A boy and a puddle; a journey in wellies. 

img_2973

A study in my own Bideford Black of a friend’s picture of her son.  Entitled A boy and a puddle: a journey in wellies.  Loved the composition a little like a previous picture of mine of a boy on Camden Lock in the 70s, also on this webpage.  Overall this painting took about an hour and a half still trying to achieve a more spontaneous kind of composition so every study I do at the moment has to be time constrained.  Just trying to escape my illustrator/draughtsman training and background.  Al

John Lennon

17799928_1429052633812132_1822781719023522886_nThis painting was completed in the early 70s.  I must have been about 14 years old.  This was completed at school using gum arabic masking and gouache paints.  Only found this the other day in my mother’s attic a shame about the small tear but pleased to see it again.  Al

Abbey Road with incoming storm.

IMG_2792Abbey Road near where I live in Pilton Barnstaple.  Walking into town and managed to remember an umbrella.  The neon cheap spring sunshine was still breaking through a bank of black storm clouds.  Managed not to get wet all afternoon.  Couldn’t resist holding my iPhone close to the ground and taking this image.  Al

Blackpool near Hartland in North Devon.

DSC01450A wonderful day walking to the beach at Blackpool from Hartland Abbey.  Blue sky, warm spring sunshine and idyllic surroundings.  Rock formations on the beach are amazing.  The cottage on the seafront here was used in recent films such as Sense and Sensibility and The Night Porter.  Plenty to draw and sketch and perhaps some paintings will come of the visit.  At last the warmth of summer is coming.  Al

Jardin des Plantes. Paris.

IMG_2756IMG_2706.JPGA quick pastel sketch of the wonderful park called the Jardin des Plantes in Paris.  Here in this scene it was a warm spring morning and the white avenue edged by trees looked splendid.  Runners, families were all here making the most of the crisp sunshine.  From here we made our way to the Paris Mosque for wonderful mint tea, a hookah pipe and sweet savoury cakes.  Al