Church Stretton Festival 24th July - 3rd August

Three paintings I've sent to the Church Stretton Festival Art Exhibition

Opening times are 10.00am to 6.00pm Daily

Tortoishell Butterflies: Watercolour

Nesting Kittiwakes: Acrylic



Arnside Oystercatchers: Watercolour



Exhibitions

The picture shows my submissions to the Ludlow Art Society Spring Exhibition which ran for one week opening on Easter Saturday. Now the local exhibition season has started in earnest.

After the recent event at Gt. Witley I'm sending to the Church Stretton Festival Exhibition which runs from 24th July to 3rd August. I'll be showing the Nesting Kittiwakes and the Avocets at  This event which didn't sell at Easter.

I have five more new pictures ready for the LAS Summer Exhibition which will be held at The Harley Centre, Ludlow from August 18th to 26th.

I hope interested followers of my blog will drop by to either of the above exhibitions. If I happen to be around please introduce yourself I'd love to meet you.

LADIES IN WINTER DRESS: Bramblings.

This watercolour will be my 5^th and final submission for the LAS Summer Exhibition which is held on the last two weeks in August.

Precise minded ornithologists might give ‘Hen Bramblings in Winter Plumage’ as a correct title of the picture. But I’m reminded that Charles Tunnicliffe painted a colourful watercolour of fancy pigeons which he called ‘Angels and Archangels.’ So I think ‘Ladies in Winter Dress’ catches the mood of the painting and would be acceptable in an open exhibition.

I make increasing use of opaque bodycolour these days prefering mainly Titanium rather than the traditional Chinese (Zinc) White. I think it has to be used sensitively and not make the painting look as if it's been given a coat of distemper. There are several ways white has been applied to this painting - ranging from pure pigment for the white parts of the birds to general washes which can be worked on while still wet.