Summer Suns are Glowing!

gouache on paper, 50x40cm.
While clearing out all the debris gathered below the old bed to make new for the new one I came across this little painting of nasturtiums baking below a searing summer sun. Today is the warmest, and sunniest, day we have had this summer in Scotland, so I celebrate the day with this joyful expression of my happiness!

Torrance Linn

acrylics on board, 30x25cm.
Went for a walk this afternoon during a brief dry spell through the Calderglen Country Park and the Rotten Calder was in spate after yesterdays downpour. It reminded me of this small acrylic painting I did a few years ago which portrays the peaty orang/brown water as it cascades over the 'Linn'. The tree trunk is still there albeit reduced in length due to many storms. I was pleased with the way I managed to express the turmoil of the water as it bubbles and foams below the waterfall.

Reclining Nude

charcoal and pastel on paper, 59x43cm.
Working from a simple, two-minute, sketch this was worked up with mainly black, but also a little bit of colour - pink, red and white. It sort of encapsulates all that I am trying to do with my figure drawings - unusual poses which are very dramatic.

Jim in Profile

charcoal pencil on paper, 43x59cm.
Fascinated by his little pot-belly. It's just like my own!

Tumbling Man

acrylics on paper, 59x43cm.
Painted in one sitting from drawing made last week, at Life Drawing, of Jim, only instead of using him in the original vertical format I turned him on his side. Strikes me as being more dynamic!

The Girl's on Fire

acrylics on paper, 59c43cm.
Painted with a passion for the female figure.

Rock Pool

oils on canvas, 50x40cm.
When you look down deep into a rock pool on the sea shore you see the most amazing variety of colours.

A French Affair

collage on board, 40x30cm.
An attempt to make a controlled colour scheme with torn paper on a broadly figurative format.

Lisa Seated

pastel on paper, 43x59cm.
Lisa is such a natural, even in a manufactured pose such as this, she makes it look effortless.

Jim

pastel on paper, 43x59cm.
Friday night's model was Jim, again. A short guy just about my own age and build, it's a bit disconcerting drawing practically yourself in the noddy! As you see, I focussed on his head and didn't leave enough time to do anything with his body. No matter, I liked what I achieved, and enjoyed the drawing of him.

Girl at Rest

acrylics on paper, 46x64cm.
Using a fairly loose technique of laying in broad areas of colour first to create an atmosphere, then 'drawing' the figure on top with brushes. Further layers are added to define the figure more specifically, and make corrections where necessary.

Bickus

charcoal pencil on paper, 43x59cm.
This is one of my most favourite images drawn from the model James. I can remember the first time I met and drew him. He is about the same height as me, although a bit slimmer, and when he took his clothes off and turned into this pose I gasped at the size of his penis. "Lucky Bastard" I thought! I looked up at the other artists in the room but no-one else made any comment. What can you do? You just have to admire, and get on with the drawing.
The title comes from the film "Life of Brian" when Pontius Pilate, played by Michael Palin, is talking about some of his friends in Rome such as Incontinetia Buckets, and Bickus Dickus!!!!

Echo

watercolour on paper, 36x43cm.
This is the original 'nymph' painted a couple of years ago when I was searching the highways and byways of streams and rivers to find inspiration in the waters reflections. This is the only one which in the making suggested some sort of figurative content.

postscript: Changed the title to 'Echo' having read about the nymph who loved Narcissus deeply but he was so taken up with his own reflection he completely ignored her. She simply faded away with her broken heart and unrequited love.