Life and The Universe!

I thought I would start the day by allowing things to happen or at least become more aware of what the universe was trying to say. this after reading a interesting blog Art for Life
walking across the bridge and down the other side over the railway crossing at Havant I suddenly saw a grey squirrel darting up the bridge, never seen that before , there.
Anyway whether it was because I was there and it was trying to get away it suddenly veered off and leaped into the trees! I do not know how it managed to get on the branches but it suddenly struck me that it was a leap of faith and there are somethings you just do without thinking.
Perhaps what I am trying to say is That If we all took leaps of faith we might accomplish more with our lives. It is all about being aware.
There are many symbolic ideas about this happening, but I think it means Be true to yourself
Not a original thing to end on but I think it was a book by Susan Jefferies with the title that said
"Forget the fear and do it anwway!"

Old Painting;

A old painting of mine. It has a venetian feel to it or a more general Italian feel. what do you think? Anyway someone liked it and bought it and this was going back a few years.The image you see here is of a photograph photocopied and laminated,came out rather well.

Scotish Highlands Revisited

Revisted a Higland scene. This time using muted colours
A bit further on after more glazes have been added.

Something Found

Found on the ground
a early conker
It was there, on a tree,
then it fell to the ground

Hayling Ferry

On Wednesday I used the ferry at Eastney that goes back and forth between Hayling Island and Eastney. It was a interesting crossing and there were things to see


The boats here are very old by the looks of it the one with the hole will not be going far and I very much liked the colourful one!



















This is the pontoon .


The crossing over to Hayling Island

Hayling Billy Line late afternoon

Dark and light
Patterns on the ground
Abstract shapes
Catching the eye

I came upon this tree on a walk along the Hayling Billy Line. You can walk along the shore in places, though the shingle makes it hard going. I just want to take this tree and make a Site Specfic but it is nature growing and not to be disturbed even though parts are old and twisted and weather beaten, it all goes to make one intersting experiencve and I can see I am going to have to go back and do some sketching!








here it is from a different persective. I can see a face!







Here Ican see a Horse!






A bit clearer,but what forms can you see in the Tree?

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE COLOUR BLUE

The photo of the last post of clear blue sky got me thinking about the colour blue. we take blue so much for granted. There is the ultramarine blue of the sky and the turquoise of the sea. The dome of the sky is brought home when the sky is Blue. But why do we call the summer b. the summer blues? There is the piercing qualty of light on a sunny day. The reflection of blue on water and the sparkling light on water. People tend to smile more on sunny day! A summer blue is different from a winter blue. Look up into the sky and see forever!

The sun has got his hat on!

A sunny day! Not a cloud though there are some smudges in the distannce I noticed but at least the sky is Blue! By all accounts it is expected to last until Friday when things come from the Atlantic again meanwhile enjoy!

History of a Painting

It wants to be a sky painting really in that it is a important part of the painting, this is as it is now, the top image is the last one and is of the painting as it is now but will no doubt change. i like the open space of it and that was what I was trying to capture this is based on the walk along the Hayling Billy line withviews over towards portsmouth

Hayling Billy Video!

came across this very interesting video on you tube. of interest if you live in Havant or Hayling Island......Time was
This Video is of interesting film taken in 1963 when they cloded the line.
The music with the film is just so!
If there are any copywrite issues I will of course remove the video

Writing again

Writing and communiction

based upon a idea from Art Smelter. which is one of my regular readsi used a Corel painting program for my version. people cannot really understand my writing at the best of times , but I still like the feel of a pen in the hand!

Swans and Ducks and things!

A walk on wednesday saw this family outing the proud swans
a bit further on some ducks and i am not quite sure of the identiy in the last photo here

Newlyn Photo!

Here is a old photo of Newlyn I took a few years back. I wonder if anyone can identify anything of interest>

What is The point of Art History?

George Innes
The Lackawanna Valley
national Gallery Of Art
Washington

This painting can be read on different levels. It can be taken for its own sake as a scene of train in a pleasant landscape. there is a man observing the train if you look closely you can see the tree stumps. these were the result of America's expansion and the need for space. Whole swathes of countryside were deforested.
The history behind this painting is interesting in that the painter painted it for the railroad president as a advertisement At the time there was only one track running into the roundhouse but the president insisted on having four or five painted in , easing his conscience by explaining that the road would eventually have them (Art and illusion by E.H.Gombrich, Phaidon Press London 1977) .Innes protested over this but gave in for the sake of hi family he hid the patch behind puffs of smoke

Art history traditional and important task of ordering styles and schools of art in ways which can make sense in the historical context. Inness was in a dominant position at this time The painting we are looking at had no public exposure between the time Inness painted it 1855 and the 1890's. when the artist himself came across in in a Mexican curiosity shop (Nineteenth Century American Art by Barbara Groseclose Oxford University Press 2000.)

The fact of the Mexican curiosity shop was interesting to discover also the knowledge gained of the painting not being in the public domain over 30 years is thought provoking, so there is a point to Art History and knowledge.

Stanhope A. Forbes

THE WANDERERS' RETURN
Stanhope A.Forbes 1857-1947
By courtesy of David Museum Gallery

This is from my greeting card collection. A country scene of a bygone age rather nostalgic with the geese and children.

Stanhope Forbes studied at the Dulwich College,Lambeth School of Art and the Royal Academy School before attending Bonnat's studio in Paris.

Starting a Painting

This is the start of a new painting. I started with Titanium White as the background colour. it is over a older painting which had got beyond its sell by date!

