Nude in Sinsins

We're having a private view evening at Sinsins Lovestore on Wednesday 1st February from 6.30pm. Come along for a glass of wine and a chat with me! You can admire my pictures and take a peek at all the seductive gadgets in the store. I'm not entirely sure what they all do but Martin is very happy to explain if you'd like to know! There should be lots of interesting folk turning up and we hope to make some plans for fun Sinsins events in the future.

Nude portraits

Liz

As part of my show at Sinsins in Norwich I'm offering portraits as Valentine presents. The commissions I've done have all gone well and some of the sitters have gone on to become models, as they enjoyed the experience so much. I can usually create something lovely in a few hours but I'm prepared to meet again with the sitter if necessary, to ensure they get a picture they're delighted with. Charcoal drawings and watercolour sketches don't take long to produce so most of the time is spent learning to see the sitter and finding a pose for them. Get in touch if you'd like to be drawn!

Art meets Passion!

Voluptuous

Out of the blue... I was invited to show my work in Sinsins Lovestore, Norwich. I met with Martin who owns the shop and liked his open approach to our human needs! I also liked his eagerness to do it now so I returned the next day and hung 14 pictures amongst his imaginative collection of sex gadgets. For once, my frank and open work looked rather tame amongst the erotic packaging of his goods! I was amazed at how busy the Lovestore was and the wide range of customers happily browsing and buying. Martin is very keen on my pictures and wants more, pushing the boundaries and laying on events and activities in the store. So first up is a Valentine's Day Nude demonstration of drawing on Saturday 11th February. Not quite sure what it will be yet but there'll be lots of showing off!

Inspiration for 2012

Beer bottle

I often get inspired by the work of other artists and want to have a go at doing something similar. My wife surprised me with a book on Robert Mapplethorpe for Christmas. I've always liked his pictures and am now very impressed with his approach. He was so honest and open about what was important to him. He saw beauty in things most people find repulsive, and bravely presented his admiration in a frank and stylish manner. He loved the dangerous side of nature, and most of his images have an underlying darkness and this suggestion of another world, beneath the surface. I like this idea and plan to explore it myself. I'd like to try to bring a suggestion of fantasy into my pictures and try to be honest about what excites me. This drawing was an attempt, as I thought the beer bottle might suggest something dark and dangerous. However it came out looking rather sleepy and reflective! Pretty similar to many of my other drawings. This might be harder than I thought!

Little sketchpads

A Portrait

Last week my friend Judith showed me how she makes books. It's remarkably satisfying to do and makes me feel like a craftsman! I can now make lovely little sketchpads in whatever format I fancy. I made myself another watercolour pad in a longer format, which is just right for capturing the figure. This is the first painting in the new book and it sets a high standard to follow! I've always liked this composition for female portraits and this is one of the best I've done. As always the picture is about the moment of drawing, the evening and the connection with the model. Lots of variables but when it all gels this is what happens! I can only look on with wonder and hope it happens again.

When the Show is over

Moving contour drawing

We didn't have many visitors to our exhibition, which was disappointing. No pictures sold but Becky Brown sold 5 of her sculptures, which shows how appealing they are. We did get lots of enthusiastic comments from those who came and many people gave their details for future life drawing events. The evening workshop went well despite my packing in an ambitious amount of lessons! Since packing away the pictures I've really enjoyed drawing for pleasure again. Not trying to achieve anything or develop ideas. Just enjoying that state of simple looking and the feeling of wonder at the beauty of the body. I've done a few contours of the body gently moving and like the intense but delicate scribbles that appear on the paper. I'm wondering how to develop these results into paintings. Not just stylised abstracts but something that conveys my fascination...

Life Drawing in Norfolk

Charcoal gesture drawing

My son and his girlfriend worked hard, helping me hang 35 pictures in about 3 hours on Friday. Thank you! It would have been near impossible without the help! The exhibition looks great but we haven't had many visitors. As always, quite a few artists turn out to view the nudes and we discuss life drawing! They appreciate the pictures because they know how difficult it is to capture the subtle beauty of the figure. I enjoy teaching life drawing and I'm good at showing people how to look properly and how to relish such a wonderful subject! I'm running two classes in life drawing. The first is in the gallery on Friday 18th, 7 to 9pm and can be booked through the Arts Centre on 01553 764864. The second is an all day workshop at the Granary Theatre in Wells on Sunday 4th December. Contact me to book or for more information.