LATEST...
19 June 2007
Hello there! I've been out of circulation for so long, I forgot how to update my website!
Well, at last I have added another painting to my site. Unfortunately though, it's not for sale. It was a commission for a lovely couple celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary - Happy Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Mullen of Kilwinning, Ayrshire: I hope you have many more happy years together.
You may, however, order Giclee prints of this painting in the usual way. Please contact me for details.
ARRAN VIEW - 40" x 30" Oil
21 January 2007
Due to the fact that my son has been in hospital and is now recovering from major spinal surgery, I'm afraid that I have been very inactive as far as my website and my paintings are concerned. Can't be everywhere and do everything at once - unfortunately. To help bridge the gap, I decided to sell ACEO prints of some of my paintings online at Art Cards Wanted. Each Open Edition ACEO, which only measures 3.5"x2.5", is selling for $5.99 plus postage (it's an American website - I think this is where the whole ACEO thing started). If there is any interest in this novel way of art collecting , then I may consider doing some miniature paintings to sell as ACEO's and also make some Limited Edition Prints, as well as making prints of my larger works.
21 September 2006
Irvine Harbour Arts Centre are exhibiting the works of a local portrait artist, David Reid, called "Weel Kent Faces". David has been holding workshops for the past couple of weeks and I decided to go last Thursday and today. We were given this little task to attempt and I finished it today. I am very pleased with the result and decided to upload it to the website. I don't have any details for the model, so I have just called it "A Weel Kent Face" after the exhibition - if you recognise yourself, then feel free to contact me; I can have the painting framed for you when it's dry...
18 September 2006
At last... I can give you an update on the exhibition at Brick Lane.
I posted 11 paintings down in a big box and we went down a day early so that I could go to the exhibition venue on Friday afternoon to set up the pictures. It was just as well that I did - even although I was told that somebody else would sort everything out for me and I had no need to attend the exhibition (because we live so far away) - when I arrived, the organiser didn't even realise that the box in the cupboard contained my paintings; so they might never have seen the light of day if I hadn't gone there.
Anyway, Mhairi-Anne and I managed to set up the display before we went to the show on Friday. We were only able to go back on Sunday - after all, the whole reason we were in London was for Mhairi-Anne's belated birthday treat. Sunday was the busiest day at Brick Lane - they reckon between 20,000 and 30,000 people pass through by lunchtime! Even although it was very busy, nobody seemed to be there to buy artwork. I went round the venue to check if anyone was selling and unfortunately most people weren't. There were a few red dots scattered around, but nothing significant.
Another thing I was rather disappointed about was the fact that I had been told at the outset that my stand would be manned for me but it wasn't. The other exhibitors told me that nobody was there on the Friday evening or all day Saturday; so I have no reason to believe that anyone would have been there on Sunday either. As it happens, Mhairi-Anne and I went and manned the stand for most of Sunday and I sold one painting - and was very happy to do so. It was really satisfying knowing that it was going to a good home! We left early so that we could go and catch our flight back home, so I was relying on the organisers again to pack up my work, ready for the courier to collect it.
I had a call saying that I had left insufficient tape to close the box back up and that it had been packed as best as could be managed. When I received the box on Thursday, I was shocked to see the state of it. It looked like the full roll of tape had been used to put the address labels on - the box was falling apart and the paintings were sliding around inside it. It was a miracle that the pictures even stayed inside the box, let alone arrived in one piece with no broken glass!
I suppose I have learned a huge lesson and will be a bit more prepared next year - where I have already been allocated a stand at the same exhibition. Maybe anyone reading this will also be able to take away a few cautionary points. All's well that ends well though! I've got my pictures back in one piece and I sold a painting - the Christmas Bouquet with Jug!
I have also uploaded another painting - completed just before we left for London last week. This was mainly a cloud study - the kind of sky we regularly see, here in Ayrshire. You can find it, as usual, on the Paintings page. I hope you like it!
16 August 2006
...I forgot to mention yesterday - because of the exhibition, all my paintings are now framed. As soon as I get a chance, I will take new photos of all the paintings - complete with frames - it's surprising the difference it makes when you see a painting as it would look on your wall...
15 August 2006
Well, it's been a busy month. I've been visiting relatives in Nairn and Castle Douglas, painting new pictures, finishing paintings off, buying frames, cutting mounts and ordering giclee print samples, all in preparation for the Brick Lane Exhibition in 3 weeks. I've still to work out how to get them all to London - but that's a minor detail!
