‘THE GRANDMAS’ PICNIC’: (On hold whilst I paint the Marsh Marigold as it suddenly flowered). Please click here to view the sketches and progress of the commissioned artwork.

As some readers may be aware, to supplement this ‘starving artist’, I am copy editor for CUP’s Modern Asian Studies Journal. Imagine my surprise when I opened the latest paper and found it had an illustration in it, and that this was a map I had drawn for someone a couple of years ago. What a nice feeling!

Progress pics for ‘The Grandmas’ Picnic’ (Commission) – oil on canvas.

I found an article in Artists & Illustrators Magazine about painting in thin layers with oils, just like the Old Masters, and thought I might try this type of application for my Australian Commission. After trying thin washes and waiting patiently for the layers to dry I realised that, by painting in the way of the old Masters, it would take years to complete this particular picture. So I reverted to my own style of painting – almost finishing each bit as I go along. I must admit, I do like working in the sticky wetness of the fresh paint, and I love that I can move it around, scrape it off and re-apply just for the fun of it. I am not sure why I wished to paint like the old Masters, but as I have never been influenced by any other artists’ work before, why try to change my spots now! Once an untrained rebel, always a rebel I suppose.

I moved to the second underpainting, with colours. This is when I should spot that elements are incorrect. And of course, Houghton Mill in the background was on the lean, so I had to correct it before carrying on in that area. I am trying to study light and shadows on sunny days, but unfortunately, the sun keeps hiding behind rain and clouds – this morning it is foggy!

The preliminary sketch was approved without any amendments, but getting that small sketch onto the large canvas proved difficult, and upon enlargement, several elements had to be moved around a bit to achieve the proper perspectives. But at the moment it is going well. I started with the horrible squares by which to transfer the drawing accurately, then erased them as best I could using a putty rubber and am now in the process of filling in the tonal underpainting (all in one colour) to show the outlines and shadows.

2. The tonal underpainting – Blue-grey wash, then light colour wash.

ALL BECAUSE BAD MANAGEMENT, THROUGH NEGLECT OF MAINTENANCE, A BEAUTIFUL HEDGE TOTALLY REMOVED SO THAT ‘WE COULD FIND THE DRAINAGE PIPES’!
At last I have managed to take some after-the-event photographs regarding removal of the hedge at Long Road, Comberton. Please click here for history, then come back to this page and compare. Please form your own opinion, but it is so sad that green stuff is being ripped out which takes about 20 years to recover – poor people (loss of beautiful green hedgerow with blossom and berries) – poor birds (no nesting sites: imagine coming home from a long [flying] holiday and finding your home raised to the ground!).

19 March 2014 – And a bit more for the book: Received a telephone call from a golfing friend to say she had a frozen [male] chaffinch in her freezer, if I should like to add it to my collection – and I said ‘yes’ of course! Near my friend’s house is Bourn Brook in Caxton End, Bourn, and I noticed that the road was closed. I enquired of a workman who was sitting in his van having a break and he informed me that the road was to be raised a few feet and large drainage pipes would be laid on the opposite side of the road to where the brook runs, with the run-off being channelled into the brook. I had a peep, and noticed a huge drainage pipe protruding through the staked wall on the roadside bank. So I posit that this might help to stop the road flooding (although the ford is still a bit further on and will always flood either side along the road), but because the water will run a lot faster through the pipes it will also affect the height of the brook’s waters when it is swollen? This will surely have a knock-on effect further downstream, if not immediately where the drainage pipe waters flow into the brook itself. I shall try to pop along again tomorrow and take some photographs.

Gold leaf (who said it was easy!): a few piccies showing stages for guilding of illuminated letters.

Spring has sprung in my little wild garden: lots of frogs and frogspawn, the marsh marigold has put out a few tender leaves, and a Songthrush is back after an absence of 3 years! Dog violets are back, my gorse bush is bursting with gold-yellow flowers and in the greenhouse (because I forgot to bring them out) my Snakeshead fritilleries are in full bloom. Wonderful!

Froggy Franticisms:

My painting, Songthrushes in Ivy (Code 0703) is up on the Fine Art Trade Guild website and is a contender for the best selling Artist Award 2014. If you would like to vote for my picture, I should be most grateful if you would visit the Guild’s website and vote for me – but only if you like my painting, of course. Unfortunately, my painting is the last one to be listed, so please scroll down the Guild’s website page to look at it and then, if you think it worthy, please give it a tick – by going back up to the top of the page. Please note that voting ceases at 9.00am, Monday 17th March 2014. Thank you. TB

I have done a draft design for my poem about Bourn Brook, which poem should be in the book, but I will alter the illumination before going to press, as I have ‘borrowed’ these from old decorations. I hope you enjoy reading it, and please let me have your comments, if it moves you – in any direction.

Received a lovely invitation from Mr Mark De Novellis, Curator of Exhibitions and Collections at the Richmond Upon Thames Arts Service, Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham TW1 3DJ to submit work for 4 exhibitions during 2014. I am sad to say that due to other commitments I am unable to participate this year, but will in 2015, if given the opportunity. Tel: 020 8831 6000.