The Yorkshire Dales is of course in Yorkshire and has been a source of inspiration for artists from all over the world for many years. I have been privileged to follow in their footsteps many times. I love the Dales particularly the high fells to the north. The old saying is - "If you can't see the hills - it's raining and if you can see the hills - it's going to rain!" or in Yorkshire - "If tha can't see t'ills - it's chuckin' it darn an' if tha can see t'ills - it's barna chuck it darn!" (spellchecker has blown a fuse!). We had been walking near Kettlewell and on this particular day, it certainly did 'chuck it darn'. We sheltered under some welcome trees until the heavy shower passed over. It was dark under the canopy but the light reflected in the puddles illuminated the gloom and when the sun eventually did break through, the road was bathed in a dazzling glow. I did make a very quick sketch but the painting was done in my nice dry studio at home. Are you ready for the little tale now. Well at that time I had a little studio/gallery in Easingwold. This painting was exhibited for some weeks and a young lady visited it several times. We got talking and she said she loved it but couldn't afford it. Anyway a few weeks later I was closing down the gallery to move to the East Coast and bigger things. On the last day before I closed I was packing and getting things ready for the move. The lady came in. She had heard I was moving and was visiting to see the painting for one last time. She explained that she had been through a very traumatic divorce. Things had been very hard for her cope with. She was in a dark place as they say. "But" she said" when I look at this painting it always makes me feel better and that there is light at the end of the tunnel." Oh what could I do? The same as you would have done of course- I told her it was her lucky day and offered a knock down price to cover the framing costs. After lots of protestations she eventually accepted my offer and it was quite moving to see how happy this painting had made her feel. The real reward of art - to create an emotional response in the viewer. I'm glad the painting inspired her and hope she did eventually reach her light at the end of the tunnel. And the moral of the story - one man's rainy day is one lady's hope after despair.
.......but not for everyone! This is the latest in my series - 'Every Painting tells Story'. But you will have to patient to find out what the lovely little tale is. I hope that has whetted your curiosity a bit but first - every Yorkshireman (and Yorkshirewoman too I must add!) knows that we are fortunate to live in the most beautiful place on the planet. And now, what we have always known is becoming accepted by everybody else with the possible exception of anyone born in Lancashire! If you don't believe me please follow this link to a news item from the BBC no less. Go on have a look.
The Yorkshire Dales is of course in Yorkshire and has been a source of inspiration for artists from all over the world for many years. I have been privileged to follow in their footsteps many times. I love the Dales particularly the high fells to the north. The old saying is - "If you can't see the hills - it's raining and if you can see the hills - it's going to rain!" or in Yorkshire - "If tha can't see t'ills - it's chuckin' it darn an' if tha can see t'ills - it's barna chuck it darn!" (spellchecker has blown a fuse!). We had been walking near Kettlewell and on this particular day, it certainly did 'chuck it darn'. We sheltered under some welcome trees until the heavy shower passed over. It was dark under the canopy but the light reflected in the puddles illuminated the gloom and when the sun eventually did break through, the road was bathed in a dazzling glow. I did make a very quick sketch but the painting was done in my nice dry studio at home. Are you ready for the little tale now. Well at that time I had a little studio/gallery in Easingwold. This painting was exhibited for some weeks and a young lady visited it several times. We got talking and she said she loved it but couldn't afford it. Anyway a few weeks later I was closing down the gallery to move to the East Coast and bigger things. On the last day before I closed I was packing and getting things ready for the move. The lady came in. She had heard I was moving and was visiting to see the painting for one last time. She explained that she had been through a very traumatic divorce. Things had been very hard for her cope with. She was in a dark place as they say. "But" she said" when I look at this painting it always makes me feel better and that there is light at the end of the tunnel." Oh what could I do? The same as you would have done of course- I told her it was her lucky day and offered a knock down price to cover the framing costs. After lots of protestations she eventually accepted my offer and it was quite moving to see how happy this painting had made her feel. The real reward of art - to create an emotional response in the viewer. I'm glad the painting inspired her and hope she did eventually reach her light at the end of the tunnel. And the moral of the story - one man's rainy day is one lady's hope after despair.
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.......but for who? Merice and I were enjoying an evening stroll on Sewerby Cliffs near where we are fortunate to live. Below us a strange scene was being enacted. A young couple were obviously having their wedding photographs taken on the beach. There was a small crowd of people in attendance including the photographer and he had the couple strike various poses as the tide was rolling in. The scene was so irresistibly romantic that I knew I'd have to paint it. I finished the painting and we decided to find out who the couple were. So we used the power of the press to help us....and they did! The happy couple turned up at my gallery. They loved the painting and bought some prints of it for their family and friends to keep. We decided to present the original painting to them as a wedding gift. Recently we met up with them again. They now have a family and it was very nice to see them so happy together.
