recent work

Managed to find some time to explore variations on a theme. Instead of full colour paintings/drawings, I tried to strip them back to a bare minimum, using colour for the backgrounds only. Particularly like the skateboarder.

new

Doodles from my notebook. Trying out a new style - a bit more abstract/simplified. The first two are in 'honour' of the, shortly to kick off, '6 Nations' tournament.

cityscapes & footy

The y6's followed up their linear perspective work from last week by drawing 3d cityscapes using squared dotty paper!

And I managed to find some time to daub a few more footy paintings. Still not done anything about trying to sell them though!

collage & drawing

Our y1's have completed their collage self-portraits - not bad for 5 yr olds.

The y5's have been looking at the work of 'Futurist' artists (Boccioni, Balla etc.) from the early 1900s. And, using their card 'mannequins' that they made last week, they've drawn images of figures, trying to make them look dynamic and active. 

'varnishing day'

Managed to find sometime at the end of yesterday to 'varnish' (or matte as they say in America?) all of my recent footy/rugby paintings.

Now to decide what I'm going to do with them - list in my shops, think about joining 'Artfinder' (has anyone got any experience of this ?), create a Facebook page wherefrom I can advertise them for sale or try and approach small galleries!
Any advice welcome.

Greeks & Tudors

The y3s have made a start on painting their Greek warrior sculptures.

The y4s are continuing with their project to build some Tudor real estate.

And there's progress on the painting table.

painting

Currently on my painting table are 5 football/rugby pics that will eventually depict representations of various teams.  

finished

The paintings are now finished. I seem to be accumulating quite a few footy paintings - I must get around to putting them in my Folksy shop.

All are 18 x 24cm, mixed media on canvas board.

                        

A is for...

 Today the y2's drew cheetahs. They have been learning all about them in class and did a 'before' picture (top left hand corner). They then followed simple, step by step instructions to enable them to draw more easily recognisable images. We did both standing and running versions. We even detailed the faces. 

Meanwhile, progress on my 'painting' table.

vehicles

In y1 today we continued drawing vehicles but this time in '3D'. We took it step by step, using squared paper and simple shapes. We drew vans, trucks, buses and cars.

Not bad for 5/6 year olds.

Another painting - 'Derby'.

Possibly City vs Utd. Canvas board, 18 x 24cm, acrylics. £30 (p&p free worldwide) would see this adorning your wall! If interested please comment. Should you wish to commission a footy pic of your favourite team please let me know.

flames

The y2's did a bit of colour mixing today, as a precursor to creating collage pieces that represent the fire of London.

We varied the proportions of red and yellow to get darker and lighter oranges.

Meanwhile, here's one of my paintings from last week, all finished.

It's on canvas board, painted using acrylics and measures 18 x 24cm. If anyone is interested in buying it, £30 would secure (p&p free - anywhere in the world)! Please comment sold.

in progress

Decided to repurpose some canvas boards with footy & rugby paintings.

The peg-clipped pieces of paper are to remind me which team they are supposed to represent. The one on the left is a painted version of the sketch in the previous post. Foot and specs included for scale purposes!

footy pic

During a big tidy up of my art room I found a pic that I did last year. I think I've posted it before but it's even more apt now.

'Christmas 1914'

more

Yet another card 'design' - footy team selfies.

At the prices I'm considering charging (£2 each or 3 for £5) I can't go overboard with detail and colour on my cards otherwise they would take far too long. Remember that these cards are all hand-drawn, so for an original, unique piece of art they're a bargain! Once the cost of materials, envelopes, cellophane wrappers etc, not to mention time, have been taken into account I'm unlikely to be able to retire on the profits. Would you charge more?

Poppies

Inspired by the poppies at the Tower of London we've started to make some very simplified ones of our own. The intention is to 'plant' them as an avenue to be walked through by the parents attending our Remembrance service in November. Afterwards we hope people will offer a donation in order to take one home with them.

Today's painting.

portraits

The y1's continued with their 'all about me' unit and created self-portraits from clay. Not sure if we'll paint, 'varnish' or just leave them when they've dried.

Today's small painting on my table.

Again, 12cm square, mixed media.

painting & Poland

This weekend saw my wife and I venturing to Poland to stock up on pottery. Whilst there we visited the site of the POW camp from where the 'Great Escape' took place - stalag luft 3. There's a small museum with artefacts and poignant information regarding the fate of the escapees. There's also a reconstruction of a section of tunnel and a replica of one of the huts.

We didn't manage to get as far as the actual site of 'Harry' as time was short but hope to return early next year. 

Currently on my painting table - a small (12x12 cm) mixed media piece. 

drawings

Have been drawing some cards . Various subjects but in the same styles. Might list some in my shops. Done with sharpies on card, A6 single fold. 

 

'nother one

Over-painted another picture. A footy supporter one has been given the eyes and mouth treatment and has been shaded with crayons.

 

Am torn between the stark simplicity of the one on the right and the more representational one on the left.

recent stuff

A few recent pieces. First up a ceramic abstract figure designed to sit on a shelf. My wife sells Polish pottery so I painted it to tie in with a blue/white colour scheme. The hair is handmade twine tied with a ribbon. The spots are painted on after firing as they have previously 'run' when I've tried to do them with glazes.

 

 
Next, a painting (acrylic on paper, roughly A4 size) with a similar theme. This will hopefully, once framed, end up on the 'shop' wall - maybe even with a very modest price tab!

Finally, another footy piece - 'Off to the Match'. Again acrylics on heavyweight paper.