Imaginata/Artwork

A Naiad

This is a copy of a John Waterhouse painting that he painted in 1893. This was my first painting on canvas (done as part of a portrait project in college) that I'd done and I gained a lot of confidence from doing it. I did it the same size as the original (66 x 127 cm) and really enjoyed doing a big canvas like this. It's encouraged me to do my own canvases of similar, if not larger, size (though I need a model and I've not the money to pay for one at the moment). I saw the original of this just after completing my attempt and it's such a beautiful thing I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing that's hard to define. If you ever get the chance to see it (or any Waterhouse for that matter) take the opportunity.

Lever's Estates

I did this pastel in one day in college as part of our enviroment project. I was really pleased with the result, particularly given I'd not used pastels much in the past. The scene is a bit of a mix between two different views of part of an old road that forms part of Lord Leverhulme's estate (the same Leverhulme who bought a number of John Waterhouse paintings in the late Victorian age). I used to work for a farmer on these lands when I was a kid and every dinner hour I would go there when I wokred in Clatterbridge Hospital that lies close-by. It's a place that is close to my heart and I often walk there. It's like a cathedral to me where I commune with that which lies deeper within myself, a something that can't be found in the day-to-day busyness of life. I may well live there one day :)

I tried putting this in an exhibition at the Williamson Art Gallery in 2009 but it wasn't accepted. It did get published in an artist's magazine though (SAA), so I was pleased with that.

Fair Rosamund

Anybody who happened to read my blog last year (2008) will have seen this painting already when I charted it's progress from start to finish (you can read part 1. here). I did this in acrylics which I found dried too quickly for me but I enjoyed it all the same. I didn't get the face quite right which still irks me when I look at it although, seen from a narrower angle, it actually looks a lot better. You can see the original here.

My Sweet Rose (aka. The Soul Of The Rose)

Another copy of a Waterhouse and my first ever attempt at using oils and, like the painting below, it was done on board and not canvas. Also like the painting below it was done in 1991 and hangs next to In The Shade on the wall in Clatterbridge Hospital. Obviously, it's not a patch on the original but I kind of liked it at the time. I'm sure I would do better now. It was the first painting of John W. Waterhouse's that I think I'd ever seen and for that reason it will always have a special place in my heart. It was on a print in an art shop and I bought it there and then. Thus began a love affair that I think will last the rest of my life. I only ever knew this painting as My Sweet Rose until this year (2008) when I've seen it mostly called The Soul Of The Rose. I prefer the former name. Here's the original.

In The Shade

I did this (I think) in about 1991, again when I worked at Clatterbridge Hospital. I think the original is by Sherree someone or other. I have the greetings card I copied it off but I can't find it at the moment, so I'm not sure who it's by. If anyone can enlighten me, just email me.

I really enjoyed doing this. The painting I did before it (which I'll put up soon) was a copy of John Waterhouse's My Sweet Rose which was much harder and took a lot longer than this, probably because of the Pre-Raphaelite style. The painting above is far more impressionistic. I did this in oils and is about 3ft x 2ft. I gave it to Clatterbridge Hospital's Radiotherapy Unit (now the CCO). It hangs there still (as of June 2008 when last I visited).

Update: I was right, the artist is Sherree someone or other. It's Sherree E. Valentine-Daines (try remembering that after 17 years!). I can't find the original on the net, so you'll just have to trust me that I got it pretty close :0) Here's a link to her website where you can see more of her excellent work.

Ophelia

Errr......another John Waterhouse pic (another favourite). This I did in oils (I think I was about 22) which I've never really been that good at using as evidenced by the picture above. I just couldn't get her skin colour right. It drove me mad. She looks like death. I'm a little embarrassed by it actually and I wasn't even going to put this on here because of it but I was quite pleased with her dress. I don't think I've painted in oils since. Still, live and learn. It's called Ophelia and you can see the wonderful original here.

This is a pastel I did for a lady (hello Libby) when I worked in Clatterbridge Hospital. She had seen some of my other work and asked me if I'd do a picture of her horse for her. This was one of my first attempts at using pastels and, although I did use them again, I never really liked using them that much.