Spring is Coming ....... Isn't it?

Hopefully we will soon return to this 

from this

Meanwhile, I'm about half way through my Pen & Ink drawing.

Blast From The Past

                              Rechteren Castle, Holland     John Simlett

Pen & Ink on 350 gsm paper

11 inch x 9 inch

(280 mm x 230 mm)

I drew this picture 38 years ago and it was the fourth drawing I had ever done in my life, outside of Geometric and Engineering drawing. It was a significant drawing insofar as it indicated to me, and others, that perhaps I should take it all a little bit more seriously. It was then, this drawing that 'sorted me out.'

At the moment I need 'sorting-out' once again. For many reasons, not least that my wife is physically disabled, I am unable to get continuity in anything I do. When I do get free time, I seem to be unable to focus long enough to carry a project to a conclusion. Half-finished paintings litter the studio.

As a solution I am undertaking another pen and ink drawing of some complexity. I haven't drawn for ages as I got seduced by painting - and the influence of many of the painters you may see in my 'Blog Roll.' A drawing, therefore, will be a complete change.

Pen & Ink, as you probably know, is very unforgiving: there is no way back from a mistake. Focus and discipline have to be continuous and I think that is what will 'sort me out'. We'll see.

 

   

Boatry

       

                                                        

                                                                    I like flags.

                                                                   Do

                                                                              a  Set

                                                           fore  Sails

                                                     sail  is    Flapping

                                               not for sale  In the wind.

                                           you  may find   Makes one think

                                       that you need it    Of  flying far off like

                                    rather badly in a    Some Albatross set free

                                 wind or in a gale       From land and those grassy ties

        I                    and  without it  find      That shore can bring, although I do

           do      others quickly up your tail    Like being a landlocked Shipwright it's part

                 like                                            of

                       boatbuilding it's                  my                                                      

                           such a large part of my life. I love the smell of the wood as I cut and plane it.

                              Listen to the music of the parts that go to make a boat, each such poetry:

                                      tumblehome and transom; hog and hogson; apron and the thwart                

                                           gutter and garboard strakes of planking: clinker & hard chine

                                                       but alas, without a keel,

                                                              where would we be?

                                                                   capsized and upside

                                                                       down, swimming

                                                                               deep beneath
                                                                                         the sea.
                                                                                                                           (John Simlett,2005)

                                                                                                                 

One Good Turn

I have turned my boat over single-handed.

Here Is The Link For How I Did It 

Logan's Light - Finished

Tried a lot of experimentation with this one (a) Painting it almost mono although I used burnt umber glazes to soften edges and give the suggestion of a secondary light source - top left. (b) No eyes - and I always make them the key point of a portrait ... similarly the hair.

                                                                Logan's Light                                             John Simlett
27 x 19.5 inches
Oil on stretched Italian linen

The photography does no favours (favors).

I tried to soften everything except the two focal points, the light and the face.

Given the degree of difficulty I'm reasonably pleased. As always seeing it full size is best. 

How to DOUBLE your artistic output

'Topgun' (Logan), my great-grandson and the sitter for my current portrait (see last two posts), has let me in on his secret for doubling artistic output. I always like to pass on any tips I learn, so here we are:

Underpainting - Stage 2

Not a lot different to last posting, just strengthened the 'darks' and introduced the 'lights.'

For those who don't know me, I am in reality a pen & ink artist who was seduced into painting by my friends hereabouts. Quite unexpectedly I feel the urge to do a bit of drawing again ... wonder if I will and wonder what I'll draw.