A visit to the motherland in Summer

The shock to the system between a very cool and grey 17deg C in Southern England and lots of showers and 40degC in Murcia certainly has an impact on one's creative juices. One week's efforts as follows then - Dorset heath has a great ape rescue centre which I had never visited before. Despite the grey and the rain I loved it - and hated it.

"Grooming"

I live in Spain but many of these lovely interesting apes had been spanish photographer props on the costas. Hopefully there arent any photographers practising this behaviour any more - and if they are you should report them.

"Orang-utan in a british rainforest!"

"Shades of grey " Poole beach on a Saturday in July

"Green green grass"

Two flower watercolours - this week's work:

Study of rhododendrons at Exbury gardens, Hampshire, England, 11" x 6"



Interpretation of pansies in an English cottage garden "12 x10"

Four small oils

Small skyscape in oils of a November sky here in Murcia in November - just the one almond tree standing proud in this light.
Again, an oil painting on a small canvas from a scene on the North Yorkshire moors captured as a photo some years ago. Loved those skies...
This is one of my first real attempts with oil pastels. Subject matter is a fishing boat - from a photo taken in Crete some years ago - which I loved - it was the reflected lines in the water.

This is my second attempt at this still life in oils on a canvas 13" x 10". Cluttered up first version so took out a whole item and reconnected the whole with the orange on the right hand side. Much better...

Aguilas Artist

Last night I went to the inauguracion (Private showing) of Aguilas artist and professore Rafael Meca. This exhibition is about countryside (Paisages). I liked it actually - not everything - but I liked the fresh perspective and a certain abstraction on what is clearly his new work, the colour palette and its tonal qualities and scrafitti. Not so keen on the three dimensional application of wood for fences etc.

However my partner said 'I like yours more'. Very gratifying I' m sure but just not true. I am still struggling to have my own perspective and I have only been learning for three or four years.

But it is true what my current teacher says - every picture has a potential buyer - its just a case of marrying them up.

I am still struggling with the concept of commerciality - what exactly is this. Should the artist be working from this perspective in this day and age? Or just painting from the heart and head.

Oh well heigh ho - off to my drawing class....

First foray into the arts side...

My family despair I think... I sometimes overstretch myself and what I am up to. Cant help that - and this blog will eventually settle down to show these various activities and interests as a cohesive whole I hope.
I am at present preparing to be part of an exhibition of painters in my local town of Puerto Lumbreras in September. I come late to this side of my personality and I dont know what kind of artist or media I like. What I do like is to use my own photos or ideas and try and express them in an appropriate medium. Mostly this is watercolour ( this is a watercolour of Velez Rubio)
but having said that I am attempting an oil painting of Ivan Cervantes, motor cycling enduro champion of Spain (MEXX 2007). At the same time I have some photos going into a spanish expat collection about to go to press.









One of these is a Puerto Lumbreras photo of a bridge just built to connect the old town to the more modern part.



"Connected" Puerto Lumbreras, Murcia, Spain





I am also involved in publicising the book I authored last year "Going Native in Alicante" so dont be surprised to find some of the critiques that come out on that too...

At the same time I am seriously into my other new blog www.suevista.blogspot.com which is concerned with aspects of the European garden and gardening. So follow me where you will and I hope you will find something to enjoy orset you thinking.