(click image to enlarge)
Once again I am thinking of the stages of life, the elderly contemplating the rush of youth. For much of the life of the painting, there was a walking mother on the left side, at whom the old man was looking. However, I found that her head in the top left was taking all the attention; we couldn’t get past her. In desperation, she was reduced to a foot, travelling apace to catch the runaway child.
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(click image to enlarge)
–Hannah is an enigmatic, talented young lady. We met when I gave a talk at her Art College and she is now launching her musical career with the band “Dream English Kid.” The two small paintings of Hannah below have already sold and the top one was shown at the Mall Galleries, London, in the New English Art Club Exhibition.
The painting of the week presents the relaxed, contemplative Hannah, very different to her stage presence. The armchair, fireplace and decorations were set up in the studio to give a domestic feel. The title refers not only to a section of the book but to this transitional period in her life after Art school.
Hannah, 8 x 10, SOLD
Of Another Time, 8 x 10, SOLD
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(click image to enlarge)
––Newly married and enjoying long beach walks near our home in Lytham St Annes, this monumental painting records my contemplation of a future life together. The young couple, actually based on a photo I took on honeymoon in Venice, look towards the middle distance, where as parents they are busied with children and responsibilities. The sunlit far distance is where they once again walk side by side, reflecting upon the distance they have travelled together.
The canvas is the largest dimensions that would fit on the studio wall. The setting is based on many drawings and small studies (like the one below) done on the beach. As you can see, St Annes pier once featured in the painting but was distracting from the true message so was painted out.
History in the making. I’ve sketched in London plenty of times but here I am for the first time ever painting in the big smoke.
This was right after a really relaxed meeting with Geoffrey and Ellie of the Osborne Studio Gallery in Knightsbridge where I will be having a show early next year. My painting buddy Michael Ashcroft is joining me on these painting excursions over the next few months.
Welcome to the NEW Norman Long Artist BLOG PAGE
To welcome you, here is my palette
My new extended palette of about 25 colours
For a few months I have been working solely in monochrome – drawings and acrylic under paintings. When I came to the point of re-enteringthe world of colour, I realised that I was somewhat bored with my existing palette of colours. I began looking at what exotic creatures other artists had on their palettes and reading why they had made the choices they had. With my original selection, I could paint any colour I saw, but I simply wasn’t having much fun.
So here they are, my new team:
CHROMATIC COLOURS:
WINSOR LEMON (Arylide)
CADMIUM YELLOW LIGHT
CADMIUM YELLOW
CADMIUM ORANGE
CADMIUM SCARLET
CADMIUM RED / GERANIUM LAKE (Quinacrodone)
PERMANENT ROSE (Quinacrodone)
MAGENTA
DIOXAZINE PURPLE
ULTRAMARINE BLUE
PHTHALO BLUE
PHTHALO TURQUOISE
VIRIDIAN HUE (Phthalo)
COBALT GREEN LIGHT / COBALT TEAL
EMERALD GREEN
PERMANENT GREEN LIGHT
EARTH COLOURS:
NAPLES YELLOW
BURNT SIENNA
LIGHT RED
INDIAN RED
INDIGO / PAYNES GREY / LAMP BLACK
OXIDE OF CHROMIUM / TERRE VERTE
RAW UMBER
TWO APPROACHES: Full Palette from life, limited palette for invention
With these developments in mind, I have been looking at art with a strong colour bias. Camille Przwodek uses a full palette to find rich colour in painting from life.
Camille Przwodek Figure Study 9×12
In her compositions with invented colour, Susan Lichtman finds exciting harmonies through selecting just three “primaries” and white in order to hold the painting together. She says”The Red might be venetian or cadmium, the Blue might be a cobalt or ultramarine or black or even a green; and the Yellow might be yellow ochre or a cadmium.” Later in the painting, she may add a fourth hue.
Susan Lichtman Family at Sundown 56 x 72 ins
To see earlier blog posts 2010-15, check out normanlongartist.blogspot.com
