Don't forget our June Photographic Challenge. There are bound to be more of you out there wanting the child in you to escape with this fairy tale challenge. Only three young at hear so far .... click to see. Looking forward to more of you stepping up to challenge next week! Maria
Billie says hello ... Thanks Billie for this information on live Workshops on Wednesday evenings by Paul Cavanagh. Follow the link for details. https://youtu.be/dNdA3zSlx4g
0 Comments
Plein Air at Galgorm Castle and Creative Gardens.
Billy R says hello ... I was not able to keep in touch with you as my computer was down for 3 week and was away for repairs. So nice to read recent messages. Maria and Barbara do a wonderful job, keeping members informed and I see you now meet once a week for sketching/painting. I hope to join you all soon. I have just purchased a new Laptop and it is a nightmare setting it up. I have completed a recent painting of a scene my brother took when out walking near Folkstone. Hope you all have a lovely day plein air painting. Keep safe Billy .Billy says .... As promised - The two recent paintings I've been enjoying doing during lockdown. Catherine F says hello .
Lesley S says hello Enjoying another plein air sketching at Ecos Park. Lesley Davy P says hello ... This little lady is known as a “mutt” and lives in America and this painting will soon be on its way. Davy Ursula M says hello... Hi All. This is my latest work- the largest canvas I’ve ever used: 76cm x51cm ! It’s acrylic and a copy of the work of Lauren Terry who sells on ‘Not on the High Street’ and whose work I found on Pinterest. I love the colours and contours on her work. I’ve painted this for a farmer friend’s daughter who’s mad about cows. It’s been a real learning curve working on such a large scale but I think I’ll have another go soon!! Maria H says hello ...
I like Ursula decided to go big this week. I thoroughly enjoyed painting these large lillies with acrylics on a large canvass approximately 80cm X 60cm. I just love the colours and have it hung on the wall already. Barbara says hello ... Hi Everyone, Another successful day painting at the Ecos Centre looking over towards Slemish. Check out https://atimetopaint.weebly.com/keep-in-touch to see some of the results and www.ballymenavisart.com for some photos of us painting. The weather wasn’t too bad but there was a strong wind, hence the group hiding in the bushes unlike Noel, Maria, Catherine and Ursula who braved the elements. Wednesday 10th we’re going to Galgorm Gardens. Please meet in the car park at 10 a.m. and we’ll disperse. I hope to see you there. Let's hope it stays dry. Keep well Barbara See photos by scrolling to the bottom of Home page on Vis Art website. Freddy says hello ... I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and not getting too excited about the easing of some restrictions. My latest efforts: Title: “Faithful friend”. Watercolour 13 x9 inches NFS Graphite pencil drawings NFS One of my granddaughters loves horses, I think she may claim these sketches. Trying to finish paintings and drawings I had started. Take care Freddy Maria H says hello.. Most of you will be aware that we have been meeting in small groups to paint plein air. This has been so welcome and enjoyable ... how long is it since I had something to put in my diary! It been lovely to paint together and enjoy the company of Visart painters. I'm new to plein air and use it to improve my drawing and observational skills. I'm also experimenting with pen and ink and have done my Ecos Park plein air as Pen and wash. The wash I added at home. Thank you to Lesley who supplied us all with a ‘frame’ to ensure a pleasing composition. I found this very useful. Painting is a process not an end result. During these times it can be therapeutic letting us get lost in our painting for a few hours. The finished piece may or may not please but this is not important. We all like to hear from each other and to know that we are all safe and managing. Please continue to keep in touch by letting us know how you are getting on and / or a sketch / painting. No ‘best’ paintings in this blog just sharing of thoughts. Maria
Jacqui says hello ...
