arise; at the end of about 20 minuets the above was created by us all.

Very worthwhile and what art is all about.

Well at last the exhibition is up and running at St Columba's. It runs until the 3rd. of June and comprises of 24 images, in ink, watercolor and mixed media.

It is looking around the British coasts and all the small inshore vessels which operate therein. In the past and still today, when a small boat has ceased to have any practical use, often they were simply abandoned and left for nature to recycle. These images are looking at the boats and their transition from usefulness to utter uselessness, or in other words watching them become rotting hulks. However looking at this process is wonderful; rotting, flaking and rusting. It sounds crazy, but there is great beauty in the whole process. The project took about a year and involves work produced during many treks over the years; it was all such good fun.

The picture on the invite is of a coble (small northern fishing craft) abandoned on a beach on the Northumbrian coast, that was a magical afternoon even if it was a tad bleak and wind swept.

Remember the sensitive work done at St Columba's, so phone before you visit. Thanks.

Charles 

 

Well it has been about three months since my last blog post, to put it simply I've gone through a rough patch, but am now feeling much better, improving and now firing on 95% again; not long till I will be 100%.

My last blog was about the Hoo peninsular in Kent; now thankfully all that work in looking at small fishing types of boats round our coasts is done; the exhibition goes up at St. Columba's in a few weeks. I think many of you will like the works, at least I hope so; but more about that nearer the date.

Todays picture is from our trip from the Wash to LIndisfarne last Autumn, and what a trip it was, meeting lots of shall we say "interesting" people, mixed with many normal people; it was quite an adventure.

There were a several of highlights. First for me was to visit the High Force water fall in Durham, which I have never been able to visit before, it did not disappoint. Sat on rocks and sketching away, a lovely couple were seated next to me. he was a prison officer and she a full time mother; that was a very pleasant time, but the rock I was seated on was a little sharp and not to good in the comfort stakes. 

The second high point was Lindisfarne, spending three nights there in the Ship Inn, very welcoming and excellent food. I seemed to paint from dawn to dusk; whilst with Liz having some super adventures, which I will tell you about when we meet up. The tidal island has a very relaxed spiritual excellence about itself. Each morning we found some group or other to pray with, when leaving for home we left refreshed.

So now I am back with trees and producing exciting stuff, but more of that also later.

So for now, Regards Charles

 

 Life is so busy, but fantastic, the work on the decaying old fishing boats around our coast is coming along just fine and the work for the exhibition in March is almost done. 

A couple of weeks ago Liz and myself ventured to the Hoo peninsula in the Medway estuary (Kent) for a short break and some fun research. We found the above; a graveyard of old Thames trading barges. They were challenging to approach, very muddy and I mean, very muddy indeed; this was about as close as it was possible to get. In total there were at a guess about 10 or 12 old barges there, and just along the other side of the graveyard there is work going on to restore two of them to full working order. Fantastic!

So they were a super few days and we relaxes a little as well; finding an ancient abbey in a small place called Minster. It was all very thinking inspiring.

Hope you like the painting

Duncan

Well it's been a couple of weeks since my last blog, sorry about my absence, but life has been good fun but rather hectic. A short break and research trip to the Medway Estuary in Kent occured and lots and lots of all sorts of events; Well here I am now taking a deep breath or two.

The old boats project is coming along very well, with my even finding time and being able to lapse back into some tree work. The above is the direction in which I seem to be moving at present; A2 sized images showing much more of the texture of the vegetations. The work is so challenging, it realy needs to be seen in reality, to be appreciated or understand, with it encompassing both negative and positive drawing, incorporating contrasts, textures and wide ranges of tonal variations in their production; whatever, it is very trying but also so rewarding in the conclusions. I will in the future be showing this work, but one thing at a time; old coastal boats decaying is my current primary aim.

My next blog I intent to show where my watercolours are moving to.