We just returned last night from Sidmouth in Devon, we had a friend with us Jean and we met a chap called Tony whilst down there. It is important if you lead a busy life to have a place you can go to and just relax. Sidmouth is like that for us; we have been there many time and know the place inside out. We do the same things every time and do them without thinking and chill for a while. One of our favourites is going to Beer (a small fishing village), and having a supper in the pub and a walk on the shingle beach. Just a nice thing to do.

The weather wasn't very good this time, so sketching outside was not really a possibility, although I did do one or two; rained off for number one and blown off for number two. So a photo this time,the hotel we stayed in was in the centre of the white block of buildings. I took work with me and spent many relaxing hours talking to other guests and drawing in the sitting room. Very pleasant indeed.

Just a reminder the open night of my latest exhibition on the 5th. of December. An invitation is a couple of blogs back

Well it is Sunday morning and to be honest I am a little sleepy. The good reason is that I slept very well indeed. So today is little more restful than usual. Church then friends for lunch followed by the Bolshoi ballet performing Le Corsair. So a rather splendid day.

Art wise, well the exhibition at Clyde and Co. is up and running, I do hope that some of you will be able to be there on the 5th of December, invite and instructions on last weeks blog.

As for my painting and drawing, well I am not slacking, see above which is on the banks of the Wey Navigation about 3/4 of a mile south of Guildford on the west bank. Ink work is exciting; I am trying harder and harder to get away from proper crisp and clean lines and rely more on broken lineage, almost using scratches, the above drawing is showing this process. However the experimentation and work goes on.

Will write soon. 

Good morning to all my followers and thank you all for the ongoing support, it is important to me.

Those of you who are able, are invited to a private  viewing of my work at the above on the 5th of December, at Clyde and Co. in Stoke Road Guildford. I will be there as will the other eight who are exhibiting. This is exciting because I did not apply to exhibit here; I was invited. If some of you are 

able to be there, I would love to see you.

1. .

Above is a copy of one of the exhibition pieces.

I thought that another of the digitally scanned images would be ok. So here is one which shows how it can reproduce colour. I know it isn't a tree (it is a Virginia creeper) but it is a part of the "Fall" as the Americans call autumn (incidentally maybe that is a good name for the season)  and that plant does show rather dramatically the Autumnal colourion. 

Hope you like it.

Duncan

Painting and every form of artistic expression is a part of the greater personal developmental process. As such it is always nice to do something which you are good at, but that must not be the end of the matter as we all need to develop and progress. Following that rule, my work on trees continues to expand and develop.

The above is an image of a skeletal leaf which I picked up on Triggs Lane a while ago. The temptations were to photograph, paint, ink, or whatsoever it. All the conventional ideas seemed great and very creative, however I felt the need to reproduce it with a technique which captured the essence in a slightly fresh manner.

I started by darkening the studio, a bit like a photographic dark room. Stage two was to remove to top of my scanner. Stage three to go into the scanner settings and increase the DPI (dots per inch) from the usual 300 to 1200. In the setting, activate the dust removal mode.  Then finally to place the skeletal leaf on the scanner and set the scanner in motion. The scan can take quite a while. Now place the image into photoshop and go into navigate mode in order to blow the image up to almost pixel level. At this point any dust or blemishes which remain become apparent and can be removed. Then, lastly adjust the contrast levels slightly to match with reality and print. Now the printing important, I chose a good quality, archival, matt photographic paper. Above is the result.

So think and try something different, or with a new twist in it. Have fun

Regards Duncan

 

Well at last home again and what a wonderful week it was at Epsom. Lots and lots demonstrated, taught and helped people along with. Many wanted to talk and on occasion really open up, several carers stopped and talked, as did many professionals. What a week; on top of everything else, during the mornings, days and evenings I manage to produce the above work.

 But it wasn't all work, we saw Mozarts Don Giovani and Rogers and Hammerstein's the Sound of Music; the latter by  a local operatic group and it was good, very good indeed.  All the children especially, the oldest and Gretel the youngest were every bit a s good as in the film. Maria was super.

So a marvellous week and we returned home exhausted; what is needed now is a few days of semi quietness, some hope!

Oh well back home and the usual round of activities are resumed. At the moment I am seated in the corner-house with MIND and waiting for the punters to arrive; so a few quiet moments to re-think and experience Normandy which was a super break. Before traveling it became obvious to me that I needed a rest, so the decision was taken to paint as usual, but not allow myself to be driven to much.

As such I had a super time, with the camera playing a major part in the week. The forests were subline, with autumn nudging and beginning to edge and creep its, way in, the colours were lovely. Camera wise the light was challenging as the sun was predominantly very hard and full of contrast; not perfect conditions. However judge the results yourself, the above was one of several taken near the chateau.

Next week I am working at Epsom at the LMLMM conference, which is based at St. Barnabus church. The conference covers the whole spectrum of mental health awareness and work, with speakers ranging from top professionals to persons sharing experiences. It normally is a very full on but a good and exciting week.