blart: bath

Showing posts with label bath. Show all posts

Sunday, 2 April 2017

Sunday, 9 October 2016

Saturday, 1 October 2016

Friday, 9 September 2016

Monday, 29 August 2016

Saturday, 4 June 2016

Saturday, 25 April 2015

Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Saturday, 28 March 2015

Thursday, 13 March 2014

12/03/14

Okay so they don't all work out. Forecast said sun, but there's no sun to be seen in Margaret's Buildings. No sun, that is, until I've committed myself to a grey day painting. I make a corned beef hash of it, but maybe I can come back another time and sort it out.

Maybe.

On the plus side, I bump into Jim:

"Are you...?"
"Don't I know you...?"
"Jim!"
"Er ... what's your name?" (It has been over five years)

Unfortunately Charlie has gone to the great doggie kennel in the sky, but Jim is okay and I guess my painting is as good a testament to his canine buddy as any.

Here's a reminder:

And, coincidentally, this leads neatly into .... wait for it ...

Saturday, 1 March 2014

PAP

Saturday 1st March

Some things that make this a good painting day:

The weather - it's sunny, not too cold and not windy! Mmm just right.
NO VAN in the way :)
I get chatting to a passerby who lives on Henrietta Street. He then goes home to bring his wife to see my painting and they commission a similar picture from a slightly different angle.
Two ladies walk towards me and pass by. As they do so they turn to look at the painting and make some approving noises. They continue to walk on and the next thing I hear is one of them saying, "We just walked into a lamppost looking at your painting!" This could be the ultimate compliment. I laugh a lot, which is okay, because they are laughing too.

Still not finished though - I just noticed the figure hasn't got a shadow - gotta watch those shadows.

Also, I make progress on Henrietta Street painting no.2:

Still some work to do and I had to cheat slightly by starting it in the studio because of the figures, but I think it's going to be okay.

Happy day.

Saturday, 22 February 2014

PAP

Friday

First PAP (plein air painting) session of the year (because of the weather rather than the temptations of a warm and dry studio you understand). At least four months since I was last out on the streets of Bath, so it's been a while, but ... no worries, what could possibly go wrong? I've got a commission to paint Henrietta Street from Laura Place - which is good, but ... ha ha ... no pressure then.

I lug all my gear from the studio only to find they've started some road works right in the middle of the agreed composition. Dammit. I figure I can just work around it and I can come back another time to finish the painting - the builder guy reckons they'll be gone by the end of the day.

So I make a start only to find I haven't bought my tube of white paint - how many times can I forget something crucial? DOOOMED! It's turning into a farce - and there's only a solo exhibition by Pete 'PAP legend' Brown just around the corner from here (cue manic laughter HA HA HA).

Still there's always tomorrow ...

Saturday

... NO THERE ISN'T! BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER *!*@?* VAN PARKED IN THE WAY!

and ...

breath ...

Regardless, I did bring the white paint and progress is made.

Wednesday, 2 October 2013

PAP

I like my house. It's a lovely house, in a lovely city. And, facing west, it has a fantastic view ... almost ... if it wasn't for that house opposite. There's a hint of the view from the bedroom window, but it doesn't really cut it. So when the woodwork on the front gable started falling off and we had to put up some scaffolding to get it sorted, the extra 10 feet made all the difference - the view was revealed. Getting over my fear of heights I spend far too much time painting the woodwork so in the end all I manage is this quick sketch before the scaffolding has to come done.

Mmm nice - if only we could convert the loft and build a balcony ...

Friday, 10 May 2013

PAP

3/5/13 pm

Can't stop now - it's still sunny. Well, almost. It's sort of clouding over, but the sun peeks out every now and again. I try Margaret's Buildings as a location, but [gasp!] the Lime Lounge has gone! The lovely bright splash of colour half way done has been replaced by some sombre grey cafe. I'm sure it does a lovely cup of coffee, but it's not working for me compositionally so I head back to the crescent.

The tree guys have finished. All that remains of the drumandbass guys is a plastic bag full of empty beer bottles. Ah, lovely. Just the occasional thwack of a football and a "pass the ***ing ball you ****er, you ***** ***** *****" - an idyllic scene.

I have to remember the sunshine most of the time, but it seems to come out okay and at least I brought my brushes.

Saturday, 4 May 2013

PAP

3/5/13 - am

It's a sunny day - exclamation mark. And it's a painting day - double exclamation mark. This could be the summer, so I've got to make the most of it - a three month hiatus from PAP is inexcusable. In my haste to get going I leave all my brushes in a nice little pile in the studio. I only remember this after I've walked up the hill and set up my easel and paints. On my way I pass Mr Walkanddrawbath who I've never met before, but have heard of through the wonder of the web. He sets up over there in the middle of the grass while I am standing on the road in front of the Royal Crescent. Without lifting a brush (because of course I haven't brought any) I have to pack up and slink away - 1-0 to Mr Walkanddraw.

I go back to the studio and get my brushes (all neatly in their pile) and return to the scene. This time I do actually paint a picture and it doesn't turn out too bad. Mr Walkanddraw packs up before me and comes over to say hello. He seems quite nice, we have a bit of a chat, he's going to message me. While distracted the wind picks up, and blows my easel over. I try to rescue it with one hand (the other clutching my palette and brushes) only to smear the painting across my jumper. Mr Walkanddraw politely leaves me to it - 2-0 to Mr Walkanddraw.

I make some attempt at repairs, but the light has moved too much. Godammit.

Other things:

There's loads of flies on the walk past the allotment - must be the first warm day for ever that's brought them all out at once or there's a big pile of manure the other side of the hedge.
There's some tree guys chopping down a tree.
I get stopped by some school girls doing a survey about Bath - the last question is, "what do you think would improve Bath?". I struggle with this one, knowing that their survey is going to make all the difference and finally, unhelpfully, come up with, "Better weather."
The yellow lines by the crescent must have been repainted they seem particularly vivid today.
Some older boys (students?) arrive in the park and sit down just near me. No problem, but for the hardcore banging drum and bass tunes they start blasting out. What with that and the chainsaw from the tree guys there is no peaceful vivaldi moment.

Regardless, spring has definitely sprung.

Thursday, 21 February 2013

PAP

It's one of those painting days where nothing seems to go according to plan. It's my own fault - I just grabbed my bag and ran out the door, forgetting the 1st rule of PAP: ALWAYS CHECK YOUR STUFF.

So I get to the Crescent (yeah, yeah, I know I've done it a million times already, but I've got this idea see ....) and I find I haven't got all my paints and I've only got my reject brushes. On top of this there's a bitter wind so I almost give up before I start. But I don't and you can judge for yourself what painting with sticks looks like without any cadmium red. I guess it could have been worse. I say that of course, but that's ignoring the guy who stood behind me for five minutes - way too close (he doesn't need to stand that close. why's he standing that close? is there something in my ear?) and ... humming! Grrrr

Roll on spring.