Wednesday 27 June 2012

New Portrait Production Update - Pictures

I am still recovering from filming the  amazing Andrew James paint four amazing portraits in just two days for our next DVD. Andrew is Vice President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the word to describe his work is - stunning. Three of the portrait sketches he completed in three hours each  but his piece de resistance was an amazing one hour  11 x 8 inch sketch of my wife Elaine pictured in the red top at the end of this sequence of portraits.

Portrait painting is my first love and apart from the filming I learned so much from Andy.

The DVD - Expressive Oil Portraits -  will be out at the beginning of August and runs two hours.










Friday 15 June 2012

London Exhibition for Peter Wileman

ROI President Peter Wileman is having an exhibition of his recent work at London's  W. H Patterson Gallery. It's just opened and runs until July 6. Here are just a sample  of Peter's work in the exhibition. Why not go along and see them in the flesh!









Friday 8 June 2012

New Portrait Painting Production


Andrew James self portrait

I am very excited to be filming our latest  production next week with the hugely talented portrait painter Andrew James RP. Andy is Vice President of the Prestigious Royal Society of Portrait Painters and I just love his work. It is in the best traditions of classical portrait painting but with a fresh modern twist. It will be called Expressive Portraits in Oil and is all about capturing the essential character of someone - not just a physical likeness. There will be four portrait demonstration on the DVD including one in which he will show you just what can be achieved in under an hour!

Check out Andy's work on his excellent brand new web site.  The DVD should be released in early September. Andrew James Website

Some of you may remember him from an episode of the excellent TV series Rolf's Star Portraits in which Andy painted antiques expert David  Dickinson. David thought the portrait so special it moved  him to tears. Needless to say it was Andy's that David asked to keep and take home with him.

Below are some other examples of Andy's work.






New Exhibition of Latest Work By Ann Blockley SWA


Ann Blockley SWA
Contemporary Watercolour Exhibition




 
16th - 23rd June 2012    (CLOSED Sunday 17th June)    10am to 5pm
The Tithe Barn, Bourton House Gardens Bourton on the hill, Gloucestershire GL56 9AE
This exhibition of contemporary watercolours will display over a hundred new paintings by Ann Blockley.  Ann is known internationally for her unique and vibrant style, which is unlike the traditional image of watercolour, often combining mixed media and collage with loose impressionistic interpretations. The exhibition will combine both garden and wild flowers alongside landscape, tree and hedgerow subjects. All paintings will be for sale., DVDs demonstrating Ann’s painting techniques and signed copies of her books will also be available. The Summer exhibition in the Cotswolds is a wonderful opportunity to view paintings in the stunning setting of the medieval Tithe Barn. BOURTON HOUSE GARDEN will be open to the public throughout the exhibition.
For further information, visit

Friday 1 June 2012

The Genius Of Charles Movalli

Charles is one of my painting heros. He is based in Gloucester Massachusetts in the USA and is not only a brilliant painter but an inspired teacher. Sadly he has never produced a teaching DVD but here he is discussing how to paint a picture with each stroke applied left alone to produce what he terms "a glance" of a subject. Watch it several time to let it sink in and I am sure your painting will improve. Charles used to paint mostly in oils but now predominately in acrylic which is what I think he used here.