This pure abstract was enormous fun to develop. The colours seemed to want to talk to each other and if you look closely, you’ll just about make out the mix of media.
This is an example of ‘going into the zone,’ when the artist feels totally at one with his or her work, to the exclusion of all else. Hope you like it. There’s acrylic, felt tip pen, acrylic ink, pastel and a dash of magic going on in here!
This charming snow scene was painted by Vivian Vernon of Macclesfield, Cheshire. Whilst it had plenty of admirers when exhibited at the Society of Marple Artists’ exhibition, it failed to sell. Viv’s clever solution was simple, but it did the trick…she added a robin, perching on the gate and the painting sold at the next airing, at my gallery in High Lane.
Just a dash of red and a living focal point was the answer and may well help the rest of us. It certainly didn’t do J.M.W. Turner any harm, did it? He used tiny red marks to his advantage and frankly, if it was good enough for Turner, who are we to argue? Well done, Viv and thanks for sharing this good news and tip.
Please feel free to share your own hints and tips with us.
Whatever you read into this cat’s expression, this feline has a secret, which was entirely unintentional when its perpetrator, Lynn Daley drew him in charcoal, following a talk and practical workshop by multi media practitioner Bill Hague, who has had a fascination for charcoal spanning several decades.
Cats have a reputation for being cool and calculating, but Lynn had a surprise when someone stood the other side of her work table and saw the artwork in a whole new context. Artists the world over talk of their experiences of ‘happy accidents’ and this ‘two in one’ painting was a pure fluke. To find out what happens, simply turn your computer upside down or stand on your head. Amazing, huh? Tell us about your own happy accidents. I don’t mean the time you absentmindedly dipped your paintbrush into your cup of tea (or glass of wine). We’ve all done that one!
Although I spend as much time as I can painting, cars are never far away and have provided me with a living for more years than I care to remember. Not just any cars, you understand. Special ones. Like this one, which I am delighted to have collected from its owner, who has made the decision to stop driving:
2010 60 plate Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec Climate 5 door in Hot Magenta metallic, with grey fabric interior. Mother then daughter owned from new, with only 19,000 miles recorded. A very well cared for car in a distinctive colourway and very much flavour of the month with owners and the press alike. You can have a look at some photos onto the car website (www.highlanegarage.co.uk).If you like what you see, please ‘phone me for more details on 01663 763355. The price is a realistic £7,995 and of course I’m happy to discuss part exchange.
I am hoping to have a 2006 06 plate Renault Clio 1.9 dci Dynamique 5 door in the next few days. This is a car which is coming from the estate of a lovely, local lady, who is sadly no longer with us. We did business a couple of times in the past and she always looked after her cars. Her son Tony came over from Australia to sort out her affairs and we got on like a house on fire. Everything is agreed and I’m just waiting for the paperwork and the go ahead to collect it. At 49,400 miles this car has not done a lot of work yet, its diesel engine having a reputation for many thousands of miles. It is a wholesome, clean car in a nice bronze red colour (I’ll check the name of it) and I am asking a very reasonable £3,995. Part ex. welcome, of course. Give me a call on 01663 763355 to let me know you’re interested and I’ll let you know as soon as it’s here.
If you have a particular car you would like me to source for you, please do get in touch. Since 1968, I have made an awful lot of people happy in their motoring aspirations and will be delighted to put my experience at your disposal. Send me an email via this website, or email me directly at peter.murrayhlg@gmail.com, or call me on 01663 763355 for a chat.
Hello everyone. It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but I’m glad to say productive. I’m sorry to have to inform you that one of my first guest artists has passed away. Ken Clapp was a lovely man and as you have learned from his write up was not averse to a bit of adventure in his octogenarian years.
As well as his lovely use of water colours, Ken was adept with pencils and pens and was a gifted cartoonist. A selection of his work will be displayed in his memory at the Society of Marple Artists’ 46th exhibition at the Methodist Halls on Friday and Saturday, 10th and 11th April 2013. Love to Janet, Brian and the family. Ken’s posthumous display will be in good company with Margaret Gadsby, another SMA member who was loved by everyone and who went to the studio in the sky in February. Best wishes to you and yours, Margaret. We’ll miss you both.
On a happier note, some of the paintings on the site have been spotted by Manchester graphic designer Simon Wadsworth, who is hoping to produce greetings cards and prints, maybe wrapping paper too, from Hugh Winterbottom’s Manchester scenes and three of my abstracts. Hugh and I are waiting with bated breath, but my initial meeting with Simon seemed positive and I’ll keep you informed. Thanks to everyone who has sent in comments about www.murraycrescent.co.uk in its first few months. Very encouraging and good to know people are revisiting the site. Keep watching, as I have some ideas to implement soon. I’m also looking for feedback, hints and tips and welcome input from artist of all abilities, from expert to beginner. Thanks, Peter.
Hugh Winterbottom is a man who paints buildings. Inside and out. Hugh lives in Glossop and is a time served painter and decorator by day, but takes his passion for paint much further than that. He is a talented artist with a love of oil paint, with which he experiments in a range of techniques from wet – on – wet to impasto. Hugh is comfortable using pallet knives as well as brushes and although architectural subjects feature prominently in his work, he also spends time on seascapes and other vistas which arrest his attention. He paints in a small studio not far from his home and is currently working towards a one man exhibition, which is due to take place in 2015 and will showcase around forty of Hugh’s artworks. The three paintings displayed here are from Hugh’s glimpses of prominent buildings in Manchester. Watch this space for more details and hopefully a few tips from Hugh who, as can be seen from his work, has a wealth of experience and an engaging style.
Stop press : the three examples of Hugh’s work displayed on this site have been spotted by a Manchester based graphic designer and are currently being printed as greetings cards and high quality giclee prints, available to purchase direct from Wraptious.com or via this website. Nice to see that the site is being watched by professionals – result! Quick competition to see who’s awake…
Name the buildings depicted in Hugh’s paintings to win a £10 voucher to spend at your favourite artists’ supply shop, wherever it is in the U.K. Email peter@murraycrescent.co.uk. First correct answer gets the voucher, plus two runners up prizes of £5 vouchers.
Hugh’s paintings can be found by clicking the following links:
This is the first of my guest artist Hugh Winterbottom’s works. Hugh loves to get out and about in Manchester, recording his favourite building in his distinctive style. This painting and the following two of Hugh’s have caught the eye of Simon Wadsworth of Wraptious.com , who is now offering all three Manchester scenes as greetings cards and giclee prints. Want one? (or three?) Please order direct from Wraptious, or call me on 01663 763355 office hours.
