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Grainger Street

by on April 24, 2012 in Limited Edition Prints, North East Prints

Grainger Street

Grainger Street

The popularity of my limited edition prints is partially down to the fact that I usually include figures in the paintings which bring the painting to life. Over the years I spent considerable time observing people going about their daily business in cities like Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Venice, Florence and New York. I’ve developed a kind of shorthand for drawing them on the move in my sketchbook which I can refer to when I come to do a studio painting. I will of course take photographs as it’s impossible to draw people in detail walking about the streets unless they are deliberately modelling for you.

It’s the figures in this painting which are the dominant point of interest. Folk have often commented that they love the old man shuffling along with his newspaper sticking out of his back pocket, the two old ladies nattering away with their shopping bags and the road sweeper who has stopped to light up a fag. The original painting sold many years ago but the limited edition print titled Grainger Street is still available online or from my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland.

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San Gimignano

by on February 28, 2012 in Original Watercolours

San Gimignano

San Gimignano, Evening Sunlight

The first time I went to San Gimignano was in February 1999. We took the bus from Florence to visit this Medieval Tuscan hilltop town after seeing it on a holiday programme. Seeing its 14 famous towers for the first time from several miles away made me even more eager to explore and paint the distinct skyline. We entered the small walled town, making our way to the piazza via the enticing shops selling wild boar salami and other mouth watering local produce.

By now it was lunch time so whilst Susan went off in search for salmi, bread and wine, I painted a small watercolour which I later sold from my gallery. Although it was a bright, sunny day, the afternoon was short but I managed to obtain sufficient reference to do a large studio watercolour of the town’s famous towers bathed in the winter sun. I had the painting reproduced as a limited edition print which has been extremely popular over the years. The prints of Italy and the smaller original watercolour (inspired by the trip) can be seen at my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland and also online at alanreed.com

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Florence from San Miniato

by on February 28, 2012 in Original Watercolours

Florence from San Miniato

Florence from San Miniato

In February 1999 Susan and I spent a week in Italy, taking in Florence and the Venetian Carnevale. During our stay in Florence we took the rewarding walk leading up to Piazza Michelangelo which boasts majestic views over this fine city of art and culture. I recall walking a little further on to the church of San Miniato where I did a small 7 ” x 5″ watercolour of the Duomo dwarfing the smaller surrounding buildings in the watery winter sunlight.

I used this study to do a slightly larger watercolour which has been reproduced as a successful limited edition print and is still available online. Recently I was doing a watercolour demonstration for an art group in Rothbury and decided to tackle this same scene of Florence to show the students how to approach painting a cityscape. I still have the original location study framed up and hanging in our living room, so I had the reference fresh in my mind whilst painting this new rendition.

It’s impossible to paint the same subject in watercolour in exactly the same manner and technique which I use. This means that each painting has its own unique differences. Both the original watercolour and print will be on view at my Spring exhibition which starts 10th March-31st March at my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland.

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Da Vinci, The Lost Treasure

by on October 31, 2011 in Favourite Artists

Fiona Bruce on Ponte Vecchio, Firenze

Fiona Bruce on Ponte Vecchio, Firenze

Whilst painting in Italy in September, I saw Fiona Bruce being filmed on Ponte Vecchio in Florence. I stopped to take a photograph of her, along with dozens of others, wondering which programme she was being filmed for. On Sunday evening I discovered that it was for a documentary written and presented by herself titled “Da Vinci, The Lost Treasure”.   

This BBC 1 programme was essentially uncovering the story of Leonardo da Vinci and gave us an exclusive preview of a newly found painting by the Renaissance genius which he did of Christ.  Throughout the programme the multi lingual Fiona Bruce travelled to Florence, Milan, Paris, Warsaw and to New York, to look at some of Leonardo’s most famous paintings including the “Lost Treasure” depicting the restored painting of the Christ.

Art is very subjective, but I have to say, for me personally, this is a more engaging painting than Leonardo’s depiction of  ”The Last Supper” where he deviated away from the original account in John’s Gospel  and showed Jesus and His disciples sitting upright at a table instead of reclining, most probably at floor level. The figures in the Last Supper are however, superbly handled, particularly the expressions on their faces when, as the painting depicts, Jesus declares that one of them will betray Him.

Fiona Bruce was very impressive with her presentation, especially when spoke fluent Italian and French. She still pronounced Michelangelo “Michael Angelo” but hey, I wish my Italian was that bad!

This “new” Leonardo forms part of an exhibition of his paintings at the National Gallery in London starting on the 9th November-5th February 2012 which promises to be a must to visit.

 

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Ponte Vecchio, Firenze

by on October 18, 2011 in Painting on Location

You never quite know who you are going to see whilst painting on location. I was crossing Ponte Vecchio when working in Florence recently and noticed BBC’s Fiona Bruce being filmed by a camera crew. I’m not sure for what programme, perhaps another series of Fake or Fortune? 

I’ve painted several watercolours on location of Ponte Vecchio, usually from Piazza Michelangelo, however on this occasion, I decided to do one standing next to the window of a rather expensive ice cream shop at the end of the bridge on the other side of the road. After being charged €6 for the smallest tub of ice cream available, I embarked on a small sketchbook study of the bridge bathed in the late afternoon sunlight.

The Duomo in the distance was both my starting point and focal point of interest with the strong angles from the foreground buildings taking the viewers eyes towards the main part of the subject, the bridge itself with its shoppers and colourful flags. Using this simple study and some of the reference photographs I took, I hope to work this up into a larger original watercolour in my Studio.

