Blog Posts

O ME MISERUM!.....

8/6/2019

.....or mistakes, mishaps and bird poo!

Knowing that you, my regular readers, are a very intelligent bunch I thought I'd impress you with a bit of Latin. I got an 'O' Level GSCE in Latin which I must say has been very useful throughout my working life......yeah right. It means "woe is me!" in English or "bugger it!" in Yorkshire. The reasons for my dismay are twofold. Against my better judgement I submitted to exhibit in the Wolds Open which is held at the Pocklington Art Centre. It's a good venue and seemed like a good idea at the time so I was pleasantly surprised when they accepted two of my paintings for the show. I was sent full details of what's what including delivery times. Somehow I managed to get mixed up with the dates and ended up missing the deadline for delivery of said paintings for the show. This means that 'Wild Roses on the Wolds' will definitely not be in the exhibition. Now you will rightly dismiss that as not bad luck but neglect on my part to which I gladly hold up my hand.
However my second cause for dismay is definitely not down to me. When I went into my studio yesterday I found a baby starling. It had somehow managed to get trapped in there overnight.It was obviously terrified but as soon as I opened a window it flew off seemingly none the worse for the experience probably heading post haste for the fat balls on our bird table. However it did leave behind one or two (or three or four) reminders of my unasked for hospitality. I'm sure you can already guess where one of these little mementos ended up. Yup...slap bang in the centre of a recently finished painting waiting to be framed. I can absolutely confirm that watercolour paint does not react well with bird droppings. Ah well perhaps the starling was just 'sharing' its opinion of the painting. Back in the studio today if I dare. See you soon.

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Hedgerows on a Road to Rudston

27/5/2019

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'Hedgerows on a road to Rudston'

I have said it before and will gladly say it again. The Yorkshire Wolds is a delightful place to live. Unlike its more famous cousins – the Dales and the Moors – it is still unspoiled, peaceful and quiet. One of its many features is the miles of winding single track roads that meander through undulating valleys and Wolds. At this time of year the hedgerows burst into life. It almost seems as if it happens overnight. Suddenly the trees are resplendent in full foliage and the hedgerows are an extravaganza of flowers and plants in vibrant colours. All this of course makes for happy times if you are a painter.
This is one of many little roads that head towards the village of Rudston and beyond. It was an absolute joy to paint. I used my usual six colours and wanted to portray the sheer dazzling exuberance of nature in springtime. I painted quickly and joyously just enjoying the whole experience rather than concentrating on the finished piece.
There are miles and miles of these scenes waiting to be explored and I look forward to seeing you here. Don’t all come at once though – we cherish the tranquillity of the fabulous Yorkshire Wolds!

Explore the Hockney Trail here

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Art, Artists....and Wine!

19/5/2019

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"Lifting Mist at Trough House"

I am heading for St Mark's Church in Scarborough tonight. Both Merice and I have submitted a piece as part of a Community Art Project to be held all next week at the Church. As well as paintings a whole host of other activities will be featured including a singing vicar! You are all invited for a preview from 6.00 to 8.00 tonight. This is a chance to meet the artists and share a glass of wine.

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Morning in the Tunnel

11/11/2018

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"The Tunnel in Autumn"

It is always interesting to revisit a familiar place at different times and seasons. This is the tunnel made famous by David Hockney in his epic ‘Bigger Picture’ Exhibition at the Royal Academy. It is literally just round the corner from where I live so I have been able to easily chart its progress through the seasons. This is my fifth painting of this iconic scene but the first morning view. This means that the sun is shining through from the right which gives a complete new perspective to the shadows. Of course autumn is the season of colour and it is always a joy to add an exuberant splash of reds and yellows to a painting. Even with lots of colour though, it is still important to get the tones right to create distance in a painting. I mix my colours on the paper so had to make sure that the trees were not as vivid in the background as the ones closer to us. I painted it quickly, more interested in the ‘feel’ of autumn rather than the detail. Mother Nature certainly does put on an amazing show for us at this time of year.

Explore the Hockney Trail with Glenn

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Bridge over Gypsy Race

18/10/2018

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"Bridge over Gypsy Road"

I knew I would be painting this scene as soon as I came across it. It’s a bridge crossing Gypsy Race in the Boynton estate. Gypsy race is a typical fast flowing chalk stream so named because it seems to appear and then disappear on its meandering way to the sea. The scene is so tranquil and peaceful and makes a perfect composition. However if you can’t improve on nature you sometimes have to improve on man made objects. The actual bridge is a simple platform across the stream and fenced on both sides for safety making it eminently practical but not very inspiring. It had to go and in its place I substituted an old fashioned pack horse bridge which might originally have been there in the first place. I painted quickly and freely, focussing on the impression rather the detail of the place. I’m happy with it and will be happy to back there too.

Please enjoy a stroll through some more beautiful landscapes

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Hockney's Tunnel in Winter

20/9/2018

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"Hockney's Tunnel in Winter"

This famous tunnel of trees is just five minutes from where I live and I have painted it a few times already – but not in winter. After a couple of recent visits I decided to give it that magical coating that snow brings. Painting snow scenes are not as simple as you might think. True, snow covers a lot of detail but the detail is still there just covered by the white stuff. So the challenge is to suggest not just the covering but what lies underneath. Colour too is important. Just a quick glance and everything looks white but it is far more subtle than that. You will notice that I have left very little white and used a combination of blues and greens to give the snow texture as well as colour. It’s a great composition to paint of course as your eyes automatically follow the track. Don’t be surprised if the painting figures on this year’s Christmas card!

