Paracetamol all round? It was blowing a gale with rain here this morning so here is a less sobering picture of Itzac taken yesterday.

By the way have you spotted if you click on a photo here it shows larger? (more…)

The Christmas and New Year period is usually quiet on the email front so a good time to work on the marine painting, including the large  harbour scene 30″ x 48″, Cattewater, Samuel Plimsoll.

On the subject of which today started with a message from a fellow painter. (more…)

I spent most of the day in the studio working on my marine painting to be “Samuel Plimsoll,  Plymouth Cattewater by moonlight” painting, adjusting the composition and tones.

What does it take to make a successful marine painting?

More on that soon, meanwhile, other news today… (more…)

I am still exchanging emails  re the European Parliament Marine Art Exhibition at Brussels.

This new marine painting along with it’s little sister have already absorbed over 100 hours art work.

I am not pleased about that!

Why? (more…)

The Flying Scotsman has as a result of Mike Jeffries comments had a  a re appraisal of the painting and some re working, specific replies to points raised listed below and may be of wider interest to artists.
The remarks have also underlined a serious problem I have here at Itzac; the studio space is tooooo small for paintings over 16” x 20”.
I need a larger studio ASAP but where, anyone want an artist in residence? (more…)

This new marine painting measuring 30″x48″ (762×1219mm) has absorbed some 200 hours including location visits and research by myself and friends in Plymouth.

The scene is based principally on my numerous memories of Plymouth Cattewater by moonlight and shows the “crack” clipper ship Samuel Plimsoll during the 1880’s, loading emigrants Australia Bound. Colour and tone bars are placed here in the picture margin so you can adjust your monitor/screen if you wish to better view this new marine painting

This painting is intended as one of the center pieces for the exhibition next year offered me at the European Parliament; ~ unless some one makes me an offer I can’t refuse!

I also hope this formidable marine painting will inspire Plymouth City Council to make better use of the site in the same sort of way the splendid “Port of Chester 1863″ inspired Chester council, a splendid story documented on page http://frickers.co.uk/marine-art/chester.html which included a civic reception for the painting and artist.

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I hear from my friends at Sea Breezes magazine, “Yes we did manage to get the Glenorchy scan to a publishable quality“.

Sea Breezes, Glenorchy the marine painting is in the June issue which is on sale today.
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Up early ish today and loading my car including with 2 major marine paintings (Plymouth Cattewater and Nelson at Gibraltar 10 Dec 1796) and numerous French landscapes.

One of the objectives of this return to my home port of Plymouth is to find out how the paintings are received, perceived and valued, another is to consider suitable exhibition venues. (more…)

After a brief stop at fashionable La Baule where I was able to recover some what from the after effects of La Grippe my thanks to my friend Francoise Boitel and family.

I was heading up a rather humid and at times very grey Brittany to the port of Roscoff. (more…)