I’ve always wanted to paint Bowie and now this is it. Acrylic on deep canvas 36 x 36″. In the background is an image from his last video, Lazarus.
Look up here, I’m in heaven
I’ve got scars that can’t be seen
I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen
Everybody knows me now!
An acrylic on gesso panel of the River Torridge looking toward Appledore. A couple of years ago we had a wonderful summer and the waters around our coast became crystal clear. This was painted from an iPhone picture whilst taking the Instow Ferry to a beer festival across the water. As we left Instow Quay we immediately saw throught the clear water to the bottom with fish swimming by. A great memory and a great night at the Appledore Hall 400 x 400mm.
Over the pebble ridge. An acrylic painting of the walkway over the ridge at Westward Ho beach in North Devon. 610 x 610mm.
Every year groups of locals used to throw the pebbles back onto the ridge to maintain the water defences. This was known as Potwalloping. The term ‘potwallopers’ has been in existence since 1725 and is an alteration of the word ‘Potwaller’ (1701) which meant a man who qualified for a parliamentary vote as a householder in some boroughs in England prior to 1832. The test being his having a separate fire-place on which food was cooked for himself and his family.
In the ancient manor of Northam (which includes what was to become Westward ho!) a potwalloper had the right to graze their animals on the Burrows, but in return they had to help retain the pebble ridge by annually assisting in throwing back the pebbles that had been thrown onto the Burrows by the winter storms and high tides.
This annual ceremony disappeared after a time but is now still undertaken from time to time. From westwardhohistory.co.uk
Acrylic painting from the bridge at Umberleigh, North Devon. Acrylic on gesso board 400 x 400mm.
Last fire of the sun painted from a memory of a boat fishing trip out of Minehead Harbour, Somerset, England. Acrylic on gesso panel 400 x 400mm.
Longstone Barrow on Exmoor, Devon, England. Acrylic on panel 400 x 400mm.
A Sunday spent on Woolacombe Beach and as the sky changed colour the humidity seemed to rise and there became a closeness. As the sky became dark the sunlight shone through the waves and illuminated them from within. Taken on my pocket camera and later finished in the studio. Acrylic on watercolour paper 470 x 620mm.
Al Brown Artist. 