"Last Summer"

Oil on canvas paper.

"11 inch x 8 inch "

€195.00 Framed

A small colourful painting with memories of the fine summer of 2018.

Children playing on the beach are always a a great subject to paint and with the Lighthouse Island of Ballycotton showing , immediately gives one a sense of place.

Monday morning, 21st May, it's raining, but this is Ireland, we expect it to rain, so make the most of it, at least we won't die of thirst.
Had a nice surprise yesterday evening, my wife said she heard a Cuckoo, haven't actually seen or heard a Cuckoo in the village in 40 years of birding here. Luckily it started calling again and I spotted it in a Sycamore tree in the garden next to mine.

                                                                         

I'm back working with coloured pencils on my Birds of Ireland series, Only about 400 left to do.Lol
Here's a work in progress, "Song Thrush" using coloured pencils on Bristol board.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

For the Birds

 "Yellowhammer"

12"x 8"

Coloured pencil on acrylic paper

"Eurasian Wren"

12" x 8"

Coloured pencil on Bristol board

Back to the birds and coloured pencil, I still have the intention of painting every bird common to Ireland, however I think my production needs a boost. 

"Fishing Boats in Ballycotton "

Ink pigment on acrylic paper.

16"x12"

Whenever I am struggling for inspiration I turn to the harbour in Ballycotton. With all the different boats, most commercial fishing boats ,  others waiting for their weekend owners to take them out on a pleasure trip, I never fail to see a potential painting. For this painting I used my (at the moment) favourite medium, ink pigment, with a small amount of acrylic for some of the smaller details.

"Punts in Ballycotton"

Acrylic on canvas

16"x12" Unframed

I took this picture a long time ago, the punt in the back being that used by the lifeboat to ferry to the crew to and fro. Initially tried to use ink on the canvas surface but this did not work, the ink bleeding too much, so was forced to try acrylic over it which seems to have worked.

I have tried to keep it loose but have as usual got tied up in detail, but I think it has worked out alright.

Website : www.artbyphildavis.com

Facebook:www.facebook.com/artbyphildavis

Derelict farmyard

Ink pigment and acrylic paint on acrylic paper.

11.5" x 8"

Really on a roll with these ink pigments although I have used small amounts of acrylic paint on this one. Another derelict farmyard that I would love to own, but wouldn't have the energy to renovate. Looking for a name for the painting....any suggestions?

Ballycotton Lighthouse from the Cow

Oil on canvas: 24”x18”
I painted this scene several years ago on a smaller scale and with acrylics. Always wanted to try with oils and palette knife, and this is the result.

This is the original version, about half the size, which do you prefer?

Pet Portraits

Arylic on board. 8” x10 “
This is the second of my cats. He’s actually a brother to the other one I posted before, we call him “The Slut”. Not for the obvious reasons I hasten to add, he has had the operation, no its just that he is so friendly he will give himself up to anybody prepared to fuss him and will stretch himself across their lap, on his back, as if to say “take me, I’m yours”!
I think the idea of pet portraits is getting stronger in my head.

Pet Portraits

Acrylic on acrylic paper. 12"x10" approx
One of my cats, her name is Tabby…. yea I know she’s not tabby but that’s what she got called.

This is the reference photo I used, thinking about doing pet portraits, what do you think?

Ballycotton by moonlight

BALLYCOTTON by MOONLIGHT
Acrylic on canvas. 20”x28”
This is a subject I have intended to paint for a long time, as the church is lit up at night it makes a great subject that I was keen to try to capture. A couple of weeks ago there was an amazing full moon which I was delighted to see was directly over the church as I drove into the village. Thankfully I had my camera with me and after a lot of trial and error, not being a great photographer, I finally got a shot I could work with. This is the resulting painting.

New Painting

“West End , Ballycotton Village”
Just finished this painting from a picture I took several years ago. Sadly since I started the painting the restaurant has closed and the house at the end badly damaged by fire, but thankfully nobody injured. I agonised over whether to finish the painting but when all said and done it is showing a piece of Ballycotton history.
Framed prints of this painting are available from the prints page on this blog or my website www.theartofphildavis.com or call in to me in my studio Downstairs in Shanagarry, Shanagarry Design Centre, Shanagarry Co Cork.

I was fortunate to sell this painting yesterday. It was painted from photographs I took in Buenos Aires in 2010. I dont know if the guy was homeless or a dog minder but he was in the same park every morning with about 9 dogs including a Doberman and a Rotweiler, so I took my pics from the other side of the fence.


















