Cyclamen with a Samba Look

Cyclamen 

Oil on board 6"x6"

Bridget Hunter 2013

I just love the Samba sway of these miniature cyclamen .

Painting for Myself

Cyclamen in Miniature

Oil on Board 6x8"

Bridget Hunter 2013

I enjoy doing small studies and these cyclamen form a wonderful umbrella above the blue/green leaves.

The overall shape has proved fascinating to such an extent that I think I've now painted the plant 4 times, from different angles and on different shaped boards, though all quite small.

I'm now painting for me, myself and enjoying just looking and recording and using paint for it's qualities as "a visual language" to express an idea.

The painting "The Coastguard's Garden 1" is trying to show what it was like to be in a partly neglected garden behind a wall but where sea breezes were causing ripples of movement.

And I like adding the "1" in the title to show it's the first of a group of paintings, a series, which is another new way of working for me.

It's wonderful to feel free to paint what I want 

rather than be under pressure to produce.

The Coastguard's Garden 1

Oil on Board 20x20"

Bridget Hunter 2013

September Hydrangeas

September Hydrangeas

Oil on board 12x12"

Bridget Hunter 2013

It's been a good summer, long hot days, many a book read in the shade and grandchildren fun at the beach.

But there's been a time of thinking about my art too and conclusions that I've reached.

Trying to paint 6 works within a time scale for exhibitions is not for me. 

I was unhappy with the paintings, and the pressure meant I wasn't able to enjoy the actual painting process.

So I've decided to cut back and enjoy putting paint onto canvas as a hobby, as I used to.

(All I can say is thankgoodness for my pension.)

Recent Paintings

I've not been blogging for quite a while. I've been getting paintings ready for a couple of exhibitions and it was all a bit of a rush. Here are 3 now hanging in The Gaiety Theatre for the next month.

A Front Cover

I can't believe my painting's on the front cover of The MacLaurin Gallery magazine . It seems unreal, that it's someone else. It's because of a new venture, a wall featuring local artists.

             This, however, does feel real - three of my four granddaughters and their doting Grandma!

Harvest Golds at Greenan

Harvest Golds at Greenan

Oil on canvas  30 x 30 cm

Bridget Hunter 2013

A favourite sketching place near the ruins of Greenan Castle, Ayr.

It's been hectic trying to get all 6 paintings finished. And there's been lots of paint scraped off which is really such a waste of materials.

So, I'm trying to change the frantic way I paint and take time to stop and think and place more considered marks.

I think I might need to pin a notice above the easel as a reminder though. 

At the edge of Alloway

"At the edge of Alloway"

Oil on board 50 x 50 cm

Bridget Hunter 2013

Working on 6 paintings for a new venture at The McLaurin Gallery, Ayr featuring artists from the South West of Scotland. 

I think it's to be called The Showcase Wall but watch this space!

Anyway, no matter the name, I've to deliver on Tuesday 30th April which means 5 more to finish for next week. No pressure at all then !!!!

www.themaclaurin.org.uk/

Gold with Hill Farm

Another finished. Well I live in hope! Best get it into the frame before I start adding.

Through the Gate

Oil on board   51 x 51 cm 

Bridget Hunter 2013

There's been more paint scraped off this one than put on in the fight to get it finished. I'm taking it up in my little car with a second work to submit for selection to The Paisley Art Institute for their annual exhibition. 

Needless to say there's painty rags and brushes needing washed everywhere as I try to get the other painting to a finished state.

This hobby is taking over my life but would be lost without it.

Same shell, three sketches

Sometimes it's a treat to lay the bigger brushes aside and do some careful observation with a bit of watercolour and a small brush.

The Hills were Blue

"The Hills were Blue'

Oil 24x24"

I've been busy working away on 6 new paintings for The McLaurin Gallery Ayr for a new venture called a Showcase Wall featuring local artists.

It was very flattering to be asked to participate but

it's way too intense for a wee woman who just enjoys painting.

 Back to the easel!

The first ever Open Studios Ayrshire.

Part of the kitchen

Back of the living room

The hall

What a weekend - the first ever open Ayrshire Open Studios. I've a tiny house and over the 3 days  approx 100 people came for a 'look see' and much to my amazement bought and bought. I ran out of printed greetings cards the second day and couldn't make any more as the printer gave up the ghost 

The upstairs "studio" looking unusually tidy.

The visitors were wonderful to brave the bitterly cold weather to support all 36 artists involved in this new venture.

Because of the snowdrifts closing roads though a few artists living further inland only got a few intrepid visitors on the last day which was such a shame after their preparations. To think that last year at this time we were rubbing on sunscreen.

Watercolour cards I rushed to make because my printer stopped working!

This was the first but already we've a list of many more participants for next year so hopefully it will become a noteable event in the Ayrshire calendar.

Thankyou to the people who supported us.

And thankyou to some wonderful friends who came to help.

"Lilies in Purple"

Lilies in Purple

Oil on Board  18x14"

Bridget Hunter 2013

The inspiration

Framed but tweaked with a leaf crossing flower at rght. It was only after I saw the photo that I thought it needed this.

