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Sketchbook Tips

by on June 19, 2013 in Top Sketch Book Tips

Moleskine Sketchbook

Charcoal Studies After John Singer Sargent

Over the last few weeks I’ve been doing a number of watercolour demonstrations for various art clubs throughout the region. One of the tips I tell the students to help them improve on their painting skills is to practise drawing. A great discipline is to make observational drawings of some of the masters. Just 20-40 minutes drawing a day will help ones confidence when it comes to painting.

I find that making studies in my moleskine sketchbook is a terrific (and enjoyable) way of creating passion and inspiration for future painting projects. There are no short cuts to doing good watercolour paintings, however there are disciplines you can do to speed up the process of learning. Regular drawing is one of them.

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission, but at no extra cost to you. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

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“It’s a Big River” Exhibition

by on June 18, 2013 in Exhibitions, Original Watercolours

Watercolour of the Tyne

North Shields, Fading Light

“It’s a Big River” is an exhibition at my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland which is one of many events taking place throughout June across the region for The Festival of the North East.

Over the last few months I’ve been painting various scenes of life on the River Tyne, from where the North Tyne and the South Tyne meet at Warden to North Shields. The painting above titled “North Shields, Fading Light”, is one of several original watercolours on view until 29th June. Prints also available.

 

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Festival of the North East

by on May 31, 2013 in Exhibitions, Latest News, North East Prints, Original Watercolours

Painting of the North East of North Shields, Masts

North Shields, Masts

The Festival of the North East is a celebration of all that’s great about our unique corner of England throughout the month of June. It’s an eclectic mix of art, exhibitions, dance, theatre, music and much more.

My contribution to the festival is an exhibition titled “It’s a Big River”. I’ve been painting various scenes of the River Tyne for over thirty years capturing its iconic bridges, the industry and breathtaking scenery. This exhibition brings together these changing views of the River Tyne from the point where the North and South Tyne meet in Northumberland to where the river meets the sea at Tynemouth.

I’ve spent time traveling along the banks of the Tyne with my watercolours and sketchbook in hand observing and recording the seasons, different times of day and the industry and commerce of the River Tyne.

The exhibition starts Saturday 1st June-29th June at my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland.

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John Singer Sargent

by on May 23, 2013 in Favourite Artists, Latest News

John Singer Sargent's Painting sells for $5 Million

John Singer Sargent's "Marionettes"

The American Art sale auction yesterday in New York showed the continued strength of the market as it succeeded in surpassing its presale high estimate for the third consecutive time. Norman Rockwell works proved as popular as ever with all six offered sold, totaling $6.5 million.

I saw John Singer Sargent’s Marionettes last year at Trinity House, London. A stunning painting which remained in the artist’s personal collection for some 20 years before being passed down through the family. It was the sale’s top lot, hammering down for $5.2 million. The auction confirmed that buying the right art at the right time at the right price, can be one of the best investments in these times of financial uncertainty.

If you are interested in finding out more about investing in art then you can read a blog post I wrote March 2012 about some of the criteria for finding the right artist to buy.

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Durham Art Exhibition

by on May 21, 2013 in Blog, Exhibitions, Latest News

Painting of Durham City

An Original Watercolour of Durham City

St. James’s Place Wealth Management are hosting an informal art & wine evening at one of the oldest teaching facilities in Britain today, Durham School, DH1 4SZ on the evening of Thursday 6th June starting at 6:45 – 9:00 pm.

I will taking guests on a journey through some of the NorthEast’s most iconic points of interest through my paintings following a sparking Prosecco drinks reception.

Along with fine wines and delicious canapés the evening will bring together around 60 of the region’s leading business people.  You are also welcome to bring along a colleague or contact.

As well as some new watercolours, limited editions of prints will also be available on the evening with a donation made to Durham School’s chosen charity.

Spaces are also limited and with an anticipated ‘full-house’ we would be grateful if you could contact me as soon as possible to reserve your free place(s). You can do this by contacting us on 01661 871 800 or email art@alanreed.com

 

 

 

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Dhows, Coming Home

by on May 16, 2013 in Kuwait Paintings, Middle East Prints, Original Watercolours

Print of Dhows, Coming Home

Dhows, Coming Home

When I was painting on location in Kuwait back in 2009, I did several sketchbook watercolours around the Dhow Harbour. These studies became the catalyst for a number of original watercolour paintings of dhows, some of which I’ve had reproduced as limited edition prints.

