Just a few more 'faces' added. I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge of this work, though there is some 'suffering' involved in its execution. I have been told by the lovely person in my household that I look for the faults and not the positives but this is only my quest for perfection in my learning. (My heart tells me that she is right maybe just a little!)

The 'Albergo Doni - Venezia" painting, framed and up on the wall of the client who purchased it who said that "It's meant to be here." I love the painting but am happy that it is in a home where it will be equally loved.

Adding figures to the background. They are a little distorted and very impressionistic but the light of the venue distorts somewhat. It is difficult to make them 'real' and not 'ghoul-like'! I'll keep working on them until I'm happy.

Just a quick update on the 'Off Broadway'
I am working on the background around the figure. I want the faces to be an impression but they need to be 'right' in appearance. The flesh tones are, of course, affected by the 'neon' lighting, which is good, as it gives me many 'liberties' with the tones that I can use. It is liberating and exciting at the same time as being a challenge.

I am still in the early stages of my oil painting based on the inside of a cafe off Broadway un New York. The singing waiter was terrific and should easily get a role in a Broadway production. He leapt between the tables to sing, as did other waiters and waitresses during the evening. The atmosphere was purely American with a capital A. It was thoroughly enjoyable made more so by the company we had. I am compelled to capture the atmosphere on canvas but to capture the 'neon' atmosphere is the challenge as well as making the figures believable. The other aspect is to paint the posters of other singers that adorned the wall on the balcony. I'll keep you posted!

A client has indicated that they want to buy my recently completed 'Albergo Doni, Venezia' painting but will wait until December for it to be varnished. The paint surface is quite thin and certainly not impasto and so should be dry enough to apply the varnish by the end of November. It will be going to an appreciative and artistically understanding home. Selling a painting is a bitter sweet experience as a little of the me is in each work that I do.
I have begun a new painting as a companion with my painting 'Reflections of a New York Diner W51st'. It is based on a diner/restaurant off Broadway where the waiters and waitresses sing in between taking and delivering your order. It was a fantastic experience and I was inspired to paint it because of the challenge of all the colour and 'neon'. The singing was breathtaking. The effect of the neon lights on the figures will present the biggest challenge. As most artists will know it is not easy to capture the quality of light with paint. I may try it in watercolour also as sketches. I have staerted the top right hand corner and finding it difficult to get the colour without the dulling caused when white paint is used. Using a transparent white may help but we shall see.

My painting of the reflections in the window of Bill's bar and Burger on W51st New York is now framed and ready to hang.

My oil of Albergo Doni in Venice is now completed. I now wait a few months for it to dry completely before I varnish it.  I am happy with the finished product but found the aerial perspective a challenge. I believe that we cannot make progress unless we challenge ourselves so, hopefully, I have made progress with my techniques

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I am nearing completion of my oil painting of Albergo Doni in Venezia, Italy. I have found the aerial perspective, especially in the brick work a challenge but rewarding. I hope that I have captured the effect that the light has coming between the buildings, which are tall in proportion to the narrow space of the canal. Though this is an area that gondola tours can be experienced I have tried to steer clear of the cliched images, with only a slight suggestion of the appearing gondola in the foreground.

This is my latest completed watercolour. The cattle were roaming just inside the New South Wales border from Queensland. I was fascinated by the skin creases and the colours in the hair on the body and how the colour changed according to the light. Having dark skin with a whitish nose was also an aspect of the cattle that I found interesting. It has taken me some time to complete this painting because I have used many different brush strokes to get the texture of the hairy skin.  The painting size is approximately 90cm on the longest dimension.

I have recently given a talk about my work and the techniques that I use in watercolour to achieve the strength of colour to the Queensland Botanical Art Society. There were about 30 members present and, hopefully, they enjoyed it as much as I did. Eileen was there to lend her support which was reassuring as, though I am used to speaking about my work to children in schools, I have never before spoken to a large group of artistic peers.

My most recently completed painting is an oil, based on the reflections in the window of a New York diner. Bill's Bar and Burgers on W51st to be precise. I have found using oils after so long working with watercolour both exciting and challenging. I think that it does me good to set myself challenges so that I can make progress with my technique.

My next Oil in progress is a view of a back canal in Venice showing the Albergo Doni. We didn't stay there, but I liked the view of the Grand Canal through the gap in buildings. My intention is to try to give the sense of height with the buildings with the atmosphere of the canal system. It is a gondola area but didn't want to fully cliche the painting with too much of the boats. I liked the way the poles angled out of the canal and how the people were just casually a part of the landscape. I'll post a completed one when it is finished.

I'm still inspired by the culture of New York and so will complete at least one more composite of our experiences there.

I am working on a watercolour simultaneously with the oils which is a group of cattle on the Queensland/New South Wales border. 

It is interesting going from watercolour to oil and back within a short time as the techniques used are so different.

Eileen and I are now into the routine of using our new studio/gallery - Rigmarole Studio! We officially launched in November last year with family and friends and , now that the festive season is well and truly over, we are in full swing.
Eileen is working in mixed media on canvas creating an image of Venice in preparation for the classes that she will run in the studio.
I have just started to sketch out a painting based on my experiences overseas in 2013.
I am still painting primarily in Watercolours using the natural things that I see around me, and I have a painting on the go but this, new work, will be a slight change in direction. It is good to try something new, even if it only confirms that the status quo is where you eventually end up.
I am painting on canvas using oils. It is many years since I used oils and there are many more additives available to the artist so it is all an adventure.
My subject is 'New York"! After my short visit meeting friends in 2013, I was excited by the atmosphere of the great metropolis.
I am trying to steer clear of the cliche! No yellow cabs, tourist icons etc but just the experience of being there. The painting will be based on reflections in the window of a New York diner.....I'll keep you posted.