For many a portrait artist, the main inspiration is light. The beauty of a great painting is often found in the artist’s study of chiaroscuro. Take portrait artist Rembrandt for example, Vermeer & Monet, too. They all depicted light in their own way but what remains constant is that the lighting within their paintings is often the first most striking element pulling us in to look further.
It took some time. We had a plan, but it’s surprisingly hard to get enough consecutive days of similar autumnal weather. High up in the Alps on the Axe Apollon – Saint-Michel where every side of each peak has its own micro-climate.
Finally, just before I need to head to Wales again we get a window.
Getting to know Elizabeth Lamarche: I first met Elizabeth whilst attending the Charles Cecil studios in Florence 6 years ago. We studied together, painting portraits, drawing the figure. Immersing ourselves, along with the other students in all that Florence has to offer. It really is a unique experience that provides each artist with...
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Ged does Sign writing in London. He has his own high street shop in London; the ‘Luminor Sign Co.’ His sign writing can be seen all around London, brightening shop fronts and bringing life to brick walls about the city.
Georges Lambert is a talented jeweller, living and working in the Center of Geneva, a city more known for the number of Swiss banks, Lake Léman and high street shopping. Georges offers a welcome contrast to this, making handmade jewellery in his small atelier at the heart of the old town. I sat down and had a chat with Georges to find out how this all came about, what inspires him and what sets his works apart from the rest.
Champery was the first Swiss mountain resorts I ever visited. Back when I was racing mountain bikes at about 19 years of age I had stopped by on a road trip with some friends. After visiting for a week or so I knew I wanted to come back again. Skip 3 years and I was working as a ski instructor for the Freeride ski school in Champery.
For Centuries artist have been fascinated in painting people, the face, the self portrait and figures. Life is constant inspiration and portrait painting is something I do firstly for myself. I try to paint exactly what I want, whatever inspires me at the time.
Honeycomb Marquees provide handmade traditional marquees for all sorts of events in the UK. With humble beginnings, starting off in the living room, followed by lots of hard work they have grown and flourished. They now have their own small business and retain all the qualities they started out with.
You might not think that a bespoke bicycle and painting have much to do with each other, but this bike changes everything. I have been painting ‘en plein air‘ for a few years with an idea in the back of my mind. Often painting in the mountains I would would arrive at the top, tired and wishing I could stay and start another canvas without having to walk back down, then up again.
This post is for those of you who would like to get to grips with sun thickened linseed oil and the other forms in which linseed oil is available for us to use as artists.
To begin painting in the Swiss Alps I first need to get there with all my stuff. This time I take the train, with a pair of skis , 3 canvasses, my backpack and a large roller bag. Then finally from Sierre I hop on the funicular, then finally a bus to my destination.
Katharine, My very creative Neighbour and friend is as country as you can get, and in a good way! In her own words, Katherine would say she was an Amateur DIY-ist. So why and HOW did she end up building her own beautiful straw-bale house with a timber frame, and then go on to run her own indie fibre business from home.
I met Anja Dunk through 'howies' clothing. A while back now, I raced mountain bikes and spent a lot of time travelling. At this point I was sponsored by a Welsh clothing company called howies. Each year the riders, skaters & surfers sponsored by howies would get invited for a...
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Painting Pembrokeshire is on my radar but I need to wait for the weather to agree with my plans. I can’t believe it’s taken me two years to put all these paintings together. With my largest welsh exhibition on the horizon things are getting exciting now.
A Welsh Prince built Powis Castle in the thirteenth century. Following the end of the Welsh Wars (1282) and for his loyalty to Edward I, the King permitted Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn to begin building Powis Castle circa 1283.
This whole idea was spurred on by an old refurbished victorian frame I recently bought that had some lovely detailing with an oval window in the centre. It had been lying around, waiting for me to paint a portrait that would fit.
Over the course of painting this new exhibition I have decided to change the name, so what started as ‘Painting the Welsh coast’ will now become ‘ North – South, A very Welsh Exhibition’. This is Mostly due to the fact that whilst at the coast I began venturing in land. I couldn’t resist. There are so many fantastic places to visit throughout Wales.
A painting often reveals more than is given away at first glance. We can perhaps learn more about an artist by looking at their process, than if we were to see a finished piece.
