The days are gradually lengthening, the sun has been out a couple of days and although it’s still pretty cold in the early mornings, things are warming up. Pretty soon, I’ll decide to come out of hibernation in the studio and venture forth into the “plein air”. I know a lot of artists who have not been daunted by the winter weather and have gotten out and about to produce some stunning winter scenes, but my old bones are waiting for the temperature to get a few more degrees above freezing before I’m happy to leave the warmth. I have set myself a goal to spend more time painting out of doors this year. Largely because I was on the road extensively during my flying career, it’s not been my main practice thus far. My normal subject matter, pets and airplanes usually require photo references or Airfix kits (for the airplanes, not the dogs) so lends itself to indoor work, but at the behest of a good friend, I’m going to get cracking on some outdoor scenes. Last year during the gap between lockdowns, we managed to get out on to the south downs for a spot of landscape painting, and I’m looking forward to more of the same. I find it very interesting and educational to paint alongside of someone else. Fascinating to see the difference in interpretation of the same subject. The drawing of the ruins of Boxgrove Abbey were sketched in pencil on site, then the pen bits were added later in the studio. I am quite keen to get back there in the Spring and paint the same scene. I haven’t made up my mind whether to use Gouache or oils though. Decisions, decisions.
Boxgrove Abbey ruins, Boxgrove, West Sussex. Pen and Pencil, A4
On another note, The little challenge among the GAvA crew to produce a work illustrating a scene from a favourite Aviation movie really produced some great drawings and paintings. Although I concentrated on my painting from “The Flight of the Phoenix,” which featured in last week’s blog, I also did a quick Gouache sketch from “Catch 22”. The scenes of the squadron takeoff is probably the only time that many Mitchells got together since the Second World War. I didn’t go for photographic realism, but tried to keep it much looser, hopefully creating a feeling of “the fog of war.”
Dusty takeoff. B-25 Mitchells from the film “Catch 22”. Gouache on toned Watercolour paper, A4 size.
Looking around at what’s available to us in this (hopefully last) period of enforced incarceration, here are a few art related online events:
The National Gallery continues to add online events here: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NG_2020MarchEvents_NM&utm_content=version_A&promo=99552
Stella Grace Lyons continues her online talks, which I find quite fascinating. Here’s the upcoming schedule, including a 3 part course on portaiture: https://stellagracelyons.co.uk/arthistory/online-talks/
You can also access her talks here: https://www.facebook.com/stellagracelyonsarthistory
Not exactly art related, but the Museum of Army flying has an online talk on the origin of the Spitfire which should be of interest to us AvGeeks: https://www.armyflying.com/lockdown-lectures/spitfire-85/
The National Portrait Gallery has some online events, courses and tours available here: https://www.npg.org.uk/visit/explore-at-home/
‘Til next week, keep safe. Lets pay attention to the rules and maybe we’ll be let out of our cages once and for all.
Cheers.