This particular painting depicts a solitary dhow bathed in sunlight, slowly making its way in to the safety of the harbour to join the many other vessels birthed there. The painting can be seen at my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland. It’s also available as a limited edition print from alanreed.com

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Paintings of Durham

by on May 11, 2013 in Exhibitions, Original Watercolours

Watercolour of Saddler Street, Durham

Saddler Street in the Snow

On the 6th June I will be exhibiting a number of paintings at Durham School for a wine and art evening in conjunction with St James Wealth Management. Several new paintings of Durham will be on display including this one of Saddler Street in Winter.

The painting was started at a watercolour demonstration that I was doing on Wednesday evening for Hartlepool Art Club where the theme was cityscapes. The demonstration was recorded so I hope to have the tape uploaded on to You Tube in a few weeks time.

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5 Things to do in your Sketchbook

by on May 10, 2013 in Top Sketch Book Tips

Top Sketchbook Tips

Charcoal Sketchbook Studies of John Singer Sargent Portraits

Here are 5 things you can do in your sketchbook to help improve your skills and to make you more visually aware.

1. Do drawings of some of the great masters of painting. I recently went to the newly re-opened Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and was able to do a couple of sketchbook studies of Rembrandt’s paintings. If you can’t get to a gallery or museum, draw from your art books. You can see some of my studies above of John Singer Sargent portraits.

2. Make sure you carry your sketchbook (I recommend the Moleskine brand) and something to draw with at all times, so that if you’ve time to kill, you can quickly draw whatever is around you. Drawing from life will sharpen ones technical ability in terms of being able to draw and will increase visual awareness.

3. Try to paint a sky a day (or even just one a week). At the end of the year you will have 52 –365 studies that will capture different seasons and times of day that you can refer back to for ideas when painting landscapes, seascapes or cityscapes. It will also help you to see cloud shapes and the effects of light as washes of colour.

4. Instead of using a pencil, try drawing with a brush and paint with one colour. You will achieve an interesting quality of line and you will become more confident about handling a brush.

5. If you are struggling to find someone to draw, then try a self portrait in front of a mirror. Then use the mirror to check on the accuracy of your study by holding up the sketch in front of the mirror alongside your face. You will be surprised how the reflection shows up any errors.

To finish with, a quote from John Singer Sargent:

“You can’t do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh”.

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John Singer Sargent at the Brooklyn Museum

by on May 8, 2013 in Exhibitions, Favourite Artists

Painting at the Brooklyn Museum

Corfu: Lights and Shadows by John Singer Sargent

I’ve been reading with considerable interest the various reviews of the major exhibition of John Singer Sargent watercolours (and a few oils too) at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. To give you a flavour of the exhibition you can read an excellent review by Maika Pollack in the GalleristNY.

Since I first started using watercolours at the age of 15 I’ve been studying the techniques of the great watercolorists and I have to say, America has produced two of the finest exponents of arguably the most difficult of mediums to master, Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent.

Sargent’s technique was quite different from Homer’s who’s washes were generally more simplistic, quite possibly the result of Sargent painting his watercolours almost exclusively from life on location. Some of Homer’s watercolours must have been studio works due to the more carefully thought out compositions, use of colour and dramatic story telling.

The simple, yet wonderfully executed “Corfu: Lights and Shadows” above shows Sargent’s virtuosity in handling a brush with his deft flicks to indicate leaves and shadows. His bright palate captures perfectly the Mediterranean sunlight, the result and reward of constantly sketching. He once said “You can’t do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh”.

He believed, along with his tutor Carolus Duran, that painting was a science which it was necessary to acquire in order to make of it an art. I hope that I’m able to see this exhibition which runs until 28th July before continuing on in Boston.

You can see some of my paintings inspired by John Singer Sargent on my website www.alanreed.com

 

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Susan in St Mark’s Church, Venice

by on May 6, 2013 in Figurative, Oil Painting, Painting on Location, Portraits

Susan Reed, Portrait in Oils

Susan in St Mark's Church, Venice

In September 2012 Susan and I travelled to Venice to work on a number of painting projects, one of which was this oil painting of Susan in the Basilica San Marco. On the 7th April 1985 Susan experienced a dramatic conversion to Christianity on her own as she cried out to God in the famous church in St Mark’s Square. The painting depicts Susan quietly giving thanks to God for His goodness towards her since that day.

Susan and I spent time together in the church so that I could do a small sketchbook watercolour to capture the colours and mood of the interior which you can see in a previous blog post. I returned the following day to do some detailed studies of some the architectural elements of the interior so I could refer to them in the finished painting. Back in my studio Susan assumed the same pose so that I could paint her from life in oils.

The original painting can be seen at my Studio and Gallery in Ponteland.

 

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