Work in Progress: Violinists and Piano

Sketch made at the rehearsal

As noted in my sketch blog, I attended a rehearsal of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra at St. Nicolas' Church in Newbury in my capacity as Open Studio artist. Open Studios West Berkshire and North Hampshire are collaborating with Newbury Spring Festival.

The sketch blog currently features a series of sketches made of the cello section. I also drew other parts of the orchestra, and decided to paint the violins (and the pianist), in oils.

It's quite a complicated image, all done from line sketches. I haven't finished it yet - and I have two days out of the studio before I Open again on the 18th May; this will be the final week. So I thought that I would share what I've done so far.

It's all looking a bit murky at the moment. I'll be brightening up a few areas on Wednesday and clarifying some of the details.

Watch this space...

Porthtowan (WIP) before the surfers hit the beach...

I have a few things left to do to this, including adding a few tiny figures on the beach.

Oil on really big canvas, 80 x 200 cm
WIP, commission

Porthtowan (WIP) on Tuesday: the village starts to appear

I'm continuing work on the really big canvas of Porthtowan (80 x 200 cm). The static image, above, shows its current state, while the animation below shows a series of stages.

Today, I livened up the sea a bit and started adding the buildings of the village.

Previous post: Friday

Subsequent posts: Wednesday, Thursday

September in the Abstract

Two abstracts-in-progress (both 20 x 20 cm) from yesterday.

My 8-year-old daughter tested out my dribbly acrylic technique;
I tested out the idea of 'tutoring' (and had another go at the dribbly acrylic thing).
I'm not sure, but I think I may have learnt more than she did... except what I learnt wasn't about how to *do* art.

Last September, I posted my first consciously abstract painting, along with an analogy between music and visual art.

This September, I posted my biggest abstract painting to date (I don't make much abstract art), done using a technique that I hadn't tried before.

And... all of a sudden, I have suddenly started noticing abstracts dotted around the online galleries that I frequent when I'm not blogging, painting or otherwise engaged. Is it the time of year?

Porthtowan, Work in Progress: Beginnings, edges, and how it looks this Friday evening

There's still a fair bit to do, but this is the current state of my really big painting of Porthtowan. I'm working my way down towards the village, which will be a challenge. Godrevy lighthouse is there - just - and I haven't forgotten that there is a chimney on the skyline.

Porthtowan is a large subject, and I'm remarkably fortunate that my client wanted it on a large canvas. His deposit paid for the 80 x 200 cm stretched canvas to be made. I got it delivered direct to my studio as it's too big to fit in my car (and definitely too big to carry on my bicycle!).

Porthtowan: Work in Progress and Sketches

 

This is the (rather bright) acrylic underpainting for a large commission that I started work on today.

It is based on photographs and sketches of the Cornish village of Porthtowan, looking down from East Cliff.

Watercolour done from footpath

Line and wash done from photomontage

Pen sketch done on-site