Hi everyone and welcome to the final week of my art exhibition through the years.
11. Emerald lake.
This was completed in 2019 using acrylics on canvas. It was an interesting canvas to do, and I do like the perspective even if the reflection on the water took me so time to do! I wanted the observer to feel the cold crispness in the air and the snowy crunch under your feet. To feel that warm welcome as you gaze upon the log cabin amid a peaceful snowy landscape. What was fun was doing the fur trees with the use of a fan brush; I feel they look very realistic.
12. Umbrella.
This was the second canvas I did of the Umbrella, the first not being of any good I'm afraid to say! How the second canvas came about was to do with the 100th anniversary of the PSS Wellbeing Centres and I did this piece to commemorate the occasion. Much time and patience were needed with this one as there was much detail to do, also I didn't wish to be bogged down with painting in every single brick like the first painting again so I came to a compromise - less is better(!) However I still had the railings to do... which was no fun. I think overall the perspective is good and it is a massive improvement on the first picture I did. For this piece I used acrylics, it was completed in 2020.
13. Wavertree Mill.
If I remember rightly my wife told me about the mill when she was on Facebook and I seemed to take quite an interest from that moment on. In all honesty, I think I talked about it too much and she got fed up! Anyway, I did investigate it and did much research with Shaun, my art companion. I painted this in 2021 using acrylics, it was quite challenging to get the colours right from the black and white photos, but it turned out quite well. It is a shame the mill has gone now as it was in a bad condition before it was dismantled in the early 1900s.
14. Mona.
Finished in 2022, and started during the lock down in 2020, there is quite a story to this canvas though I will try and keep it short. The inspiration for this came from a photo from one of my books on the IOM (Isle of Man) railway. I remember doing the drawings of the engine and train and once happy then tracing this onto the canvas. Next came the background and foreground on the canvas, which took much time as there were many errors along the way, which made me curse a few times! It amazes me how we can find self-confidence when things are going wrong, when there are problems to crack and solutions to find. With this one I found solutions and looking at the canvas you wouldn't think there are any major problems, but it was like a big jigsaw that came together over time. This canvas was the one that nearly made me give up art! It is painted with acrylics and model paints and the canvas is now on permanent exhibition with the IOM transport. There is a story about this train called Mona, she was given the nickname "The Sulker" as the locomotive used to do the early morning boat trains and struggled to make steam. The locomotive has now been cosmetically restored to her former glory and is on display at Port Erin.
15. Salen Boats.
Salen is on the Isle of Mull and this canvas was inspired by my good friend Shaun Flanagan, who sadly passed away. As far back as I can remember he loved this part of Scotland so in his memory I did this canvas as a tribute to him. It has been said about the canvas that the boats are like two friends together which is very fitting really. There is a peacefulness and tranquillity about the canvas which is comforting to me. This canvas was done in acrylics last year in 2023. I couldn't have had a better idea for the canvas, it really is fitting for my dear friend.
I hope you all enjoyed this trip down memory lane with my art and hopefully in time there will be new art from me.
Take care,
Ian