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Via di Santo Spirito

by on September 27, 2011 in Painting on Location

Via di Santo Spirito

Via di Santo Spirito

I’ve been working in Italy recently on a number of painting projects, many of which involved painting on location. This is always a challenging exercise, particularly when painting a street scene such as this one of Via di Santo Spirito. I wanted to capture the tall narrow buildings that were shutting out much of the early evening light that were towering above me and at the same time, indicating something of the sunlight that was catching the distant buildings.

I was virtually standing under the ornate lamp that provided an interesting focal point to the scene which meant there was nowhere for me to rest my sketchbook or place my small box of watercolours. I had to stand the whole time and balance my paints on top of my camera case strapped to my belt. Every so often, someone would stand in front of me, blocking my view and there was a steady flow of traffic adding to the confusion. However, after about thirty minutes painting, I felt I had recorded something of worth that captures a typical Florence street scene that I plan to work up into a larger watercolour sometime soon.

One of my small watercolours of Florence can be seen at the Newcastle/Gateshead Art Fair starting Friday 30th September- 2nd October.

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Florenze from Piazza Michelangelo

by on September 18, 2011 in Painting on Location

Florence from Piazza Michelangelo

Florence from Piazza Michelangelo

Probably the best view of Florence is from Piazza Michelangelo. I’ve now painted several watercolour studies from the piazza which boasts stunning views of the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the River Arno. Last Sunday afternoon was hot and sunny in Florence which meant that the watercolour paint dried very quickly, in marked contrast to the last time I painted this view. It was a cold, wet February afternoon, the light was fading and Susan had to stand over me with an umbrella to keep the rain off the paper!

It was worth the effort though. From these studies, I was able to paint a large studio watercolour titled “Florence from Piazza Michelangelo” which has been one of my best selling limited edition prints of Italy.

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Paintings of Italy

by on August 3, 2011 in Commissions, Painting on Location

Over the last few years I’ve received a number of commissions from clients who have a home in Italy and who have wanted a painting of their property. Each building has been quite different in terms of size and location but they have all had their own distinct charm and appeal.

In 2007 I was commissioned by an English couple to do a painting of their home near a small, compact Umbrian village called Panicale, which overlooks Lake Trasimeno. We stayed in an old Villa called Villa Le Mura which was being restored by its owners. In the evening we met up with our clients that evening for a lovely meal at Masolino Albergo Ristorante which served us authentic Umbrian cuisine.

The following morning I woke up before 7am and drove straight to the property to catch the early morning light. I was just in time. I found a suitable vantage point in between some olive trees which gave a delightful aspect of the house nestling in its own little valley. Initially it was shrouded by a shadow being cast by the hill behind me but as soon as the sun rose above the horizon it was bathed in a warm golden hue.

I quickly embarked on a small sketchbook study in a tiny leather bound book purchased direct from the Fabriano Factory in Le Marches from a previous trip and whilst the paint was drying I took a number of photographs of the rapidly changing early morning light. The owners served me a very welcome and much appreciated coffee before I crashed on with another watercolour study, this time of the olive grove which surrounded their home.

I returned to capture the evening light but we decided that the mornings work was going to be sufficient to enable me to do the finished painting, a 21″ x 14″ watercolour which the client was delighted with.

Susan and I will be returning to Italy in September for a painting project in Florence and will be happy to meet up with anyone wishing to discuss any possible commissions of properties, holiday homes or favourite views, places to paint in Italy.

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Summer Exhibition

by on July 16, 2011 in Exhibitions, Latest News

River Tyne Sunset

River Tyne Sunset

My Summer Exhibition is now open at my Studio & Gallery in Ponteland. The subjects range from local scenes from the North East including the one above of a River Tyne Sunset which was inspired from reference I took back in 1985. The view has now changed but it does capture a bygone era of the industry that was once common place on the banks of the River Tyne. I recall seeing on BBC’s Look North recently that Sting is currently writing a musical about the ship building industry that once graced the Tyne.

Other watercolours include paintings of Italy. Venice has always been a favourite of mine but there is also one of Ponte Vecchio in Florence where we will be returning in September for a painting project. There are also paintings of countries around the Middle East which I have been working in over the last few years like Oman, Dubai and Kuwait. One can see some of the sketchbook studies painted on location which I have used to produce these original watercolours.

The Studio and Gallery is usually open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30am to 5:00pm but it’s best to telephone 01661 871 800 just to confirm we are open.

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Florence from Piazza Michelangelo

by on July 2, 2011 in Italy Prints and Originals, Limited Edition Prints

Florence from Piazza Michelangelo

Florence from Piazza Michelangelo

Going to Florence in February has its advantages and disadvantages. You don’t get the crowds or searing heat that you can experience in the summer months, however the weather is usually cold and sometimes wet.  I recall painting a 14″ x 10″ watercolour on location with Susan standing over me with an umbrella to keep the rain off the painting. Both of us were getting colder and colder as the light was fading. A few splashes of rain did find their way onto the paper but somehow they seemed to add to the overall effect.

The large studio painting above was reproduced as a limited edition print and has been one of my best selling prints of Italy. The location study below was an important work for being an aid to the print and a number of subsequent paintings of Florence including the studio painting below of Ponte Vecchio from Piazza Michelangelo. You can see this painting at the charity exhibition “INDEPENDENCE” at the CastleGate starting 4th July at 6pm. The exhibition, which is to raise money for the North East charity OWN IT, continues every day until Saturday 9th July.

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