An Invitation!

Towards an Exihibition!

This week I've been painting towards an exhibition at the end of this month which came up suddenly.Last week I've been invited to exhibit in a gallery in Ankara in replacement of an artist who dropped out.As it is in another city I will be able to exhibit my works previously exhibited in Istanbul plus some new ones but I still need to paint a few more.
This is around 40x60cm but will be cropped to half sheet size 56x37cm to fit an available mat and frame.Turned out to be more colorful than I intended.The bright red spot at the rh side is not that bright IRL. May try this with a different palette as I'm not very happy about it.Hahnemuehle Toscana 200gsm with Schmincke colors.
It is based on a reference photo by a friend ,Melissa Fischer,with some artistic license.

Larissa

This is Larissa,Nicholas Simmons' beatiful daughter.Nick is an online friend and artist from Wetcanvas .He kindly gave permission to post my painting online.
I had immediately thought to do a painting of her when Nick posted some pictures of his family last year.I finally got around to do it today.It is on 1/4 sheet size Hahnemuehle Torchon 275 gms paper.I'm kind of beginning to like this paper for portrait work(see my "Ceren") .It gives a looser effect if you work wet on wet.As usual with my portrait work of small children she looks older than she is but she is hopefully at the age now she looks!

Big Ben my Way

As I mentioned somewhere below,I was in London Area last Spring.Been to London for only a couple of hours and only took a quick tour mostly looking for an eye shade(sleeping mask?) and a fragrance for Canan,my wife(the C here like in Ceren pronounced like J BTW).

I didn't take any pictures in London but was marvelled again by the glowing intricate details in architecture of the House of Parliement and the Clock Tower mostly referred as Big Ben .It was a great sight under the afternoon sun.

This painting is based on a photo I took in 1985.

It is on half sheet ,50x35cm Britannia.Usual Schmincke colours and Quin Gold from W&N.

Ceren

As I didn't much like the undefined areas in her neck I made some modifications,hope it looks better now.

Ceren is my niece.I took the reference photo many,many years ago.She was a beatiful child.

I did this yesterday on a Hahnemühle paper,I don't know the name,Torchon maybe? It is 1/4 sheet size(25x35cm).It has a different texture from my usual Britannia.

Variations on an Old Sketch

A small imaginary sketch I did and saved in my hd couple of years ago inspired me yesterday to do a redo in a more serious manner because I like the posture of the main figure.I cannot remember the size as I can't locate it now.I wasn't entirely happy with my first effort yesterday so I did another one. First one is half sheet,second is 30x50cm,third image is a close up.

In the Woods

I just did this.The reference is a slide of mine taken many years ago in Woodstock US.Its 1/4 sheet size but I don't remember the paper brand,Bockingford maybe?

W&N and Schmincke colors:UMB,Cerulean Blue,Quin Gold,Permanent Rose,Lemon yellow,Burnt Sienna and Cadium Red.

Fishing in Piece Series

I spent the last couple of days doing these small pieces just to keep my brushes wet.All done on 1/4 size paper.
My reference was a slide of mine taken many years ago in Olympos ,Antalya.With lots of artistic license the scene turned out to be a completely different place with different vegetation and climate.

Fishing in Piece series continued

This was the last one.I don't know why I continued to paint the same scene again.In the end I'm afraid the first one is still the best?

A thank you !

I have realized that I haven't individually thanked some of those who have posted comments here.So a thank you is in order now to each and everyone of you for the comments with nice words .

Thank you everyone.

Resting in Peace II

This I painted yesterday.As I couldn't locate my original slide I relied upon my below painting for details so it had to be very loose!

It is 35x50cm Hahnemuehle Britannia with W&N and White Nights.

Resting in Peace

...after retirement in their final days in the sea.A sad scene showing two veteran cruisers leaning on each other looking weary and worn out.This painting is dated 1987.It is based on a photo I took circa 1974.Back then I used to paint small watercolours 2-3 a year.Very few survived.It seems it has traces of my present loose style.

It is 20x25cm

The Girl From Madagascar

This is one of my recent works ,well maybe not so recent,say couple of months old.A small piece done on 1/4 Hahnemuehle.Based on a photo which my friend Esra took on her recent trip to Madagascar.It is my first effort on a coloured skin portrait.

Same Little Boy!

It is embarrasing that I haven't updated my blog this long.You can call it a complete lack of motivation to do anything.
This is a portrait I did two years ago,some of you may remember it.It was sold btw.He is still at a paintable age.I recently took a picture of him again which I liked.I wanted to paint it ,tried twice(the last one was yesterday) but I didn't like them much to show here.I remember only at third time I was satisfied with my work last time so no giving up!Maybe this afternoon, maybe tomorrow.

Painters Block (not Blog!)

Cold Pressed
















Blue Vase

I haven't painted since I've come to Bodrum except today.I am afraid I have a painters block.Lots of excuses not to paint;an awkard and limited working space,too hot and I don't like painting in an air conditioned room etc, etc.

I've just painted two small quickies today and as I expected both ended in the bin.

If I wait for new paintings to post here I'm afraid Icannot update my blog often.These are two recent studies done couple of weeks ago in Istanbul,both 1/4 sheet size.

Herdsman

A close up:











Another one of this year's small pieces on 36x25 cm Arches rough 300gms.I used the same drier technique here with some dry brush effects.Palette is limited;only ultramarine blue,burnt sienna and if I remember correctly some Translucent Orange from Schmincke.


I don't remember if I made a preliminary drawing, I probably did not.

On hold for exhibit.

The Bronze Gallery Summer Exhibition-Quiet Water

This is my second painting in display at the moment at the Bronze Gallery along with the "Red Chair"

Its a narrow format 50x30cm Hahnemuehle Britannia.

The exhibition will be open between 25th July-23rd August 2008.

Resting Time

Another half sheet sized (56x38 cm Fabriano Artistico rough 300gm)painting.

I added the background of boats later as it received some comments that he needed something to show what he was doing as the nets he was mending had not been read well (I hate making complicated sentences like this with different tenses as I'm probably doing them incorrect!). The original is here.

Some objected the tittle too.Does a fisherman mend his net in his resting time?I believe he does if he is self employed so its still "Resting Time".

Solitude

A half sheet effort done on Hahnemuehle Toscana(200gr).Lightness was no problem as I fully wetted the paper first and worked fast so there were no buckling.

I think this painting is an example of a combination of happy accidents with a little help from myself.

The image here is a little cropped one,original has more space around the fisherman.

The Bronze Gallery Summer Exhibition-Red Chair

This is a redo of a painting I posted at Wet Canvas in 2007.Another artist friend Deborah Kirby loved it so much, I sent it to her as a gift.

Its a small one ,1/4 sheet Hahnemuehle Britannia.