 

Custom Cards

Forgot to put this one up with my other Christmas cards, you can customise what you want to say and I will print it in the bubble for you. Did some last year for people that were a bit rude but all in good fun. If you are interested email me on phildavis@iol.ie

Bank Holiday Weekend

It’s a Bank Holiday Week End here in Ireland and in Ballycotton , every year, they have a fund raiser  for the RNLI, which is very well supported, especially as we have a lifeboat in the village, well in the harbour actually.

If you are anywhere near Ballycotton for the weekend call down, there is loads for the kids to do and adults too.

Still Hot!

Seriously hot in Ireland…not complaining but finding it hard to work, inside or out. Have produced more greeting cards, which will be for sale on this blog and also my website, www.theartofphildavis.com .

I am trying to get this one finished, it’s down to the fine detail stage so as usual I am finding reasons not to paint.

FREE FREE FREE FREE

Still places left on Free workshop for Beginners.

Saturday 16th July 3pm to 5pm

Studio 2, Shanagarry Design Centre.

Shanagarry.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL: 086 2468303

                        :phildavis@iol.ie

SUMMER AT LAST

The view from the Bayview Hotel, Ballycotton, where myself and 7 others of the Old Road Painters group had our Summer night out. What more could you wish for , a view like this and superb food and wine. It was wonderful to dine “en plein eire”.

Here’s another one taken from one of my sketchbooks, this time a wading bird called a Bar Tailed Godwit.

Sketched this Blackbird a couple of winters ago, then put in the colour later.

STILL FREE FREE FREE FREE

  
FREE ! FREE! FREE! FREE!

LEARN TO PAINT ... INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS IN PHIL'S STUDIO "DOWNSTAIRS IN SHANAGARRY DESIGN CENTRE"
LIMITED TO 6 PLACES SO DONT DELAY.

ONLY TWO PLACES LEFT!!!

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

EVERYTHING SUPPLIED, FREE 2 HOUR SESSION ON
SATURDAY 20TH JULY 3PM TIL 5PM.
RING PHIL ON 086 2468303 OR E MAIL phildavis@iol.ie

PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS

I have been going through some of my old sketchbooks. This is a page of a Pied Wagtail that conveniently bathed in a puddle alongside my car in Ballynamona beach, near Ballycotton. He was totally unconcerned by me.

Little Egrets
This was an initial sketch for the front cover of the Cork Bird Report.

FREE WORKSHOP

FREE ! FREE! FREE! FREE!
... INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS IN PHIL'S STUDIO "DOWNSTAIRS IN SHANAGARRY DESIGN CENTRE"
LIMITED TO 6 PLACES SO DONT DELAY.
EVERYTHING SUPPLIED, FREE 2 HOUR SESSION ON
SATURDAY 20TH JULY 3PM TIL 5PM.
RING PHIL ON 086 2468303 OR E MAIL phildavis@iol.ie

High Hopes for Downstairs in Shanagarry Design Centre

2888https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgswDxplkWM
Hi all, good song to start, its High Hopes. Let us all aspire higher….

Here is Oz ,  painting a masterpiece in Phils studio  !!

One for the coffee heads. This is a photo I took of  Mad Annies studio, re cycling of coffee pods this morning. Its worth a visit here to see what we`re all doing. You might be surprised. Visit “Downstairs in Shanagarry Design Centre”, theres lots goin on.
This is Phils current work in progress called Headless Beach Pose…
Anybody got a better title or able to paint heads?
All the best. Bob the blogger.

Time to stare

“ Brid on the rocks” Oil on canvas. 30”x40”
Hi all, hope today finds you all well, This is a painting of me on the rocks, at least that’s what I call it.I hate photos of myself so the only compromise was for me to look out to sea.Still I love this because it’s got real depth. It nearly sold a couple of times, but secretly I’d be happy if it never sold!
One of Phil’s  favourite songs when he’s a bit down is  “Always look on the bright side of life” by Monty Python, so if you need cheering up have a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Wx230gYJw
                                                  
Also including two of Phil’s paintings you may not have seen before. Not my feet by the way!

A local scene. He’s good isn’t he.
Love to all.Bob the Blogger.

Work in progress

Morning all, thanks to everyone for reading this blog and for bearing with me while I learn to do it properly.      This is the painting that my darling husband is currently working on. I think its great but the detail of the crowd and the horses ( the most difficult part) is still to be done.  We await the finished product.
Here are some of Phils students paintings outside the studio. they are really good. Everyone is welcome to come visit us, even inside the studio, just smile at the bear and all will be well, mostly!!!!!
Here is the beautiful Ballycotton Lighthouse Island, we consider ourselves very lucky to live in this wonderful place. Bob the Blogger.