England ... artist in residence again .... soon!

I'm very excited to announce that my studio is on the move!  Not only that, but the contents of our house, the managerie of pets, art, crafts and not least, my husband; the whole kit and kaboodle will soon be on their way back to England!

We've been on the island of Cyprus for the last 12 fascinating years and the time is now right to return home.  It will be the beginning of a new adventure.  Life and art will change.  I hope you'll stick with me to see what happens next.  It'll be a surprise for both of us!

Sketchbook and collage

Oil pastel sketch and mixed media collage work in progress

An unusual selection of work in progress on the easel today, as a result of a visit to town with a friend to view the exhibition of a young talented local artist.  Followed by lunch at our favourite eatery.

I quickly sketched the colourful starter plate with oil pastels on canvas paper.  Now it's propped on the studio easel with three collages I'm in the process of making.  So far on a hard board support I've used acrylic paint, cut and torn painted papers and drawings from my stash together with sketchbook ephemera.  I've a feeling today's food drawing may find it's way into a collage.

Abstract sketch crawl

Strolling around Old Limassol town with a good friend, choosing where to park ourselves for an outdoor art session, is currently my favourite way to fill a sketchbook. 

Recently sight of flaking Mediterranean-blue painted doorways, worn stonework and rusting ornamental metal-work, opposite comfy sun-shaded pavement cafe tables, made the choice easy.  Naturally purchase of a glass of white wine or two had to be made to secure tenure of our spot for as long as we wanted.

Water Baby

I've just finished several months of portrait commissions and feel the urge to let go of figurative work for a while to get some abstract art bugs out of my system. So realism is out, and colour and self expression, is definitely in.

This week I kept my sketch crawl kit to a minimum;  Rotring art pen with black ink, watercolour pencils, Inktense blocks, a refillable water-pen, large soft brush, plastic water bottle and an 8 x 11 in water-colour sketchpad.

Though it might not appear obvious, the inspiration for the sketch here was the roofless interior of a derelict house.  I love making studies of the remains of old buildings;  it's refreshing to abstract shapes and simply make marks to express feelings of the moment.

More information here

After the wine

Minimal abstract expressionist art

Sometimes less is more when it comes to art.

Expressionist modern art on canvas paper.
Size 12 x 9 inches (30.5 x 22.9 cm)
More information.

12 x 9 in abstract by Bee Skelton

Abstract expressionist acrylic painting, white yellow red

Abstract painting 12 x 9 in by Bee Skelton

A white, yellow and red abstract painting. Acrylics with inks on canvas paper.  Size 12 x 9 inches (30.5 x 22.9 cm)  More information.

The island is quiet, wounded, holding it's breath before the mass of tourists begin to arrive over the next few weeks.  At least I hope they arrive.  Cyprus needs people to come to enjoy our beautiful island, now more than ever.

Blue Mood - Abstract modern expressionist acrylic painting

Abstract 16.5 x 22 in by Bee Skelton

A blue and white abstract painting with a murmur of red. Thickly textured in acrylics with inks on canvas paper.  Size 16.5 x 22 inches (42 x 56 cm)  More information.

It feels strange that my family and friends are celebrating Easter, while here in Cyprus it will be several weeks before it's our turn to have Orthodox Easter.  So whilst others are occupied with fluffy bunnies and chocolate eggs, I'm in the studio working on a happy baby portrait and further abstracts in the white series.