I've missed out a week of posting on this little blog, primarily due to the demands of the day job, which, in my case, don't necessarily stop at weekends. That is not an excuse, just a reason for my absence. I've been concentrating (art-wise) on getting some drawings and paintings ready for an exhibition or two that are coming up in the next few weeks, so burning the midnight oil, not least because the day (?) job required my getting up before dawn to participate in MS Teams calls with the clients in India and Thailand. This coming week it's 03:00 wake-ups to chat with the folks in New Guinea. Not complaining, and it's far better than the jet lag of pre-Covid days, but does re-prioritise the waking hours.
The best thing about the last two weeks was a chance to meet up with some other members of the Guild of Aviation Artists at the Jet Age Museum, located at the Gloucester Airport, for a day of sketching and painting. I've attended many GAvA sketching days over the years, but this time I decided to force myself out of my comfort zone and paint, rather than draw. I've done very little painting outside my own studio, so this seemed like a good opportunity to stretch my boundaries and see how it affects my confidence. Like most people trying something new among a collection on one's peers, there is always an element of "stage fright". I know I can adequately sketch something in pencil or pen, but creating a painting within the time constraints (about 4 hours) is something I've never tried, especially when surrounded by other far more practiced and competent artists than myself. Still, that adds an edge to the day and focusses the mind on the task at hand.
I chose the nose of an AVRO Vulcan, which was up on a stand outside the hangar. It seemed to me that the subject, though familiar, was enhanced by the surroundings, various bits, a crane, and the contrast between the aircraft nose and the hangar itself. I chose to work in gouache on a surface I Prepared by gluing watercolour paper to a bit of hardboard, then toning it with a mixture of gesso and yellow ochre acrylic. This helps make the surface less permeable. As I'm still quite a newbie with gouache, I was interested to see how it would all come together.
While some of the assembled artists chose to work in the relative cool of the Hangar, I positioned myself outside where I could get a good position in relation to the Vulcan. As it happened, the sky was essentially cloudless and the sun rather merciless in its intensity. The result was that the paint dried almost immediately when applied. This is a characteristic of the medium and didn't bother me a great deal, but the rapid drying also affected those who were working in oils and especially watercolour. Well, we chose our spots, so no grumbling. It does make me ponder how the impressionists could cope with it day after day in places like the South of France. No wonder they worked so fast. I personally faded out from the heat in the afternoon and didn’t entirely finish the job. Will have a go at tidying it up a bit in the comfort of the studio.
Looks like the pilot misjudged the parking somewhat..
This is as far as I got before the heat got to me. Will finish it off with a nice Chianti.
I certainly enjoyed the painting and as always, found the critique at the end of the day very educational.
John Wynne - Hopkins an David Calow passing comments on my efforts.
I'm looking forward to the next chance to repeat the challenge. Might try acrylics next time, just for the heck of it.
Things are stirring in the art scene here in the UK as we come ever slowly out of lockdowns and isolation:
The Guild of Aviation Artists 2021 Annual Exhibition (virtual) is live now and will be available here for the near future. Head over and have a look at this year’s crop of great aviation art:
https://www.artsteps.com/view/609a5d9fc9ff690aecd4e643
The National Gallery is now open and has an exhibition centred on Jan Matejko’s painting of Copernicus. There's also an online talk about this painting as well. Both links can be found here: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/conversations-with-god-jan-matejkos-copernicus
The Royal Academy summer exhibition starts on the 22nd of September and you can book tickets here: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2021
Take care and keep painting.