The End of the Trail 2017

Well, it's been the end of a busy few weeks focusing on the Arts Trail. Thanks to all of you who made it to our venue. Once again it was a great event with lots of interesting artists to look at. Hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did. Here are a couple of paintings you might recognise...

Ascending Light

Dawn Rising

Now I am looking forward to the next few weeks of pottering around the studio and playing with a few ideas that I have had.

My Puffins reduction lino cut is top of the list as well as some relief printed cards. There are paintings to be done for the Emsworth Artists Summer Exhibition and a few experiments into textile printing. Oh and if I get the time I will be having a go at collagraphs. Sounds a lot but can't wait to get started.

Emsworth Arts Trail 2017

What a great day to have an Arts Trail. We've been relaxing in the spring sunshine and talking to all those who have been making their way around the Arts Trail. This was the set up this morning just before we opened.

Looking good in the sunshine

Geometric Textile Design

Check out the chair! My son's art project is slowly taking shape. Can't wait to see how this develops.

A few extras!

We're looking forward to tomorrow as many people are bringing their partners back to have another look.

Series of Nine; Paintings 8&9

At last the series of nine small paintings has been finished and is ready to hang. All the large paintings are also ready to hang and the studio is well on it's way to being emptied.

As usual now that everything is packed away I want to get on with new work and start preparing canvases ready for painting. Inspiration always strikes when I can't get on with anything...I will have to stick to the sketchbook for now.

'Rippling Stream'

'Crashing Waves'

Series of Nine; Paintings 6&7

With one week to go paintings are starting to take a turn for the better. Here are the next in the series of nine small paintings.

'Through the Gloom'

'A Break in the Storm'

There's still a huge amount to do with my studio still needing to be cleared out. Ideas and experiments have had to be put on hold for the moment while large paintings are being finished off.
Next year the 'artists studio' will be part of the show as I am going to leave studies and sketchbooks out for folks to browse through...the thought of emptying everything out again is getting way too much!

Series of Nine; Paintings 4&5

Here's another taster of what is to come on the Arts Trail....

'Night Light' and 'Wake' are part of the nine series that I will be hanging together.

'Night Light'

'Wake'

Painting and planning is furiously continuing as the Opening is only in a few weeks....and I still have to clear out my studio (and tidy the garden).

Arts Trail - Sneak Peak Preview Event

This oil painting will appear in the Sneak Peak preview tomorrow night to promote the Emsworth Arts Trail 2017. Small pieces of work will be displayed by all participating artists and makers at the Brookfield Hotel, Havant Road, Emsworth for one evening only. (7- 9 pm)

The event is free and all are welcome so if you are in the area pop along and see what everybody has been up to this year!

'Light on the Horizon'

Snowdrops - The Final Cut

After a few days of avoiding this print I finally took the plunge and did a few test prints of different colours, some going lighter and some going darker. In the end it became clear that going darker was the only sensible way forward, so here is the finished print with an almost black green. 

'Snowdrops',  Layer 13

Not quite what I intended but a suitable conclusion. Next time I will be a little bit more careful with my mid tones as there was really no where else to go by the time it came to the final pass.

And for my next project........

Puffins

All the prep is done for these smart little birds but possibly not enough time to complete them before the start of the Arts Trail.