VENICE - DRAWINGS FROM THE FIELD
Venice: Bron's Visit
DRAWING IN THE LUNCH BREAK
I realised the other day that I am only five months away from a major archaeological tour of Libya; Siân and I are touring round Leptis Magna. And in a month’s time we are going Cyprus. Here I expect I will be out drawing early in the morning as young people are walk back to their hotels from clubbing in Paphos.
All this points to the need to sharpen up my drawing skills; I must be comfortable drawing quickly standing on the spot, not sitting down and in places that are none too restful. Draw quick, draw good.
So I am re-developing the habit of getting out at lunch time to get down in my book what I see in front of me.
Here in Victoria, London SW1 there is the cathedral, the brutal architecture of Cardinal Place. The other day I was down near the Thames looking upstream to the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye; Practise, practise, practise.
Drawing at Lunchtime
SUPER-RELATIVE MAUREEN GETS GOING ON CANVAS
My Aunt Maureen, artist, photographer and official guide at Lichfield Cathedral sent me some of her work the other day. I picked this tropical beach scene as my favourite. The painting's crop and gawky angle is my fault I wanted to seperate it from a photograph of several canvases!
Here we are - Maureen's sunny place.
It is the angle she has taken, a painting looking in and down onto what is going on on the beach that grabs my attention. The time of day is clearly established; it really feels like that mid day - lunchtime - early afternoon listness-less you experience in the topics.
Great colours and not too much detail to get in the way of the overall engagment and warmth of scene. You want to be there.
THE STORY OF A PAINTING
Friend and colleague Chris Dobson has just celebrated a milestone birthday. He and Gillian love Bath and the surrounding area. I did a painting to mark the occassion. I thought it would be neat to record the process.
Here we are, Bath Abbey.
Bath Abbey
SAO PAULO PRESS ENQUIRY
I was very pleased to receive this email around my drawings published last month in www.moleskinerie.com I am following up - Here is what was said
Thu, 8 May 2008 16:02:56 -0700
Subject: Interview - Brazil
Hi there Tim, my name is Rodrigo Brancatelli and I'm a journalist from Brazil. I write articles for one of the biggest papers in South America, O ESTADO DE S. PAULO (www.estadao.com.br). I was just amazed when I discovered in your website the drawings you made about São Paulo. I'd like to interview you for my newspaper, do you thinks it's possible? I'm looking foward to hearing from you
Sao Paulo
EXAMINING PETER DOIG
I have just caught the end of the Doig Retrospective at Tate Britain until April 27.
Several pieces of his work reminded me of the landscapes and snow I had seen in Ontario, Canada when I was there in January: the space of the country, solitary figures and trees creating a strange architecture in the whiteness - mile upon mile.
The Times Online makes a great statement about his work:
“It's so easy to see the point of a painting by Peter Doig. You don't have to clamber about in a scaffolding of theory or worry about finding your place in art history or go leafing through long biographical notes. You just need to look.”
Copyright Peter Doig
MY FIRST TRIP ON EUROSTAR
On March 31st I travelled from city centre to city centre, from the magnificent refurbished St Pancras Station to the monumental Gard du Nord. Journeying through the countryside inspired a modest poem
Leaden skies against green fields,
We can still see the architecture of each tree
Past churches; no towers only spires,
Ground prepared for seed
Poplar trees sentinal along the road
Sun breaks through; all is while or chrome yellow, brown soil turn oxide red
Small villages and pylons march across the countryside
Racing against lorries and cars we are always ahead
Drawing: Looking out through the Eurostar Train window
MADE IN JAPAN
Precious friend Yoshie from Tokyo is currently in the UK at Birmingham University doing an MBA. What an opportunity. What courage!
Her mother is a wonderful artist see the slide show of three delicate post cards Yoshie sent me the other day, created by her mother. The colours kiss the paper and you can see the exquisite mark of her mother's seal at the foot of each. So Japanese, so unique and a wonderful example of the art of one of my most favourite countries! Thank you Yoshie and thank you dear mother of Yoshie.
Yoshie's Mother
DRAWINGS FEATURED IN MOLESKINECITY GUIDES BLOG
A big thanks to Claudia Tani and the editorial staff of Moleskinecity.com. They saw my post on www.moleskinerie.com and published it on their blog of Paris. I really appreciate it.
They saw that I also wrote about our Rome trip in and posted it on Moleskinecity Rome blog, too! ROME – ARRIVEDERCI E GRAZIE
The sun set as I sipped espresso in the Café Canova in the Piazza de Popolo. Popolo one of the great squares with its two churches - Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto, by Bernini, standing sentential.
Tuesday was designated ancient Rome tour day (the following being ‘religious Rome’ day and our final day ‘retail Rome’).
Each morning I rose early and went in search of something to draw and coffee. The independent café is thriving in Rome each one, regardless of size, has neatly turned-out men in white shirts and black aprons to produce wonderful, thick creamy espresso served in double-quick time.
