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.

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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)
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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)
 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) 
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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)
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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.

Romantic fantasy portrait in oils

Commissioned romantic fantasy portrait in oils by Bee Skelton

And they say romance is dead!  Not true, for some of my clients.  As an anniversary surprise for her husband, a lady in New York has commissioned me to paint a portrait of them both in the style of a romantic book cover.  She supplied recent photos and I got to work.  Below are some work-in-progress images for those of you who like to see the process.  
Email me for more information about any of my work.