2016
I visited Dublin in 2016. The National Gallery of Ireland made a big impression on me
IN THE WEST OF IRELAND
Paul Henry
It’s impossible to describe how wonderful this painting is ‘in the flesh’ It’s tiny, but it calls you to it, whispering. Even the official prints don’t do it justice.
And nor does my effort.
A lesson learned; when it looks simple, it never is.
Oil on board 12 x 10in
THE SUNSHADE
William John Leech 1913
Really eye catching.
The original winks at you across the room of the National Gallery of Ireland.
Oil on board 16 x 12in
COUNT JOHN MCCORMACK
Sir William Orpen 1923
Another ‘must try’ from the National Gallery of Ireland
I loved the colour of those tennis ‘whites’. How to mix that colour? That was the challenge
Oil on panel 16 x 12 in
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
From a photograph I took in The Pantiles, with a view to making a painting
Oil on canvas 20 x 16 in
DERWENTWATER Landscape – (from a photograph by Mark Hewitt)
Oil on panel 16 x 12 in
OLD CHINESE MAN
Looking on the internet for ‘Old Chinese Man’, I found this image; in the form of a black and white drawing from chiangmaiportraitpaintings.com.
Unfortunately, he was smoking a cigarette, blowing clouds of smoke, which made me uncomfortable. So I changed it for a calligraphy pen and then learned how to hold one.
Oil on panel 16 x 12 in
MINT
Li Wentau 2017
Study in Mint drapery. I cannot read the Mandarin titles to Mr Li’s paintings, but they present great challenges. They look simple, but they are not.
Oil on panel 16 x 12 in
GIRL IN RED
Li Wentau
Somehow, my version didn’t quite work.
MAXINE PEAKE
Original by Jonathan Yeo. I have long envied his painting skills and especially his flesh tones.
He left the hair unfinished, as he often does.
I should have done so too.
Oil on panel 16 x 12 in
NATHALIE PICOULET TWICE
The French pastelliste in front of one of her own paintings.
She is a superb artist
Oil on panel 16 x 12 in
CHINESE BEAUTY DRINKING WATER
Cropped from a much wider photo.
One of those images that catches your eye across the room.
Oil on panel 16 x 12 in
DUTCH GIRL, SMILING
The original was a demo by Ben Lustenhouwer, found online.
I like his approach to measurement in portrait painting.
Oil on panel 16 x 12 in