CHRISTMAS IN ANTIBES!!!
Freedom is not doing anything except send Christmas cards. Alec & I spent the week in Antibes – 14degrees and sunny !! Lots of lovely food and wine.
Plus … 2 visits to Musee Picasso. A medieval chateau set high on the coast. Originally part of the old town wall. Apart from photos, paintings and stuff about Picasso the bonus for me was Nicholas de Stael. What incredible paintings.
Was looking at Richard Deibenkorn just before our trip too.
Now can’t wait to get back and paint. Both artists have inspired me to try using blocks of colour in an atmospheric, reactionary manner. To recall the subject expressively but only semi-pictorially. These two artists said so much with such minimal brushstrokes yet retained the lines of their drawing….hard to explain.
Just found out a little more about de Stael. Such a tragedy but what an achievement in such a short life. I like that he preferred large canvases. His late style resonates with my painting of Aldeburgh Beach. Strange as I hadn’t looked at de Stael much at that time. The beach painting was a bit of a breakthrough for me so think I’ll go back there and maybe paint there again in the light of seeing de Stael’s work. Think it might help.
Also looking forward to painting Sophie in the style of Diebenkorn/Stael.
AN IDEA FOR COLLABORATION
Draft dissertation given in. Can now concentrate on Studio Practice. Sophie has agreed to collaborate with me so can now explain what it’s about.
My painting project is about expressing an emotion or feeling rather than a representational image. So far have attempted to do this through landscape mainly, but really love painting & drawing people. So after reading Sophie’s blog and also ‘The Man with the blue Scarf’ … an account of sitting for Lucian Freud – fascinating stuff; I wondered if I could somehow paint Sophie’s portrait but not as a straightforward likeness … more to express her feelings about life.
She writes eloquently about bullying experiences during her school days. I want her to decide how she wants to present herself for the sitting. Then somehow ??? I want to let her emotions and thoughts percolate into my paintbrushes and onto the canvas.
I hope she’s a good sitter !!! Some artists models are great. You see them sink into a pose which they hold in a totally relaxed manner and you can tell by their eyes that they’ve gone into their own private world. Others fidget and are too present in the room; slightly embarrased at being scrutinised. Take note Soph!!!
Don’t worry …I’m sure it will be fun and interesting if we can pull it off.
But that’s for after Christmas. Now I can’t wait for next Friday. Alec and I are off to Antibes for 10 days!!!! I really need the break…. but my sketchbook will go with me.
BOAT PAINTING
Continueing with my large boat painting. It’s getting closer to what I’m after – not quite there yet but have repainted the boat at least 3 times trying to get to a more impressionistic image. Also trying to paint the calm slightly mysterious atmosphere of the river with it’s glassy reflections.
Looking at water like this makes me want to plunge in. I hope I’ve started to convey that feeling??
START OF THE BOAT PAINTING – LOOKING AT MONET
Recent visit to National Gallery, where I saw with fresh eyes Monets ‘Bathers at Grenouillere’, plus thoughts and memories of my River Stour boat trip inspired the subject of this latest big painting.
As usual am strugglng to keep it abstract; to express an emotion rather than a representaion alone.
Am also considering a collaberation with another student – more details later if she agrees.
