Lighthouse Poole Open Exhibition

This acrylic painting was selected for the Poole Open Exhibition at the Lighthouse Theatre in Poole. It opened on April 12th 2024.  

Below is a favourite painting of Poole which I have posted before but I am sitting facing it here in France where it sits in pride of place as a lovely reminder of a very special meal. Its the Kitchen in Poole Park. In the days when we were able to dine out we had a six course meal there once. We were so impressed we took family and friends there. Small delicious nouveau cuisine dishes with matching wine. The kitchen has change hands since and is quite different, we pop in for coffee sometimes and enjoy the view over the lake.

 

Here is a detail from my larger painting of Glanum in France, the larger one is our wall. The interesting day out there was wonderful, especially as Van Gogh's sanitorium is next door.

 

I enjoyed painting this and want to remember it as I have gifted it.

So I have posted it here. 

Its from imagination and uses oil and acrylic together to create the water

 

 

View from Studland Beach

Painted in acrylics. I enjoy painting big skies. There is drama and movement in those clouds and the water is disturbed 

Van Gogh's Chair

I used acrylics and pastels and layers of fix to create this copy of Van Goghs chair on A3 acrylic paper. Quite pleased with it so will sort out a frame.

More Still Life 

There hasnt been much chance for getting out to paint and I have wanted to improve my direct observation skills anyway so here are some still lifes painted in January

Still Life

 During lockdown I took my time to set up a few still lifes and patiently paint them in wn artists acrylics. All are 20cm by 20cm

The next two were painted in different ways, the first one was using grisaille first and glazes of colour while the second was painted onto a white background

Harrys Rocks Dorset

Trying to get a feeling of vertigo in two of these these acrylics and pastels.

Peonies in a Blue Vase

Acrylic 29cm x 18.5cm of Peonies in a Blue Vase. Started life as a watercolour then finished with acrylics. It is painted on heavy watercolour paper. 

Feeling Relaxed

A small 9" x 5" acrylic painted on Langton 140lb Not Watercolour paper. I watched a live SAA workshop today by Hashim Akib but he was doing a large full face lion using large brushes. I only wanted to paint a small acrylic of a sleeping lion photo so I challenged myself to be distracted by his technique so that I would change mine somewhat. I was pleased with this result especially that I began with a blue background like he showed the class. Otherwise I went my own way, using a fan brush but following him in layering in the colours using only a few relevant strokes. I think the blue background certainly helps, especially when I added touches of viridian and maroon which are enlivened by the blue. My painting looked best in the early stages and I aim to repeat on a bigger scale following Hashim's instructions more closely.

Valley In the Lakes

Painted this "Valley in the Lakes" to try out a technique of beginning an acrylic with a white thick sky into which I introduce colours while wet and blend a little. Quite successful despite the fast drying time of acrylic. Colours were Ultramarine, burnt umber, paynes grey and cadmium yellow.

Mornac Sur Seudre Paintings in Oil and Acrylic

Back from France where I've had chance to relax, paint and think of Art. I love colour and the light over there encourages brighter colours on my palette. Here's a few completed oils and acrylics with a new one started and left over there to finish next time we visit. All were based on a recent visit to Mornac sur Seudre.

Morgan Evening on Poole Quay

Finished at last. Its big, 120cm wide, so it took a while. Painted in Pebeo High Viscosity acrylics over the top of a textured background. Actually underneath it all are two other paintings which I have rejected and covered over, re-using the framed canvas. The black frame cost £80 on first painting so I wasn't going to waste it. Don't know what I'm going to do with it now. Its too big for our flat!!! Its sitting in my studio in France and I hope the mice don't eat it. I rather like it so thats the main thing.

For those that know me you will see our family group, painted from my imagination and including the latest addition....

The first covered-over painting was an abstract entered for the John Moores Competition in Liverpool. it was selected for the judges in one of the stages so had to be delivered up there, but was rejected so had to be fetched back by courier.  It was too serious to live with in a small terrace so I gessoed over it. Together with material costs it worked out an expensive lesson and put me off entering UK send-it-away competitions. I prefer the French paint-in-the-street type competitions. People can watch you as you work too and they are fun.

The second painting was a serene view of Poole harbour which was ok but I got bored with as anyone could have painted it. You couldnt say that about this one. I have changed my signature since taking the photo to just Gabriella as it looked wierd.

Poole Open Competition ...Dog Studies

I have just entered the Poole Open 2014 Competition. I painted people enjoying themselves on the shore of Poole Bay. It was interesting to work on as it was quite a large canvas and I had to distort the perspective of the bay to get all the images in that I wanted to show...boys kicking water and splashing each other, people messing around with boats, Jen in her ladies team canoe racing boat, Jon windsurfing..

They are tiny 3.5" x 2.5" studies


I wanted a dog in the foreground with a stick or ball so I did some small studies... I really enjoyed them as a subject but it was a challenge to get them looking friendly and not evil, especially as they were showing teeth.

They are painted in acrylic on heavy watercolour paper.

Competition judging is on friday.



Heres a larger a3 pastel study of a dog I did a couple of years ago in my sketchpad when I was practising drawing fur. There is an owl's eye too that I found in my sketchpad which I did at the same time. Amazing feathers on an owl.