A room with plenty of views...

Superb news! Our joint exhibition 'All Creations Great and Small' in the amazing exhibition space at 'The Station Gallery' in Richmond North Yorkshire is complete and looking fantastic with select sculpture and paintings from each of us all put together a really beautiful show.


Everything is perfect and ready for tomorrows 'meet the artists' day as the start of our 2 week exhibition on until 11 November.

Doors open at 10.30am and we will be there until early afternoon to meet you, have a chat and perhaps have a drink and a munch perhaps together whilst looking at the paintings and superb sculptures.

A year in the making, the exhibition focuses on the very best of Yorkshire with great wildlife and landscape pastels from Jo Garlick, gorgeous mixed media paintings, collage works and free flowing ink paintings from Helen Patterson, amazing and skilful bronzes and ceramic animals from Stef Ottevanger and Dales and Yorkshire coast paintings from yours truly!

Here's a flavour of what to expect at the show should you get the chance to pop in...
we look forward to meeting you!

‘All Creations Great and Small’

31 October - 11 November 2015

The Station Gallery

Station Yard 

Richmond 

North Yorkshire 

DL10 4LD

www.richmondstation.com

01748 828259

A glorious art holiday for all at Parcevall Hall

What a fantastic weeks painting we have all had together at Parcevall Hall near Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire earlier this month!

Although four weeks have passed since our great art week together the effects for all, in a really positive way, have been long lasting.

The peacefulness and inspirational setting of Parcevall Hall - the hidden gem within a quiet tranquil corner of Wharfedale, captivated us all. 

Overlooking the beautiful rural Dales landscape and hamlet of Skyreholme a little further down the valley the views surrounding Parcevall Hall are quite breathtaking and many students painted them in glorious late Summer sun on our very first afternoon together.

The friendly staff and regular guests staying at Parcevall Hall gave us all a very friendly welcome on our arrival and everyone quickly settled in to feel like part of an extended family and friends of the place which was great. 

This wonderful and historical hall (used as a religious retreat), was an introduction for many students to North Yorkshire, many of whom travelled from far and wide to join me for a great painting and drawing experiences throughout the week.

The weather was heaven sent for sure with glorious sunshine for us all each and every day! It was an absolute joy for everyone to paint and draw in the inspirational mature gardens and tranquil woodlands at Parcevall Hall and in the local village too during the week in such great weather. 

The colours at the start of the Autumn season throughout the terraces, rock gardens, woodlands, orchards and gardens at Parcevall Hall were an inspiration to everyone.

Later in the week our outdoor painting day in the local village of Skryreholme was equally as good with everyone painting the iconic Dales barns, fields and historic homes from lots of different vantage points and hidden corners throughout the village. 

A superb and wonderful painting holiday had by all in so many ways the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. We just couldn't ask for more!

Here are some comments left by my students at Parcevall Hall. A  joy to teach I must say.

Great time - lots of things to remember, I learnt a lot. Great company. Thanks very much Robert!

Excellent course. Lots of energy and enthusiasm. I have learnt a great deal. Thank you.

You are so helpful and full of enthusiasm. Thanks so much!

Wonderful place. so different. The course gives a lot of information and the tutor is helpful and encouraging.

Had a great time. I don't want to go back to the real word! Feel I've taken a big step forward in pastel.

Brill! Great company, good food, excellent staff, fabulous scenery and the tutor was pretty good too! Will be back.

With bookings already being taken for next year's September art holiday at Parcevall Hall everything looks set to be equally as good for everyones rewarding painting adventures in this tranquil unspoilt corner of the Yorkshire Dales!

I'm looking forward to the next one already as I know you are too!

For further information about next year's art holiday at Parcevall Hall visit

http://rdcreative.co.uk/art_holidays/expressive_mixed_media_dales_landscape_theme_painting_break_parcevall_hall

Final sneak peak...

