Hamish - New Flatmate

Not for Sale. 20" x 30". Acrylic

This is Hamish, my new flatmate. He has pride of place over my bath. Yes, that's right. The poor guy. I am very happy with him and he does add a bit of Africa to my flat. I've always loved giraffes because of their inquisitive natures and their long eyelashes of course.

I was supposed to paint him as part of a demonstration but I got so carried away that I ended up finishing the painting well before the allocated evening. I did enhance his expression to suit the location and had great fun with that. I cannot believe that I am enjoying Acrylics again. I have found a comfortable way to work with them. I hope Hamish puts a smile on your face as he does mine.

Adie and Hamish

Still Life with Vase and Onions

Oil Painting for sale. 16" x 22" on linen canvas.

I have finally finished this painting. I can't believe it! It took me quite a while to complete mainly because I had to paint it in blocks due to my teaching business. I really enjoyed the process. It was such a challenge which is exactly what I need from time to time. I learned so much from this painting. Again, the smell of oil paint is intoxicating. Am I sad or what?!

It is so rewarding to finally capture those wonderful textures, from the smooth pottery, to the onions and finally the rough fabric. I really do hope that I can paint in a North facing studio one day... any sponsors out there?

Church of Croagnes in Provence

Watercolour & Gouache 30" x 22". For Sale.

This particular church is situated in quite a special place. It is perched on a hill behind the hamlet where we go on our painting holidays in the south of France. The route to get there has become a familiar walk for us either in the morning or after dinner. One of my students took this photograph during his painting holiday in May when the poppies were out. Irresistible! I love red and orange and poppies for that matter.

This painting was painted whilst I was working with the Jacksons Art Group in Whyteleaf. I then finished it in my studio. I used a heavy cold pressed Saunders Waterford watercolour paper. I armed myself with my size 30 cosmotop-spin da vince brush and went for it. Big washes, big sweeping strokes, water sprayer and the odd dribble = result. I kept the detail to a minimum and used gouache to create those valuable tinted highlights.

The Orangery - West Kensington

For Sale - 23 in X 33 in - Mixed Media on Board

It has been a very long time since my last blog entry. I am posting one of my latest pieces which I do love. It is an interior view of The Orangery at West Kensington Palace. Now, if you have not been, I suggest you get your skates on and treat yourself to a scone cream tea in these beautiful surroundings.

I was allowed to photograph the interior on a perfect summers day and was rewarded with a dramatically lit, exciting, atmospheric reference. I decided to step up my adrenalin levels and use it for a demonstration for the West Wickham Art Society. It worked extremely well.

It is a combination of pastel pencils, mid-tone watercolour washes and gouache on mountboard. This combination will satisfy the illustrator in you. It also takes the pressure off each layer as all contribute to the whole.

This is a particularly loose rendition of the subject, but I do enjoy the power of suggestion.

I would like to thank Michael Hopkins for photographing this piece.

Hampton Court - Work in Progress

This painting will be for sale once completed.

This watercolour of Hampton Court is nearly finished and I thought that I would put it in my blog so that you can follow its progress. I enjoyed painting the figures and they do help to suggest the scale of the building. I love the shadows under the main arch as well as the casted shadows. Well, here's to a bit of painting homework during the next couple of weeks.

Piazza San Marco

Acrylic on Canvas Board ... 41cm x 31cm ... Unframed ... For Sale

I am really thrilled with this painting. I managed to get to San Marco's Square by 6h30am and paint this 'not so' typical view. I have always loved typography and for some reason the posters, which aren't always a welcome feature, got my attention. I think the colours and scale of the banners against the smaller telltale arches made sense.

Whilst I was painting in the square, an English tourist passed me and admitted that she could not understand how I could be painting something so boring, but was pleasantly surprised and inspired by the end result on her return. Wasn't that nice to hear? So, if something gets those butterflies going, then paint it. A change from the norm can be refreshing.

By 9h30 the tourists arrived and it was time to clear out to quieter spots. Very rewarding indeed.