Contemporary, portrait, landscape, painting, best, top ten, paintings, oil, artist, artists, gallery, life, figure, graphite, sketch, Snowdonia, drawings, pencil, Art, geometry, composition, Master, Masterpiece, Welsh, Wales
At the risk of boring you I thought I'd show you my 'official' photo from the Ten of Us exhibition. It was taken by Ted Bates, one of the artists on show.
We each, all ten of us, had a similar space.
We each, all ten of us, had a similar space.
N.B., Click on images to zoom.
The first five pictures were all painted around the Ogwen waterfall area in Snowdonia. . .
'Waterfall in February'
Oil on Panel
This shows the road bridge on the left, and what I think of as the middle part of the Ogwen Waterfall. I love the variety of shapes and textures that the landscape has. And the way that the picture almost composes itself, because of the sweep of the fall, from left to right.
(This image shows the painting almost complete. After taking this photograph of the painting I did some more work in the foreground).
'Ogwen, Rock, Waterfall'
Oil on Panel
Here is the top part of the waterfall. It was in this section of the falls that I stood, like a putz, drawing, in the middle of the river, (which was frozen solid), a few winters ago.
I now have permanent chilblains for my trouble. (Oh, how we suffer for our art!).
I now have permanent chilblains for my trouble. (Oh, how we suffer for our art!).
'Ogwen Waterfall'
Oil on Panel
And this is the same section of the waterfall. Painting the water in such a picture is very challenging. Trying to draw it correctly whilst retaining the effect of movement is tricky.
In this case I painted most of the rocks beneath the water first, let them dry, and then applied the oil paint (with a little more medium), using a rough hog hair brush, and pushing the brush upwards, rather than with a downward movement.
In this case I painted most of the rocks beneath the water first, let them dry, and then applied the oil paint (with a little more medium), using a rough hog hair brush, and pushing the brush upwards, rather than with a downward movement.
'Landscape with Pines'
Oil on Panel
The composition is unusual in this painting in that the picture is divided, diagonally, in half.
'Landscape with Pines (detail)'
Oil on Panel
This is a small detail, from the last painting. It's funny how sometimes just small parts of paintings become one's favourites; in this case I think these trees, (painted largely with a 00000 sable) work well.
'View Down the Valley, Snowdonia'
Oil on Panel
This view is taken from the same position as 'Waterfall in February', above, but looking in the opposite direction. Sometimes it is interesting to look downwards when painting so that the picture, as here, shows no horizon or sky. It's really a study in texture.
. . . . and the final painting depicts the valley which leads down to Blaenau Ffestiniog in the Snowdonia National Park.
'View Towards the Coast'
Oil on Panel
The first time I showed this picture a chap, who was wandering round the museum, and who turned out to be a geologist, gave me a really well-informed run-down on the rocks in the middle foreground, their dating, geological period, how they were formed, etc.
It was all news to me. I felt somewhat gormless, being so ignorant, but comforted myself with the thought that at least the rocks were painted accurately enough that he recognised them!
It was all news to me. I felt somewhat gormless, being so ignorant, but comforted myself with the thought that at least the rocks were painted accurately enough that he recognised them!
quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz “details, details............” quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz
Here's another decorative passage, any idea who painted it?
(The answer will be in the next posting.)
And here's the answer from the last posting -
'The Lady of Shalot'.
by John William Waterhouse, 1888, Tate Britain
quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz “details, details............” quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz
"Drawing is the artist's most direct and spontaneous expression, a species of writing: it reveals, better than does painting, his true personality."
Edgar Degas
. . and now, a Recommended Read . .
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Music
Click here to find a few songs on YouTube, and I'll add more as time goes by.
Music
Beyond painting, my other preoccupation is music - particularly songwriting.
I've recently started, just for fun, linking the two preoccupations together, by featuring a few paintings along with one of my recorded songs. If you have a spare minute, you're welcome to take a look. . .
These songs can also be found on (and downloaded from) iTunes, Spotify, CDBaby, and many other platforms, - (my intention is to upload a different song each month)
Also in the last period I've been recording some songs with some friends - have a listen here if you have the time.
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12 Rules For Life
Published by Allen Lane
Published by Allen Lane
Very, very interesting. Peterson has become very well known because of his courageous stance against the very silly legislation in Canada which compels citizens to use certain words. As he points out this is close to the 1984 thought crime laws.
His book is an exploration of the seemingly simple guidelines by which we can become a more competent person and therefore more effective as a social citizen. It sounds a bit 'do-goodie' but it is wonderfully researched and argued, and is much tougher than one initially surmises.
His book is an exploration of the seemingly simple guidelines by which we can become a more competent person and therefore more effective as a social citizen. It sounds a bit 'do-goodie' but it is wonderfully researched and argued, and is much tougher than one initially surmises.
What are the most valuable things that everyone should know?
Acclaimed clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson has influenced the modern understanding of personality, and now he has become one of the world's most popular public thinkers, with his lectures on topics from the Bible to romantic relationships to mythology drawing tens of millions of viewers. In an era of unprecedented change and polarizing politics, his frank and refreshing message about the value of individual responsibility and ancient wisdom has resonated around the world.
Acclaimed clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson has influenced the modern understanding of personality, and now he has become one of the world's most popular public thinkers, with his lectures on topics from the Bible to romantic relationships to mythology drawing tens of millions of viewers. In an era of unprecedented change and polarizing politics, his frank and refreshing message about the value of individual responsibility and ancient wisdom has resonated around the world.
In this book, he provides twelve profound and practical principles for how to live a meaningful life, from setting your house in order before criticising others to comparing yourself to who you were yesterday, not someone else today. Happiness is a pointless goal, he shows us. Instead we must search for meaning, not for its own sake, but as a defence against the suffering that is intrinsic to our existence.
Drawing on vivid examples from his clinical practice and personal life, cutting edge psychology and philosophy, and lessons from humanity's oldest myths and stories, Peterson takes the reader on an intellectual journey like no other. Gripping, thought-provoking and deeply rewarding, 12 Rules for Lifeoffers an antidote to the chaos in our lives: eternal truths applied to our modern problems.
Review from Amazon.
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