Are you allowed on the sofa?

Molly

Molly in her blue period

I’ve been attending an art course in Chelsea on watercolours. I attempted a self portrait and have been reticent to show it but I suppose this blog is about my art journey…

I didn’t want a normal straight on view. So I tried an off the shoulder number …

Self portrait

All a bit odd really!

I’ve worked on another version. I’m getting closer but not quite there yet…

Self portrait

Molly looking a bit of a moppy rascal in charcoal

Molly

Molly being inscrutable

Molly Sphinx

I visited Bournemouth last weekend for a mini-Tango break. We had glorious weather and a very chilled weekend dancing and learning. The hotel was very basic but that didn’t matter as we met up with lovely people and had a great time dancing.

I managed to get some sketching in both mornings. I woke early and managed to sketch the pier and beach before breakfast. During the afternoon we walked the promenade and I sketched a view of the beach. It was wonderful to see the beach being used in October and there were loads of people making the most of the Autumn sun.

Bournemouth Beach, Line and  wash

Bournemouth Pier

Bournemouth promenade, in the early morning sun

I’ve been working on more still life at the art college but we have also moved on to landscapes, working from photographs. Slowly the tutor is understanding how I work and what I’m looking to improve. Attending the college provides me with ‘my art time’ and makes me focus on what I want to challenge myself with. Every Thursday is hard work and it takes me a day to recover from the concentration.

The source of inspiration for my landscape paintings have been the walks with Molly. I take a camera with me and I snap away at things that take my attention. However, I’m a really bad photographer and the camera doesn’t really take photos of the views I’m seeing. So a better camera is on the Christmas list.

Below are the paintings I’ve produced in class. They are a mixed bunch but it’s the methods and experiments that I’m learning that are really important.

Yew Tree Farm, Polesden Lacey

Cottage, Headley

Still Life, Jug, Hare and bowl with dried flowers (unfinished)

Next week, self portraits…

Finally I sold a painting at my Art Clubs’ exhibition. It was the Venice Triptych! Yeh…