Rush Hour, Embankment, Oil on Board, 8" x 10", 2011

This is one of my paintings I did in summer. I have always loved the crowded scenes but this was the first time I have done one this size, it's my smallest Rush hour piece. I just wanted to capture the heavy rush that occurs down Villiers Street right up to the Embankment Station. The challenge is always to make sure the piece is lively and nothing near static.



Rush Hour, Embankment, Oil on Board, 8" x 10", 2011 SOLD

SPECIAL QUOTE
"When I work, I work very fast, but preparing to work can take any length of time."- Cy Twombly

Sketches on the Train, Tube and Bus in October I

Back to my routine sketches! I have been painting so much recently and it's easy to forget the foundation or the Tour de force behind all my paintings- The Sketch!
Enjoy the faces here!






SPECIAL QUOTE
"In my late teens I returned to London to study and I have been here for a while now, and the flavour is strong, but less acute, because it is more global. Most human interaction in the city is practical and perfunctory, just as it was during travelling. But I have come across a group of people I feel akin to, and they've become my "village". And there is no need to travel abroad to see strange and fascinating faces; a short trip among the cultural multitude on the tube, especially the Central Line for some reason, keeps me inspired." (Tai- Shan Schierenberg)

The Making of Rush Hour VIII, 24" x 20", Oil on Canvas, 2011

Rush Hour VIII, 24" x 20", Oil on Canvas, 2011 SOLD


This was one of the paintings I did earlier this year, it was part of the London Paintings Group show I had at Enid Lawson Gallery. I have posted this piece before but not with a few shots of the stages.
This post is just to show the stages I go through to paint a Rush Hour Scene. The sketching is very important and also the ability to paint the shapes of each figure in relation to another. The pictures here are just to reveal the stages with little explanation because I wasn't really planning a demonstration but I normally like to take pictures of different stages while I work, do I can also go back to learn from the process for future work.

STEP 1



The canvas is toned with brownish orange, a warm colour, I purposely wanted this colour to show through. I did the sketches with Tom Bow Wash Felt Marker.


STEP 2



I added more figures with a darker marker. All brown to match the same colour scheme.

STEP 3



The painting starts from the figures at the back and gradually sneak forward to the figures in the foreground.

STEP 4



All figures connected.

SPECIAL QUOTE
"You must draw with the Brush"-John Singer Sargent-(one of my all time favourite painters)

Plein air at Chiswick and Henley.

These are 2 paintings I did in the summer, they were part of Plein Air Brotherhood Exhibition.

Chiswick
This place is amazing! I was drawn to the pool because the reflections were just irresistible! It was quite a challenge with the greens always changing.But in the end I enjoyed it!



The Swan Pond Chiswick, 16" x 8", Oil on Board, 2011 SOLD






Henley
This was my first time here. I started painting the first boat and It was all going well until I heard it was going to move in about 12 minutes! Too short, I had to innovate with a new one that took it's place. Then as I was painting, Roy drew my attention to an oncoming steamboat and I very quickly got it down. It was a nice experience, as I was also painting alongside David Pilgrim and John Dobbs.




The Steamboat Arrives Henley, 10" x 8", Oil on Board, 2011 SOLD





SPECIAL QUOTE
"I strive to capture the moment, that fleeting light or atmospheric effect, tackled with a sense of urgency and an awareness that the prevailing conditions are transient and will not be precisely repeated"- (Trevor Chamberlain)

The Westbourne, Evening Light-12" x 10", Oil on Canvas, 2011

This is one of the commissions I did in Summer through Enid Lawson Gallery. A tricky one indeed. But it ended up being exactly what the client wanted. The client wanted two similar pictures of The Westbourne with him and in his mate. One of the paintings would be his and the other sent to his mate in Australia, they both used to have a drink there and he thought it would be a good 40th Birthday present for his friend.



I have never painted two similar pictures and the only way I could do this was to paint each one side by side it was a crazy experience and since I'm not a machine you can see the many differences. Anyway, it pleased the client and that's always a good thing.



SPECIAL QUOTE
"You've got to be able to copy things faithfully before you can deviate"- (Damien Hirst)

Sketching the man with the Guitar

THE GUITAR MAN


My search for interesting models takes me outdoors and while walking through the London streets I keep looking at everybody as if to say-yes! that would make a good sketch! Most of the time, it's the homeless and road-side beggars that have the faces with the most character.




THAT'S ME SITTING IN FRONT OF THE MODEL


One of the days a week ago I was feeling so downhearted after loosing my wallet a day before around Soho, I decided to take the worries off my head by sketching this guy after another frantic search for it (Sounds Silly, eh). The Good news is, after sketching this guy and helping him out with a good deal, I got an email that I needed to come, just a few blocks up the very street I was sketching the guitar man to collect my wallet! It still had my money, cards and everything intact! Now, believe it or not-God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. Keep Sketching!!!



THE GUITAR MAN WITH HIS SKETCH


For this piece I have used a variety of soft pencil in my A4 Moleskine Sketchbook.



THE SPIRIT OF A SKETCHER

Special Quote
"Drawing is not what sees but what one can make others to see"-Degas