Looking at things a different way.

 

 Bored (for a while) with observational drawing, I decided on marker pens, imagination, cardboard sheets, and see what happens.

All artworks copyright ian gordon craig.

M-m-m-My Corona part 18. Epilogue.

 

Tonight’s sunset reminded me of the first oil painting I did, albeit that one was actually meant to be a sunrise. But the low sun and silhouetted purple clouds? Exactly the same.

Lots of things at present are invoking memories of the past. I think I’m really tired. And when I get tired, rather than resting, I start finding things to occupy my thoughts. Not that I’ve been short of things to do. The sequence of responsibilities from Power of Attorney, to managing care home costs, to organising a funeral, to applying for Probate in order to then execute a Last Will and Testament, all against the current backdrop of lockdowns and restricted movements, took their toll.

I have been attempting to write something from a personal perspective about this pandemic year, but to no avail. What is there to say about a life style of government-imposed rules, restrictions and lockdowns, interrupted by little other than trips to the grocery store?

I shall endeavour to rest my brain over the Christmas season.

 All text, pros, photos & artwork, copyright Ian Gordon Craig.

 

Alternative Skegness 2. Plastic Pollution.

 

 Finished today. I was going to hold this one back from social media for a while in the hope it would have more impact come exhibition entry time, but I’ve weakened. No exhibitions during lockdown.

I made an ink drawing of this scenario in November 2018, then started this painting at the end of 2019. It’s my second painting about plastic pollution. It does make me angry when every I see at least a dozen different children’s comics along the supermarket shelves, each with a plastic bag containing about 6 free plastic toys. And that’s every supermarket across the UK, every week. Do the maths.

Not currently having a model to pose for me I took a very iconic pose from a very famous black & white James Mason movie and developed the girl from that. Those plastic toys in your grandchildren’s toy box will serve as teaching aids when they want to know what elephants and tigers once looked like.

All text, pros, poetry & artwork, copyright Ian Gordon Craig.

 

Alternative Nottingham 2.

 

Above: Both Nottingham Arboretum and the pubs along Mansfield Road seem far less inviting to me than they did a few years ago.

Above: On the day I collected resources for these works the Market Square was filled with people staring fixedly at their smart phones, as profuse in number as the pigeons.

Above: The coal mines, Robin Hoods Tree, Nottingham Forest, Crusaders, Raleigh bicycles, the factories. All make reference to Nottingham's past history.

All artworks copyright Ian G Craig.

 

April and May Oak Trees Sherwood Forest.

 

Above left: April Oak. (It looks like showers).

April Oak is the 5th in a series of 12 planned acrylic paintings featuring a selection of oak trees from along the path which leads to Robin Hood’s tree (the Major Oak), Edwinstowe. I am pleased with progress and the idea of making 12 paintings all adhering to a common theme, composition, size, and materials. I like having defined parameters to work within.

It is too early in the month to see any significant foliage on the trees, but look closely and you can see blue bells amidst the bracken. I wanted to capture that moment on an otherwise sunny afternoon when one anticipates April showers. Being no stranger to the rain falling on my parade, I think I pulled it off.

Above right: May Oak. (The modest buds of).

The oak tree I selected for my 6th painting of the series has a rather auspicious presence about him. He’s probably the oldest of the twelve I have chosen to depict, and bears many scars. Nevertheless, come the month of May, he still rises to the challenge of the new season ahead, producing fresh buds, stimulating new ideas. I like to think I can identify with that.

As one might expect from such a cantankerous old character, set deep in his roots and his ways, his “portrait” didn’t come easy. Oak trees would seem to show their foliage later than most, and extra visits to Sherwood Forest were necessary to monitor that growth. However, in the end it’s safe to say we were both happy with the outcome.
 

All text, pros, poetry, photos & artwork, copyright Ian Gordon Craig.

Out of Season.

 

I made my annual trip to Skegness but, having now painted all I wanted to about the subject, and visiting the town so late out of season, it was maybe one visit too many. Sunny and quite warm, but more familiar than fun. Video of the day on Skegness Day Trip.

 

Above: One of my paintings, Colston Bassett Church (c.2009) SOLD from Christie’s Framers.

All artwork & text copyright Ian G Craig.

Newstead Abbey, first attempt.

 Newstead Abbey, one of my first locations as a subject for painting after leaving full time employment. I am struggling with colour.

The oil pastel studies below (one showing the view from behind the waterfall), were more successful.

All text, photos & artwork, copyright Ian Gordon Craig.

 

Colour!

 

 

All the paintings I exhibited during the 1980s / 90s were made using a very restricted palette: Alizarin Crimson, Yellow Ochre, French Ultramarine, and Titanium White. Perhaps now is a good time to start exploring Colour.

Below: It was so nice to sit out in my own garden, no work to go to, sketchbook and oil pastels in hand.

 All artwork and text copyright ian gordon craig.