Liza moves on

Winterly Warmth

2012-01-19T15:08:00.005+01:00

Another seat at Camden Passage, waiting for somebody to cuddle up in the blanket in order to enjoy sitting outside in winter. I found it difficult to take a photo of the finished painting without reflections and unfortunately it turned out too blue as well. Its actually more white than here.

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
Buy it here

At Camden Passage

2012-01-18T16:03:00.003+01:00

Camden Passage is a small winding street in Islington, seamed with antique shops, vintage- and lifestyle boutiques, cafés and pubs. This was on a cold weekday - tables and chairs pushed together, blankets hanging over the backrest, waiting for the crowds at the weekend, when a flea market spreads out in the street, attracting loads of people, rambling and enjoying a beer or coffee in the open outdoor spaces.

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
Buy it here

On Guilford Street

2012-01-15T15:06:00.005+01:00

Nothing much to say here - just loved the atmosphere....

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
Buy it here

Looking Down

2012-01-08T17:17:00.005+01:00

Not only does the "One New Change" shopping mall offer a great view of St.Paul's but it has interesting aspects of its own, like this opening between two glass walls with slivered reflections - a nearly abstract image.

Inspite of it being very crowded, I am glad I got round to visiting the Da Vinci exhibition on Friday. It proved definitely worth queuing for! On show were sketches and paintings created during Leonardo's time in Milan, highlighting his two versions of the "Virgin of the Rocks" and of course the "Last Supper", of which a full scale copy was on display, painted by one of his pupils just before the original work deteriorated. It was interesting to be able to compare the two virgins - shown together for the first time - as they had been painted with a time lag of several years and "reveal a change in Leonardo's ideas from an art rooted in the observation of nature to one where the artist's powers of invention might reveal a glimpse of the devine imagination" (quoted from the exhibition leaflet). Of the two, I personally preferred the first one, because it seemed more alive and warmer than the second one. On the whole, I was more taken by his drawings, of which to my surprise most were very small, if not tiny. (Needless to say anything about the quality...)

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Queuing for Leonardo

2012-01-06T16:03:00.010+01:00

This morning my friend Paola and I shared standing in line for the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition at the National Gallery. Tickets online have been sold out for ages and the only possibility to see it is to queue for 4-5 hours early in the morning. Paola was there at seven in the morning and I arrived at eight, when she had to leave for work. Finally at 11.30 I had our tickets for this evening in hand. The first people in line had arrived as early as 4.30 am, can you imagine! But I am sure it was worth it and I am very much looking forward to seeing it. A nice couple from Italy in line behind us, had already waited yesterday without success and came back again today, determined to see "Leonardo!". They were good company and held my place for me while I went to buy a Chai Latte (hmmm) around the corner. So all in all it wasn't really all that bad having to stand there that long.
Plus, although it was fairly cold, I managed to do a few sketches while waiting. As you can see, everybody was trying to keep warm with scarves and hats.

ink on paper - tinte auf papier - encre sur papier
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"

St.Paul's V

2012-01-05T16:50:00.004+01:00

As you can see, I am trying out different styles again. Seems I can't decide on one, because each approach offers other challenges, other things to learn and study.
This will be my last of the St.Paul's series and I am not unhappy with it.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

St.Paul's IV

2012-01-04T12:41:00.005+01:00

Seen from a different angle this time. Just across from the cathedral there's a new shopping mall with a roof terrace offering fabulous views of the London skyline and close ups of St.Paul's. It was a challenge and fun studying the values here.

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

St.Paul's III

2012-01-03T15:30:00.007+01:00

Happy New Year everyone!I hope you all had a great holiday.
I am still working on views of St.Paul's Cathedral and have here tried to capture its majestic presence, even more apparent at night when lights make it stand out of the dark blue sky.

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

St.Paul's II

2011-12-26T11:22:00.004+01:00

Here we see St.Paul's in the afternoon of a cold winter's day, when the lights have just been switched on here and there.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

St Paul's I

2011-12-23T12:15:00.007+01:00

I like the tower of St.Paul's Cathedral that you can see on the skyline of London from so many different angles. Here's a view seen from Tate Modern, where I visited the retrospective of Gerhard Richter's work the other day.
The predominant whites, greys and purples that the cold light produced appealed to me.
I wish all my readers, fellow artists and clients a very Merry Christmas and a successful, healthy and prosperous Year 2012! Thank you all for being out there, as without you my work wouldn't be half the fun!