The start of a Painting that may or may not work out and progree into something

Researching

The use of research enhances the perception of the painting

A London Photo

This is one of my favorite scenes of London. I may hve shown this before but it is worth showing again!

Thinking again!

The historical context can add to the enjoyment of looking at paintings, because as with any background information this gives the viewer empowerment. It can bring to life something that by just looking at the painting without the knowledge would fail to do

Langstone

IMG_4809,
originally uploaded by christopherbellinger.

I may or may not have shown this photo before but this post is being done from Flicker!
I like the sky and the way the foreshore is in darkness

Waves at Brighton

This photo taken at Brighton last year on a windy day!

Twombly Experiment

My thanks to The Cycling artist for pointing me in the direction of this experiment.
Tina Mammoser has been looking at Twombly.
This artist does painting in a rather drawing kind of way and I must admit I have not really looked at him before.
Tina has been wondering what draing impliment to use for the lines on Acrylic well I found that biro was good I used a black one ..
I have always used Titanium paint and love the way you can use it as a base on old paintings that you have done and it tends to leave ghosts of paintings showing through! (new ideas) I was going to try and use another phot to show progree when I have added more lines. but the battery of my camera ran out and need recharging
another though this process reminds me in a way of engraving!

Working with Scribefire

I have been experimenting ScribeFire which is a add on to Firefox 3 which I think I have just got working!
I have been finding out how to manipualate images ie transfering from blogger to ScribeFire and have found that you can just transfer the uploaded image from blogger to ScribeFire. In the end you have a split screen and can work between the two rather than follow logical instructions which do not seem to work straight away!
The screen in ScribeFire is clear and you can make it larger though it gets a bit cramped in split screen mode
The font is a bit fidley to work with.
I like the fact that you have a live preview icon that shows what a page will look like.
On the whole I think I will try and stick with it despite some initial misgivings!
The place where you can tag is only for Technorati Tags and seems not have a space for any other!

Thinking again!

A painting even if viewed on its own without any knowledge can have profound effect on the viewer, who can remember what they saw and years later may want to find out more.

it looks better oblong not the same thought as befor but the same thinking process I think the colour scheme is ok as it highloghts and drwas the viewer in and usefull for important points!
What do you think?

A thought about a painting

The viewer of a painting brings his or hers own experience to the painting. The Painting has its own historical context though can be viewed on a seperate level and appreciated in its own right.

I am thinking within a box but wanted to highlight something not sure about the co;our or size but its something I have been wanting to do for a while

James Isherwood 1917-1988

A artist worth looking at for use of colour is James Isherwood who was born in Wigan and lived there, these paintings seem to have quite a Innocent air but they are I think acutely observed and I especially like his London Paintings namely of the Pool of London.
There are some originals on display at Portsmouth University Library and the caught my eye, apparently they are on loan.

Penzance by Stanhope Forbes

Just looking at this Painting by Stanhope Forbes is a interesting thing to do .It was painted in
1924 and is of Market Jew Street. It is a rather busy sort of view and there are only a few motor vehicles about, the lady crossing the road is heading towards the steps on the other side, though she may in fact be heading to cath the bus that is waiting buy them,. and there is a small child with her presumibly holding her hand, though we cannot quite see this on this side of the road there is a man loading a cart.,urther down a man id pushing a cart just past the post box .
it is rather a grey overcast sort of day.
A social commentry sort of painting one which you could see something different in it every time you looked at it.
It is a shame that you have to go all the way to Auckland, New Zealand to see it!

Hydrangea Photo's

This photo taken last week in the early morning sun!

This photo was taken a week or so ago when the plant

was just starting to look interesting

Boats at Cadgwith

Today I thought we would pay a quick visit to Cadgwith in Cornwall I very much like the way these boats were just there!
There are some more general shots here
a interesting wave shot here
For the painting of the day I have chosen one by Fredrick Parr
There are more paintings by Frederick Parr which may be of interest here

Housing Plans For Newlyn Revisited

More clarification on the Council housing plans for Newlyn in 1937 looking at this link what really saved the day was the outbreak ofthe war and the fact that many service men were billited in Newlyn.

Even though the plans went ahead to some extent the were listend to and it was not the complet disaster as many had feared. It does raise the question what appears to look quaint to artists may not in reality be practical, after all people do have to have decent housing
there is a photo of PZ 87 here

Newlyn: Plan1930's For Council Flats

Have come across a interesting fact about a plan that was afoot during the 1930's to demolish cottages at Newlyn and replace the with Council Flats!
A fishing trawler named Rosebud set off for Westminster
This all happend in the 1930's imagine if it had gone ahead, the face of Newlyn would have been changed for ever.

Langstone Picture and photos

A picture of my interpretation of Langstone(above), this was on a grey day but have added some hint of colour!
the photos were taken this morning as the tide was on its way out!

A Pallet of Colour

A pallet of colour!
Showing the colours I have used recently,some are oil and some acrylic,,,,,messy I know, but interesting

Black and White

For a complete change to colour just playing around with black and white.
I have tried engraving but found the process rather tedious

Samuel Palmer 1805-1881

Samuel Palmer is one of those artists that I keep meaning to have a look at, I do have a book that is mainly concerned with his drawings and sketches from 1824 and published by Thames Hudson.
What I learnt from Wikipeadia was that he seems to have become dissolusioned with rural scenes because of the discontent that was around in the 1830's .