Vytlacil Residency, 2012

They accepted me, and I am going in May! How brilliant is that?

For those that don't know, this is an artists residency run by the Art Student's League on a campus about 40 minutes north of New York. Yup, that's right, in the U.S.A. And yup, I ain't never been out of Europe before and can count the number of countries I've visited on one hand. So, a very big adventure . . . .

Here is a little youtube video of the place -doesn't it look sweet?

I'm looking for advice about where to go, what to see when I'm there - go on, tell your tales, share the gossip and recommend the best places to eat/see art/people to talk to/blogs to read . . . oh, and to prepare me, any films/books recommended?

Maybe a little later I'll talk about what I expect - should be interesting reading after I have been!

The Actress

This Friday I'll have another 4 paintings on show at Art Exposure Gallery, including this one. It is one of the paintings that I changed after I got back from Amsterdam and although I liked it before, I like it even better now.

What else is happening? My painting at the RGI sold, there are a couple of paintings and life drawings on show at The Virginia Galleries, and a drawing of this lady at The Scottish Drawing Competition in Paisley - which I haven't been able to go and see yet, unfortunately, but should make it in the next week. Knowing a few people who've put work in, I'm quite excited to see what they've entered.

Oh, and I've been busy painting. Which reminds me that I'll need to find the time to go and buy some more brushes!

Amsterdam Trip

Lots of you will know that I recently went to Amsterdam for a few days - the first time I had been abroad in ages. We did lots of wandering about and I visited the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, both amazing places, despite the Rijksmuseum being mainly closed. Although there were only about 5 rooms open, I still managed to spend at least 3 hours in the place - a large part of this sitting looking at Rembrandt's The Jewish Bride.

There was a portrait of Rembrandt by his pal Jan Lievens linked here which makes him handsomer and squarer jawed than he tends to make himself - although he is a little pop eyed, and does still have the silly hair. Mind you, I have silly hair myself, so I know how hard it can be to control . . .

Also, there was a special exhibition comparing early Degas self portraits with early Rembrandt's. This was truly fascinating - both the paintings and the etchings. Sitting there looking at them I feel I learnt more than I could have from several hours of lectures or teaching. Not least that size is a very important consideration. But most of all it was the treatment of the light and background space. The little painting called Small Beauty, which I entered into the RGI, was painted the weekend I got back!

RGI 2011

It's that time of year again - the annual RGI (Royal Glasgow Institute) show - this one is the 150th. This little picture (its only 10cm square) has been selected and I am proud as punch. The opening is a week today, when I'll get to see it in situ and get a good gander at everyone else's work - this one is particularly brilliant.

My painting was painted a few weeks ago, after visiting the rijksmuseum for the first time in over 20 years - they had this special exhibition on, comparing Degas's early self portraits with Rembrandt's work. It was a fascinating show and I must have spent at least an hour just sitting staring. There is something incomparable about seeing oil paintings in real life, and the Degas paintings I hadn't seen even in reproduction before. But what mainly fascinated me was how small they were, but how magnetic, and when I got home I really wanted to try and reproduce the effect.

There is something about small that enraptures me and I will be painting at least a few more of these little works. There are few painters in Glasgow that seem to work small which I think is a shame - there does seem to be a real pressure to work big and although that has its own attractions for me I don't think it is the only way to paint and it is not the only way to make a painting worthwhile.

(will now go and get off my soapbox)

What is a Drawing?

Have entered The Scottish Drawing competition, but am struggling with their definition (gad I hate art speak!) - "Mark making with intent" For the purpose of the competition, a drawing is defined as a representation by means of lines and the arrangement of these lines which determine a particular form. Form being the arrangement of individual shapes and volumes and their relationship depicted in a work of art, whether figurative or abstract as distinct from its subject matter or content. Drawing in any medium is acceptable. (phew!)

The above drawing I decided not to enter, as I felt it was too close to painting, whereas I am entering the drawing from Previous post as well as a more straight forward landscape drawing. Did I make the right decision? I have no idea . . . and will wait and see if I am accepted.

Personally I feel that any work which uses the support as a major element and mainly consists of marks laid down in one layer is a drawing - so I would include the above, and most of my watercolours. They are made with a brush making one mark as I go - so the mark varies in width, but to me it is still a line. Am i nuts? All comments welcome . . .

Wasps Open Weekend

Date: Saturday 1st October - Sunday 2nd October
Venue: W.A.S.P.S Factory, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow, G31 2HF

As many of you will know, I have been attending life drawing at Wasps Hanson Street studios now for at least five years.

This year the friday group are putting on quite a show, with most of us exhibiting at least two works. There promises to be a some studio-based works and paintings, as well as life drawings - which should ensure a wide range of styles and subject matter!

We will have a clothed model in the room for most of the day, so everyone can have a go. Work will be also be available to purchase.

Opening hours - 11am - 5pm, Saturday 1st October
12 noon - 5pm, Sunday 2nd October

Further information is available on the WASPS website.

Tease Exhibition at Virginia Gallery

New exhibiton opening today at Virginia Gallery" - a new venue for me. Fiona Wilson asked me to put a few small things in, as there are 4 big walls to fill. I am actually quite excited about seeing five of my works up together - especially as it will be the first time I've displayed my little ink and watercolour life drawings in public. And, of course, seeing Fiona's work is always a pleasure.

The first image is also the first that I did at All The Young Nudes, way back in February - it has become quite a favourite on Flickr, so it will be interesting to see the response to the real thing.
The opening party will be on the 23rd, so anyone in Glasgow quite welcome to come along - the gallery is below Luke and Jack's, which sells fancy condoms and such like, so be warned. The two chaps who run both the shop and gallery are absolutely lovely though, and quite welcoming - this may well be that the start of a long and hopefully fruitful collaboration!