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Three Graces

2011-12-20T14:41:00.004+01:00

Cold weather, a dead end street and beautiful abstract lines in the sky.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Streetfood

2011-12-16T18:46:00.004+01:00

A great feature in London are the many stalls with delicious, international food, that pop up at midday at various spots in the city - and luckily also just round the corner from where I live, on Exmouth Market.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Winter Sun on Exmouth Market

2011-12-13T18:37:00.006+01:00

Wonderful sunshine again today, but a blasting cold wind as well. Luckily I found a wind sheltered spot to paint on this small street with lots of nice cafés, restaurants and shops near where I live.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Paola's Patio

2011-12-11T17:15:00.004+01:00

Ok, I cheated a bit today in regard to plein air painting - this was painted through a window.....
It's not only the cold and the on-lookers that are obstacles for me with painting outside. There's this whole thing of having to carry the equipment you need (which sums up to quite a lot)to the spot you want to paint at and you dare not forget anything, because otherwise you have to pack it all up and carry it back again. But then, I see Peter Brown for instance, who does it all the time and in every weather!

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

On Wilmington Square

2011-12-09T17:03:00.004+01:00

I finally managed to get my act together and paint outside! And as my friend René predicted, it was a great experience. I had never done this in a city where people keep going by, looking at what you're doing and was a bit nervous about it. Mind you, I did choose a spot without too many passers by. I could concentrate well and am not unhappy with the result.
Btw, I decided not to post the other sketches I did a few days ago - just weren't good enough.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Liza Hirston

Concentration I

2011-12-05T19:53:00.008+01:00

Sorry about my long "absenteeism" from here, but daily life has been too demanding. Actually not only time has been restricted but also space is a slight problem. We have moved to London again for a while, now living in a TINY apartment, where painting is a challenge, if not even impossible. I'm ok with painting in a small corner but I can't really expect anybody to bear the odours of balsamic terbentine and oil paints on a permanent basis. Thus my plan is to paint more en plein air. Today was the first day I was going to tackle it..... Today though was the first day with quite cold temperatures and I must admit, I didn't have the courage to do it. Instead I warmed up with a few sketches of my husband working on the computer - a very common sight for me. First, here's a quick one I did a few weeks ago of him.

pen on paper, Faserstift auf Papier, crayon à encre sur papier
14 cm x 18 cm, 5,5" x 7"

Liza Hirston

Waiting for you

2011-11-13T08:50:00.005+01:00

One of the pleasures city life has to offer - beautiful places to hang out at.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Liza Hirston

Outside Oscar's

2011-11-12T13:37:00.003+01:00

Even at the beginning of November it was still warm enough to sit outside in the evening - amazing! It's great entertainment to sit here and watch people walking by, coming and going, chatting, drinking, flirting....

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Liza Hirston

Y

2011-11-11T13:52:00.006+01:00

Lights, colours and atmosphere of wonderful Soho.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Liza Hirston

Islington Streetlamp II

2011-11-10T18:41:00.007+01:00

Another one in the evening, just around the corner from where I will soon be living for a while. Love London!

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Liza Hirston

Islington Streetlamp

2011-11-09T14:11:00.006+01:00

I enjoy walking through the city in the evening. Whether in the very busy areas with thousands of lights and people or in quiet, peaceful residential streets like this one - both have their charm.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Lights in Bedford Square

2011-11-08T15:29:00.004+01:00

As the days get shorter, lights are switched on earlier - allowing a look into flats and offices with vast rooms and sparkling chandeliers hanging from high ceilings. Such beautiful, warm light!I think, nowadays most of the houses on Bedford Square unfortunately are only offices. But how great must it have been for the people who lived there before the centre of London was taken over by business mainly!

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Liza Hirston

Houses on Bedford Square

2011-11-07T19:08:00.008+01:00

Its been nearly three weeks since I posted the last time - seems like ages.
We have been in London again, organizing our move there, which will take place in the next weeks. There was no time nor space to do any painting, so I hope to get some done while I am back in France, but that won't be for long. I took lots of reference photos in London and the coming pictures will be impressions from there. Enjoy....

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Liza Hirston

In Jane's Garden

2011-10-17T18:10:00.005+02:00

Spent a very enjoyable afternoon painting with friends in a friend's garden, in fantastic late summer weather. Thank you Jane, especially for the delicious lunch!

