Is this blog really worth it?

I'm seriously considering abandoning this blog. I don't get round to updating it often enough and I suspect that it doesn't't get many views. If you want me to keep posting, do respond, otherwise it's going.

I've been off the air

It's all been a bit quiet on the painting front. We recently had a new combi-boiler fitted and, with the removal of the hot water tank, I now had a much larger airing cupboard that needed decorating. 

Well, it's amazing how long it can take to decorate such a small space: wash everything down, rub down the woodwork, remove some wiring, re-paster some of the wall. That's all followed by: paint the ceiling twice, paint the walls twice, prime, undercoat, and gloss the woodwork. Make and install extra shelves, and install a tube heater. Before you know it, that's two weeks of my life gone!

On top of all that, my painting partner had a heart attack, and is only just getting back to his old self.

Painting starts again in earnest next week!

A blank canvas

I've just finished a small painting of the pier at Akaroa in New Zealand from a photo I took on my first visit way back in 2010. Creating the painting brought back a number of happy memories, both in terms of people and places. Here's a view of that painting.

https://www.davidraison.co.uk/landscapes/730611_akaroa-pier-new-zealand.html

The problem is, what do I paint next? I have a varied selection of photos to choose from but not all will translate into a painting. I need to get something organised before Wednesday, so it looks as though there could be a lot of reviewing coming up.

Watch this space!

Rejection

As previously reported, I entered two paintings for the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition. I naively assumed that I might stand a chance of getting selected but it was not to be.

Two emails, one per submission, came in quite speedily informing me of my paintings' rejection. I was encouraged to re-apply next year but at £70 a go, I think I may not bother. After all, I can spend that money on paint and canvas!

Still, it was all quite exciting while it lasted.

Summer Exhibition

Well, two things have happened. First, I remembered the closing date for the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition was looming. Second, I actually got my act together and entered two paintings.

Here are the two pictures that I have submitted, so wish me luck.

A couple of finished paintings, plus a foretaste of what's to come

In my last post, I showed a Work In Progress of my Tenby Harbour painting. Well, I managed to finish it after a few revisions. With a picture of this type, the perspective is a real headache, so it was essential that all the various elements linked up. Here's a photo of the finished product and a link to it on my website.

https://www.davidraison.co.uk/landscapes/713940_tenby-harbour.html

Tenby Harbour

The other painting I posted was a tiny canvas for my bowls club raffle at the annual presentations lunch. That was well received and is now in its new home.

A by product of the small sunflower painting was a larger, more resolved version. This was an interesting task for me, as I seldom paint flowers. I had a small canvas and frame that I had bought at a jumble sale for about 10p, measuring about 10x8 inches. My wife likes it, so it's due to be hung in our hallway. Apologies for the slightly crooked photo.

Next up is a large painting of the Three Sisters, a rock formation at Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. I think it's going to be a bit of a challenge, but that's what it's all about.

New paintings in progress

I currently have two paintings on the go. The main picture is a view of Tenby from the harbour; lots of buildings, so a perspective nightmare! The second picture is for our bowls club (merrowbowls.com) presentation lunch, where we have a raffle, and is of a sunflower grown by a friend.

The sunflower picture does have a deadline, so it may take precedence over the main painting for a few days. Fortunately, it is on a tiny canvas and won't take too long to finish.

Here are a couple of work-in-progress photos for your delectation.

The painting with my reference photo. Early days.