When Lockdown came I found it really difficult to settle to paint so I decided to try and develop my portrait painting which I think is the most difficult thing to paint and it was the last thing I attempted at Vis Art. I originally thought to motivate myself if there was any part of the painting that was recognisable I would crop into that and post it on facebook or Instagram and see if my followers wanted to guess who it is. I had attempted my self portrait before lockdown at Vis Art and wasn’t happy with the whole painting but thought the eyes were good so posted those for people to see. So I searched through my photographs to see who I had good photos of to work from and found a good selection of people from my church, as I had been photographing the church events for years. So I thought this would be a connecting thing to do and would all create a connected body of work in this learning process. Although there is a certain amount of risk painting a portrait of someone and posting it on social media without them knowing, they might hate it. So that's how the marathon started one at a time I was totally hooked and couldn't wait to get up in the morning and get painting to see how it would look. 'most!! ' of the paintings have been well received by the subjects. I have learned so much. Freddy says ... Hello everyone Maybe a light at the end of a very dark tunnel, with this virus. I have a daughter who lives in the Netherlands and I was amused at a restaurant in Amsterdam have developed “pods” families can sit in, be served food on long pieces of wood. (every one is safe) how life will change in the future. I love to see all your paintings and read the inspired comments. I want to share my latest efforts. Regards Freddy Catherine F says hello ... I am learning the art of sending pictures by email, at least l hope l am. The weather seems to have broken a bit so l haven’t been out on by bike for a while but by the look of things l will have plenty of time! I am still enjoying “ a time to paint”, it’s good to see what everyone is doing. Watercolour, acrylic , oil , pen and ink, it’s all there and you know that if the group had broken up for the summer and circumstances had been different this wouldn’t be happening so well done you for rallying the troops.......l hope we can all keep this going as it’s had to keep motivated at times. Keep well, keep safe, Regards, Catherine Leslie s says hello ... I'm very close to being finished,I think. Ive knocked back the lines behind her head and introduced some very pale reflected tones from the greenery outside .I've re measured the lines of the windowsill to make sure they continue behind her and would join up.I've put in some more highlights in her hair agonized over her nose and mouth but I think I'm done .Will look at it again before varnishing. I may just knock back the greenery a bit more with another milky glaze . I also softened her tee shirt with a thin blue milky glaze .That's the great thing g with acrylics if something is shouting at you then just do a thin glaze over it to knock it back.it works like magic every time. Oh and I used a fluid retarder to enable me to blend her facial tones. Lesley Maria says hello....
Still working away on our Portrait challenge. If nothing else I've learn't so much. Time and patience and not my usual full steam ahead, Pencil is an easier / more controlled way to develop tone in my drawing, Practice, practice, practice and that I have higher check bones than the neighbour that my husband keeps thinking I'm drawing! I'm nearly afraid to uplaod whennI see the wonderful skilled portaits from Lesley and Ursula... I've started using the back pages of last year's calendar as paper too nice to throw out. However- couln't use an eraser anymore on twins to soften some feature ... My son thinks I've lost the plot when I asked him to photograpgh my eye - and then wanted a version 'with less lines'! PS - ready to escape this afternoon and meet a few friends .... happy days! Barbara M keeps in touch...
Maria seeing who's out there!Good morning all. I've been debating with myself - Who's reading this...Who's interested ..... Should i continue ...Am I talking o a few faithful followers who have delighted us with their fantastic work? ??? I then remembered a popular slogan - Statistics - can tell you anything you want. So todays picture from me a a statistics -- I know you love your maths! So ... what does it tell me? You do check in Wednesday / Thursdays..... On average 15 of you read the email / blog ..... and - as if I we didn't know --- we are all unique! Great stuff ... keep keeping in touch Maria Catherine F keeps in touch ....Hi everyone, It was good to hear from you all. I am still going for walks but in the good weather it is usually cycle runs. I am still trying to keep up with my sketchbook work, l really enjoy it but when things go wrong as they often do, frustration can set in ! I like the time that the lockdown has given us ,breakfast has become very leisurely and we read the papers and just relax. I will not be rushing out to shops or restaurants when this is over, Regards, Catherine
