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"

I haven't posted anything in ages, whoops! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. It's been a mixed few weeks for me with lots of things going on, and honestly my heart really hasn't been in my painting which is why every time I've tried to get down to it I've ended up wiping it or painting over anything I've done. It's not really so surprising as I've had lots on my mind from house renovations and trying to find a temporary apartment and or studio, to Thanksgiving and getting organised for Christmas as well as just general life!

Anyway, here is a little abstract. I vow to be better at blogging (although perhaps that will have to be a new year's resolution, one to begin after the holidays are over!).

"#6" 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.

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"

A Long Time Coming

This little diptych, though very small, has been an awfully long time in the making. It has been through many "I think it's finished" followed a couple of days/weeks/months by, "I'll just change a bit here" or more recently, "this is awful, drastic intervention needed". I'm a little nervous to even whisper the words "it's finally finished" but I think I just have to leave it alone and put it aside once and for all! (apologies for the image quality, it's an iPhone pic).

"Sandy Banks" oil on gesso board, each 8x8"

Hot Hot Summer

I have been so busy the last couple of weeks visitors and trips away I really haven't had much time to paint. New York is sizziling hot as well so its hard to stay inside when the sunshine is beckoning.  We recently had a weekend in Bermuda so I am full of inspiration so I really must pick the paint brushes up again now before we have more house guests arriving next week. This little painting I completed a few weeks ago:

6x6" oil on board

Also, thanks to magazines 64 West for featuring one of my pieces on their new facebook site. The magazine is all about connecting Bermuda to another 123 small islands in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Click HERE to see the post.

Light Space & Time Online Seascapes Exhibition

I completely forgot to post about this a few weeks ago but I recently entered this piece into an online exhibition at Light Space & Time Gallery and was awarded a "special merit" award! You can see more information on the exhibition as well as all of the work by me and my fellow artists by clicking HERE.

This painting was another mini sketch so I was suprised to have it accepted but I have to admit this is one of my favourites, I just love the colours and the way they overlap. 

"The Layers Below" 6x6" oil on board

Layering it up

This one was another experiment with layers and layers of paint using different mediums like galkyd mixed in with the oil and applied over many months. It has been through a number of transformations as a result and although it doesn't really come across when photographed, some of the layers are really translucent. I especially like the section at the bottom right.

Now it needs a name - any ideas?!

8x8" Oil on board

Head Down

Well I've been travelling again, this time to go back to the UK to see family and attend two fabulous weddings. It was all a bit of a whirlwind as usual and it's nice to be back with a renewed sense of motivation. I have been getting my head down to try and get through my very long to do list and have some exciting things on the horizon which I will be posting about soon.

Today I set about trying to bring to completion a few paintings I have on the go. They aren't quite there yet but hopefully a few more tweaks tomorrow I will get them done.  Here is the third painting from flower series that I posted about below:

"Into the Deep Blue Bloom" 8x8, oil on board

The Bearded Flower

Did you know flowers have beards? Well apparently this one does at least, the "Bearded Iris" is a rather showy flower, all ruffles and frills. Maybe there will be some popping up for spring soon, I actually saw the first green leaf on the tree outside our apartment window this morning, finally!

"Bearded Iris" oil on board, 8x8"

Thinking Pink

This is part of the new series of work that will be going to Jane Packer NY. As it's still snowing here and tropical fresh flowers are not exactly the easiest to come by, I worked on this painting from a photo I took in Bermuda early last summer. I love the hibiscus flower, it's such a happy flower and grows in such abundance, I'd love to have a big hedge row of them at the bottom of my garden like I did growing up.

"Bermuda Pink" oil on board, 8x8"

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

Happy Weekend

I've had a great week in the studio. I'm making good progress with the new paintings for Jane Packer which I'll start to post next week and also completed several abstracted seascapes. I had been thinking spring was on the way but it's been snowing all day so I'm heading up to the Catskills for some skiing. Maybe it will inspire some landscape based painting, wait and see!

oil on board, 6x6"

The Active Space

I finished this little painting this weekend, added a few more layers of glaze over the ocean and some more definition to the clouds. I have really been enjoying experimenting with glazing.

Shadowy Sea, 6x4, oil on board
Click here to purchase this painting

I've been keeping busy interning at the Active Space in Bushwick which is a progressive arts center with and exhibition space and also 25 artists studios. I am helping them prepare for an upcoming exhibition "Dreaming Without Sleeping" which is opening on February 24th. I'll write more about the show in coming days but it's so far been a great learning experience and I'm sure the next 2 weeks leading up the the opening night will provide me with many more opportunities to learn about putting on a show!

I have been so busy recently in the run up to Christmas and I haven't had much time to paint or to post blogs but here is one of the abstracts that I finished recently. Unnamed as yet - suggestions welcome!

8x8, oil on board

A Sunny Friday's Work

Finally we had some sunshine today so the light in my studio was much better and therefore so was my mood! Unfortunately, as it's now dark, I think the colours in these photos are a little off but you'll have to forgive me. I went back to the three paintings I did last week to continue with them once the oils had dried enough to work over the surface again. Here is the seascape, it has changed quite a bit -

8x8, oil on board

I haven't thought of a name yet but this painting reminds me of my ferry ride back from Governer's Island a couple of months ago where the view over towards the Brooklyn shoreline was suddenly obscured by a huge storm coming in from the northwest.


The second one, more of emotion based piece, is probably my favourite and definitely reflects my mood this week! I ended up rotating it twice whilst I was painting before I was happy with it's orientation and composition but I particularly like the textures and interplay between the various abstract shapes.

"Fading," oil on board, 8x8"
Click here to purchase this painting

Limited Palette

As a little experiment, this week I have started a series of abstract oil paintings using a limited palette of just white, payne's grey, quinacridone magenta and cadmium yellow. These colours were inspired by a small two year old friend of mine when we were doing some very serious crayon drawings! I'm still undecided if these are going to work and ironically the first one that began as my favourite is now my least favourite but that usually happens with me. These are all works in progress...

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...

Jolomo

A friend of mine recently compared my work to that of Scottish artist Jolomo (John Lowrie Morrison. I had never before come across his work, however, I promptly looked up his website and not surprisingly instantly fell in love with it. Whilst I am extremely flattered by the comparison, I think I have a little way to go before I can really be any sort of competition! His colourful paintings seem to almost jump off the canvas there is so much movement and life in the brushwork. 


I painted this today working from a photograph of my favourite beach, St Ouen's in Jersey, a place that always makes me feel like I've come home. Not quite finished but a good start.