Gabriel Fine Arts June 2018

Opening night June 6th 6-8.30pm

The Universal Language 2 exhibition took place in Baker Street London June 6th to 12th 2018 organised by Gabriel Fine Arts;  Ann has exhibited several times with this group who often show in London, Chelsea and Mayfair being favourite venues.

 

 

Calm Day – oil on canvas 24″ x 24″ £ 475
Beach Huts and Boats – oil painting on canvas 24″ x 24″
Cloud Reflections – oil painting on canvas 24″ x 24″

These four 24″ x 24″ framed paintings were well received in this exhibition. Thank you Maria for a great exhibition.

On line catalogue

Preparing Canvases

The purpose of this post is to aquaint you with my working process

I build my own canvases, put 2-3 coats of acrylic primer, then an undercoat of turpsy red ( eg. burnt siena). Then I start the painting, laying out something of the scene I have in mind. I use a brush, then a palette knife, adding solvent or oil as required. Generally a painting grows as I work on it, my mind bringing in the colours, shapes and palette knife impressions.

I prepare my own canvases; the top left picture shows the stretcher bars and my first four assembled. I cut my 12oz cotton duck to size with a good fold over on each size, then I start with a staple in the mid bar on one side. I turn the whole through 180 deg. stretch the canvas and then staple in the middle of the opposite side, I then turn through 90 deg, stretch and staple the middle. Turn 180 deg. and staple the middle.  Next stretching as I go I staple along the sides leaving the corners free. I cut across the corners an inch out, fold one side in and then fold the other side of the corners see bottom left.. Next I put hte canvas flat down and paint acrylic / gesso on the back and sides. Turn it over using a cork cut into 4 to balance the underside and paint the flat side. This will take up to 12 hours to dry. I then pint the whole again.  2 coats are generally sufficient but you can use 3. Lastly I rub a base colour on the canvas – I like burnt sienna or brown madder plus white spirit (odourless).

Open Studios success

Medway Open Studios has been a great success – many thanks to all who have visited my exhibition!

My thanks to all who have visited my studio over the past 6 weeks; 38 groups have signed my Guest Book and many other have visited. A very enjoyable evening was held on July 16th the first of our lovely warm days made the evening a success. Thank you to all who bought paintings, sketches, prints and cards I do hope you will enjoy them.

My next outing is to the Whitstable Seaside Brocante in St Mary’s Hall in Oxford Street;  do come and visit my stall!

Hanging!

APA15 69 view of Oxford from Old Boars Hill 29 11 15I have spent the weekend preparing for Open Studios – most of my hanging now done! You will see mostly new work (last 6 months). There are so many paintings I shall have a lot in boxes still but there for people to see if they would like!

Selling Big Issue outside Somerset House!

Outside Somerset House
This sketch is now framed (thank you John) and will be on display at my Open Studio – starts Friday 3rd.

I got on the train Monday morning straight to Charing Cross; I knew I want to draw the church in the Strand as I had been inside sketching with James Willis.

I thought I was going to St Clements, actually this is St Mary le Strand. It took me two hours, and all the time this man was nearby selling the Big Issue, he clearly enjoyed himself chatting to lots of people. Buses came and went; the White Coach parked on the other side was there most of the time, I was so busy I didn’t see it leave. I loved the jumble of bikes, makes you wonder whose they are, do they cycle in from the station or the suburbs and work nearby?

Great day out painting on Whitstable Beach

I have been so lucky with the weather!

This week is very spring like;  I spent 4 hours at  Whitstable yesterday and have come home with 3 paintings;  these are my first since I was in France in January.  It was a lovely day for my sort of painting! A busy sky, lots to capture, the sea had lots of colours in it. It was windy, so thank you to John for making screw holes in my box easel to hold down the palette!  Still wet and some stray pebbles to sort! – see these below!

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Preparing for framing

This week I am concentrating on preparing the frames for my recent work ready to go to my next exhibition in Whitstable;  thank you John for assembling the frames!

newly assembled frames
varnished frames

They have to be varnished, backing boards painted and then the paintings will be mounted.

Do please e mail me if you would like more information about this exhibition

Oxford from Old Boar’s Hill

This exciting painting is a result of my visit to my sister-in-law last week and my forray into the countryside where I found this APA15 69 view of Oxford from Old Boars Hill 29 11 15magnificent view! I shall return when the weather is better I think the spires will be amazing!