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The Friend

2011-10-14T18:44:00.002+02:00

oil on hardboard panel - Öl auf Holz - huile sur bois
22,5 cm x 17 cm / 6,7" x 8.8"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Dreaming

2011-10-13T12:22:00.006+02:00

It's the big hat that attracted my attention and I wish it was more "à la mode" to wear hats nowadays, too.

oil on Daler Board - Öl auf Daler Karton - huile sur carton Daler
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

In Blue

2011-10-11T20:19:00.005+02:00

oil on Daler Board - Öl auf Daler Karton - huile sur carton Daler
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Of Course

2011-10-10T10:19:00.004+02:00

I like the fairly loose style of this one. The figures definitely have me back for a while!

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
24 cm x 18 cm / 9,5" x 7"
sold - verkauft - vendu

My new book is here

2011-10-08T20:34:00.005+02:00

Enjoy the preview here

buy it here

Whether or Not

2011-10-07T18:11:00.006+02:00

After the exuberant and self confident woman from yesterday, here a pensive, doubting, and minimalist one.

oil on Daler Board - Öl auf Daler Karton - huile sur carton Daler
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

One and Only

2011-10-05T13:17:00.004+02:00

I couldn't resist giving this beautiful face a try.

oil on hardboard panel - Öl auf Malpappe - huile sur carton dure
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Two and Two

2011-10-03T18:53:00.004+02:00

Fantastic weather here in Southwest France! A scene from our back yard.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

La Gravette

2011-10-01T17:34:00.002+02:00

La Gravette, a beautiful old French house, carefully renovated as a holiday home. It was here that a wonderful French-Bavarian wedding took place last year - regular readers might remember my paintings from that event.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
24,5 cm x 13,5 cm / 9,65" x 5,32"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Karin

2011-09-30T14:51:00.006+02:00

We were running around London so much and travelling back to France, that I couldn't keep up with my painting. I am pleased to be back at the easel and actually very pleased with this portrait of my friend Karin! It's been a long time since I did portraits - this makes me feel like doing more of them again.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

House on the Park

2011-09-12T12:08:00.009+02:00

A bit of sunlight in the garden of a suburbian house in London....
This is where I've been waiting for summer this year.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Let's Have a Drink at Oscar's!

2011-09-07T17:15:00.007+02:00

Oscar's is a great place in London to have an aperitif around l'heure bleu. Very lively, cozy and maybe even romantic.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Japanese Anemone

2011-09-02T14:47:00.008+02:00

At last it is sunny and warm enough again to paint outside and the flowers in the garden are lush. I enjoyed painting them but I am not sure about the name. A French friend once gave me some offshoots and I seem to remember her referring to them as anémones japonaises. Anyway, they're among my favourite flowers.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Lunch at St.Pancras Station

2011-08-29T20:25:00.005+02:00

We happened to pass by St.Pancras station the other day and were very impressed with how it has been renovated, firstly for the Olympic Games. This is where the Eurostar arrives - the train from Paris to London that goes through the tunnel under the channel. I found it very cool that one could sit right next to one of the trains while dining - an amazing idea.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Leaving Soon

2011-08-26T11:55:00.006+02:00

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

On the Go

2011-08-25T14:23:00.006+02:00

A typical airport atmosphere which I always enjoy when travelling by plane. Here in Hamburg, from where I took off to London on a warm summer evening.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Alles fuer die Kinder

2011-08-24T18:18:00.006+02:00

Odd title, odd picture. On the train I was reading a newspaper article with this title (Everything for the children) while a young mother was playing with her little daughter on the opposite seat. At some point she just couldn't keep the girl calm anymore and went for a walk along the corridor with her. My chance to take a photo of the vibrant colours, the implicated story that seemed to fit the title of my article so well at the same time.

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Bombay Dreams

2011-08-23T17:08:00.008+02:00

This is my last painting of Goettingen for the moment, painted from a photo, in my London studio. I am back here, back to oils and hopefully back to "me" again. Working with acryliques turned out to be not the right thing for me and I thoroughly enjoyed using oils again today. Apart from the medium it was also the subject that inspired me, the vibrant colours and light. This is the sidewalk table of a tiny "restaurant" called "Bombay Dreams" - a name so perfect!

