Getting Out There..

Just got a catalogue from my buddies Karl terry and Tony Dakin who are putting on their own show at 27 Cork Street.  The work looks great.  The show runs from 7th  to 12th October.  Website: www.tonyandkarl.com.  Check it out.

Bit grim this..

I was recently asked to do a painting for a client of a coastal scene.  This happens quite a bit and the nature of it means that sometimes the client will not like the painting.  I have got used to this now.  It's not brilliant but it happens.  I was a bit shocked recently when I was told this painting was turned down on the basis that there was a man in a motorised wheel chair in it!  Just thought I'd share that one with you all..

"Teignmouth 2013"  oil on board 8 x 24 inches

in the background there is the tunnel in the red cliffs where the coastal train track runs on through to Dawlish

GWB

That's my father.  We called him Papa.  He was ill for a while and on Sunday morning he died.  I am not after sympathy but I wanted to just say what a cool bloke he was.  Last year thanks to the RP election I wanted to do a portrait of him but he went down hill before I got around to it and I wanted to remember him as he was for 99.999% of his life.  I did do some drawings though.  In fact the last one was on 30th December.  He was a mad reader - he'd read anything! We reckon he'd read the instructions on a Tampax box if it was in front of him! So this picture makes me laugh:

I don't know if you can read my scrawl but is 'Papa reading 'Now we are Six'' 11/4/2012.
We put together an Obituary for the Newbury Weekly News which is a tad cheaper than the Times (blimey a comma costs £5) which we also did.  This is the NWN one:

Geoffrey William Brown, 11^th October 1929 – 28^th April 2013

Born in Baghdad to Henry Wilfred and Hilda Mary Brown, he left at 4 years, continuing his childhood in the Woodley area with his sister Patricia.

He was schooled at Marlborough College and, after a period of National Service, went on to study Modern Languages at Brasenose College, Oxford specialising in Romance Philology (language derivations from Latin).

After he graduated he took up a teaching post at Horris Hill prep school where he met his wife Julia. He later moved to Redrice School Andover teaching French. As his hearing diminished, he retrained at Newbury college in Mathematics which he taught for many years before finally moving to Saint Mary’s, Wantage, to teach Computer Studies.

Married in 1961, Geoffrey and Julia had 5 children, the youngest, Helena, who sadly died aged 18 in 1991, spurred them both into a ten year ‘Walking for Epilepsy’ campaign raising over £37,000.

It is hard to say where he was happiest: in a book, with his electronics and computers, watching cricket, collecting fire wood from the woods around his home in Oare, boating on the river and canal, walking, or of course, playing golf. While he suffered throughout his life from deafness, latterly to a severe extent, he never let his condition get in the way of life and friendship.

He had been ill for some time and died peacefully with his family around him at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, leaving his wife Julia, four children and ten devoted grandchildren. A charming, intelligent man with a great sense of humour, he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Royal Mail and DVD's

Sorry to anyone who's awaiting an invite for the India show.  They (3,000+) were posted last Tuesday and as of today's post no one has received any (that's 7 days).  The show opens in 14 days.  There is nothing we can do but hope....
Private view is 7th May 2013 6.30pm - 8.00pm.   If you fancy going phone the gallery on 020 7437 5545.
Good news though.  Had a great day painting in Islington - wow that place is great: Beautiful little Georgian terraces and squares with lush pubs, cafes etc.. and WHAT a day - 23 degrees in London.  God it was lush!  Spring has arrived!!
Apparently we will awake to frost Saturday morning though so enjoy it.
Another bit of good news - I think APV have finished the film.  Here's a preview:
http://www.youtube.com/user/apvfilms1

..And not to be out done by his Dad, Ned returns from Nursery with his portrait of the Brown family (note the expression on Dad's face!!)

Enough Indoors..!

Just finished my second big India painting.  Both have been worked up from a couple of of the India oil sketches.  I did 44 I think over the two weeks at the end of February and beginning of march. I worked quite intensely and the detail in a couple I thought was enough to square up.   I try  this every now and then with limited success but I reckon it has gone OK this time.  I've worked a 15 x 10 to 48 x 36 and have just completed a 62 x 54 from a 16 x 16 (Clearly the bigger ones have a bit more road).  APV have just done their last bit of filming too.  I'm not really very good at talking as I paint and they had a lot of silent footage that needed voice over.  My mind went completely blank when reviewing the footage I'm afraid so I hope they do some magic in the studio!!  We did 5 pictures in the film.  They were a bit of a struggle and not my best examples but hopefully it'll be interesting to watch!  I've also spent an age trying to put together a "Brown's London"glossy book but scared of the cost it has come to a halt. Back on the road proper tomorrow which I'm really looking forward to.  The last outing took me to Rame's Head in Cornwall which was magic.  God knows where tomorrow.  Must check the weather and load the van.

If you want a real blog...

Read this:
http://lauralouiseandhernaughtydisease.blogspot.co.uk/
INCREDIBLE!

Hot fingers..

I've been trying to paint Bath in snow since the last Friday 18th January.  I'd told the kids that they'd probably miss school but dad's painting so they'd have to sledge, snowman etc.. on their own.  Lisa was more than supportive and I painted through the weekend and am still going now.  Day one while it was snowing was a disaster.  I was grumpy and miserable.   Amazingly the cold did not bother me with 6 layers but in the evenings my fingers tingled hotly and seemed to grow!!?  How well it has all gone I do not know.  It has been a bit frenetic.  We'll see.  Delighted to have snuck a couple into the Lyn Painter Stainers this year.  The two that got in I painted for it and I was over the moon to get them in particularly my labour of love (although not the poor models'!!), 'Painting the Browns'.  It is a 36 x 60 inch canvas and a mad painting of us all in the studio.  Here it is:

Reminds me..

When I went to INDIA last February (what a ponse!), Ken and Patrick's gear got stuck in Dehli and they did not get it till the next day.  Ken was so keen he got up and walked to the view he'd scouted the day before, he set up and,,,, it was still pitch black!
PS I managed to sneak a couple into the Lyn Painter Stainers Prize which I am truly delighted about.  I had been working on one - a family portrait in the studio for ages over and unto Christmas.  It's quite big (36 x 60) and a real labour of love (although Ella hated posing!).

SNOW!!!

Too excited!!!  I'm waiting for it to get light.  Like a kid I got up way too early.  Van is loaded with far too many canvases and I'm sitting here in tonnes of layers waiting for a bit of light.  School's off.  The house is buzzing like Christmas morning and they all know dad's out for the foreseeable future.  I've just got to calm myself down and try to keep level headed.... too exciting!! Bath in snow for .... until it goes!