Dear Mother Church of Rome and the largest church in the world even London’s St Paul’s Cathedral is knee high to this impressive place – fitting as the architectural matriarch to the Roman faith. I hunkered down at the far end of the church behind the high altar and started to draw the massive columns with their ant-like visitors crawling around between. Two guards walked over to where I was standing and looked over my shoulder, complimenting me on my work - “eccellente”.
Proud Rome with its Cafés still independent and espresso sublime, stationary shops that sell attractive and stylish fountain pens some still actually made in Italy, four hundred churches and almost many baroque facades and men’s clothing that still takes pride in itself – all in this most eternal of cities.
Roman Holiday
A GREAT START TO 2008
A big thanks to Richard and Fiona for inviting me up to Scotland. Their lovely home flanked by wonderful countryside, Loch Morar and its estuary into the sea in which sit the Ilses of Skye, Rum and Egg.
Breathtaking and inspiring to draw
PERFECT PIPER CHRISTMAS - December 21st 2007
Cycling down Bond Street, just before Christmas, I discovered that Agnew’s had a John Piper exhibition on! Wonderful! Prolific Piper: The show covered lesser known period of his activity and a great opportunity to admire the remarkable variety of one of Britain's best loved artists in mid-career.
Of real delight were the illustrative/collage work for Wisdom of the West, Bertrand Russell’s popular history of philosophy. I have since tracked down a copy of the book which is now winging its way to me.
http://www.agnewsgallery.com Poelfoen, 1960-61 John Piper
SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED
-Until December 21st they have a exhibition of post card art. The gave a number of great artists post-card size pads and asked them to create art. The results are delightful, unbelievably varied and inspirational. A little contraint (size) enables stunning results.
BACK WITH VIRGINIA - December 8th 2007
Thanks to wonderful friends Barbara and Patricia - see FRIENDS & GALLERIES page
we had a super day with our favourite model Virginia who travelled up from London. Her dancer energy brought excitement and challenges with every pose. We had a great day - I did some great work
VIRGINIA - we're back
CONNECTING WITH THE LANDSCAPE - November Several weekends ago we returned to visit close friends in Holland. Randi and her family live on the edge of the Weerribben national park. This is the largest freshwater marshland area in Western Europe. I cycled each morning through familiar reed meadows, winter pastures and marsh woodlands. Aside from the distant drone of a tractor and the occasional car the countryside was almost silent. I recorded 30 minutes on my pocket memo recorder.
As our train crossed and re crossed the grey landscapes of Holland I was reading The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane his latest book about his intellectual and a physical journey across the British Isles, from the cliffs of Cape Wrath, to the ‘holloways’ of Dorset, the storm-beaches of Norfolk, the salt marshes and estuaries of Essex, close to my original home.
Macfarlane mentions the painter
Paul Nash. Nash, found much inspiration in the English landscape, particularly places with a sense of ancient history, such as burial mounds, Iron Age hill forts such as Wittenham Clumps not far when we were live now. He sought nature and the mysteries of Ancient Britain, hoping to capture the spirit of open ground.
CONNECTING WITH THE LANDSCAPE
PARIS ART TRAIL - October 23 - 26
After the French Revolution, the Louvre was transformed from palace to picture house. In 1793 the Museum Central des Arts opened to the public in the Grande Galerie and the Salon Carré, from where the collections gradually spread to take over the building. Anne of Austria’s apartments were taken the antique sculpture galleries and she was, presumably housed elsewhere in the palace! And so the Louvre continued to grow to this day, art on the grand scale, a building on the grand scale the Louvre is a city within a city with its own shopping mall (all art stuff), Post Office and Starbucks.
Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Built on the occasion of the International Exhibition of 1937, the Museum of Modern Art was officially opened in 1961. Take plenty of time to admire the post modern fascist architectural exterior and build in some moment for a excellent brownie in the Musée cafe! This museum houses fabulous collection including works by Robert Delaunay, Jean Fautrier, Christian Boltanski, Georges Rouault, Robert and Sonia Delaunay, Raoul Dufy, Marcel Gromaire and notably two of the three Henri Matisse triptychs of La Danse (1931-33) and La Fée Electricité (1937) by Raoul Dufy.
Paris Art Trail
COMMUTING A GREAT DRAWING OPPORTUNITY
COMMUTING a great opportunity for drawing
STANLEY SPENCER GALLERY October 8
The small but perfectly formed Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham was the second gallery I ever visited.
My Uncle and Aunt, who lived in Maidenhead close by took me there
on several occasions over 40 years ago! Going there must have been one of my formative experiences in Art. Eric encouraged my photography and Bobby encouraged my painting
The Gallery is now re-opened after extensive refurbishment over the last year – one of the more productive or maybe most productive uses of lottery money!
Spencer still fascinates me: wonderful draftsmanship in the true Slade style, luxuriant oil paintings and troubled portraits.
Full details go here a wonderful resource centre on Spencer and full details of the gallery.
NEW WORK!
