Monday 17 December 2018

" Life drawing group"






                        As we near the end of the year we reach the last meeting of the "Nova
                       Scotia Group" for 2018. This has been a successful start to a new life drawing
                       group and we will re-convene in January 2019.

                       As I mentioned in my previous post, the range and style of the work is diverse.
                      Here are a few examples of some other artist's work.

                      Firstly, Richard J S Young. Richard is a painter/ photographer and scientist
                      whose life studies are predominantly watercolour or mixed media.
                      His website is www.richardyoungartist.com and features different aspects
                     of his work including paintings in oil and mixed media and photography all
                     influenced by both music and the written word.


                      



                                              
Richard Young's work
 
 
Another group artist is the painter/writer/critic Alexander Adams.
His work reflects a classical style, again influenced by music.
Go to his website www.alexanderadams.art to check out his work
and examples of his writing, including published books and magazine
articles .
 
                                         

Alexander Adams' work
 
(hover mouse if websites fail to appear due to
white on black typeface )
                                                                                                                                            

Saturday 8 December 2018

"Olive Farm - Pefkos"





                              A hot day in late September. The only noise are the cicadas in the
                              fields as I make my way to the beach at Kavos. In the distance,the
                             Olive farm with the fruits ripening for the Autumn harvest.


                                                                     
 
"Olive Farm - Pefkos"   Acrylic on canvas 16"x 16"

Thursday 15 November 2018

" Nova Scotia Group"






                          A new venture. A group of artists , myself included, have recently
                         started meeting regularly to pursue our interest in  life drawing.
                         After the discontinuation of a previous life class it was felt that we
                        wanted to meet to draw, paint , discuss art in a friendly, relaxed
                        atmosphere.

                        The group, consisting of  painters, photographers, writers and
                        ceramicists meet in a private room above the "Nova Scotia" pub
                        hence the adopted name.

                       I'll hopefully feature the work of some other members in due course.
                       Meanwhile , here's what I've been doing.
                                                 
  
                                               
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All images mixed media on cartridge paper

Saturday 3 November 2018

" Jazz concert "







                       To the recently refurbished St. George's  Hall in Bristol, England for
                       a concert by the Norwegian jazz trio of Tord Gustavsen as part of their
                      U.K. European and U.S. tour.

                      Promoting their latest album on the ECM label titled "The Other Side"   
                      mixed with arrangements of classical pieces, Gustavsen playing piano
                      and electronics , accompanied by Jarle Vespestad on drums and Sigurd
                      Hole on bass played a two hour set to a packed audience.
                      
                      The music from this trio has always been a great influence on my art,
                      I frequently listen to their music whilst painting.
                      
                      I met up with Tord in the bar after the concert and got him to sign the
                      concert ticket as a memento  of a great evening.



                                  
                                                   Latest album and signed concert ticket

Sunday 21 October 2018

" Islands of Hellas "





                                


                                                                        
 
Hellas. The word that the Greek people use to describe themselves.
This, my new self published book, features paintings that capture the
essence of the Greek islands, the "Islands of Hellas"
 
With visits to islands such as Kefalonia , Zakynthos,Kos, Paxos
Corfu , Crete and of course Rhodes, amongst others, the paintings evoke
many characteristics of the Greek landscape as it has influenced me .
 
The exaggerated bright colours reflect the colour of the sea and flora of
both the coast and country, from the palms, cacti and agave, the
bouganvillae, pines and blue - grey mountains all emphasised by the
distinct, clear, bright light.    
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday 17 October 2018

" Pefkos Sketchbook"






                                   Pages of  a workbook from the recent visit to Pefkos on
                                                       the Greek island of Rhodes.
                           

                                                                    
                                                 
                                                                              
The sketchbook is also a useful diary.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some spectacular sunsets
 

 
 

Tuesday 18 September 2018

" On The Beach"





                                                            hot golden sand


                              tiny fish dart at the water's edge at CHRISI AKTI BEACH

 
                                                                   sunbeds


                                                                   parasols


                                 a lizard scampers under the wooden slatted boardwalk  


                                                   and hides beneath the cactus shade         


                                                                  
 
"On The Beach"- Acrylic on canvas 12"x 12"
 
 
"There is no abstract art. You must always start with
something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality". - Pablo Picasso
 
 

Wednesday 12 September 2018

"Chania"



  
                                     The coastline and city of Chania on the island of Crete.


