Gauguin to my shed!

Well, it really has been a glorious autumnal day! And I have had a great day in the shed.!

I will begin at the beginning of this story!

Two weeks ago, I went to stay in my daughters flat in Luton. On the way, we met in London and went to the Paul Gauguin exhibition. It was truly inspirational. His use of colours, negative spaces, edges - everything that Clare Shepherd ever emphasises in class was there, shouting at me - see, this is how it is done! The beautiful vignettes of landscape seen beyond the figures, the way he shows how important in-between space is. Oh joy!




I also discovered Victor Pasmore, how has he ever elluded me? Amazing.

I think, like prints, I see these images and I know that I cannot do and do not have the capacity to create these visions. These are my perfect landscapes. Especially the top image, it has connections with every great landscape painter there ever was and is, yet it goes beyond to the clear and definitive essence of what it is. I cannot do that, I start putting too much in! I need to be hard on myself!

Sophie opened my eyes to Gerhard Richter, she saw other-wordly things in his paintings and now I will never look at the them in the old way!

So, we have just had half term. I cleaned my shed! I chucked out lots of things, rearranged, bought new shelves for the way-too-many books in there - and files. I sorted out all my pens and watercolour pencils and inks, well, I can now find everything and use it all!

I have an exhibition on at The Meeting House Arts Centre in Ilminster and tomorrow I am going to have a 'Meet the Artist' session! So I thought, rather than stand or sit there with nobody to talk to, I would do a large watercolour painting. But what shall I paint?


The autumnal colours have been so beautiful that I thought I would go out and search for a great spot! I found a site along the Stour next to the Hod and another between Durweston and Bryanston village, looking towards Blackfern Plantation. After looking at some of the beautiful pattern work of Victor Pasmore's drawings, I took a pen and intended to see the landscape as a pattern - but I quickly reverted to my old ways! I assure you I will try to do one like his at some point though.You can see that in the top left I began to make lines and then I became so intent on the landscape I forgot to continue in the same vein. It was wonderful to be out though.



On return to shed, I put Smetana's Ma Vlast No2 on, very loud! I poured some water onto a sheet of watercolour paper, sharpened my pencils over it, hence little dots and set to, using all my newly discovered watercolour pencils, I now have an image to work from tomorrow when I want to create a large scale watercolour. I will let you know how it goes, but I hope I do not get too many people now!! I want to work, work, work!

Janet's little works of art!

Janet.

Aqua Aerobics teacher, Potter extroadinaire, yet another giggler, a little sponge, she soaks everything up, an absolutely delightful lady!


'Tops and bottoms coming off in the water with all the effort. . . we will go home very fit, or fit to drop!' (JPL)

As I have said before, Janet really was puzzled by what to do, her first pastel still life was very vibrant, but then she got 'stuck' in herself and I had to guide her into the path of 'TRY,TRY,TRY!!' and she did! It does not show up very well, I will try and get a better image, but her colourful bridge, continuous line drawing, next to the still life, worked very well. I did try to encourage Janet to go even larger, but once she had discovered her little works there was no diverting her!

Rosie's paintings

Rosie's adventures in Normandy!


A real 'Girl's own' spirit! A ride to the village for breakfast on the bikes, a giggler, Morecombe and wise impressions, naughty but nice and worked very hard. I think Rosie enjoyed herself!!





Rosie is a great little watercolourist and although she found some of the subjects challenging, she ploughed on - pushing herself to improve.

A still life, from the first day when it rained.





Apologies to Rosie, for quality of some of the photos.

Sandy's paintings.

Sandy's pictures.

Sandy is a whizz, always helping and running around after us all, a real team member. Never too busy to lay the table and always has just the right colour in her kit. Sandy also gave us the most hilarious evening. All I can possibly say is 'Pampas Grass'.


Sandy is probably best known as our Abstract Acrylic Artist. She studied textiles and you can see materials emerging from her paint pallette, along with the stitching as she carefully places one colour against another.


On the first full day, Sandy, rather than doing a still life, took herself off to the Table tennis shed at the side of the building. She began by looking to her left and throughout the day moved 45 degrees to a different section, hence the light changes. The completed panel, about a metre by 75cm, is reminiscent of a John Piper. Sandy says it is not finished! We think it is Sandy!






The Bridge at Hambye.




A corner of La Baleine.

Again, Sandy finds a little niche to paint in and considers her composition too. It does look like as though it is woven in places.

Diana's paintings.

Diana's paintings.

Diana has the most contagious laugh and was a wonderful companion to us all. Determined to improve and work hard, she had goals and achieved them.





La Germiniere, continuous line drawing.



The bridge in Hambye. Diana's first Oil.


And the finished painting - beautiful Diana.


The back of L'Abbaye d'Hambye.
A beautiful watercolour study - Turneresque Diana!


On the first saturday it rained - so I rearranged the house to have a couple of still life's. This was a n old machine from the Dining room.
Lovely sketch.
The fields at the side of the house. Diana was beginning to look at composition and how she could include foreground subjects.



Le Jardin de Plantes Botanique, Coutances. What a glorious hot day this was and super paintings produced. So much to consider.




Last day - at La Baleine, a difficult subject, the mill. Great shadows give it atmosphere. I believe Diana has completed about three more since this one, I will update you on the finished item/s!