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur plaque de bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Walking down Paulinerstrasse

2011-08-18T20:38:00.006+02:00

Without cars, a scene like in another century.

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Summer in Goettingen

2011-08-18T17:50:00.007+02:00

Another take on the Goetheallee, which bears it's name in memory of a short stay here of German's great poet Goethe.

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Morning on Prinzenstrasse

2011-08-17T12:11:00.005+02:00

The town still empty, me on my way to the only open shop at this time - the bakery - and the air drenched with damp sunlight. Love that atmosphere.

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Crossing Nicolaistrasse

2011-08-15T18:26:00.003+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Out for a Walk

2011-08-14T20:20:00.007+02:00

Here you get an idea of how high the trees on the rampart are. It is such a pleasure to walk there.

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The Rampart

2011-08-13T19:38:00.007+02:00

Another impression of the beautiful walk on the rampart of Goettingen. The first trees were planted here in 1765, of which at least one is still there, while most of them have been replanted since. Even Goethe went for walks here in 1801.

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Kurze Strasse with St.Marys Church

2011-08-11T18:33:00.009+02:00

Can you imagine painting this on a format of 6"x6"? Well, I tried and failed miserably. In the end, totally frustrated, I was "hitting" the paint on and finally balled up the paper. So, a drawing seemed a good idea for a new approach - and I like it. This motif calls for a larger format, I think.

pencil drawing on paper - Zeichnung auf Papier - crayon de papier sur papier
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

At St.Albani's

2011-08-10T17:01:00.006+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Living Green

2011-08-09T15:34:00.008+02:00

Looking down from the tower of St.Johannis church, I realized that there is a big garden right in the heart of the town, which you have no idea of if you don't know. This garden is behind the half timbered houses that I painted a few days ago. You see their red roofs on the right hand side.

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

View from the Rampart to St.Johannis

2011-08-08T12:18:00.010+02:00

As mentioned in my last post, there are a few nice views of the town one can see from the rampart. This is the same church I painted 4 days ago, St.Johannis, with two different towers. I climbed the taller one with the "balcony" the other day, took photographs from the top and think there are one or two I might attempt to use for paintings in the next days, so stay tuned!

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The Goettingen Rampart (Der Wall)

2011-08-07T15:00:00.010+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The historic centre of Göttingen is encircled by a rampart, the former town wall, lined by an alley of impressive old trees. A perfect place for walking and jogging within minutes from the centre, offering beautiful views through the trees onto the town occasionally.

Blue House, Burgstrasse

2011-08-06T20:06:00.004+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The Goettingen Observatory at Dusk

2011-08-05T00:58:00.007+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Here I am in the middle of Germany, writing to you, showing you my work. And you all,
who and where ever in the world you may be, you can read my words and see my paintings
in a matter of seconds after I posted them.
This technological phenomenon, that doesn't seize to dazzle and fascinate me, has its origins in this building. The first telegraph connection of the world was established in the Göttingen observatory by Karl Friedrich Gauss and Wilhelm Weber in 1833.

View Towards Johannis Church

2011-08-04T18:58:00.005+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Townhall with Gaenseliesel

2011-08-03T17:11:00.004+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

A different take on yesterday's theme. Once again I have reached a point in my painting that I am not happy with - far too itsy-bitsy, too restricted to reality, just boring. So I am trying to get looser again and hope to be able to achieve something more interesting.

Old Townhall Göttingen

2011-08-02T17:40:00.008+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The old townhall in the town's center dates back to 1270. On the square in front is a fountain, adorned with a beautiful sculpture of a young girl carrying a basket and a goose, called "Gänseliesel". She is the local landmark.

Half Timbered Houses in Paulinerstrasse

2011-08-01T17:19:00.006+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Aren't they beautiful?! These are typical German houses that you find all over the country. Lots of them dating back as far as the Middle Ages, often crooked and skew-whiff, with a lot of charme.

Mauerstrasse with St.Albani

2011-07-31T10:30:00.007+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The first town wall of Goettingen used to run along this little street a few centuries ago, thus the name "Mauerstrasse", which means Wallstreet - only this one hasn't become quite as famous as the Wallstreet we all know. Thank Goodness.

Corner Pub (Wendenstrasse)

2011-07-29T16:33:00.006+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Painting the gingerbread trim of the corner house gave me a hard time - it looks sooo kitschy! I've had to simplify it and finally decided to leave it as it is now, although I am not completely happy with it. What initially made me choose this view was the nicely curved street junction.