.....READ ALL ABOUT IT! Now how can a tree help save lives? Well this is another in my 'painting with a story' series. It could be argued that all paintings have a story of their own and I would have to agree, but some stories are more interesting than others - I hope this is one such. A couple of years ago we met a lovely young lady through Facebook called Sally Outram. She is a freelance press photographer who has also found the time to write and have a series of books published as well as being a full time mum and - dare we mention it- - grandma (though she doesn't look old enough!). ![]() Sally lives in Retford in Nottinghamshire and posted this lovely photograph of a scene near where she lives. I was immediately struck by the composition and the light. With the church in the background, a scattering of sheep and this magnificent tree, I thought this was a perfect scene typifying England in winter. I asked her for permission to paint it and she agreed to let me have a go. I made a few little additions for my painting - highlighted the church, a nice little cottage and even a strolling couple so I could include footprints to lead you in. So now to answer the question. How did this lone tree help save lives? Well Sally and I pooled our efforts and auctioned the photo and painting as a pair to raise money for the Bridlington branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. Incredibly this vital service depends entirely on public support and the bravery of its volunteers to keep our seas and coasts safe for us to enjoy. So we were very pleased indeed to raise £300 which we handed over to Chris on behalf of the RNLI here in Bridlington today. So thanks to Sally for making all this possible and special thanks to the staff and crew of the Bridlington Lifeboat for all that they do.
...or in this case sheep! Everybody knows that you don't take coal to Newcastle. Well certainly not when the saying was first coined you didn't - Newcastle was a main port for the whole of the vast north east coalfield, so it didn't need anymore! But what's that got to do with a painting of some sheep? All will be revealed. The painting was inspired by an early evening stroll through Blackgate woods near Easingwold in North Yorkshire. It had been a hot day and we were enjoying the shade from the trees. Of course we were not the only ones. The sheep too were enjoying a respite from the heat. At the time I had a small studio/gallery in Easingwold so the painting was displayed for sale . A lady came in and bought it for a good price so naturally I was very pleased. She explained that she was emigrating to New Zealand in a few weeks time and would be taking the painting with her. Now as far as I know New Zealand has more sheep than people so I laughingly suggested it was a bit like 'taking coal to Newcastle'. "Ah. but," she replied, " these are Yorkshire sheep and every time I look at them I'll be reminded of where I come from." So a touching story and I hope it has given her very many happy memories of God's own county.
If you divert from Woldgate and head up the track towards the Boynton Folly, you come across this delightful view over the bay towards Barmston. I was really inspired by the clouds and the contrast between their cool grays and the warm tones of the partly harvested barley - a lovely picture. ![]() As a landscape painter I became interested in the shapes of different clouds and how they affected a painting. I recognised very early on in my painting journey that the sky sets the tone of the rest of the painting, and if you get it right there is every chance the painting will finish up 'right'. I paint 'big' skies and do them quickly but that does not mean I have not taken care with them. In fact I take great care in working out exactly what I want before I start. Of course I work in watercolour so there is always an element of chance but when it works - does it work! The effects can be spectacular. I paint the basic colours with a wash brush but use a chisel brush for the darker shadows and always, always paint very 'wet on wet'.Here's a selection of cloud detail from my portfolio. I was surprised just how colourful some of them are! If you click on the image you will be able to see the whole painting. ....but where? There a lots of small villages straddling the main road between Scarborough and Thirsk. One of these small hamlets is called Brompton by Sawdon. You might easily drive through and think this is a pretty but unremarkable village. You would be wrong. The more observant will have noticed an interesting claim on the signs at both ends of the village. Under Brompton the sign reads - "Birthplace of Aviation".
