Robert Brindley's Blog

Runswick Bay Weekend Workshop 20th & 21st 2009

2009-06-23T10:36:00.004+01:00

Thanks for everyone who attended my Workshop at Runswick Bay at the weekend.

I completed the demonstration painting 'Breakwaters / Sandsend Beach' by developing the timber breakwaters & adding a few rocks.

The difficulty I had with paint liftng from the paper was not as bad as I thought & actually added to the foreground texture!! So, on this occaision, everything worked out OK!

'Looking forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Higham Hall 16th to 19th June 2009

2009-06-23T10:11:00.004+01:00

Many thanks to all who attended the Watercolour course at Higham Hall, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did & benefited from the demonstrations & tuition.

These are the completed paintings:

A small amount of additional work was undertaken to "Autumn, Derwentwater", by texturing the foreground & adding a few autumn leaves to the trees.

This painting, "Snow above Seatoller", was completed by adding a further broken wash to the mass of trees on the right, more leaves to the trees on the left, additional branches & twigs to all the trees & deepening the tone on the wall, with glazes of Raw Sienna. Finally I added a few grasses to the foreground snow.

This painting, entitled "Lakes Reflections", was completed during the 'demo.' I felt that no further work was required.

I'm looking forward to seeing many of you again next year, fingers crossed for better weather!!!

Venice Trip June 2009

2009-06-17T11:04:00.003+01:00

We have just returned from a marvelous two weeks in Venice.

While we were there I spent time working in Pastel for my forthcoming book, "Painting in Pastels", to be published sometime in 2010.

The ten sketches I was able to paint, will form part of a chapter, entitled, "A Venetian Sketchbook" which will deal with producing finished paintings from 'plein air' sketches & photographic reference.

Please visit my News Page for further updates

Many Thanks!

2009-05-25T23:10:00.002+01:00

Liz & I would like to thank everyone who visited us at Sneaton Castle over the weekend for my Annual Exhibition.
It was lovely to see old friends & make new acquaintances.
Thank you once again for your support & for making 2009 a successful & enjoyable exhibition, hope to see everyone again next year, if not before at The Pannett in September for my next show!
Going for a lie down now!!

2009-05-13T10:00:00.001+01:00

I will be holding my Annual Exhibition at Sneaton Castle again this year, a wonderful venue with great architecture and lovely grounds and coffee shop.

There will be approximately 65 paintings for sale in the Exhibition, together with Limited Edition Prints & a large selection of Greetings Cards.

The Preview will be held on Friday night (the 22nd) and if you would like to attend, please contact me.

To view some of the paintings to be included in the show, please visit the Exhibition Page.

Potefract Art Club 6th May 2009

2009-05-09T14:48:00.003+01:00

Many thanks to all who attended my Watercolour demonstration on Wednesday evening, Liz & I were made to feel really welcome.

Here is the painting as it was was when I left:

The painting proved to be almost complete when I looked at it this morning. All that I felt I needed to do was to, enhance the colour on the extreme right hand side of the beach by adding glazes of Raw Sienna, Cobalt Violet & Cerulean.
Finally I darkened the timber groynes slightly by using Ultramarine Blue & Burnt Umber.

If you have any queries, please contact me.

Hope to see you all again soon!

Selby Watercolour Society Demonstration 6th April 2009

2009-04-07T14:23:00.003+01:00

Many thanks to everything for the warm welcome Liz & I received last night, as always, it was lovely to see you all again. It doesn't seem like a year ago, does it?

As promised, this is the painting as it was at the end of the demonstration

I completed the painting with the following steps:

Further minor details were added to the background fishing huts & boats.

The light area of water was developed by further pale washes of Cobalt Violet & Raw Sienna. A little white Gouache was used to add sparkle.

The red Buoys were accentuated.

The mooring posts were modified by lifting out some of the pigment against the sky.

The reflections were completed by reinforcing the shapes, using Ultramarine Blue & Light Red. The light water between the reflections of the mooring posts was developed using white Gouache & Raw Sienna.

