Derelict Cottage.

Ink Pigment on watercolour paper.

Framed size 18"x 14"

For Sale €200

Another derelict cottage believe it or not. Would buy it tomorrow if I had the money for the restoration. Oh well, have to be satisfied with painting it.

Pen & Ink

“Acrylic ink on watercolour paper”
I’m on a roll at the moment, but that seems to happen every new year. Three posts in 3 days is it ?
I love using ink although I’m still relatively new to the medium, I just like playing with it , trying it on different surfaces although so far I think watercolour paper is the favourite. I would be interested in what others use.
My art classes have restarted since yesterday, so I will have less time to paint, I must say I have enjoyed the last two weeks, having the time to paint all day if I wanted to, also was able to clear up the studio a bit and catch up with cleaning brushes. Having said that , I really love running the classes and wouldn’t change things for the world.

Padlocks

“Acrylic on watercolour paper. 10” x 7””
I painted this for a challenge called “Heavy Metal” on a website called Paint My Photo, and you have to use a reference photo from a photograph posted on the site. I found it a real test to make the metal look like metal.

Watercolour attempt

Another attempt at watercolour, I used an exercise from a watercolour book, which I now can’t find in my incredibly tidy studio. NOT, so I can’t thank the author, when I find the book I will repost with her name.

I added a few touches of my own and I am reasonably happy with it, but I can see where I can make plenty of improvements.

Back from the UKkk(thats me shivering)

“Play with us daddy!” Watercolour on arches paper.
This is the first effort from the sketches I put up on my last post, what do you think?
Was in UK for a few days for my sisters birthday. Bloody cold there, snow on the ground, my feet were frozen. –1 degree, I know for a lot of you guys in US this is wimpy, but flying from a veritable heatwave of 9c it was a bit of a shocker. Anyway had a great time.

I painted this for my sister, for her birthday, she will probably kill me for posting it , but I quite like it. We were in Buenos Aries in 2010 for her sons wedding and I took the reference photo at a flea market.

The last paddle

Not sure if I have posted this before, not a very good photo I’m afraid, but it brings back memories of warmer days. I was going through my sketch books looking for something to inspire me when I found this little watercolour from a couple of years ago, maybe even longer. I think I will use it for a bigger painting , maybe in watercolour.
I am starting a new beginner course this morning, and I am a bit nervous. I haven’t run a beginner’s class in a couple of years. Been content to work away with improvers and advanced students.
Although we have had a very mild winter this year, the last two mornings have been cold and wet and windy, the light hasn’t seemed to break through at any stage, and it’s kind of depressing, but I suppose I shouldn’t complain, at least we have had no snow!

Another Watercolour

Wet Night in Manhattan…Ref Photo courtesy of Wet Canvas.
I wanted to credit the photographer but can’t find the image again.
Decided to try something different from faces so spent the last couple of days on this. I think its a bit  over worked but I enjoyed doing it and it is good practice. I am determined to keep at the watercolours until I beat them or they beat me.
My classes have restarted this past week so have not got as much time to paint myself.
I have a new beginners course starting on Thursday mornings if anybody is interested, still a couple of places free.

New Year Resolution

Normally my resolution is not to make any resolutions, but this year decided to tackle two, faces and watercolours.What am I doing?
This is my second watercolour of 2012, unfortunately I made my daughters cheeks too crimson alizarin, looks like a rash. Any suggestions? Have tried damping and spongeing, also tried Gouache over it but it’s still to RASH.

This is my first painting of 2012, I used an image from http://www.wetcanvas.com/, which you can find at http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/showphoto.php?photo=132878
I am reasonably pleased with the result, but obviously there is huge room for improvement.

Foxy Lady

I first showed this on the blog 3 years ago, when to be honest ,only about two people in the world knew I had a blog. Recently refound it, stashed along with a few watercolours and other miscellaneous items.

Its coloured pencil on black canford paper, I remember at the time that it seemed to take forever to build up the colour and at the end I wasn’t very happy with the result. Looking at it afresh I don’t think its so bad, but if I did it again or something similar, I think I would maybe use mixed media, maybe acrylic and coloured pencil.

Still can’t seem to get down to painting, so am making myself sketch, so that I am doing something. Did this from a photo I took a couple of years ago, when a very nice man let me wander round his farmyard with my camera.

Catching the Tide

“Catching the tide” Pen and watercolour.

Its impossible to live so close to the sea in a fishing village without painting the sea and the boats that rely on it . A couple of years ago I did a series of some of the local boats and thought it might make an interesting post

“Tying up” Pen and Watercolour

Most of the boats fishing from the village are small day boats that leave early morning and return at night, only rarely staying out overnight.

“Waiting for the Tide” Pen and watercolour

“Trev’s big catch” Pen and watercolour

This last painting is of my son-in-law and his boat, and I gave him the original which was then entitled “Trevs other big catch” referring to the fact that my daughter was his first big catch. I hope he saw the humour.

"Hot Stuff" Watercolour on Arches paper.

Another of my watercolour attempts that I refound recently and decided to finish. Don't think it came out too bad, but have to admit, I will never be a master at watercolour.

The weather is being it's normal depressing self, every time we get a hint of sunshine the wind whips up and the rain falls, but I suppose we will never die of thirst. Even more depressing than the weather are the constant reports of doom and gloom from our politicians, news media, and just about everyone you talk too, you would think we had never seen a recession before....life goes on.

On a much happier note...I sold a painting yesterday, another of my abstracts "Spring Garden" so I am delighted and have huge incentive to paint more abstracts.

Home is the hunter

"Home is the hunter" Pen and watercolour on Arches paper. 28cm x 38cm

Original for sale unframed @ €200.00

Limited editin giclee prints available mounted @ €60.00

Enquiries please to phildavis@iol.ie or http://www.artofphildavis.com/

With a gale force 9 blowing and not a fishing boat out around the coast I thought I would post a picture of calmer times. This painting is based on my Son-in -law and his boat "Spes Firma" after they had returned from a trip 30 miles off shore with a good catch of Hake, Pollack and Ling.

For the last year or so I have found myself drawn away, more and more from large canvas and oils to smaller paintings in watercolour .Having never considered myself a watercolourist, I am reasonably happy with my efforts, though I realise a lot of improvement can be made. It is a huge advantage these days to be able to go online and view hundreds of other artists and their techniques, and I think that all those artists who post demo's and works in progress show a real a real generosity of spirit in their willingness to share their talent with others. With this is mind, this year I would like to try and share my limited talent and intend posting WIP's and demos from time to time.My biggest problem is that I get so engrossed in my work that I forget to take the photos and end up with a photo of the start and one of the finished painting.