a long afternoon

Paint something medieval for Fossanova, he said. Yeah right! I don't remember much about those times, except perhaps being locked in the stocks with my feet through the boards. But one does like to oblige... (images from the festival in other years are here).

This little one wash sketch was from a notte bianca (all night festival) in Fondi, some time ago, where it was mostly painting in the half-dark. A sweet little girl was watching me paint, so of course I began to paint her. Her father wanted to buy the painting, but I couldn't detach it from the group board. I started another, (the sketch below) and then she disappeared.

So, in the theme of taking these unfinished "excursion paintings" and turning them into something I could perhaps use, I tried turning this little sketch into something that might possibly come across as medieval in the right setting.

No, of course it isn't finished... you know me better than that :)

Today I am grateful for Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Baker.

time's up for this one

I could go on improving it "until the cows come home" but there are more urgent things to do. I ran out of white paint so am not happy with the sky; it is my normal process to scumble in a sky to set the mood, complete the work, and then repaint the sky at the end. Maybe I will to that yet, but that will be all. It actually doesn't look too bad as it is, but if it stays on my own walls I think the sky might get a make-over. I can varnish that separately though, and at least get the colours on the main part popping out beautifully. (Varnish is not good for photos though, hence photographing before this).

Today I am grateful for good vibrations and gentle jazz music. 

update

Just checking, via blog, to see if this is close to finished. Somehow (I know I have said it before) looking at the photographs in a different context gives me a more objective view than staring at the painting. In the flesh viewing allows my brain to convince myself my hand did achieve what I wanted - and then months later I am not satisfied. Checking via photos gives me a much more honest appraisal of what is needing correction.

Yesterday I found the photographs from the location, so perhaps I can make the painting a little more convincing too. Here is the location photo, and the painting after some more touching up. I see some changes to make already, although I am not looking for accuracy, but more of a romantic image. Or am I simply adding to the confusion? Perhaps it is done.

Today I am grateful for paracetamol. 

found it!

This is the painting location, and the painting as I left it back then. Click here for 2011 post. 

Mmmm - I would write more, but it is already 2.15am.

Buonanotte!

remember this? no?

I can't remember when I began this, so I don't expect you to remember my post (s?) about it. It was one of those "outdoor painting in a group" days, and while I remember the location I have no idea of the year so can't link you to the post about it.

Anyway, with no students around it is time to finish off some bits and pieces, and this one came to the top. Unfortunately I have very few acrylic paints, and the colours I require I suspect I gave to my student. The fact that I can't locate my on-site photos isn't helping greatly either!

So this is what you can do with yellow, pale green, bright blue and terracotta. But I am going to have to locate some real red, and some white, if I am to finish this.

The story so far, after about an hour today getting "back into the painting" with some loose brushwork:

And then at the lunch break: 

Smoko time:

And a couple of hours later:

And at knock-off time: 

And finished, photo added 16/7/14

Today I am grateful for imagination and paint. 

or not so random?

The horses (previous post) are described here: click on BBC link

Background information about the Kelpies and dramatic video from The Telegraph: link is here

and from The Guardian you can read another point of view here. Is it art? Or should the money have been spent elsewhere?

Aaaah art (or not), you've gotta love it! As a visitor I couldn't get my camera out of my bag fast enough as we sped by. As a driver, however, I am sure the startlingly large nags would have distracted me from the road and traffic.

Today I am grateful for energetic debate. 

totally random sculptures...

Photos from the car window, and no, I wasn't driving :) 

Detail and closer views

Today I am also grateful for random artworks.