I'm keeping great creative company at The Station Gallery in Richmond North Yorkshire this forthcoming weekend (and until 11 November). There is stunning sculpture by Stef Ottevanger and beautiful wildlife paintings by Jo Garlick and expressive fine art by Helen Patterson. I add the occasional daub on canvas and marks on paper in our joint exhibition 'All Creations Great and Small' celebrating the fab landscape views of Yorkshire and the great wildlife within.

Our joint exhibition will all be beautifully displayed on Friday 30 October in perfect time for doors to open at 10.30am on Saturday 31 October our 'Meet the artists day' in the lovely Station Gallery  - just a stones throw from Market Place in Richmond, North Yorkshire. 
Turn sharp left and over the bridge (before you go up the road to the cobbled market place) and you cannot go wrong. The gallery is a little way along Station Road (the A6136) and is really easy to find. 

See you there! We all look forward to meeting and greeting you!

‘All Creations Great and Small’

31 October - 11 November 2015

The Station Gallery

Station Yard 

Richmond 

North Yorkshire 

DL10 4LD

www.richmondstation.com

01748 828259

Pre Halloween 'arty party' on Saturday 31 October... 

and you're all invited!

The countdown to our superb art exhibition 'All Creations Great and Small' at the fantastic exhibition space at 'The Station gallery' in Richmond, North Yorkshire on Saturday 31 October...starts now!

All artists - Helen Patterson, Jo Garlick and yours truly are all putting the final touches to our paintings and drawings of the wonderful wildlife and fantastic Yorkshire Dales and moorland landscapes (especially from 'James Herriot country) whilst Stef Ottevanger is wrapping and boxing a superb collection of her celebrated wonderful wildlife sculptures all ready for the show.

The show starts on Saturday 31 October with 'Meet the artists day' from 10.30am to 3pm so you can pop in, have a chat and see our lovely, colourful and lively exhibition for yourself!

This really is a show not to be missed. Prices are attractive and so are our creations  - especially since you'll have the chance to buy at this one off exhibition for the duration of the show each piece directly from each artist themselves!

We all look forward to seeing you on Saturday at our pre Halloween 'arty party' - a frighteningly good exhibition with not so scary prices! (Sorry, couldn't resist that!)

Come along, bring the family and enjoy. Everyone is welcome! 

‘All Creations Great and Small’

31 October - 11 November 2015

The Station Gallery

Station Yard 

Richmond 

North Yorkshire 

DL10 4LD

Further details call The Station Gallery on 01748 828259 

or visit www.richmondstation.com

Recent woodland drawing on special French paper

Here's one I've completed recently created on Canson “C” à grain 224gsm drawing paper.

This is a superb paper for drawing on and has a very special satin machine finish to it. C a Grain has lots of creative possibilities and I just love it because it is so versatile.

Plenty of drawing are being done on it these days by moi exploring different drawing techniques with brush, line and wash, mixed media, Nitram Charcoal, graphite and so on - often in the same layered expressive work.

Since having the honour of becoming a UK Canson Ambassador a little over a year ago I have been extensively and continually exploring the properties and qualities of Canson's amazing Fine Art papers and i'm delighted to give you a quick report on this one.

C a Grain is one of their best drawing papers for artists today.The paper is smooth but not glass like so you have some texture and a smooth finish on the surface at the same time. Quite unique really!

At first the paper may appear to be a little light (being 224gsm) but in fact the weight of the paper belies its strength  - which is exceptional. Of course if you load it with very heavy washes of higher water ratio to pigment repeatedly it will cockle but if this is your approach it can always be stretched easily before hand without adverse effect to the surface quality.

Manufactured using only alpha cellulose, it contains absolutely no lignin which might result in yellowing of the paper over time. This naturally white paper, with no optical brightness additives, acid-free and permanent.

It is stock and surface-sized, enabling it to withstand repeated erasing or scraping without flaking. Good news for me as I do ALOT of layering with my drawings to build up surface qualities either quickly or repeated sessions on different drawings over time.

