Squirrels on the Roof!

Back in the studio again preparing for my forthcoming month's show at Eccles Community Art Gallery from 10 March 2020. Things are going quite well and the unseasonal temperatures are helping dry the thick layers of paint I have been using. It is always difficult to decide what to paint as I have been playing catch up, art wise, since we had extensive building and decorating work done last spring.

My spring and summer work will be different in many ways but more on that later.

I have had several interruptions this morning caused by the local squirrel population running riot on my studio roof. They are lovable rogues but completely indifferent to my trying to create on canvas!

I have decided to publish the images of my works on the run up to the opening in 6 weeks time. Meanwhile another post from the archives with a different take on things.

It is called "Paranoia", oil on canvas, 60cm x 50cm, 2008. I thought it would be a change from landscapes which are my favourite subject.

Have a nice weekend everybody!

"Paranoia", oil on canvas, 60cm x 50cm, 2008

Weather becoming a bit milder so more impasto work in prospect today! I may even try to start a couple of paintings with a heavy substrate to test the results on my new plywood panels. They have to be able to survive being posted via Royal mail UK....Easier said than done!

Today's choice from the archive is "Elephant Charging", 8in x 12in, 2003 NFS

One of the few watercolours I shall be listing.

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"Elephant Charging", watercolour, 2003

A Productive Afternoon

Yet another afternoon at the easel to prepare work for  my show at Eccles Community Art Gallery on 10 March 2020 which runs for a month.

I managed to finish another A2 sized canvas with a North Wales landscape done with a knife. I shall now leave it to dry for a few days. Acrylic is slow to dry when applied impasto and basically left in outside temperatures. However the lack of a hard frost or wintry weather is a bonus at the moment so I can work much more in my studio than was the case this time last year.

Hopefully it will be a more diverse portfolio than for my September 2019  show.

This is another from the archive called "Flooded Forest", oil on canvas, 50cm,40cm from 2008. I painted this after seeing a documentary about swamplands around the world. The sunset is a bit of artistic licence!

Once again, apologies to anyone who has contacted me and not received a reply. I am balancing my day between art and online promotion. It is all aimed at raising money for our worthy causes. I am happy to do it and it is my choice but there is very little time left for anything else at the moment so please do not be offended and thank you to everyone who has become our friend, liked our page and followed me & Curly Bob. We really do appreciate it!

"Flooded Forest", oil on canvas, 50cm,40cm from 2008

More Knife Work in the Studio

Curly Bob can be a bit of a slave driver when the need arises. He wants  to have a surplus from which to select the works that are to be exhibited at Eccles Community Art Gallery from 10 March 2020.

I can only work in there when the temperature is 6C or above for technical reasons. The weather is uncommonly mild at the moment so I am siezing the chance before any frost arrives.

Again I am publishing most of my work in the archives until the new work comes online.

This is "Fishing Boats, Coverack", watercolour , 2004 (NFS)

 "Fishing Boats, Coverack", watercolour , 2004 (NFS)

Another Day at The Office!

Quite a successful day in my studio yesterday. I finished one painting and started another. I may have 3 finished, in total, by tomorrow night. Knife painting is much quicker than painting with a brush.

Of course, that isn't he aim but merely a by product of the method. It simply covers the canvas or other surface more quickly. Luckily I enjoy painting with a brush or knife equally.

Either way Curly Bob is happy to see more "stock" for my forthcoming exhibition.

Meanwhile here is another from the archive which is titled "Blasted Oak", oil on board, 40cm x 30cm , from 2008,  (SOLD)

"Blasted Oak", oil on board, 2008, (SOLD)

I plan to spend the weekend in my studio delving into the delights of knife painting. My first attempt yesterday was very satisfying and the results will be published as soon as the painting is dry enough to handle. There is something deeply therapeutic about moving mounds of paint and blending colours across the canvas. the effects are quite unlike those gained with a brush.

I have also been very busy this week. Promotion of my profile & Page on social networking continues, especially on Facebook.

The aim is to draw people from Facebook and this blog towards our shop on Etsy or Ebay. Direct sales are not the primary object . Rather we want to drive up the traffic levels on Etsy & Ebay.

People looking for paintings on Etsy or Ebay should then find us more easily.

If looking for my work on EBay UK search under "Vanbear7". I can't provide a direct link because each item is listed separately and the addresses change every month.

By looking on Etsy visitors will effectively be helping us raise money for donations without spending anything.

Meanwhile I am continuing to publish items from the archive whenever I get the chance. This one is called "Greek Island Church" , oil on canvas, 2004.

"Greek Island Church" , oil on canvas, 2004.

Curly Bob Has 600+ Friends on Facebook.!!

Curly Bob is over the moon, well over 600 Facebook friends actually. We are very grateful to everyone who has agreed to become his friend and follow his Curly Bob's Art Emporium page on Facebook. It all helps to raising our profile and eventually sell paintings, hopefully.

In keeping with working through the archive we now wish to share "Lighthouse, Evening Light #2", oil on canvas from 2013.

"Lighthouse, Evening Light #2", oil on canvas from 2013.