Brrr..some more winter scenes!

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Highway Patrol

18/8/2018

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"Highway Patrol"

Surely by now everyone in the world knows that Yorkshire is the most beautiful place on the planet. I say this with all deference to my many friends spread all over the globe and especially those living in Lancashire. At least you are close to perfection - Yorkshire is just over the border! One of the jewels of the county is the North Yorks National Park. Recently we visited one of our favourite parts of the park - the western fringes. Starting from the Sutton Bank Moors centre we meandered down the back roads through Hawnby and then over t'tops to Osmotherley. Finally after a short stop at Codbeck Reservoir we ended up in Swainby where we enjoyed a picnic beside the river that runs through the village. One of the features of the moors are the swaledale sheep. These hardy creatures wander freely and often congregate on or near the roads. They are so used to traffic that they barely give you a glance as you drive by. Unfortunately their familiarity can lead to accidents so it is good to drive carefully though why anyone would want to speed through this lovely area is beyond me. So your motto should be "Give sheep a chance".

Click here for a tour of the moors

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July 30th, 2018

30/7/2018

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"Summer Shade in Lowthorpe Wood"

Lowthorpe Wood is a lovely place for a short stroll on a hot summer day. Although small it features a fast flowing chalk stream, mature trees and refreshing shade from the heat. It has been a well visited destination for us in this spell of exceptional hot weather and we have enjoyed the cool respite especially Dilly. I am sure these wild deer enjoyed the shade too. I enjoyed doing the painting concentrating on trying to capture the contrast between warm and cool. Here are a few details to help you see how it was built up.

I always think it's interesting to see close up details as the layers of paint become more apparent. Anyway the sun is still shining so time to find another shady stroll. See you soon. Glenn

Plenty more places to stroll through!

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WHAT IF...........Bay Horse, Kilham

14/7/2018

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"What if........Bay Horse, Kilham"

Regular readers will know that one of my favourite artists is the great Victorian oil painter John Atkinson Grimshaw. Grimshaw was most famous for his moonlight paintings where he imbued the mundane with the magic of the mysterious light of the moon. So the inspiration was - what if Grimshaw had come to Kilham.
My favourite medium for painting a ‘Grimshaw’ is the iPad and we were lucky enough to get a shot of the Bay Horse with no cars parked in front. It was the ideal composition to work with and I added all the classic hallmarks – wet cobbled streets, glowing gas lamps and the mysterious lady. I am pleased with the way it turned out for the first attempt. Maybe Grimshaw and other famous artists will be visiting Kilham in the near future – who knows? Here's a step by step guide to the painting:

Maybe Grimshaw and other famous artists will be visiting Kilham soon - who knows?

There's more iPad Paintings here

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An Artist is not paid for his Labour.....

11/12/2017

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"Autumn Memories"

“An artist is not paid for his labour…….”
James Abbott McNeill Whistler

“How long did it take to do that?” Every painter has been asked this question at some time or another. Although a reasonable question to ask it does seem to imply that the worth of a painting is somehow connected to the time it took to paint it. What do you think – is there a valid relationship between time and worth or even value of a painting? My answer would be an unequivocal “No”.
It’s true that some paintings just flow very quickly. Spontaneity and speed are an integral part of the attractiveness of such work. Indeed I enjoy doing a painting in a very limited time as it frees you from all the clutter and detail so you have to focus on the main point you are trying to express. Other paintings are different and require more time, indeed more effort to get them to say what you want them to say. In a painting like this detail becomes all important.
This was a painting that demanded more time though it was not conceived as such. I painted it in four sessions spread over several days. The sessions were between two or three hours each. Nice way to paint really with lots of thinking time in between. It gave me a chance to reassess what I had done previously and make any necessary alterations before proceeding to the next stage.
The original inspiration came after a chance remark by a dear old friend Stan Lewis about autumn mists. So I began the painting with just a vague idea of a typical autumn morning as the sun broke through the mist. It was not really based on any specific place or time period so very quickly I determined to call it “Autumn Memories”.
Over the next few days memories began to surface. The background was a reminder of a morning quite a few years ago when Merice and I were on our way to Gallery 49 in Bridlington. We stopped off for a stroll in a small nature reserve near where we lived in York at the time. The reserve is renowned for its fantastic rhododendron collection but it was the trees on the way out that caught the attention this particular day. It was a cold and misty autumn morning with the rays of the sun breaking through. It was a bit nippy but we knew the sun would eventually dissipate the mist and we would be treated to a glorious day. It turned out thus.
Over the next few days many more autumn memories surfaced – strolls in woods with Lauren and Katie, hot soup and homemade bread waiting for your return. Then further back in time to carefree childhood days in Cockersdale wood, blazing coal fires and the excitement of Christmas getting nearer. I appreciate that memories are always viewed through rose tinted glasses but it was fun to bask in those happy times.
Details filtered through into the painting like leaves fallen floating in puddles, branches with just a few lingering remains of their green glory or beaten down foliage rotting away but keeping its seeds warm and safe so they could bring forth vibrant new life next Spring. All these are encapsulated in “Autumn Memories”.

The full quote from Whistler is: “An artist is not paid for his labour but for his vision.”
So, how long did it take for me to do this painting? The answer is a lifetime of memories and a few hours. I hope you enjoy it and that it stirs many happy memories for you. I think it’s time for a wee noggin of port now. Cheers. Glenn

Enjoy more strolls down memory lane with Glenn

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