On the easel

Just back from London; we visited Tate Modern, an exhibition space I've never much cared for and my feelings were confirmed: it seems all 'space' and shop and elevator and at the top of the elevator you might find some art. We did find art but it was relegated to a 'walk on' part in a thousand selfies - I watched people walk up to picassos, Kandinskys, Hirsts and Chapmans, take a photo and walk on! We left and went to the Clore to look at Turners. They were of course, dazzling and I was touched by his Self Portrait painted around 1799 when he would have been 24. On my return to Norton Conyers the portrait theme continues on my return thanks to some catalogues and exhibition invitations given to me by James and Halina and the discovery of an unfinished portrait of the photographer Michael Dunne. So that's the launch pad for the painting on the easel at the moment:

Drone

A brace of archaeologists came to Norton Conyers yesterday bringing a drone with them; for a change they weren't scrabbling around in the mud but instead had their eyes turned heavenward.

The drone was filming the walls surrounding the walled garden searching for evidence of flues: the theory being that fires were lit in alcoves in the brickwork in order to force fruit. Whilst they were at it they also filmed the south lawn looking for traces of the medieval village.

Winter colour at Norton Conyers

Painting Classes at Norton Conyers

Our new season of classes begin on WED' 25th JANUARY 2017  for a 'term' of six weeks, starting at 10 a.m. and running through 'til 4pm.

We will be focussing on the use of acrylic and oil paints with particular focus on the landscape.

Courses follow an 'atelier style' format of mentorship so that all standards and age ranges can be accommodated, from complete novice through to degree level, from student to retiree.

The course costs £30 per day. You will need to bring materials of your choice (Acrylic or oil and a drawing medium), warm clothing (we may be doing some work outside) and a packed lunch. We have tea and coffee making facilities & microwave.

December

Winter draws on: December and the temperature drops to minus 3. We have a burst pipe outside the studio so no water inside; this I can cope with but on teaching days I must have water so as soon as the pipe is fixed I build an insulated box to cover the exposed pipes; it's a temporary fix but hey!

Giles delivers more logs and the Jotul gobbles them like Mr Creosote with a 'waffer thin' after dinner mint so even in freezing temperatures I can still work relatively comfortably in the studio.

Evening mist rolls in to Norton Conyers

CAKE!

James and Halina have been away in London for a few days and brought us back this beauty which we are sharing with friends. Fabulous, thanks both.

Morning and Evening

Minus three outside the studio this morning and the pipes were frozen but I soon had the Jotul blazing away and an early morning stroll had me spellbound by a couple of roe deer standing on the edge of the wood and for a moment, staring straight at me; then, levitating over the fence they bounded off over the South Lawn to the distant wood.

Evening Light

New Painting

New painting - 'Evening Cathedral, Ripon', mixed media on canvas 5ft x 5ft

And here I am working on it when it was to be a summer painting: