Updates

Well, summer seems to have finally moved on and today we have gale force winds and impending rain from Hurricane Jaoquin. I've been trying to tie up some loose ends such as FINALLY finishing a commission that I'm embarrassed to say has taken me a very very long time. Anyway, it's done now and I'm happy to say I'm pleased with it. Below are the two paintings that will be making their way to London on Saturday night and eventually to their new home in Myanmar! 

"Corbiere from St Ouen's" acrylic on linen, 20x20"

"La Rocco" acrylic on linen, 20x20"

And here is also the finished sketch that I last posted. It needed a little more work to tighten it up:

"In Coming Tide at Corbiere" acrylic on board, 12x12"

Back to Work

After a busy few weeks preparing the RAW show, the event came and went last Thursday night and was great fun. It was good to learn how to put a show like that together and now I'm looking forward to hopefully doing more events like it in the future. It was nerve wrecking putting my work out there for scrutiny but great to make new contacts and hopefully gain some more fans, plus I sold a few things as well so that's a bonus! You can see some images from the show here on my Facebook page. 

Now I'm  back in the studio working on finishing a commission before I leave for an extended break in the UK and Jersey next week. This commission is for a duo of Jersey based paintings. Here was a sketch I did yesterday but we have decided to actually paint this lighthouse from a different angle for the final piece…

"Corbiere Lighthouse Study #2" acrylic on board, 12x12"

The New Normal

I've realised that (at the risk of stating the obvious) trying to work when one has a new baby is somewhat different to the days when I had endless uninterrupted hours of painting bliss. My new normal is one day of painting a week if I'm lucky and a few hours squeezed in here and there around naps. Now if my son could just oblige me with a regular nap schedule we'll really be rolling but at the moment, when I put him down he might grant me 2 blissful hours of peace, or maybe just 30 minutes - it certainly keeps it interesting! Anyway, I've realised that a few changes to the way I work can make a big difference in terms of productivity. First and foremost I've ditched the oils (just for now) as its just too much mess and time consuming clean up not to mention the toxic chemicals which I can do without being exposed to right now. I've set myself up in a corner of our home office and am working off disposable palettes which I hate because of the waste but it certainly makes clean up quick and is much easier with acrylics as the paint dries so fast its a nightmare to scrape off of a glass or wood palette. I'm also, on the whole, working on a much smaller scale which is fun for a change and makes me feel more productive.

Here's a little study I just completed for a commission I'm doing. The commission is for several Jersey based paintings and this one is of La Rocco Tower on St Ouen's bay, a personal favourite spot of mine.

"La Rocco Tower" acrylic on board, 8x8"

Grouville Bay

So, we are up to our necks in the middle of renovating our apartment. The demolition phase which has been very exciting and completely eye opening is nearly over and we are looking forward to seeing all the dust and rubble cleared out and the new walls go up. I decided it would be great to have a record of the weekly developments to look back on so I have been recording these on another blog which you can see here. It's pretty all consuming at the moment but am still trying to squeeze in some painting here and there.

Here is a small piece I did a couple of weeks ago inspired by a photo my cousin posted on her facebook page, taken on a beach we grew up near and spent hours digging in the sand and paddling in the waves. She was out walking her dog and about to get soaked by the fast approaching rain but still took the time to snap a quick shot of the beautiful light and reflections.

"Raining in the East" oil on board, 6x6"

Corbiere Lighthouse

"Changing Tide at Corbiere" acrylic and oil on board, 8x8"

I waited perched on a rock, for absolutely ages until the sun emerged from behind the clouds long enough to get a photo of this that I could work from. It was one of those windy days when the sun teases you with a 2 second glimpse before hiding again. The tide was just changing and there were strong currents forming which created interesting patterns on the water surface.

Today, I have had one of those days where everything I try to work on turns out terribly and you start to question if you were ever any good at all. Maybe it's because I'm full of a cold and feeling groggy, but most likely its because I'm working to a deadline and things never go to plan under pressure! Better day tomorrow I hope.

