I decided to take a trip out to the old Winkleigh Aircraft Control Tower with my son. This base was built as an airfield for the second world war in 1939 and included secret Black Ops. I decided to produce a photoshop of this building as seen above. Al
http://jackiefreemanphotography.com/raf_winkleigh.htm
A large scale Bideford Black on paper 1020 x 750mm. Another one of my boardwalk black and white paintings. I’ve used a different paper for this composition although due to the make up of this paper scratching and sgrafitto was quite difficult in not impossible at time. I will probable be making prints of this one. Al
A photo shopped image of my making from an photograph I took back in April 2019 on Challacombe Common on Exmoor. I love these menhir and shall perhaps be casting my eye to the stones of Dartmoor. Perhaps a large acrylic painting in the near future. Background sky credited to Tom Gainor @its_tgain. Al
Topographic Exmoor. My nod to the brilliant, and for me quite inspirational, illustrator Roger Dean. Loved his album covers during my art school days in the 70s and have followed him ever since. There was a moment in the early 90s when my wife and I were staying in San Francisco, we were to go and see an exhibition by Ronnie Wood. Once there the gallery owner recognised that we were English and mentioned that Roger Dean would be exhibiting the following week, did I know about him? Next I found myself up in his office and there were all of the famous Dean images propped up against the walls. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing they were much larger than I imagined, a little like discovering the Holy Grail. A private viewing to be sure! Al
The finished acrylic painting is 1000 x 7000mm on canvas. The painting is inspired by an evening walk with my son Archie to take some photographs of the summer sunset from the Upcott Folly. This folly is near Pilton, Barnstaple in North Devon. A Tiger Moth biplane on it’s evening flight from Eaglescott Airfield flew over and we managed to take some great pictures. I must have a flight in this wonderful plane. Al
A day off and it’s raining like a monsoon so I decided to do an acrylic sketch of Oyster Falls at Croyde in North Devon, 650 x 450mm. I find it quite difficult to keep my brushstrokes honest and succinct so by using this type of sketch work I attempt to escape my more illustrative style.
I like placing vapour trails in some of my skies, it’s a sort of reminder of my past travels and adventures. Al
Big thank you to Peter Stiles & The Plough Arts Centre for allowing me to exhibit on their Artist’s Wall. I spent the morning setting up early with a nice cup of coffee. My exhibition is now open but will run officially from the 21st September to 19th October. Al
Last night I spent an enjoyable evening exhibiting work with photographers Adrian Beasley & Stephen Raff. This event was a preview exhibition for this year’s North Devon Art Trek 2019. The name Black Arts originated from our collective work of black & white photography and Bideford Black paintings.
Throughout the evening Adrian showed his skills in photo editing for which he runs regular weekend courses far and wide. He also performed some electronic music, has numerous albums and performs with the group Airsculpture. Stephen took some traditional wet plate portraits which intrigued the audience greatly. I chatted about my sourcing of the Bideford Black pigment, it’s preparation and usage. For us the evening turned out much better than we had anticipated and we’d like to say a great thanks for those who attended. Al
780 x 550mm Bideford Black on Bockingford Paper. Another painting of my favourite walk down the boardwalk to Crow Point in North Devon. This has been completed just in time for this year’s Art Trek opening evening at the Pilton Arts Group in Barnstaple 12:09:2019. I am sharing this evening with the amazing landscape photographer Adrian Beasley and wet plate photographer Stephen Raff. I will post pictures of this event soon. Al
An enjoyable, in the moment, walk with my son Archie up to the Upcott Folly to see the sunset. I heard the sound of a plane overhead and to my pleasure a Tiger Moth flew over us and on into the evening sunset 08:09:19. Perhaps a painting for a winter evening? Al
Painted as a watercolour sketch on Woolacombe Beach many years ago! Our twins are soon to be 16 years old, where has all that time gone? If you can remember the BBC series The Likely Lads….
Oh, what happened to you?
Whatever happened to me?
What became of the people we used to be?
Tomorrow’s almost over
Today went by so fast
The only thing to look forward to is the past? 😎
Not completely true to us but we’ll see! Al
Al Brown Artist. 