I had some friends over for lunch and was given beautiful flowers and a stock of wine. How wonderful. These lilies just cried out to be painted. Do we painters always see still life in everything, eyeing up shapely pears and ripe colored mangoes while getting suspicious looks from shoppers?

Spring Yellows

Spring Yellows

Oil on board  6x6"

Still painting flowers from the outside pots for potential card designs to use at the soon to start Open Studios Ayrshire event . And it's been snowing again ! March - duh

Thinking Spring

'Thinking Spring"

Oil on board 6x8"

"Spring Purple"

Oil on board 6x6"

Spring emerging, longer daylight hours and shops full of daffodils. But the buds are still tightly closed in the garden. Maybe they know it might be back to snow next week. March is so unpredictable.

Ochre Fields

Ochre Fields 

Oil on Canvas  30x24"

Bridget Hunter  2013

Have you ever rashly said yes when you know you should be saying no? But the request is put so nicely and the people so appreciative and friendly that you go against your better judgement. That's how I ended up giving a painting demonstration to 40 artists at Troon Art Club. 

I'd put it to the back of my mind, out of fear really, until a few days before hand and then it was all panic wondering what on earth to paint.

I ended up using this small snow scene and turning it into harvest time, knowing the field well, walking there often, so relied on memory of how it looked in late summer.

This is how it ended up at the demo though I changed the foreground later.

Stop fouterin !

Oil on Canvas  24x24"

Bridget Hunter 2013

Is it finished ? 

I'd like to say yes, but I know me and the way I fouter because I simply enjoying markmaking.

The source material, the inspiration, is the diffused sunlight on a misty morning.

But now to think of a title!

Ayrshire Open Studios

My small hallway so far

I'm taking part in a new venture called OPEN STUDIOS AYRSHIRE on 22, 23 and 24 March.

This is our first go although Open Studios is now a very successful part of the UK art scene.

 For this first time we've 36 artist working in pottery, prints and painting and a brochure with a map is being popped into libraries, shops and anywhere else willing to take a bundle. This photo shows my small hallway so far, although I think I'd best get the black frame changed to a cream one. Also I need to get greeting cards, postcards and business cards printed so searching for reliable printing companies.

The idea is that visitors come to your studio and browse and maybe buy some art, though I have to say I have a very small house. and the trouble is we've no idea how well the event will be attended.

I thought if I served coffees, teas and maybe had some wine at the ready, as well as my friends wonderful home made scones, it might encourage a bit of rash spending!

And if very few come, well, my scone maker and I can always drink the wine ourselves.

Snowscape Number 2

Snowscape 2

Oil on board  12x10"

Bridget Hunter 2013

Another painting done after a venture across the fields where the snow lay. As I live right on the coast it often snows without lying so I have to go to find it and as much as I admire the plein air snow painters  I don't have their passionate spirit so walking, taking photos and just staring has to do me.

Snowscape 1

Sold

A demonstration - so no pressure !

A view of Brodick Castle 

   

Oil on canvas  30x24"

Bridget Hunter 2013

Sometimes I get asked to do demonstrations for local Art Groups. I don't know why I say yes except for the fact the people are so nice. But I find the whole thing terrifying and get a bit frantic working in front of others. I've been known to drop a paint laden palette upside down on the floor and once forgot to take the white paint. Maybe that's why folk turn up to watch knowing things will go awry.

This one was started as a demo and finished later - but I may have now overworked it. I'm not sure. 

Sketches of the castle done on my visit there while flapping away the hordes of midgies which enjoy biting any visitor on a damp day.

Snowscape

There's been no snow nearby but a 3 mile walk took me to the Carrick Hills and this view which I caught on camera and worked up in the studio.

Snowscape

Oil on canvas 12x10"

Bridget Hunter 2013

Sold

This was the original work posted but I've since changes it adding more purple tones and softening the lower left grasses.

From easel to Frame. Done!

The light has been good recently with high clear skies. No snow here but bitterly cold. The only place for me  is inside working from sketches and memories of a winter sky and a walk along the shore. 

Then to pop it in a frame and say - "Done!" 

January Shore

Oil on canvas   30 x 24"

Bridget hunter 2013

Sold

When a painting block strikes

My workplace has been taken over by the little people . Time to get out of the painting doldrums I'm thinking and lift the brushes once more.

Not an end of year Review

I've been really enjoying some of the Artists' Blogs that feature an end of year review or showing their top ten paintings for 2012.

So spurred on by their wonderful posts, I've tried writing an end of year review but soon realised that some of the paintings in my earlier posts no longer exist. They've been radically altered, been painted over or simply binned. So instead, scunnered at my wasting materials and effort, I've made what I hope is an achievable plan for next year.

A plan for 2013

 Do not feature a painting on this Blog until I'm as sure as I can be that it's finished and is about to go to the framers.

 Try to take decent photos

Build up a small painting stock so I no longer run around like a headless chicken when I notice an exhibition is just a week away. Too much stress !

Remember why I paint - it's for the love of the painting process and something I can't live without. Enjoy it .

Take time to enjoy the other things that bring me such pleasure especially my 7 grandchildren.

And maybe I'll try painting them!