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

Italian Trattoria painting

Good Food Good Friends - painting Bee Skelton

I've enjoyed every part of Italy visited so far;  obvious tourist destinations like Pisa, Florence, Rome, Sienna, San Gimignano.  But one of my favourite places doesn't seem to receive as much attention as the rest.  Apart from business types heading for the exhibition centre, folk appear to use Bologna's airport mostly as a touchdown on the way to somewhere else.  In fact the first time, my friend and I did just that before moving on to Sienna. Fortunately we explored enough to know we wanted to return for longer.

Trattoria Bologna sketch

Bologna has the oldest existing university in the world so is full of exhilarating student-life.  Among its many other attractions there are some excellent restaurants.  Let's face it, if you can't find good food in Italy .... there's something wrong with you!  I made the above painting from a sketch inspired by a crowd of students celebrating graduation.  The place was buzzing with life and excitement.  I hope from the use of colour I've been able to convey a little of the tremendous atmosphere.

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

FIGURE IN LANDSCAPE original painting on canvas

FIGURE IN LANDSCAPE 30409
39.5 x 39.5 ins (100cm x 100cm)
Acrylic on canvas

Young Boy Good lived on top of a mountain surrounded by sea. He looked to the dark valley below but was afraid to go down there. The rocks were craggy and slippery, the ravines deep dangerous hiding places for thieves, and poisonous snakes lurked in the grass ready to strike.

There was a track by Boy's home. It went steeply up hill then disappeared around the mountain summit. Every day he looked out and wondered where the track led and what was on the other side of the mountain. 'That's the only place I want to be' he decided. 'I hate it here! One day when I'm older I will follow the track over the mountain, down to the sea and sail away to a beautiful land'. For years he stayed on the mountain dreaming of the future and the good times that lay ahead.

Then one spring day, he ventured outside his door and saw a beautiful litle girl herding sheep. She smiled and called him to join her. Not only did she have a pretty smile, but she was also very clever. She began to show him rare and colourful flowers nestling between the grasses; tiny purple iris, orchids, anemones and golden daisies. She explained that some plants had special powers that could be used to heal human aflictions. The boy was entranced, forgot about the snakes, and wanted to learn more and more.

After that day, they met together often. She held his hand and together they clambered down the treacherous mountain to the valley below. When he was there it didn't seem so dark and the children of the thieves welcomed them into their games and didn't seem so bad afterall.

Did our boy ever sail away to his beautiful dream land, you may be wondering? Well, yes he did. Eventually he and his shepherdess went over the sea to study in another country. He became a doctor, and she a teacher. They married and happily returned to the mountain surrounded by sea where they heal and teach the valley folk to this day.

Dr Good often ponders what a young FOOL he was to waste so much of his childhood. Mrs Good continues to teach her pupils well; 'instead of just waiting for Good times, it's always best to begin practicing for them today'.

This painting is also featured in the Artist Challenge Gallery.

FAMILY 1008 abstract figurative painting

FAMILY 1008
38" x 28" (97 x 71 cm)
Acrylic & oil on canvas

I put the 'blue madonna' on temporary hold, whilst I concentrated on another new abstract figurative piece. Here are some 'work in progress' images together with the completed painting.



When starting, in my mind I had a young family I know and love very well. As with all my recent work I then just let the painting happen. I wanted it to have a similar mood to the recent 'Lean on Me' pastel painting, which unusually for me had softer colours than I normally use. I'm enjoying the muted colouring and will try to take this further when I develop the 'blue madonna'.


Checked my emails and discovered that interior design consultant, Cynthia Thomas, has featured some of my work on her superb blog Serenity in Design.

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING work in progress 2

I tried to resist, but a Blue Madonna seems determined to get herself painted, so I've given in. I seem to have a fixation with the image of mother and child. It goes back a long way so I shouldn't be too surprised. More progress next time.


This got me thinking about other mother and child images I've made. And I remembered this needlecraft design that was probably my first, and designed many years ago. Whadayaknow .... it's BLUE!

Cross stitch kit available from Amathusia Designs.

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING work in progress 1

After a few days of making speedy small format drawings, today I began a large abstract painting on gallery wrapped canvas, which will take several days. It's good to be back to wet pigment and especially on such a large scale, 40x40 inches (100x100cm).

To me already it seems to be going in a particular figurative direction, which I'm doing my best to resist. We'll see. It will take as long as it takes, evolving as it goes.

If you want to follow progress, you can call in again as normal or subscribe to my blog.

LEAN ON ME original drawing

LEAN ON ME
6 x 8 inch (15 x 20 cm)
Drawing on Fabriano tinted paper using soft pastels.
SOLD

SOMETHING TOGETHER NOTHING APART abstract figurative painting

SOMETHING TOGETHER, NOTHING APART
Acrylic on unstretched canvas
18 x 17 inches
(46 x 43 cms)
$299 plus shipping

There are two ways to see this painting. The image above is how it might look when wrapped onto wooden stretcher bars and stapled round the back. The sides of the painting which are part of the composition could then be seen if displayed without frame. Which I think would look great!

