Over the last 3 years I’ve been trying to find a way to convey Argentine Tango in my art. I’ve found it really tricky to make the dancers appear lifelike, to portray the mood of the dance, especially the embrace and movement.

I’ve looked at other artists and not really seen much I can believe in.

Whilst at Heatherleys other students were using ink and I’ve been trying this medium out myself. I’ve looked at photos of social dancers and worked out a series of ink ‘photo’ portraits. There are two themes: 1) The Embrace 2) Tango positions. I feel that these are unique to Tango and can be recognised instantly by a tango dancer.

Here are some of my pictures.

The Embrace

Tango Positions

Next…..

As ink ‘photos’ they are moving in the right direction but I believe that they are not a fully formed artistic idea yet. Just painted copies. I’m now following up ideas on how to develop them further.

St Mary’s Church, Leatherhead

Molly’s favourite park.

Merry Xmas everyone

Well my course at Heatherleys Art College has finished and I’m back on the blog again. I suppose the fact that I had a tutor and fellow students to critique my work meant I neglected this blog. I have friends who enjoy following my progress through this blog and I thank them for their support.

The course was useful to keep me working on my art and have criticism but I think there could have been a lot more instruction and direction. We were left to follow our own designs and given some support & ideas on the work we produced. For example I’ve been following other artists and their workshops online and I think there could have been  a lot more direction given on this course.

Towards the end I was working on portraits and landscapes. (portraits will be on another post) I’ve attached three paintings I produced from the course. Two are of Ranmore Common, a local Surrey Hills beauty spot and the other of Lake Como, from our holiday earlier this year.

I’m continuing to follow Joseph Zbukvic workshops online and using his experience to steer my composition and use of colour.

Ranmore 1

Ranmore 2

Lake Como

Overall the paintings are developing and I like the colours and compositions. I still think I have a way to go but its nice to feel progress.

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…