Evening in Goettingen

2011-07-27T20:39:00.006+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

This is the view out of the appartement I am staying at at the moment.
A bit much information really on such a small format, but I enjoyed trying to paint the glow of the lights. For me its more like a study.

Lange Geismarstrasse, Göttingen

2011-07-24T20:36:00.004+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Sidewalk Below

2011-07-21T19:13:00.004+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

View to the Dining Room

2011-07-20T19:43:00.002+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Pauliner Strasse

2011-07-19T16:07:00.004+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The Goethe Allee

2011-07-18T18:40:00.002+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Old University Fencing Hall

2011-07-16T17:55:00.006+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The other day I discovered this interesting old building called "Alte Universitäts Fechthalle", built in 1903. It amused me to think that at some point the university in Göttingen, today with over 20.000 students, had so few of them that this quaint, little building fulfilled the needs for their sports activities. Today it houses a ballet school.

Am Leinekanal

2011-07-14T19:32:00.005+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

This canal flowing through Goettingen has lovely walkways alongside, which allow you to walk or cycle right through the centre from one end of the town to the other without any car traffic.

Saturday Market in Goettingen

2011-07-13T21:32:00.005+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Afternoon Talk

2011-07-12T18:28:00.004+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Burgstrasse in Göttingen

2011-07-11T18:48:00.006+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Summer Look

2011-07-10T19:41:00.006+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Heading for the Lecture

2011-07-08T16:37:00.005+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The atmosphere in this town (Göttingen) is mainly influenced by the university and the many students and although it is a typical German town, one hears lots of different languages in the streets, which gives it a cosmopolitan feeling.

Student Life

2011-07-07T20:23:00.007+02:00

acrylique on paint block - Acryl auf Malblock - acrylique sur block de peinture
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

At the weekend, unexpectedly, I had to travel from London to Germany for a week or so, where I captured this scene in the well known university town of Göttingen. I didn't take my painting material and thus am trying to paint with a kit of only very basic acrylique paints on an oil and acrylique paint block with a linen finish.
A bit limitating but at the same time also a challenge.

Girlfriends

2011-07-02T16:25:00.004+02:00

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holz - huile sur bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

This beautiful scene reminded me of my youth, when sitting in a park with my best friend after school was the sweetest moment of the day.

Everybody's Out

2011-06-30T22:02:00.005+02:00

oil on Daler Board - Öl auf Daler Karton - huile sur carton Daler
40 cm x 11 cm / 15,7" x 4,3"
sold - verkauft - vendu

The weather was gorgeous, it was the weekend and half London was in the city's parks.

Enjoying the Sun

2011-06-29T15:16:00.005+02:00

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holz - huile sur bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Saturday in St.James Park

2011-06-28T21:16:00.007+02:00

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holz - huile sur bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

A peaceful scene in a park we enjoyed last Saturday, on our walk through central London. We crossed a few parks, followed the Thames, ate in Chinatown and last but not least visited the National Portrait Gallery, where fellow daily painter Olha Pryymak's great self portrait is in the BP Portrait Award exhibition. Her painting has even been chosen for the cover of their leaflet and it was thrilling to see it there!

Wheatfields III

2011-06-27T20:57:00.005+02:00

oil on Daler Board - Öl auf Daler Karton - huile sur carton Daler
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

It's more about the sky than the wheatfields really, isn't it?

Wheatfields II

2011-06-25T12:45:00.005+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Another approach of the same subject. I personally prefer this one but plan to do a few more, as I took some great photographs as reference on my way. Now, I am in London for the time being and soon you will be seeing quite different paintings here...

Wheatfields

2011-06-24T17:14:00.007+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Driving through central France you come past seemingly endless golden wheatfields, wavering beautifully with the wind. I loved the abstract composition they formed together with the sky, the woods and farms on the horizon.

Going Up

2011-06-17T14:18:00.004+02:00

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holz - huile sur bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Waiting Together

2011-06-14T19:42:00.007+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Creative Chaos

2011-06-12T19:14:00.007+02:00

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holz - huile sur bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Until last year I had a huge, wonderful studio in which I painted small daily paintings. Now I have this tiny workspace in a corner of a room full of cardboard boxes and would love to be able to paint big paintings...hm.