Final details, such as the step ladder, various masts, mooring ropes etc., were added.

If you would like further information, please contact me.

We're both looking forward to visiting you again in 2010?!

New Step-by-Step Demonstration

2009-04-03T13:14:00.007+01:00

"Quiet Moorings" Workum / Holland

I have added a Step-by-Step demonstration of the above Oil painting to my website.

The source material for this painting came from a painting trip to Holland, with members of the Royal Society of Marine Artists last year. We spent four wonderful days sailing around the Iselmeer in a Dutch Barge.

To view the demonstration, please follow this link.

Red Nose Day - Friday 13th March

2009-03-12T14:47:00.004Z

Don't forget to......

"DO Something Funny For Money"!!

If you'd like to know more about RND, please follow this link

Parkside Paint & Palette Group 3rd March 2009

2009-03-04T11:10:00.003Z

Thank you to everyone who attended my Watercolour demonstration last night & making me so welcome.

I undertook the following steps this morning to complete the painting:

- Reduced some of the highlights on the abbey & added a few details of windows etc.
- Added trunks & branches to mid distance trees.
- Softened the field in the mid distance.
- Added further detail to the foreground hedges.
- Lifted the lights of the distant fields by using white gouache with a little Raw Sienna.

Please contact me if you have any questions, 'hope to see you all again soon.

End Child Poverty

2009-02-02T10:09:00.006Z

The Campaign to End Child Poverty is a coalition of more than 150 organisations working to eradicate child poverty in the UK.

It is formed from children's and other charities, social justice groups, faith-groups, trade unions and others concerned about the unacceptably high levels of child poverty in the UK.

For more information, visit End Child Poverty

Leven Art Society Weekend Workshop

2009-02-02T09:00:00.000Z

Thank you so much for making me feel welcome, as always.

Here is the finished Watercolour demonstration painting as promised.

Please contact me if you have any queries

Newton on Ouse Art Group 24th & 25th January 2009

2009-01-27T14:18:00.003Z

Thank you to all who attended the 2 day Workshop at the weekend 'hope you found it enjoyable?
Here is the finished painting as promised:

To complete the painting I added the following:

- Additional twigs & branches with a No. 2 Rigger
- A warm glaze of Raw Sienna & Permanent Rose to the hedges
- Grasses pushing through the snow & against the dark hedgerow

As always, should you have any questions, please contact me.

Weekend Workshops FULL!!

2009-01-15T11:21:00.002Z

All the places on Weekend Workshops in Runswick Bay are now full. Please contact me if you would like to be added to the Data Base for future Workshops.
Thanks to everyone for such a speedy response!

Weekend Workshops

2009-01-08T16:07:00.003Z

The Workshops at Runswick Bay on the 20th & 21st June and the 4th & 5th July are now full!
At the moment, there are still places on 25th & 26th July if you would like to join us?

New Book for 2010!

2009-01-08T15:53:00.005Z

I'm delighted to say that Crowood Press has asked me to write a second book, to be finished by March 2010.
The book will be entitled 'Painting with Pastel' & will cover all aspects of Pastel painting, from materials & equipment to subject selection, discussing techniques when painting land & seascapes, 'still life' through to painting the human figure.
I aim to include many Step by Step demonstrations & lots of illustrations throughout.

If you would like more information about this book or my forthcoming book, 'Painting Boats & Coastal Sceenery', please contact me

Weekend Workshops for Summer 2009

2009-01-03T13:51:00.001Z

Robert will be holding 3 Weekend Workshops this year all in the picturesque village of Runswick Bay.

The Dates are as follows:
20th & 21st June 4th & 5th July 25th & 26th July

Follow this link for more information.
As usual, places are limited, so book now..............avoid disappointment!!!

Christmas - The facts!! (10/10)

2008-12-26T11:02:00.000Z

Boxing Day
'Boxing' refers to to boxes, not the sport!
This was the day that the alms boxes were opened in church & the money collected was given to the poor of the parish, known as the 'dole of the Christmas box'.