Now I always thought of the Wright brothers as the the founders of aviation but I should have known better. The father of aviation was .....a Yorkshireman of course - Sir George Cayley by name. He is credited with the first major breakthrough in heavier-than-air flight and he worked over half a century before the development of powered flight, being acknowledged by the Wright brothers. He designed the first actual model of an aeroplane and also diagrammed the elements of vertical flight. So there you are, 50 years before the Wright brothers, this Yorkshireman from Brompton by Sawdon had already designed and flown an aircraft....follow the link if you don't believe me - you will be amazed at what this man did - I was. I have to admit though that I was more captivated by this crystal clear stream bathed in soft summer light. My viewpoint might make it appear I was stood in the middle but no - the stream turns sharply so I was high and dry on the right hand bank. You might think that one famous man and this wonderful view would be quite sufficient for such a small village but there's more.Why did I quote those famous lines as the title of this piece? Well guess what....William Wordsworth married Mary Hutchinson on the 4th October 1802 in All Saints' church situated in the village of.......yup..Brompton by Sawdon. It's true - you can see a copy of the marriage certificate in the church. I dare say that Sir George attended the ceremony unless he was off flying or inventing! I have certainly enjoyed finding out more about this unassuming place as well as being inspired by its beauty. .....and SHOWERS! Last year I ran a couple of workshops at the Ship Inn in Sewerby. Yes - imagine that - a workshop in a pub! The only thing that could be better than painting is....painting with a pint! Seriously folks - landlady Louise is a keen painter herself and attended a couple of the sessions. Sadly on this occasion she was on the wrong side of the bar for her...but not for us. She kindly laid on great facilities outdoors under a covered veranda with drinks ( of the tea and coffee variety of course.. shame on you..what else did you think?) on hand all day and a delicious lunch to fortify the inner man and woman. Yes even artists have to eat. It was a typical early Summer's day - a bit blustery but quite warm and certainly very comfortable under our sheltered area. We went for a stroll first - sketchbooks in hand - and meandered on top of the cliffs and round Sewerby Park and cricket ground (one of the most scenic in England). With sketches complete and inspiration calling we retired to our base for the day to start painting. My eye had been caught by the billowing clouds over the bay and before lunch I got the first washes done. Following a convivial hour eating and well yes...drinking, we returned to work (?). Good job I had made a start and good job we had done our 'stroll and sketch' - it 'chucked' it down in the afternoon. That is a Yorkshire saying meaning it rained very hard. But we were high and dry (outside if not in!) and enjoyed finishing our paintings - all in all - a very enjoyable and satisfying experience. Many thanks to Louise for letting us use her pub and we look forward to visiting again soon. Here's a few photos taken by Merice to give you a flavour of the day: I will be conducting a series of courses and workshops over the next twelve months - please get in touch for full details.
...........At The Spa, Bridlington during October 2014 Throughout the whole of October 2014 "Double Vision" will be showing at The Spa, Bridlington. It will feature the work of myself and Merice Ewart Marshall (who happens to be my good lady!). It gives us an opportunity to share our vision of Yorkshire through paintings and photographs. We have already started work on the project and are very much looking forward to it. We have both been involved in many exhibitions but this is the first time we have done such a large scale one by ourselves, and though a bit daunting it is very exciting. This is a painting that is provisionally earmarked for the exhibition next year. I was inspired by a recent walk on Bempton Cliffs. The arch is there but I have altered the view slightly (actually a lot) for artistic effect. I added the little cottage to give an idea of the scale of the steep cliffs. But the question is ....will it feature next year or not? We will have to wait and see. The only way to find out for sure is to come and see us there. I will be holding a couple of workshops and demos throughout the month and will give more details when the dates are finalised.
Who do you think is England's greatest ever painter? My recent blog about John Constable produced a lot of comments and many people might choose him as this country's greatest ever painter. But probably, like me, another name springs to mind immediately - Joseph Mallord William Turner. Turner may not have been the most pleasant man to know - apparently his manners were rough and his conversation brusque at times. He treated his long suffering mistress very unkindly and left her very little provision in his will despite her devotion over many years. And yet when this man picked up a brush something magical happened - he was transformed into a painter of light unsurpassed to this day. It was said that he made his watercolours look like oils and his oils look like watercolours. Especially in his later years his paintings took on a shimmering exposition of dazzling light and its effects. When I was painting my 'Inspiration' series it was inevitable that he would be included. The painting above was done as a competition entry. Norham Castle was a favourite source of inspiration for him and he painted it many times. I thought this was a watercolour as it is so light and fluid but no it is an oil painting done probably from memory and never finished. When you try and paint in the style of someone your admiration for their genius grows even more and this was certainly the case with me. This is my 'Turner' gallery and I enjoyed painting each one. "Turner's York" was an interesting challenge as it was based on an original sketch by the great man that he never painted. It was included in "Turner in the North" a book by David Hill. He kindly gave me permission to use the sketch for my painting. It was a typical Turner scene - the viewpoint doesn't exist! He sketched the bridge from a boat in the river and then stood on the bridge to add the minster. Then he put the two together to make a composite drawing of the essence of the City of York - brilliant. I'll finish with a print of simply the most exquisite little watercolour I have ever seen and yes....you have already guessed who it is by...so I give you the original "Blue Rigi": Keeps your feet firmly on the ground doesn't it?
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AuthorProfessional artist now semi retired and enjoying being eccentric! Archives
October 2022
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