Lesley S keeps in touch ...i everyone yes we are quite enjoying the release from pressure .no more school runs frantic change of clothing for a tired 4 year old for ballet.Their Mum n Dad are at home so I have fun playing with the little ones and our weekly art class and now baking class We made apple and jam pasties today some with nutella in ..special request from Ellie who is 2.I am Finding more time to just be with the horses groom and give them big hugs My big black horse is very hugable. I do feel very safe and lucky to be away from the town tucked away here in N.I. My son and family are not so lucky down in Kent it is,all around them and they are being very careful.I hope everyone thinks carefully before joining the frantic rat race again when this is over although I rather think it is here with us now and we are going to have to live with it. We are growing more vegetables as well and enjoying the garden. Also - Quick 15 min selfie with Pip the pony Cheers Lesley Lesley's May Portrait ChallengeHi all Not quite a self portait but this acrylic of my grand daughter Evie is for her mum Jess s 40th birthday . Of course no party poor Jess but at least we are all together. I may try a quick self portrait once this is finished . Theres a few areas I'm not happy with but it's nearly there Cheers Lesley Davy P says helloHi there everyone, I’m not too good at using e-mails but I try my best, I enjoyed what everybody else are doing with their drawings and paintings, They are all very good, please keep it up. Thanks to Maria and Barbara for keeping in contract with everyone, it is much appreciated and encouraging. Normally at this time of year, I do very little painting but it has been the opposite, I been enjoying what I been doing. Thanks to everyone once again, Here praying we will all meet up again in September. Davy P. Ursula's May Portrait ChallengeHi All Here’s my ‘portrait’ challenge work. I really find portraits challenging! Both these are in watercolour and the churn is in acrylic. My youngest son spent most of his days in this pose finishing his uni dissertation at the kitchen table so I had plenty of time to paint him! His elder brother also held a pose playing play station all day!!!! We cleared out the garage and came across 2 old milk churns bought at auction 30 years ago and needed some TLC so, a lick of black paint later I got to do a portrait of our Freisian neighbour onto it! Hope all are well. Keep safe. Ursula Freddy keeps in touch
Hello from Karin T ...Hello everyone. I've uploaded these two paintings. I enjoyed painting a Canadian landscape by night ... and then I tried a new view for me ... Slemish by Night. Hope you enjoy them. Karin T Hello from Ursuala M ...Hello from MariaAnother week gone ... who’d had thought we’d be talking in months and not weeks in relation to isolation. This week I thought I’d try a portrait for our May Challenge. My goodness I need my head examined for suggesting that one! I went for a self portrait - but couldn’t find a selfie that looked like me!! Finally settled on one and got painting. Three attempts later and with hubby responding to each one with ‘who’s that?’ I decided to wait for attempts 4,5 and 6! Oh well I’ve got a month.
Then went on to try someone else and went for Bocelli performing all alone on Easter Sunday in Milan Cathedral. Then decided to try an old favorite and did a lily pond from memories of a walk in Glenveagh Castle. Still debating if it need a few big black ink swirls. I’m enjoying it keeping me busy. Keep painting and sending in your work. Maria
Lesley S says hello ...Hi all Art at Granny's today .We were playing with my coloured chalks .Both of us loving the bright colours .I used the SAA Paint magazine as inspiration for my practice sketches which naturally will only go into my folder as they are not original art work just for fun.But I enjoyed doing them as did Evie who coloured her pictures beautifully. Lesley Eugene R says hello ...Hello all These are a few of the paintings I've been enjoying doing recently. Eugene Catherine F says hello ...As promised l’m sending you a couple of drawings from my little sketch book. I am still enjoying going out on my bicycle esp.,when the weather was so good. I keep going back to “ a time to paint “ as l love to see what everyone is doing. I hope we have the energy to keep going!
