Bucks Open Studios is in full swing, presentation at Oxford University Press Bookshop amidst the usual chaos that seems to surround me.

The beauty of Open studios is I have to make art.

I know it’s a hard life isn’t it!

So, I found time to finish the HMS Belfast Painting.

©2013 – Cathy Read – HMS Belfast – Watercolour and Acrylic – 40 x 50 cm

Does a little dance around the room!

I’m loving how the chains turned out! Although I’m pretty sure I did a whole lot more waves on the Thames. They seem to have mysteriously vanished.

The post Launching HMS Belfast Painting at last! appeared first on Cathy Read Art.

During a splendid trip on the Thames Clipper a few months back I was able to capture a great shot of HMS Belfast
And I thought it was time to commit my interpretation to paper.
This is where I’ve got to…

Hoping to get the paint on in the next day or two! In between opening hours for Bucks Open studios, of course.

We’d love to see you here if you can make it!

Full details are here

The post Battleships at the ready – now to start painting! appeared first on Cathy Read Art.

There’s nothing quite like it.

©2013 – Cathy Read – Keble College – Watercolour and Acrylic- 55 x 75 cm

Just goes to show, you just have to keep plugging away until you succeed!

One down, time to start on the second one, perhaps???

…think I might do something different first.

Change is as good as a rest as they say.

And I’ll be setting up for the Bucks Open Studios exhibition this week, so a smaller project is required!

The post New Work Revealed – Keble College appeared first on Cathy Read Art.

Painting frustration results in slow progress! No matter how hard you try, it just does not seem to work right. This work in progress of Keble has been like that. It is a building with an excessive amount of details. Apparently, it was meant to represent geological strata. I can see how, but the constant changing of levels and angles is a challenge to the most patient of souls.

To counteract such frustrations I turn to inspirational quotes.

One of the best artist’s quotes I’ve read is

“Inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just show up and do the work!”

Or something like that. It’s a good mantra and one I take to heart when things just don’t seem to be working.

I also take breaks, move around a bit and then return.

I find architecture can be subtly out and if I keep working I miss obvious errors. Whereas, if I take a break, I can spot the glaringly obvious ones as soon as I return. It’s amazing how the brain can be fooled by the familiar.

Turning the image and source material upside down highlights perspective errors.

I may work in an abstract style but the perspective has to be right.

Finally, I play lots of music!

Music helps me focus and energises me!

So, after much struggle, I’m finally at the painting phase and it’s working out well…Now.

On paintings like this, I often want to leave the masking fluid in situ as the colour works perfectly for the yellow bricks. But that isn’t going to happen this time! I need to do more on the tree to capture the sense of being under a big tree, but I’m nearly there with the painting.

©2013 – Cathy Read – Keble College Work in Progress- Watercolour and Acrylic- 55 x 75 cm

It’s a spot where, I imagine, many students take a break from similar frustrations or to quietly read/study in the fresh air!

What would you do in such a spot? How do you overcome frustration?

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And getting around to posting the completed Wolfson Painting number 2.

Next up is Keble College which is proving to be something of a challenge.

It’s a tad older than my usual genre but fascinating brickwork and lots of angles…
Hence the challenge!

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In a full week I’ve really had a rollercoaster ride. For those not following me on Twitter and Facebook,

I’ve had 2 paintings selected for the Society of Women Artist’s exhibition at The Mall Galleries in June-July.

I’ve also had Delivery, Setting up and Private Views of the Bucks Art Society’s Spring exhibition, The Wheel Spring Showcase at the Mill Arts Centre and West Ox Arts.

And I delivered my submission to Oxford University Press Bookshops competition which you can see and vote for by liking here.

Painting time has been affected naturally

But I’ve managed to get this far with the second Wolfson College painting.

©2013 – Cathy Read – Wolfson College Work in Progress – Watercolour and Acrylic- 75 x 55 cm

In a few days I’ll post the finished picture. See you then!

The post When stuff starts happening! appeared first on Cathy Read Art.

I can now reveal the first Wolfson College Painting.

©2013 – Cathy Read – Wolfson College from Cherwell – Watercolour and Acrylic- 75 x 55 cm

This view is a composite of 3 photographs. I had to take some creative license as I couldn’t get the view I wanted without tweaking. Hopefully you can’t spot the joins and I’m not going to spoil it by telling you where I had to fiddle.

I think I might have got away with it? *knowing look*

The transparent tree is intentional BTW!

The first 2 in the series are now available as prints from VA Prints and I’ll be taking this one over to be scanned tomorrow so it should be available by early next week.

Now onto Wolfson picture number 2!

The post Revealing the first Wolfson Painting appeared first on Cathy Read Art.

Personally, painting is usually chaos in my studio.

So, this week I thought I’d ‘fess up and share some of it and show you more of the working area surrounding my work in progress.

As you can see, the table gets cluttered with the ink, paint, water, cling film etc.

Actually, it’s usually MUCH worse but I’ve been restrained this time.

©2013 – Cathy Read – Wolfson College Work in Progress- Watercolour and Acrylic- 75 x 55 cm

If fact, it’s positively tidy by my standards.

Which started me thinking is mess necessary to creativity? Certainly is in my case, if I worry about mess I end up controlling the painting too much and end up not taking risks, that results in boredom…

Which shows in my painting.

And yet I know artists who are very controlled, precise and tidy. Question is, are they more creative? They certainly produce plenty of work so in that respect, no. But do they take risks and push the boundaries or does this need for control make them repeat the familiar and stay safe?

What do you think? Is it possible to push creativity and be tidy…

or is mess an essential by product of the creative process?

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Completed the painting that is!

©2013 – Cathy Read – Oxford Bookshop – Watercolour and Acrylic- 40 x 40 cm

Life’s busy at the moment with a few deadlines rapidly approaching. This being one. *ticks box*

The entries will be on display in the Oxford University Press shop on the High Street in Oxford.

Please drop by and vote if you have the chance or you can vote on the Facebook page.

The post New Painting – Oxford Entry Complete appeared first on Cathy Read Art.

Perhaps, not physically like manual labour is hard but sometimes the picture does not work as well as it should. Constant reworking is required and still the desired result eludes your grasp.

There’s a distinct correlation between my motivation to complete and it’s actual completion.

And that’s no co-incidence.

• Sometimes it’s the subject matter-

  • particularly on a commission, the client may choose a composition which is not my first choice.

• Sometimes it’s the size of the project

• Or that it needs to be done by a deadline.

Whatever the reason it’s when procrastination rears it’s ugly head.

Tidying the studio is often far more appealing. As is making ANOTHER cup of tea or checking my email. Or *insert name of your default procrastination activity here*

Sometimes, I’ll even start another painting!

But eventually I know I must finish it and that’s when I knuckle down.

So I look for incentives and it helps.

E.g. after 30 minutes I can take a break. Or I change the music I’m playing to one that gets me in the right mindset – usually something with attitude.

So next time you’re stuck spend a few creative moments finding something that works for you.

And that’s what I did this week.

Put some music on and got cracking. I will finish it soon!

©2013 – Cathy Read – Oxford Bookshop – Work in Progress- Watercolour and Acrylic- 40 x 40 cm

I find it’s always worth the effort when you finally finish it and see the results of your work!

So what gets you motivated?

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