With all the terrorist scares at the airports, I'm beginning to wonder if it would be wiser to drive to London and take the paintings in the back of the car - I can't be bothered driving long distances now and it would take 6-7 hours - THEN I'd have to find the hotel, the venue and somewhere to park my car. I really hope the airports are back to normal soon.
I've uploaded two new paintings today; I hope you like them. The first one is a watercolour study of Tam's Brig in Alloway, Ayr and the second is an oil on stretched canvas study of Loch Rannoch.
13 July 2006
New Painting Added: - I've just uploaded my latest painting.
This is a view of the sun setting over Arran from the beach at the mouth of the River Irvine. Never fails to amaze me when I see the vivid colours of the sun setting.
23 June 2006
Just thought I’d share my good news – I’ve been invited to exhibit my paintings at an Art Exhibition at the Brick Road Festival in London’s East End!
I had a phone call this morning from the organisers to ask if I would like to exhibit from 8th September (which just happens to be my birthday) – 10th September – which also just happens to be the same weekend that I am taking my daughter to see a West End Musical as a late birthday treat for her 16th birthday - so I'll be in London anyway.
If I exhibit this year, then I’ll automatically get a space for one of their 2007 Exhibitions. I’m so exited! Looks like all the boring computer time is paying off - at last!
Here’s a link to the Ickenox Art Shop website – This is their Noticeboard, with details of this year’s exhibitions (the Studio 95, Brick Lane Exhibition is the one that interests me) - there is also a link to last year’s exhibition page here so you can have a look at pictures of the venue - if you want...
22 June 2006
I am finally able to offer high quality Giclée Prints of my work...
A giclee (pronounced "zhee-clay" - from the French word meaning "spurt" or "spray") is a digital print produced by spraying millions of tiny ink droplets onto fine art paper or canvas. The archival based inks are specially formulated so that the fine print heads spray droplets at a resolution of 1200 dpi.
Both the inks and the media used are of archival grade, predicted to last 100 to 200 years. The visual quality of the print is extremely high and the color saturation and definition stunning. Since printing is of “photo quality” the quality of the print’s appearance is directly related to the quality of the original image.
...all technical stuff and very new to me!
I am in the process of upgrading my website and adding "Buy it Now" buttons for this new service. Please bear with me whilst I beaver away updating the pages.
Meanwhile, if the original paintings are already sold, or a bit too expensive and you fancy owning a print on canvas, (gloss or matte/stretched or unstretched), Fine Art Paper, Photo Gloss Paper or Archival Matte Paper; or maybe even a limited edition print, please let me know what size & medium you would like, and I will be able to organise despatch within a matter of a few days. There is an approximate size/price list here - I'll confirm prices when you contact me; I can also advise on optimum sizes for specific paintings.
THERE IS NO SHIPPING COST TO ADD TO THE PRICES QUOTED - SHIPPING IS FREE!
LIMITED EDITIONS
The limited edition prints take a bit longer - up to 28 days (although they will probably be with you much sooner). They are limited to 200 per edition - sizes vary according to which painting is being reproduced.
Reproductions of Oils or Acrylics will be printed on high quality stretched canvas, and coated with a special protective laminate finish.
Limited edition reproductions of Watercolour paintings will be printed on Albrecht Dürer Fine Art Paper, (210 g/m2 matte paper) by Hahnemühle, This is an acid-free, single-side coated with 50% rag. It has a natural white finish with a slightly-structured soft-textured surface
Once they are printed, they will be delivered to me so that I can sign and date the back of the print. I will then enclose the signed, serial numbered, Certificate of Authenticity before despatching to you.
12 June 2006
The surreal portrait of my daughter - "Gothica" just received an "Honourable Mention" in the prestigous Acrylics Art Online Exhibition Competition. This is a biennial competition, where nearly 650 artist members vote for their favourite paintings from those submitted to the exhibition! Just thought I share the good news - click the link to have a look the winners and runners up.
I'll need to get painting again and create something new for the next exhibition...
2005
The Auld Kirk, Alloway, Ayr won 3rd prize in the second 2005 Acrylics Art Online Exhibition Competition - a biennial affair where 500+ artists vote from the many paintings submitted to the exhibition! I was so chuffed!
commercial world of art, I have been interested in painting pictures since I was a child. Art was one of my favourite subjects at school, along with music, and over the years I have dabbled, on and off, with drawing and painting.