Wednesday, March 21, 2012

micro-paintings

oil on board 18cmx12cm
oil on board 18cmx12cm

These small paintings are done very quickly on the spot, maybe 10 or 15 minutes, and then I don't mess with them in the studio.  I have taken to working on quite strongly coloured grounds.  It gives something for the other colours to bounce off, and sometimes generates interesting combinations that I wouldn't have thought of .   I can exploit those effects in other, larger, pieces.  Again, these are painted within a hundred meters of the house.  It saves time wondering around trying to find a subject - the subject is the painting.

Monday, March 19, 2012

etching

hard ground etching, 2012


I have been working on a series of etchings, drawings and paintings of places in or close to Les Bassacs.  No particular goal in mind - just recording, looking and thinking.  I make the etchings back in the studio from drawings,  photographs and memory.  I make them the old fashioned way, on zinc mostly, etched in nitric acid.


oil on board, 2012


The paintings I have been starting in situ, and and then working on them in the studio.  I have also been making postcard-sized paintings on board, quickly and in one go just trying to grab an image and not kill it.  I'll post some of those another time.