This particular drawing was created for my students on a recent art holiday as a demonstration piece with us all working directly in the beautiful and tranquil woodlands at Rydal Hall near Ambleside in the Lake District

An all-round paper it is suitable for all dry techniques and certain wet techniques such as ink and gouache which is good news for artists who, like me, often work in a mixed media process to create their work.

For further information about this exceptional paper and other superb fine art papers visit http://en.canson.com/

Canson “C” à grain can be purchased from www.greatart.co.uk

Featured drawing

Light and shade through Rydal Woods, Rydal Hall, Cumbria

Mixed black and white drawing media on Canson “C” à grain 224gsm 

18.5 X 18.5 inches (47 x 47 cm)

The importance of re-evaluation

A Recent seascape painting created in the studio that 'works things out' for me through drawing and painting at the same time using mixed brand pastels. Utilising free expressive marks and some tighter detailed renditions - particularly in the Arctic Terns helps me see and evaluate just how a larger painting may look

The pastel painting created on Canson Mi-Teintes 'Touch' 350gsm light blue pastel paper from pad 24 x 32 cm in size, may be used for a possible larger more free and expressive painting using mixed media.

For now I'm happy for the painting to be framed and be ready for an exhibition - there are several planned for the future!

Announcements to be made...at a later date. 

Keep revisiting!

'Sea patrol'

Pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes 'Touch' 350gsm

24 x 32 cm (9.5 x 12.5 inches)

Glorious day in Leeds today...

...and it only got better when 'The Artist' magazine arrived with my published article for Unison Colour pastels within.

Delighted to see how good the big seascape painting (amongst others) looked when reduced in this great creative magazine.

This seascape painting was actually a demo piece for one of my successful Seascape workshops at 'Patchings Art, craft and Photography Festival' at Calverton, near Nottingham sponsored by 'The Artist' magazine and Canson papers in June '15.

For more information about Unison Colour and their superb pastels, Canson and their top quality papers and 'The Artist' magazine all rolled into one and to read the article in full, grab yourself a copy from all good newsagents now!

Alternatively you can subscribe to 'The Artist' magazine by following this link.
http://www.painters-online.co.uk/magazines/the-artist.htm

Happy reading...and pastel painting!

Everything well under way...

Delighted to have started my Autumn contemporary watercolour class today teaching 22 students this morning  in the lovely village of Bardsey, North Leeds.

Everyone got off to a flying start today with energetic, loose and splashy brush marks letting the creativity and paint flow in lots of exciting ways!

Next week I'm heading to the Lake District to the wonderful Rydal Hall near Ambleside to teach 14 students lots of different creative techniques on an exciting full weeks art holiday in a beautiful part of Cumbria followed by a gallery visit delivering a new collection of work to one of my favourite galleries in Cumbria  - 'The Old Court House Gallery' in Ambleside. A superb gallery with a modern and contemporary feel and who display many an exciting artist. Needless to say I'm thrilled at the prospect of having my work in such a great gallery.

Before I go to Cumbria I'm really looking forward to teaching another full art class of students in North Yorkshire lots of mixed media techniques with watercolour and pastel in an all day Saturday workshop.

Perfect timing really to have completed the featured mixed media painting recently...amongst everything else!

Watch this space and see what comes next!

Featured painting

Sun, rain, wind, waves, rock - Flamborough, East Yorkshire

mixed media black and white

30 x 22 inches (76 x 56cm)

Living it large...

A rare sight indeed these days...me turning around and facing the camera instead of the canvas!

In the process of finishing another big painting for a show happening soon. Lots of new work to be on exhibition and for sale soon at 'The Station Gallery, Richmond, north Yorkshire very soon. 

It starts on 31 October and you're all invited!  Do come along and say hello on our 'meet the artists day' on Saturday 31 October. doors open at 10.30am - 3pm.

It's going to be a good one!

Joint exhibition

‘All Creations Great and Small’

31 October - 11 November 2015

The Station Gallery

Station Yard 

Richmond 

North Yorkshire 

DL10 4LD

www.richmondstation.com

01748 828259