My Things, Luz de Luna

2011-06-11T19:45:00.005+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
10,5 cm x 14,8 cm / 4,1" x 5,8"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Love the name of the brand of these sweet summer slippers - "Luz de Luna".

My Things, Green Espadrilles

2011-06-10T16:40:00.009+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Summer, beach, France and the obligatory espadrille slippers from the Basque country. These shoes epitomize the southern French and Spanish lifestyle.

My Things, Prima Ballerinas

2011-06-09T20:26:00.006+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

As you can see, I like colourful shoes. These I found in Barcelona at a store that sells only ballerina shoes, in all colours and styles - nearly impossible to make a decision! After a long time I finely settled with pink suede and ribbons, and have hardly worn any other shoes since then. Coincidentally I found a picture of the shop on this blog

My Things, Green Summer Shoes

2011-06-08T18:10:00.006+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
Buy it here

Back to my series "My Things". For one thing I felt like having a change and secondly I had a bit of a splash out on a few new aquisitions that asked to be painted! So here's the first of them, a pair of bright green patent shoes that I spotted in Holland, designed by the famous Dutch designer "Fred de la Bretoniere". I absolutely LOVE them!

Small Courtyard

2011-06-05T19:15:00.004+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Backstreet Mail

2011-06-04T19:14:00.005+02:00

oil on wood panel - Öl auf Holzplatte - huile sur bois
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

I was lucky this morning to see this colourful scene in bright sunshine in the little backstreet just behind the house I live in. Later in the day, it got very grey and poured with rain.

Villebois-Lavalette

2011-06-03T22:31:00.005+02:00

oil on canvas panel - Öl auf Malplatte - huile sur carton entoilé
9,5 cm x 30 cm / 3,7" x 11,8"
sold - verkauft - vendu

This is a view of a delightful small town in the Charente, just about 20 minutes from where I live at the moment. Apart from the impressive castle, there is a medieval market hall in the center where you can sit in the cool shade and enjoy a good glass of French wine.

In An Elegant House

2011-05-31T19:56:00.003+02:00

acryliques on canvas - Acryl auf Leinwand - acryliques sur toile
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
Buy it here

The light situation here was what inspired me to paint it and although it was very difficult and I haven't really achieved what I had in mind, it was an enjoyable challenge.

4 Drawings

2011-05-30T15:52:00.002+02:00

pen and coloured pencil on paper, Tinte und Farbstift auf Papier, stylo et crayon de couleur sur papier
each 8" x 8", 20 x 20 cm

I don't feel like painting today and made a few drawings instead. That's really enjoyable for a change.

French Bench

2011-05-29T19:10:00.005+02:00

acryliques on canvas - Acryl auf Leinwand - acryliques sur toile
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

This is so French - the window with it's small glass panes and the white bench with curly iron details, both framed by ivy and hollyhocks!

Sketch for "Figure with Orchid"

2011-05-28T20:06:00.004+02:00

pen on paper, Tinte auf Papier, stylo sur papier
8" x 8", 20 x 20 cm

No painting today, as I started on a larger one which still has some way to go and can't be shown here yet. Instead, a sketch I did before I painted yesterday's daily. I hardly ever sketch anything, but my blogger friend Barbara Muir's drawings inspired me to try it again. I am a big fan of Barbara's drawings!

Figure with Orchid

2011-05-27T19:25:00.005+02:00

acryliques on canvas - Acryl auf Leinwand - acryliques sur toile
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
Buy it here

Playing around a bit with different styles, trying to loosen up....

Cool Inside

2011-05-26T11:10:00.006+02:00

acryliques on canvas - Acryl auf Leinwand - acryliques sur toile
20 cm x 20 cm / 7,9" x 7,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

I worked on a slightly larger format here, which I like a lot. It's quite surprising what a change a couple of inches do to the feeling while painting - there seemed to be so much more space.

Under the Parasol

2011-05-25T13:06:00.009+02:00

acryliques on canvas panel - Acryl auf Malplatte - acryliques sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Mum Reading

2011-05-24T21:10:00.007+02:00

acryliques on canvas panel - Acryl auf Malplatte - acryliques sur carton entoilé
15 cm x 15 cm / 5,9" x 5,9"
sold - verkauft - vendu

Enjoying a lovely morning in May, reading in the warm spring sunlight besides a small lemon tree that smells like summer....