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| Acrylic on stretched canvas frame |
I know I've said in the past that 2-3 hours spent on a painting is as much as I can bear, and this is especially true with watercolour work, but things have been changing around here.
A few weeks ago I joined a group of people who love to paint, and meet once a week, hiring out a room and spending a couple of hours or so just painting and chatting to each other. There is no tutor, so the cost is minimal, there's a very relaxed atmosphere and it's great to have a look at what each other is doing with their artwork.
At the same time, I've strayed further away from watercolour in favour of acrylics. My subject matter is also more elaborate, requiring much more thought and time getting it down on canvas.
The painting here done at the group meetings has taken me around one month to complete. Well, I say complete, but when is a painting ever finished? There is still more that I can do to it, and unlike watercolour, it doesn't go muddy on you if you start fiddling! But, there comes a point when we have to stop and say "That's enough".
The building is Old Place Yard, London, England, and is worked 'eye to hand' from a photograph I took on a visit last October. I'm not sure what the building is used for but think that it is something to do with parliament, as it stands on Abingdon Street, with the Houses of Parliament standing just across the road from it. To the rear, is the Jewel Tower.
Pictures below show WIP.
Frank , this is an absolute joy to look at. No wonder it took a month.. Every detail is perfect and I'm looking at it on my mini, netbook. I must check it out on my desktop later.. You've done a wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteI find acrylics so tough to do.. but you have done well.. Hoping though that you don't give up those watercolors.. BJ
Thanks Barbra, the acrylics were hard for me too when I first started using them, but now I use W&N Galleria range, which have a flow improver in them, which keeps them moist for ages rather than dry out on the palette before I get it on the canvas! Why not give them a try?
DeleteThe final product is really fabulous. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment AK.
DeleteGreat painting Frank. I like how much detail you've put into the architecture but in particular I like the inclusion of the people. And you've not just included half-a-dozen 'bodies', each one has a personality from the business man on his phone to the lad who's looking slightly lost. I've found that buildings painted full on often don't work very well, but there's lots to look at in this painting and I think it's a real gem. Well done.
ReplyDeletePeople fascinate me John, and I like to include them to add human interest to a painting, though I am not so good at painting them.
DeleteThanks for an interesting comment.
This is excellent, Frank! Rarely do I like to see a painting of a building done 'head on' like this, but really there is no other way for it to be so impressive! The people are super and I just love those window panes! :)
ReplyDeleteThose window panes were literally a pain to do Ingrid! I think you are right about the building, this perspective does create a few problems.
DeleteI don't know what else you could do Frank, but the painting is absolutely stunning.Great details !
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane - just tidying up work is all I can do to this one now.
DeleteWow! That's quite an elaborate painting. And very nicely executed. Great job on the perspective an all the figures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Angela, I thought this a bit too elaborate - until getting getting stuck into my current painting ...
DeleteHi Frank.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delay in getting back to you mate. This painting is a marvallous piece of draughtmanship, great figures, and it is a brilliant painting in all. If you have a thingy that I can click on to receive your poatings via email, I shale click on it. And also to follow your work. All the best frank.
Vic.
Nice to hear from you Vic. The straight lines in this one challenged my shaky hands a bit - first time I've used a ruler for help!
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