LA PUSH
Acrylic on board - 30 x 50 cm October 2007
Commissioned by friend and super-patron Carrie Bogner..JPG)
La Push is a small community in Washington State coastline. Four hours drive from Seattle it is home to the Quileute Indian Tribe and is located along the Quileute River. It is known for its surfing and whaling and incredible natural beauty.
The strange name, La Push, is an infusion of the French la bouche, meaning "mouth", into Chinook Jargon. It describes the town's location at the mouth of the river. La Push is home to the westernmost ZIP Code in the United States, 98350.
Several months ago Carrie handed over some photographs of this spiritual place, immediately I was struck by the magic and feeling of prehistory with temperate forests that run up to the waters edge and driftwood on the beach with almost human form. The colour palette evening from these pictures was so very different from any other coastline I have ever painted.
September 14 INTOXICATED IN THE TATE - again
Every week I go to the Tate. In Room 20There are wonderful wonderful sketchbooks and diaries, which were part of his work with poet friend John Betjeman collaborating on the famous Shell Guides.
Piper’s output and the enormous breadth of media across which he worked impresses me so much. He was an author of books, prolific photographer, etcher, printmaker, designer of scenery & costumes for opera, ballet & theatre, created murals, stained glass for schools, colleges, churches & cathedrals as well as designs for tapestries & fabrics & in later years began making ceramics.
Seeing all these ideas dutifully and beautifully executed is quite overwhelming.
The Piper website is
it includessmall videos of him working outdoors
June 31 The Summer Show at Commercial Studios.
It was in June was a great success. A big thank youto all who came and saw my exhibition of marine paintings and the Drawing Journals.
Photo Credit - David Watson (Thank You)
8 April 2007
SEEN - THE FIRST PRINTS FROM White Gallery
Stuart popped round with the first print from one of my painings this weekend! The results are stunning! Totally faithful to the work, beautifully printed and mounted! I nearly bought one myself! Do go here to see the works available.
3 April 2007
AT CENTRAL SCHOOL OF ART AGAIN !
The atmosphere, the smell, the buzz! I was back; with inspirational tutor Diego Ferrari to complete part two of the Photography, Art and Architecture course. As a fine artist I was exploring how to take drawing into the realm of photography. We worked for three days down at Tate Modern. At the end of the course we had to present a body of work. A great result for me with representations of space and the interaction of people - amalgamating photography in the galleries with my drawings incorporated to form a new body of work!
30 March 2007
Just back from a great week in Sao Paulo. Brazil's greatest architech Oscar Niemeyer is a national hero - see more of his breathtaking buildings
26 March 2007
MY HUGELY TALENTED NEPHEW!
11 March 2007
10 March 2007
WHITE GALLERY GOES LIVE!
Owner Stuart comments . . .
COLLECTABLE - The prints are collectable, because of the low edition runs and the fact that they are exclusive to WHITE and as the Artist increases there eminence in the Art world the print will increase in value. Remember each print will be signed and numbered by you.
EXCLUSIVE - You can't buy them anywhere else. You don't see them over and over again. I can't tell you how many Art Galleries I've been to over the last few months and how many times I've seen the same prints from the same Artists. We offer something unique and rare.
CONTEMPORARY - Modernistic, expressionistic, impressionistic, we've collected Art that's fresh, exhilarating, emotional and mysterious.
AFFORDABLE - Of course it's affordable and I'm buying one! You can easily spend £100 to £200 and more on a poor quality, high edition run print on canvas from John Lewis or any other Art Gallery department.
They use the same images that you repeatedly see in other Retail/Art Gallery chains and they look terrible. Our prints are Exclusive and personally signed by you! It's the real thing! People who collect Art want to pay money; it's part of the culture.
QUALITY - The quality of the print is excellent, a giclee print ( French for ink jet) on Archival paper, finished with a mount that is a standard size so that framing is made easy. Your statement of intent will be stuck to the back and overall presentation has prestigious written all over it!
24 February
ALAN FLETCHER AT THE DESIGN MUSEUM LONDON One of the most influential figures in British graphic design, Alan Fletcher co-founded Fletcher/Forbes/Gill in the 1960s and Pentagram in the 1970s. Quite brilliant with lots of his work across the last 50 years! Inspirational!!
10 February
MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!
I have been in California this week to read a brief story of the trip click
throughtto http://timbaynes.spaces.live.com/ Got back just in time to see the snow which arrived earlier in the week!
4 February
SUMMER SHOW DATES!
My summer exhibition dates at Commercial Studios are June 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 28, 30 and July 1
Times: weekdays 12 – 5pm weekends 10am – 4pm
Private View details to be announced!
27 January
THE WHITE GALLERY
Now close to launching their website with just a few things left to do, it will 'live' until the middle of February!
The energetic owner Stewart wrote to me the other day . . .
We feel WHITE is better than any other virtual Art gallery that sells giclee prints. All the
national virtual art galleries (selling prints) that we have surfed always seem to have the same Artists with high print runs and more importantly some pretty average paintings as well.
We have something different, we are unique, all our prints are exclusive to WHITE and cannot be bought as a limited edition print with anyone else. Our print runs are low making them more collectable.