                                                                
                                       
                                          " Chania"  -  Acrylic on canvas  24" x  24"


                  





Tuesday 7 August 2018

" Lindos - Pink Sky "






                        The magnificent acropolis at Lindos on the Greek island of
                        Rhodes. Formed on the site of a 4th. century temple to Athena
                        Lindia and the castle, built in the 14th. century by the Knights of
                        St. John, against a pink evening sky, fronted by the white houses
                        that tumble down to the bay. 


                                                                  
 
" Lindos - Pink Sky"  - Acrylic on canvas 20" x 20"
 
 

Monday 23 July 2018

"Chania - Rough cut"






                          A "rough cut" for a possible acrylic painting in response to the
                         Chrisi Akti beach near Chania.
                                                         
                                                   Rough cut acrylic on board 5" x  2"


                         "Of all the arts, abstract painting is the most difficult. It demands
                         that you know how to draw well, that you have a heightened
                         sensitivity for composition and colour and that you be a true poet.
                        This last is essential. "  -

                                    Wassily Kandinsky
                           
                                         

"Road to Therissos"











                       Leaving behind the sleepy Cretan villages, deserted in the mid-day
                       heat. On through the orange groves towards the Therissos Gorge,
                      the "White Mountains" towering in the distance.
                                

                                                                    
                                           "Road to Therissos" - Acrylic on canvas 12" x 12"

Tuesday 3 July 2018

" Sea of Crete"







                          Warm, turquoise coloured water stretching out across the bay to
                          Chania the second largest city on the Greek island of Crete.
               
                         "The Sea of Crete" is located in the southern extremity of the
                          Aegean ,reaching from the North of the island to the East where
                          it joins the "Libyan Sea"   
                        

                                                                       
 
                                            "Sea of Crete" - Acrylic on canvas 20" x 20"

Monday 2 July 2018

Somerset gallery




                      As the warm sunny weather continues I paid a visit to the Andelli
                      art gallery near the city of Wells, Somerset, England.
                      Set within rolling countryside the gallery is sited within the home of
                      Ellie Jones, a former graphic designer and passionate collector.



                      The interior has a cool, modern feel that displays the artwork, both
                      contemporary and twentieth century, to best effect.

Gallery interior
 
                      The current exhibition, with only a few days left to run, is by the
                      late Somerset artist, Kate Noble. 

                                                                           
Current exhibition featuring the work of Kate Noble
 
With ongoing exhibitions and a planned "pop-up" exhibition in Bristol
England later this year, Andelli have found a unique way to bring affordable
   art to the public. Check out their website www.andelliart.com (hover mouse   
if website fails to appear due to white on black type )
 
Photographs courtesy of Andelli.               
 
      

Saturday 23 June 2018

"Reflections on Chania"





                      I'm looking out across the bay. The sun sparkling on the water and in the
                      distance the city of Chania appears in a blue mist in the afternoon sun. 

                                                                  
 
I'm staying just outside Chania at Agio Apostoli in North West Crete.
 
 
The local bus drops me in the square of the "Old Town" and I'm on a
short walk past the tourist shops and restaurants , heading towards the
picturesque Venetian harbour. I stop at a narrow alleyway set back from    
the road and enter a small courtyard leading to the Chania folk museum,
a peaceful haven away from the hustle and bustle of early evening Chania.
 
 
 
Entrance to the museum

 
 
 
Then,on to the harbour with the numerous restaurants and tavernas
busily trying to compete with each other for the tourist's custom.
The building though that captures my attention is the 17th. century
former mosque "Giali Tzamisi" or "mosque of the bay" which now houses
events and exhibitions.
 
"The Mosque at Chania"
 
 
At the entrance to the harbour stands the Chania lighthouse, over 500
years old and one of the oldest in the world.
 
 
 
A quiet spot away from the crowds!
 
 
 
 
A few days later I catch the quirky "roadtrain" that takes a
three hour trip towards the Therissos gorge. Wending our way
through the orange and olive groves and small villages, all the time
seeing, in the distance, the "White Mountains" so called because the
limestone gives an impression of snow-capped peaks.
 
"White Mountains"
 
Then on through the gorge with an abundance of grazing goats
until we reach the village of Therissos itself, stopping for a beer
and feta pastries.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday 22 June 2018

" Return to Crete"





                     A recent visit to the lovely Greek island of Crete. These are some small
                    acrylic on canvas "rough cut" paintings to be developed into final artwork.
                    A response to the light and landscape of the region of Chania.