Paint & Politics

'Something Afoot' mixed media Bee Skelton

I've been concentrating on making work rather than blogging about it for some time now.  When I lived in Cyprus, blogging helped me sort out how I felt about all kinds of things; art, life.... the whole confusing conundrum.  After a nudge from an arty friend today (thank you Jennifer) I decided to make an effort... so here I go again boring the pants off you!

In my last blog post, those of you polite/desperate/drunk enough to read it, will have noted that I've decided I'm too old/stubborn to follow my old art school tutor's advice to adhere to a particular genre in my work.  I now don't give a toss, and I am gloriously indulging myself in whatever takes my fancy with a complete lack of guilt.

I still absolutely adore working to commission;  oil portraits of people, pets, landscapes, favourite places and houses etc etc., inspired by client photos and personal insights.  But inbetween I change gear completely letting intuition and imagination take over.

It's liberating to begin with a blank canvas, with hardly a clue what I'm going to do.  I use mixed media, usually beginning with a rough wash with acrylic to kill the whiteness of the canvas, and then things start to happen with scraps of painted papers, acrylic/oil paint, coloured inks, soft pastel, oil pastel, graphite, charcoal etc etc.  Often finished with a lush glossy textured finish to pull it all together!

With the piece above 'Something Afoot' it ought to have a sub-title (Before HS2)  I had local environmental issues on my mind, which very soon took control of the subject.  My muse, Jennifer, will probably remember during our past collaborations, how disgruntled I was about the High Speed Rail project, which is going to destroy so much of the rural landscape where I live.  With construction work imminent this picture is my homage to how my country dog-walking feels at the moment.  It is not a literal representation of a particular piece of the landscape, or wildflower meadow.  It's how I feel about it inside.  And the lack of careful thought that has gone into considering the distruction about to take place.

OK that's me done venting for today.  I don't expect what I have to say will be read by anyone who can make a difference.  But I feel better ......I think.

 You can reach me by email beeskelton@gmail.com or see more work in my Etsy Shop or website www.beeskelton.com

Winter Tree paintings

Winter Trees by Bee Skelton

 My new garden is full of painterly inspiration!  The bare branches are quite sculptural and make wonderfully dramatic shapes.  There's lots of colour too and it was a joy to observe and make this painting.  It's on a 20x20cm (8x8in) stretched canvas, painted in acrylics.  I've left the sides white and added a hanger to the reverse so it can be displayed straightaway without framing.  Email me for more information about any of my work.

Winter Trees side view.

Here in the UK they say we've had the wettest January since records began and I do feel for the many folk who are struggling in the floods.  This is our first winter in England for many years and the difference in climate between here and Cyprus is of course huge.  Weird I know, but some how I find myself absolutely loving the novelty and drama of the peculiar weather! 

Old Tree original painting 6x6 acrylic on MDF

Each week I get together with another group of artists in a nearby village.  This magnificent old tree made a perfect subject viewed through the window as we all concentrated on making a winter painting.




You can email me for information about anything you see.  A small collection of work can also sometimes be seen in my Etsy shop. 

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.

Email me for more information about any of my work.

After the wine

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)
 Email me for more information about any of my work.

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) 
Email me for more information about any of my work.

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.

Abstract modern expressionist painting oil and acrylic, white blue yellow peach red

Abstract 16.5 x 22 in by Bee Skelton

 This is the first of a series of paintings in which I want to explore the use of white with colour.  The painting is thickly textured with both oil and acrylic paint, together with varied mark making using pencil, oil pastel, pen and ink on canvas paper.  Size 16.5 x 22 inches (42 x 56 cm)
 Email me for more information about any of my work.

I love creating my portrait work, which naturally involves a striving for a recognizable preordained image. At other times I love the freedom of painting in a totally expressive way, without any notion of how the painting should be before I begin.

Painted emotions & atmosphere.

When our boys were small we often spent our summer holiday at Mousehole in Cornwall.  History is repeating itself, now one of our son's has taken his family back there again.  


After a very busy day, the boys made one last sandcastle before bedtime, on the little harbour beach just as the sun was setting.  I was emailed a photo and lapped up the happy memory.  The painterly possibilities seemed good too, as I'm currently studying expressionism and atmosphere.

I've tried to show that time of day when the light is just going, and colours and space begin to merge.  The appearance of the figures is non-specific, as is their activity.

 This painting is about remembered emotions:
Out one day, when one of my boys was tiny, I bought him a helium-filled balloon.  He was in-love with this balloon and held on to the string all the way through town and back home on the bus.  For safety's sake I offered to tie it to his wrist, but he was quite sure he would hold on tight.  OK you've guessed.  We got all the way back to the gate of our house ..... and the string slipped through his fingers.  He was so upset ... and so was I.  Strange the things you remember.

Sketchbook Expressions 1

 #154

Now for something completely different.  Today I begin a new phase of study into Expressionism, which has less to do with what the eye observes and more about feelings and emotions.  These two studies are made in my sketchbook using acrylic paint.

 #155