Over time it became a tradition to give a 'Christmas Box' (a thank you payment) to people who've provided a service over the year such as postmen, milk men & refuse collectors.

Happy Christmas!!

Christmas - The facts!! (9/10)

2008-12-23T10:17:00.001Z

The Yule Log

The Celts believed that for 12 days at the end of December, the sun stood still, making the days grow shorter. They thought if they could keep yule logs burning bright for those 12 days, the sun would be persuaded to move again to make the days grow longer.

More facts to follow..................

Christmas - The facts!! (8/10)

2008-12-22T10:21:00.000Z

The Christmas Cracker
The cracker was devised in 1847 by an English confectioner and stationery manufacturer whilst on holiday in Paris with his family.
At a time when English sweets were still sold loose from the trays they were made in, his children discovered the Parisian Bon-Bons - coated sugar lollies prettily wrapped in a twist of coloured paper. He liked the idea so much that on his return to London he wrapped his lollies in similar paper, still including the mottos he had always put in.
It was the 'crackling' sound a log makes when throwing it onto a fire that gave Tom Smith the inspiration for the 'pop' sound Crackers are known for. A ' crackle' would add the necessary excitement and spark to his novelty 'bon bon'.
It was simply a matter of experimentation to find a compound which gave a satisfactory bang without going too far. Eventually, Tom perfected his chemical explosion to create a 'pop' caused by friction when the wrapping was broken. This became the snap and the Cracker as we know it was born!

Christmas - The Facts!! (7/10)

2008-12-19T15:04:00.002Z

Mince Pies
Originally mince pies were made in the shape of a crib, some even with pastry baby Jesuses! They were band along with Christmas, by Oliver Cromwell's parliament in 1647, but as people still wanted to eat mince pies, they made them plain round.

This shape continued to be used when a king was back on the throne in 1660.
Just for info.....................It's meant to be bad luck not to eat a mince pie someone offers you!!

More facts to follow...............

Christmas - The facts!! (6/10)

2008-12-18T14:49:00.001Z

The Christmas Stocking
Before Saint Nicholas was known as Santa Claus, he was a bishop in Turkey and well known for giving gifts to the poor, anonymously.
He used to slip into their houses at night & leave gifts in shoes & stockings, knowing they would be found the next morning when people would put their feet in them!
Nicholas became so famous for his kindness in helping others, that people made statues of him and painted his picture on church windows all over Europe.
Now he is known by many names, in many countries including: Sankt Nikolaus, father Christmas, Pere Noel, Kriss Kringle, Santa Klaas, and Santa Claus.

More facts to follow....................

Christmas - The facts (5/10)

2008-12-17T14:48:00.003Z

The Christmas Tree
According to legend, in Germany in the eighth century, the Christian saint, Boniface, came upon a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. They were just about to sacrifice a baby to the tree when St Boniface snatched the axe about to be used to kill the baby and chopped down the tree instead.
When he picked up the child, he noticed a tiny fir tree growing between the roots of the oak tree. To him this symbolized new life coming from death, as with Christ's resurrection.

From then on, the tree became an important part of the Christmas celebrations in Germany.

More facts to follow........................

Open Weekend

2008-12-14T19:07:00.004Z

If you're in the area & want to pop in and say hello, I'll be opening my home studio next Saturday & Sunday ( 20th & 21st December )

The more the merrier!!!

Christmas - The Facts! (4/10)

2008-12-14T10:47:00.000Z

The Crib
One of the first documented models of Joseph, Mary the baby Jesus, three wise men & animals gathered around a manger was put in a church in Rome by Pope Gregory 3rd (731-741), now a common sight in churches, homes & shopping centres!
There is even an extraordinary life size underwater crib on the sea bed, off the Amalfi Coast in Italy!!

Trust me........it's in there somewhere!!!

More Facts to follow...............