Here's some of my outdoor art, most recent first, all on 8ft high x 4 ft wide boards, using air brush, spray paint, acrylic paints and sealed against the elements.
In one way or another, they are all very personal pieces and influenced by the pleasure of figurative art and taken from personal observation.
Ashby Arts Festival 2024
My 2024 board was a contemporary interpretation of the Portrait of Doña Isabel de Porcel, originally painted by the Spanish artist Francisco de Goya, around 1805.
I loved the confident appearance of Isabel, and how Goya conveyed the shawl and headdress with minimal brush strokes. I enjoyed the challenge to produce my own interpretation with a more 21st century feel.
I discovered that Goya painted this picture for her husband as a gift while he stayed with them. Antonio Porcel, was some 25 years older than Isabel, his second wife who was born in Ronda in 1780. Her unadorned gown and mantilla was not really the garb of the rich but considered to be very fashionable.
I cropped into Goya’s original composition, made up more detail in the headdress, added a decorated mantilla comb, and took some liberties with eye and hair colour, all to make a brighter portrait.
Ashby Arts Festival 2021
Theme for 2021 was National Forest so I took this idea from the mountain biking trails at Hicks Lodge.
Ashby Arts Festival 2019
Theme for 2019 was song titles, my title was "Ave Maria", variously translated and set to Schubert's work,much depicted in paintings and stained glass as Mary with child, or just Mary, the Latin version probably the
most familiar: Ave Maria, gratia plena, Maria, gratia plena, ........
So, I went with the stained glass, slightly cubist look
Ashby Arts Festival 2018
Theme for 2018 was Transport. I was taken by this fruit vendor in Hội An, Vietnam, a most basic form of transport. Also Marie's huskies
Ashby Arts Festival 2017
Theme for 2017 was 'All the World's a Stage'. I particularly wanted to include Christine from Phantom of the Opera and many thanks to Lulu for posing as Christine. 'The Bard' bear's a striking resemblance to me (beard added and less hair!) since the reference was an impromptu self portrait shoot, and the painting was a joint collaboration with Marie. Marie's board was the night time performance of animals in and around our countryside.
Ashby Arts Festival 2015
Theme for 2015 was Ashby Past and Present, hence my painting of show jumping at Ashby Show, now in its 101st Year! Oh, and Marie's Civil War..
Ashby Arts Festival 2014
Theme for 2014 was Myths and legends, hence my interpretation of the Greek Goddess Diana, and of Thor
Ashby Arts Festival 2013
Way of the Wyrd, Border Morris, at Ashby Arts Festival 2013,
including my street art as part of the Festival Outdoor Gallery
Ashby Arts Festival 2012
My street art as part of the 2012 Festival Outdoor Gallery. In 2012 the theme was 'celebration' and the 8ft x 4ft artwork used only red white and blue.