I am spending some time going through my art magazines, something l really could never make the time for before lockdown. Catherine Hi All, This is my latest effort- result of painting along with Conor Larkins acrylic workshops. It was a real challenge with a lot of under painting and it only really came to life when I used the palette knife. Pleased to have tried something different and out of my ‘comfort zone’! Hope all’s well with you. Ursula Hi Everyone It's great to see how everyone is keeping in touch. It's good for us! Well you may know, I have put on an online exhibition in lieu of the one which was meant to be in the Oriel Gallery in Antrim. Please take a look it on my website www.sorrelwillsart.com or if Maria puts it up on the VisArt one then you can also see. Meanwhile, see on the website some progress pictures of one of the first painting in the show "Sunlit Dewy Morning." Done using oils and Palette knives. Keep painting sketching and drawing! .... It's great we have this artistic activity for our sanity Sorrel xx More from Sorrel
Sorrel has also kindly given us an insight into how she approaches her paintings. The first - Sunlight Dewy Morning' can been seen on a separate page - See Sorrel in Menu or click here Hello all
Finished at last, I enjoyed this painting, it spoke a lot to me, Anyone who knows their bible, will know this scripture, “Those who wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength.” These are waiting times, the eagle will never waste its energy. Davy P Hi Everyone
I hope you are all keeping well. I have been looking at all the wonderful paintings which you have been doing. They are terrific. I have not painted anything recently as I have been gardening and doing things outside while this good weather lasts, but now that I've seen all your work, I feel inspired and have decided that it is time for me to lift a paintbrush again. Annabell Hi all
I'm spending lots of time painting but with my 4 yr old grand daughter Evie.So any pics have taken on a very bright colouring in tone as I'm using her paints. Rainbow skies are the order of the day in the view out of my bedroom window. Lesley xx Art Sweet Art - Sofa Exhibition to be enjoyed from home sweet home.
This Exhibition was due to open at the Oriel Gallery, Clotworthy Art Centre in Antrim Tuesday 21st April. Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has made this imposible. However, in the spirit of carrying on regardless, I am showing a collection of new works here and on Facebook. I hope you enjoy the art and thank you for coming to my exhibition. Cheers!! I thought you might enjoy this Artist’s tribute to Captain Tom Moore
Hello everyone Hope you are all well? There is more to life than cleaning😎 I enjoy seeIng your paintings and what inspires you. I thought I would share the view from my painting studio/office, the blossoms soon fade. Red Camellia to the left, Copper Japanese Acer, centre, Cherry blossom tree back ground, orange Pyracanthus far right. Sun shining. I was awake at 5.30am and listening to the dawn chorus, birds going bonkers. Of course painting at 5.30am is a bit much! Hello everyone
I have always been fascinated by some of the old master’s paintings and how they achieved their masterpieces. My intention is not to paint an exact Image of an old master painting but the satisfaction in trying. ( my interpretation) Here is my oil painting efforts. Johannes Vemeer’s “ Girl with a pearl earring” 1665 Young woman by Rafael ...Italian Renaissance painter 1500 (These paintings are not for sale.) Freddy Pretty rubbish sketches yesterday but at least I am back drawing again.I'm allowing half an hour to do 1 sketch in and using a variety of pens.I like the sepia one and am finding the thicker black one is great for simple lines but is too thick to satisfy my need for scribble detail.the cat has lost his patches and 1 eye in the black strokes of the thick pen whilst my close up of Kennys nose dosent look like him at all .must try harder .
Lesley Hi All Like Billy and David I've been busy in the garden trying to tidy up and get ready for the summer. Moss isn't my friend. I've bought a set of polychromos coloured pencils and have drawn a Slipper orchid from a photo I took last year. I'll get better! On the really windy days I've been spring cleaning. Oh joy! and then relaxing with my new pencils. Anyone who has experience of these please get in touch. I've looked at numerous videos on You Tube but am always open to suggestions. and criticism, constructive please. Next week I hope to transfer the website www.ballymenavisart.com to a cheaper provider so it may well be unavailable for 7 days, I'll let you know when it's up and running , It will look slightly different but the content will be similar. In the meantime, keep well. Aren't we lucky to have something that distracts us from all the awful news that we hear every day. Keep well and Keep painting Barbara Hi ALL
Because the weather has been so good, I have been taking advantage of it and working mostly in my garden. I will get down to painting soon. I have been admiring some wonderful paintings on our website. The standard is very high, so I congratulate the people who have produced these beautiful paintings. Hope everyone is well in these trying times, so I want to thank Barbara and Maria for the way they are keeping members informed. Keep up the good work. Billy |
CommentsPlease comment / reply to each other. Categories |