“How do you know when it’s finished?”

When Is a Painting Finished? It’s the question I get asked more than any other: how do you know when it’s finished? The truth is, there’s no single answer. Every artist approaches it differently. For some, it’s a feeling. For others, a technical assessment. Many of us rely on time and space to help usContinue reading ““How do you know when it’s finished?””

The Power of Simplicity in Alan Brain’s Art

Artist Alan Brain’s abstract piece, “A Curious Sadness,” is a masterclass in simplicity and emotion. Two bold shapes in electric blue and deep red evoke a sense of curiosity and melancholy, while subtle details draw the eye. This is my personal interpretation – I wonder, what do you see? An artist friend, Alan Brain, recentlyContinue reading “The Power of Simplicity in Alan Brain’s Art”

Sketching the unseen…

Some artists venture beyond the visual and look into the other senses that shape our daily lives. Drawing your senses – sketching and painting the nuances of sound, touch, taste and feelings stretches the boundaries of conventional artistic expression. I invite you to explore this area and uncover more connections between art and the humanContinue reading “Sketching the unseen…”

Absence – a longing

If you have read my blog about intuitive art, you’ll remember my issues around knowing how I do my art.   I can’t think it, if I do, it all goes haywire – I have to trust my instincts and just plough on.  Nearly every day in the last week, I have come in for theContinue reading “Absence – a longing”

The problem with intuitive art…..

Over the years, my practice has looped back to working intuitively over and over and this is where I feel happiest. However, working in an intuitive, free, sub-conscious way is not without it’s issues. Working in this way means giving up any expectation of a result, no planning or hoping this will be the nextContinue reading “The problem with intuitive art…..”

Capturing the spirit of a long lost landmark…..

When I saw the subject of the ‘Time at the bar please’ exhibition at Yellow Edge Gallery, about pubs in Gosport, I got a clear picture in my mind of what I would paint.   However, I had no concept at the time of how the painting would end up!   One of my earliestContinue reading “Capturing the spirit of a long lost landmark…..”

Does a drawing have to look like somewhere?

This week I have been thinking about drawing – specifically the need to recreate a visual scene accurately or at least semi accurately. For the past few weeks I have been going to the same spot most days and drawing. But nothing I have drawn would be recognisable as the physical place. However for meContinue reading “Does a drawing have to look like somewhere?”

A Mindful moment – sound drawings

I am working on extending my new series based on Forton Lake and developing some more work based on the area. I have been spending a lot of time, mindfully recording what I see, what I hear and what I feel when I walk around the shores of the lake. An interesting exercise to doContinue reading “A Mindful moment – sound drawings”

Forton Creek Series

After a lot of work, I have produced three paintings that I am very pleased with, that convey my feelings about the creek near my home. Like many of us, I started reallly seeing my local area during the pandemic and I expect a lot more work in the future which is inspired by thisContinue reading “Forton Creek Series”