Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Winter Grey Afternoon, Sloane Square, 24" x 18", oil on canvas, 2011

I went about this piece over 2 sittings. The first sitting on the 27th of January and the second sitting on the 2nd of February. Then, the weather was really cold around 2 degrees and as you can see from the pictures I was padded up to the core! Even my feet were not spared to only boots had my "Ice Breakers" on.




Winter Grey Afternoon, Sloane Square, 24" x 18", oil on canvas, 2011 SOLD


I really love the view at Sloane Square, and I have always longed to paint it. So I decided to give real good go and I was pleased with the result over the two sittings. The advantages of painting on grey days is that the light doesn't change, so there's no need to be in a hurry to catch the light as it changes, the constant grey light has it's own beauty and it was also a good lesson on mixing a variety of greys.




My set up before the work starts





Keeping feet warm-My ice breakers!





I got one good observer to catch me while the work was in progress, first sitting.





Final touches on the second sitting.


Special Quote
Robert Goodwin, remarkably, knew exactly how far to drive a student without breaking him. In the first few minutes of my first morning at his studio, I felt I had already a year's training. I had, and I burst into tears. Robin metaphorically shook me by the scruff of the neck. 'You're kidding yourself if you imagine that you can paint only when you feel like it. And don't talk all that rubbish about painting from your "innermost self". The Electricity Board doesn't give a damn whether you're painting from your innermost self or from anywhere else. They want their bills paid. You've got to get into your studio at nine in the morning, even in the winter when it is so dark outside that you can't see your easel or canvas. You've got to paint all day long, until the light fails-Sundays as well. Treat it as business. If you are prepared to accept all this I'll teach you. But if not, bugger off now and stop wasting my time.' More tears. BUT I HAVE TO THANK HIM FOR MY SUCCESS AND I GREW ALMOST OVERNIGHT- David Shepherd recounts his first experience in an artist's studio in his book, " The man who loves Giants"

21 comments:

V. Deshmukh said...

Wow! What an amazing painting. Must have been an absolute treat for the onlookers, I am sure!
And thanks also for the nice quote. Makes so much sense!

adebanji said...

Thanks Vinayak!

Unknown said...

Simply AMAZING man! Thanks for sharing.

Michael Pieczonka said...

beautiful job Adebanji! It must take a lot out of one painting that size on location, and you pulled of a beaut!

adebanji said...

Thanks Tim!

adebanji said...

Thanks Michael! It takes a lot but in all respects it's the best way to paint! Life begets life! When I paint outdoors, I paint with all my heart, nothing else matters, sometimes I'm so lost, I sing as I paint along-it's close to cruising, if you know what I mean!

Jane Hunt said...

Fantastic painting! It's fun to see your setup, I'm trying to put mine together. Do you have any tips for carrying wet pieces home?

adebanji said...

Thanks Jane!
For my 6 x 8- I have a box that can carry 10 wet ones home safely.
For my 8 x 10- I have a box that can carry 10 wet ones home safely.

For any size larger than these, I always carry a blank canvas of the same size, if you notice in the picture which shows my set-up, I have another canvas, that's always there for me to make carrying the wet one easier. I simply put both together, separating them with round balls of wax at the four corners and center of each side. I then wrap them a bit more with masking tape.

Jane Hunt said...

Thanks for the info - very helpful!
I plan to work fairly small outside - so the 8 x 10 would be ideal, especially if it can carry 10 wet. Did you build or buy that one?

adebanji said...

Great Jane, I am sure you'll enjoy it!
I got a nice guy on www.abbeyseasels.co.uk to build them for me, but they can only take very thin panels.
But for an extensive range of portable wet carriers check out www.GuerrillaPainter.com.
Cheers

Jane Hunt said...

Thanks, I will check them out :)

Anonymous said...

That is an awesome painting, especially done outdoors in the cold. I can see how you just get into it and enjoy it, and the time just flies by.

Juliet said...

great painting.I know Sloane Square well.Its a COLD area but very lovely.

Will you come and paint in Chiswick,Adebanji?There are some lovely views here.Chiswick Common is beautiful at the moment with the horse chestnut trees and spring colours.A favourite spot for artists.

SKIZO said...

AWonderfulWork

adebanji said...

Thanks Novice Artist!

adebanji said...

Thanks Juliet! Why not, I might, I have never been to Chiswick, sounds interesting! Need to find out what bus goes there from Chelsea.

adebanji said...

Thanks SKIZO!

Juliet said...

The No 11 bus goes to Hammersmith from Chelsea.Then change to the 27,391,or 267 buses to Chiswick.
Quite easy!

adebanji said...

Thanks Juliet, I think you mean the 211 bus. It's the 211 that goes to Hammersmith.
Thanks, I'll let y know if I embark the journey.

Juliet said...

Yes,please do!

FasiArts said...

Fantastic job!