More figurative paintings

Here are three totally unrelated paintings. The still life, I usually lable as being a self-portrait. After all it is a bunch of things I use when painting. It happens to be one of my favorite paintings and so is not actually for sale, unless someone else sees what I see in it and offers me what I think it is worth.

The painting of the water lillies is based on a photo I took when in Florida years ago. The painting was originally in tempera (gouache) and then painted over in oil. I really struggled with this one. It doesn't resemble the photo much, but then that was never my intention. It took my months to do. Finally I got it to where I was happy with it. In the end I couldn't explain how I got the result I did, or even why it should please me now and never did before. Odd, but when doing a painting it is as though I am asleep, dreaming maybe. Then I wake up every so often to see what I've produced. Sometimes I am so unhappy that I wash everything off and start again. Sometimes I am amazed to find the bare bones of the painting I wanted to be working on is sitting under all the paint I've just washed down the drain. An expensive process, since I use good gouache paints.

The painting of the lillies has now been sold and is residing on a wall in Belgium. It was bought as a wedding gift.










Then, here are three buteri, Italian cowboys, sitting on their horses. One is someone I know, not well, but I do know him. I was amazed that people recognized him and his horse, because he sits his horse in a particular way. I privately called this painting Buteri with GPS, but it caused people to ask me too many questions. I have sold this painting to a sometimes client, who always comes looking for my work when he and his wife have yet another wedding present to find. They amuse me because they always choose one painting they think the couple getting married will like, and then end up buying the painting they would like to hang on their own walls. I suppose there is some sense in this. If you know the couple well, then when you go and visit you get to enjoy the painting you would have liked to have owned yourself.

Abstract paintings

The painting on the left is called Topsy Turvy. It was originally painted in acrylic on canvas and then I re-painted over the acrylic with oil. I took care to only follow the colours found underneath. Actually there is a lot more to this painting, since I painted over it and then wiped free areas, which I then painted over.

I find abstract painting is quite difficult. It feels more intellecutal and seems to require a lot more thinking than figurative work. I have a teacher of figurative painting who tells me these paintings are only colour excercises. OK, yes. In a certain sense they are only colour excercises.
The red one below is called Red Sea and the blue Red to Blue. Both these paintings began at the opposite end of the spectrum. Actually the blue one comes across as totally unsubtle and looks more like plankton in the Gulf Stream. However, in real life the eye sees much less of the painting, which as the name suggests, began as red and moved ever so slowly to blue. These two are colour exercises in the purest sense. I started with the idea of changing to the colours opposite in the spectrum by placing thin glazes. At the time I was also interested in capturing water. One exhibition I had attracted the attention of a 96 year old painter. After he had quietly perused my works he came across to me. "None of these were painted from life," he said. I had to admit that this was true. I do use photos a lot. I don't actually copy them, but I do use them.
He advised painting water from life. I have done this and must admit that the result, even as an abstracted painting, is far superior to what I have posted here. I have sold it and it is now hanging on a wall in France.

Three paintings

The painting on the left is of my Appaloosa mare Magic Red Rain, actually called Nutmeg. She is six years old and has now been sold, but I still get to ride her every so often.

The painting is 70x100 cm and the price is:
900 euro.







The painting below is of Pepita and her sister Magic Red Mary Rose. This painting was created from a sketch I made one summer at Poggio, I'm writing about this place, but still have to put the words together. The painting is 70x100 cm and the price 1,200 euro.

The painting of the rotaloni (rolls of hay) is gouache on paper. I need to measure it. Price: 250 euro.