During our quiet time earlier in the year, my wife and I like to spend our time visiting art galleries looking at other artists work. It doesn’t have to be aviation work, we like to look at any subject matter even dare I say it flowers! What I am looking for is paintings that inspire and challenge me to expand my painting ability. It can be a very solitary existence working in the studio on your own, so if I chance upon some really good work, I will return to my studio with renewed energy.

On one visit to a gallery I came across a collection of still life. I love looking at the way the artist has arranged the collection of objects and used the light to highlight the most important pieces. While looking at this collection of paintings my wife said to me ‘why don’t you try painting still life’ and so on the way home we came up with the idea of aviation themed still life.
I couldn’t wait to get started, although I have to say it is a totally different discipline, and two canvases were scrapped to get it right. I really enjoyed painting the different areas of the canvas the background for example, books, papers and a pipe, just enough to make them interesting and tempting the viewer to take a closer look. cont'd >>>>>>

My greatest satisfaction came from painting the map, newspaper and flying gear, very much a new discipline, trying to make them look real enough that you want to pick them up. I could go on further about the wood grain in the furniture, but I won’t bore you with it any more. Please have a close look at the image, I hope you enjoy it.

As mentioned on the news section of this website, the painting is for sale at the Guild of Aviation Artists Exhibition, Mall Galleries London Mon 20th July –Sun 26th July. If you would like further information, you can phone my studio 01507 327681 or Mall Galleries 020 79306844.

-----<>-----

Art tip

Foregrounds.
A lot of artists produce a wonderful painting with lots of lovely detail and content, but sometimes the foregrounds let them down, like there isn’t one! To me, the foreground is as important to the effect of the final image as the main subject itself. It allows the viewer to literally walk into the canvas. The foreground also allows the artist to enhance the illusion of depth and distance, with aggressive and thick application of paint it brings this part of the image to the front and helps in receding the remainder of the image into the distance or at least further way. I really enjoy this part of the painting and is a good part of the canvas to be doing on site at a show as quite a lot of canvas can be covered in a short time, this is good for the viewing public as well.

I never progress with a painting until the foreground is rendered to my satisfaction.

-----<>-----

Well that’s it for this time. I’ll keep you posted again in two months time.

-----<>-----

If you require more information about ordering prints please telephone 01507 327681 or email robin@robin-smith-art.co.uk