21 x 20 inches
(54 x 51 cms)

The second image shows the full canvas, with 3 inches all round allowed for stretching. If it was to be displayed with a frame, then less of the canvas would need to wrap on the stretcher bars so more of the composition would be seen from the front when framed.

When two odd people were made for each other, my Grandma used to say in her broad north of England dialect that a couple were "Somat together and nowt apart".

Love you Granny Boon.

GIRL WITH GREEN BANDANNA figurative expressionist painting

GIRL WITH GREEN BANDANNA
SOLD
Acrylic on thick mount board
2.5 x 3.5 inches
(65 x 90 mm)
She's such a Hussy! But she's wearing red and green so I love her.

The temperatures and humidity are still uncomfortably high. This morning I was a good girl and did some ironing ... aghh... in this heat! So I earned myself some time in the studio. It's a long time since I painted an art card (ACEO) and seemed a good idea as I didn't have enough energy for anything larger.

RED HAIRED MADONNA abstract expressionist painting

RED HAIRED MADONNA
18 x 20 inches
(46 x 51 cms)
Original abstract expressionist figurative painting.
Acrylic on flat unstretched canvas, signed Bee.
The painting is actually larger than you see here as it continues over the margins I set to allow for stretching.

Those blessed days when our children are small enough to wrap in our arms and keep safe from all harm.

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Blogger has had problems over the last couple of days or so. This Blog and many others have been unavailable. Sorry, but there was nothing I could do except wait for Blogger/Google to fix it. Welcome back! :)

SUMMER DAZE original abstract figurative painting

SUMMER DAZE

Acrylic on hardboard
10 x 10 inches
(25 x 25 cms approx)
$99 plus shipping.

Over the last few days the breeze has picked up and cleared some of the humidity from the island. The air is fresh yet still hot the water warm and inviting.
Lazy days of summer .... blissful!

ANGEL OLYMPICS original abstract painting

ANGEL OLYMPICS
Acrylic on hardboard
10 x 10 inches
(25 x 25 cms approx)
$99 plus shipping.

I think the coming Olympic Games must have been in the back of my mind today for these heavenly wrestlers to pop out. I don't know about you, but I'm so looking forward to the many hours I'll be spending glued to the tv. I just wish it wasn't being held where it is :(

MOTHER OF THE MISSING original painting

MOTHER OF THE MISSING
Acrylic on masonite board
10 x 10 inches
(25 x 25 cms approx)

OK I know I'm supposed to be on my summer break, but trust me, this week's paintings don't feel like work. I'm actually very comfortable allowing myself to be more expressive than usual. I just love the feeling of unexpectedness and the constant surprises. Contrary to their 'dark' and intense appearance I'm having fun!

IN DISGUISE original painting

IN DISGUISE
Acrylic on masonite board
10 x 10 inches
(25 x 25 cms approx)

I had a feeling my summer break might be short-lived, but even I didn't expect it to last only one day! Just couldn't stay away from the studio and this portrait was the result. Says quite a lot about some of my feelings just now. Is all art auto-biographical? I don't know. I seem to be heading that way ... though which style I'll use to persue this remains to be seen. This one just happened and it felt good.

MORPHI original figurative abstract painting

MORPHI
Acrylic on canvas
28 x 20 inches approx.
70 x 50 cms

This painting was inspired by sights, experiences and my own feelings around one evening spent in Limassol old town when we visited an art exhibition at the Morphi Gallery. (The word 'morphi', by the way, means 'form' in greek).

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING work in progress 4

Just in case you thought I'd been idle, here is the current painting a little further along. Further progress next week.

A Happy 4th July to all my US blog friends.

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING work in progress 3

Full marks to you for perseverance. Slow progress on my part. We have a heatwave just now and work is suffering :(

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING work in progress 2

Next session I'll continue loosely blocking in the different basic elements.

FIGURATIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING work in progress 1

If you want to follow the progress of this painting, you are going to need a little patience and perseverance, as it's going to take a few days.

It was inspired by an evening I spent with friends in old Limassol town a few weeks ago. One friend who's a teacher took us along to see an exhibition of her school's A Level Art work at the Morphi Gallery. All those beautiful young people with so much talent and so seemingly unaware of how blessed they are to be at the beginning of the adventure. I was so impressed and so envious ... left me depressed for days!

In this first work in progress image I've begun to lay down the structure/architecture on the 28 x 20 inch canvas.

'HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU' painting on canvas

I finally finished this a couple of days ago and it's almost all I wanted it to be. I've never yet been totally satisfied with any of my paintings, but that's no bad thing .... just gets me going on the next one.

I'm happy with the direction of this series. It started with 'Then' and 'Inside Out'. My fascination with painting the human face/figure gets the juices flowing and then like in real life, they start reacting with other things. In this series there's an interaction with abstract pattern, colour and decorative elements. I hope that viewers will also be drawn to play with and discover underlying narratives.