Jersey Paintings

Well, I've once again been travelling all over the place for the last couple of weeks, more fun at two beautiful and completely different weddings, one in Bermuda and one in Lincolnshire then a quick stop in London and now Jersey for a week of painting and family time. I tried to get some painting done in Bermuda last week but without great success so I'm very pleased that things are going better this week in Jersey. We've had a few rainy days but this morning was fine and I spent a few hours driving around photographing and sketching at different spots. When I returned to the house I set up studio and got on with a few different compositions. Heres a progress shot.

Abstract Castle

Anyone who knows me well, should also recognise this place, though rather abstracted, its a pretty ominous silhouette. It's Mont Orgueil Castle looming over Gorey Harbour in Jersey, Channel Islands, also known as the place I got married nearly 3 years ago. I did not begin this painting intentionally planning to paint this scene, however, after I applied a first layer of abstract doodle shapes on the surface (is that an artistic term?!) I could see the shape of the castle emerging so I went with it. I actually really love how it turned out so I'm undecided whether I might just have to keep this one for my own wall, particularly with the sentimental connection. Maybe I'll try some other similar scenes in this style. Again, sorry about the image, the oil is still wet and I couldn't seem to photograph it without some reflection.

"That Day" Mont Orgueil Castle, Jersey, oil on board, 8x8"

The Minkies

You might remember this painting that I posted here a couple of months ago. It has been sitting in my studio unfinished ever since while I tried to figure out what was wrong with it. I knew the colours weren't right and it was way too busy but I didn't quite know how to fix it. Finally, last week inspiration hit I put it back on the easel. Toning down the blues and yellows as well as blocking out some of the busier sections seems to have restored some balance to it. I'll probably end up changing my mind and reworking it again in a few weeks but for now at least it feels finished.

"Sand Bar, Les Minquiers" oil on canvas, 36x36"

Mini Series Continued

As I was painting this I realised one of my favourite places was emerging on the painting surface. This is reminisant of a view from St Ouen's beach in Jersey looking South down the shoreline.

My plan is to sell the originals of these mini's via a gallery in New York but to have the prints available on my Etsy store either individually or in groups of 3 or 4. I'm hoping to have enough completed and dried to begin listing them by April so watch this space.

6x6, oil on board

Back To Routine

"Sand Bar, Les Minquiers" oil on canvas,  36x36

I think I've finally found my groove, about time too, I was starting to think I'd lost it completely. This week I've been working on finishing this large seascape which is inspired by an amazing day trip I took last summer to Les Minquiers or "The Minkies" off the coast of Jersey. I am pretty pleased with it, I am just not sure if the sky needs some more work so I have resolved to let it dry and come back to it in a week or so.

Next up is some small florals to replace sold work at Jane Packer Florist, New York. It will be nice to be forced to paint a completely different subject for a little while.

"Shadows on the Sand" - acrylic on canvas, 23x23"

This is the latest large painting in my seascape series. It is based on a moment captured at the beach at Grouville Bay in Jersey. It is now framed and hung for sale at Decor Art Gallery on 3rd Avenue and 19th Street in Manhattan so look out for it in the window if you are passing by!

Dune

Here is another small painting which is much more abstract than many of my pieces. It took a while to get the colours to work together but I think I'm finally happy with it. I've laid the paint on much thicker than I normally do so it has a lot of texture to it which I like.

I want to start experimenting more with building up layers of glazing and so I went out today to buy a more suitable brush - a 1" ox hair - very soft! I'm not sure if I'm patient enough to wait for each layer to dry but we'll see how it goes...

Seascapes

I recently returned from a trip home to the Island of Jersey where I grew up. There is definitely something about growing up on an Island that draws you closer to the sea. There is a strange hold that it has over me and it I never fail to be amazed by how powerful it is.  Here are some photos of my beautiful Island....

I felt so inspired by the sea that I have embarked on a series of abstract seascapes. Here are some of the little sketches I did today to work out the compositions...