The Courtyard

The Courtyard
Acrylic On Canvas
18 x 24"

An interesting set of buildings in Doncaster. I was interested in the reflected light on the yellow building on the right.

Abandoned Police Station

Abandoned Police Station
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

     A drawing of Conisbrough's old Police station. A relic from a time long past. Such a shame as it's a really solid building and quite unique looking. It's been a while since I have done any good drawings like this but I think I should try to do some more regularly. My heart is in painting but the fundamentals always need work. So I guess drawings are like vegetables :)

Conisbrough Library

Conisbrough Library
Acrylic On Canvas
16 x 20"

     Another interesting local building. This time I thought I would add people as some of my other building paintings feel a little devoid of life. To be honest though they are about the building and not the people but it doesn't hurt to add a little more life. Plus I thought it would be funny to add someone at the bus stop checking their watch. That's British humour for you.

The Leopard

The Leopard
Acrylic On Canvas
24 x 30"

     This one was a labour of love. It's the longest I have ever worked on a painting everyday and so I could be nothing but disappointed in the results. It's not a bad painting but when you put so much effort into a piece you expect the result to be epic. So here is a decent example of my current artistic level.
     Of course all creative types feel this way and why should I be any different. We push ourselves constantly and strive for improvement. Sometimes it comes in leaps and other times small steps but we do improve even if we think we don't. I've decided in my next life I will pick an easier thing to do with my life like brain surgery.
      On a side note whilst I was painting this one the outside was redecorated so it looks a little cleaner now and is a slightly different colour. So consider this a document of what was rather than what is. Sounds like art to me.

House By The Road

House By The Road
Acrylic On Canvas
20 x 24"

     Edward Hopper has been a big influence on my work this last year and so when I saw this building I couldn't resist making a little homage to his painting 'House By The Railroad'. Its not an exact replica you understand as its a British design of building and even the lighting is different but I think its a good compliment to his. In the end I achieved what I set out to do and that's all that really matters.

The Deep

The Deep
Acrylic On Canvas
20 x 30"

     An interesting piece of architecture and very relevant to what is found inside. The Deep in Hull is a submarium and I visited it for the first time this year after picking up my rejected work from the Ferens galley. I thought it would make an interesting painting, especially with the falloff of light on its angular surfaces.
      I struggled with the proportions on this one though and it took me a lot longer to complete than anything else I have done but I wanted it to be right. I try and be as accurate with my depictions of famous buildings as possible but I am not a master and there will always be inconsistencies that I will have to live with. I try not to dwell on mistakes though and so its onwards with the next painting because that's the only way I will improve.

Market cafe

Market Cafe
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

     This is my final entry to the Derwent Art Prize this year. Now I have six entries which is three more then last year and I hope to have the same success. My drawings have become more figurative over the course of the year and much more like my paintings which is what I always wanted.
     Hopefully at least one of my entries will be accepted because after being rejected from the Ferens exhibition and the Ruskin Art Prize I could do with the morale boost.    

Capricorn

Capricorn
Acrylic On Canvas Paper
13.6 x 19.5"

     I often struggle to get the photo's I take of my artwork to match the quality of the piece itself. Since I have found this an impossible task I have to always make the best choices I can when editing the colours in photoshop. Sometimes I get lucky and its an easy fix but as with this one it was a struggle to make the painting look presentable on screen. Its just one of the many annoyances of the traditional process.
     Anyway as for the painting itself. On a trip to Goole to see a fellow New Fringe members work I came across this abandoned restaurant and the central Capricorn figure mounted on the wall proved too irresistible to paint. I often look for what I like to call a 'hook' when searching for things to paint. Something that makes the thing stand out and here is a perfect example of that.

Salvation Army Building, Denaby

Salvation Army Building, Denaby
Acrylic On Canvas
16 x 20"

     Back to my architectural paintings. It's been good to flex my artistic muscles and paint different things for a while but it's time to return to what I like working on best.
     This one is also on canvas which is something that is becoming rarer for me now as I try to cut down on the space my work takes up. This is because in the past I have painted inferior work on canvas and now find myself painting over that work with much better art.

Pigeon Roost

Pigeon Roost
Acrylic On Canvas
31 x 39"

     I thought I would have a go at a diptych. Originally this was going to be two separate pieces but I decided to paint them together and create a single piece. I have some folded card laying around at home and I might try something with several panels if I can think of anything good to put on them.

The Electric Church In Daylight

The Electric Church In Daylight
Acrylic On Canvas Paper
15.2 x 19.3"

     A second painting of what I call 'The Electric Church' because of the huge light up cross. I thought I might paint it in the daylight as well just like monet and his series of works of the Rouen Cathedral. So here it is on a bright and sunny day. Perhaps I may do this again with other paintings but I find myself busy with so many ideas right now. So many ideas and so little time.........

Derwent Dam

Derwent Dam
Acrylic On Canvas
20 x 30"

     A nice bit of neo gothic architecture. It's quite an impressive structure up close and is something I have wanted to paint for the last few years. Now I finally felt confident enough to tackle it and I'm pleased with the result. It was quite difficult to separate the fore and backgrounds with the dominance of green which In itself is always a difficult colour to work with. I think the lighter areas of the sky and the front of the dam help to separate the elements.

Sleep Together

Sleep Together
Wax On Watercolour Paper
20.6 x 14.8"

     I'm really enjoying working with the wax bars now and the flexibility they offer in terms of both painting and drawing. For this piece I opted to use only black and white for some tonal practice. admittedly the grave marker was grey anyway but it's still a good way to practice.

The Electric Church

The Electric Church
Wax On Watercolour Paper
14.6 x 17.8"

     It's funny how things transform at night, or in this case early morning. What is an unremarkable little church in the day transforms into quite a spectacle when it's dark as the red cross illuminates the early morning gloom.

Far East Food

Far East Food
Acrylic On Canvas Paper
15.2 x 19.3"

      A building I have wanted to paint for a while now because of the yellow and blue colours which contrast with the dull look of the rest of the walls. Its always amazing how much beauty can be found in the most unlikely places.

The White Church

The White Church
Acrylic On Canvas
24 x 30"

     This is one of the paintings I'm taking to Ferens open art exhibition. I have wanted to paint it for quite some time now and was pleased with how well it turned out. It's a shame the computer screen can't recreate how well it looks in real life.

Garage

Garage
Acrylic On Canvas Paper

Now All We Make Are Memories

Now All We Make Are Memories
Acrylic On Canvas
24 x 30"

      Another repaint of an earlier piece. I was too invested in this one to just leave it as it was and so reworked it to be more like my newer works. You can still find the old one in my blog.

Evolved Reliance

Evolved Reliance
Acrylic On Canvas
24 x 18"

Learn Good Luck

Learn Good Luck
Acrylic On Canvas
20 x 30"

     I really feel like this year has been my best in terms of finding my own style. I don't consciously try for a specific style but I see what is working and what isn't. So with every painting I come closer to my own vision.