Paintings for an Exhibition

I've mentioned previously that I am so lucky to be represented by the prestigious RS Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Shannon Hanna, the gallery owner, is opening a new show this coming Friday 6th November which runs until 19th December. The show is called “Its Hip to be Square” as all the paintings in the exhibition are a square format. In art circles square appears to be the new 'black' as it were.

I am delighted for three reasons.
1) - I have four new watercolour paintings in the exhibition (one of which appeared in the gallery's ad in American Art Collector magazine for December). Thanks Shannon.
2) - My paintings will be hung alongside some very well known artists.

Here are a couple of my paintings, both Venetian scenes:

Gondolas at the Riva

Santa Maria della Salute

My other two watercolours plus all of the show's paintings can be seen online at the link below. Should you want to buy a painting just contact Shannon for details.

Oh, by the way, almost forgot number 3) - I'm going to make it over there for the last day, 19th December, can't wait.

RS Hanna show click here

Scottish Art Scene magazine

I have been fortunate to be chosen to feature in the latest issue which highlights the upcoming Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show. One of the three paintings I have in the show is both inside the online magazine and on the back cover.

The exhibition opens to the public on Thursday 27th August until Sunday 30th. It promises to be a great show and supports a worthy charity. Come along if you can.

Here is the link:

http://scottish-art-scene.com/Edinburgh_Macmillan_Art_Show_2015

Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show

I mentioned recently having been accepted to exhibit in the Edinburgh Macmillan Art Show. Their website has now been updated with the artist's works to be shown from 27th to 30th August 2015 at Bonhams Auction Rooms in Queen Street.

Here is a link to my page on the site:
http://2015.macmillanartshow.org.uk/colin-joyce/

Hope some of you can make it along.

A Video today - a tiny slice of Venetian life

I thought I'd show you a video today for a change - less than 30 seconds worth. Took an age to get it off my phone onto laptop.
Looking forward to many artist friends, some old and some new, joining me from the weekend to paint this beautiful city. I've been scouting out some possible venues over the last few days and time now I think to start posting sketches and paintings.
Keep an eye open for those - in the meantime...here's the video

Venice photo of the day - Day 4

Actually two photos today. Having taken the photo I wanted in the morning at the Fish Market, a scene that has to be painted when my artist friends arrive next week, I was out for a walk this evening when I spotted the low sun and just had to take the photo.

Venice photo of the day- Day 3

It's my Venice photo of the day. I will post sketches and paintings soon too.

This photo is one of my favourite spots, Campo San Barnaba. Perfect for painting around 5pm this month. I'm sure there'll be a few of us at the easels here next week.

Venice photo of the day - Day 2

Actually a bit late posting this so another may follow before the day is out.

Arsenale, an interesting bit of architecture and used in the movie 'The Tourist' starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. Expecting to paint around here soon.

Venice photo of the day - Day 1

Posting my first photo of the day from Venice. Hope you like it.

Beautiful sunny day and very, very warm.

Baby Wet Panel Carrier

Hello again,

I've been busy again today building a smaller box to take 7 x 5 inch canvas panels (or MDF etc). This time I've created a twin box allowing 12 panels to be carried. This is the one I'm taking with me to try out in Venice next week. Photos are further down but do have a read through first.

I had quite a lot of valuable feedback from artists on Facebook, for which I thank you. Someone thought, and it did occur to me, that having the sides cover the lid meant it would be difficult to reach the panels, especially when covered with paint.  So I built this box with the sides lowered and the lid widened.

I haven't found this to make a huge difference to reaching the panels except for the outer one but did cause the lid to have a little bit of sideways moving at the clasp end. This was resolved by adding a pin (you might see a tiny hole near the clasp on some of the photos).

I still prefer the initial style as it both protects the lid and creates better stability all round. That's the way I will proceed.

Now, when it comes to removing panels from the box it can be done using fingers but in a couple of photos I have shown a small bulldog clip in use on both boxes. An alternative is a pair of small needle nose pliers.

When I go into production all boxes will be varnished (and can be wood stained if requested) plus will have either a handle or shoulder strap (or both) as options.

If you've popped over from Facebook you can subscribe to this blog for my future newsletters if you want. (It's over on the right column)

Bulldog clip in use on 12x10

Bulldog clip in use on 7x5

7x5 twin box with 12x10 behind

twin box full (12 panels)

twin box empty

7x5 box with its 12 panels

7x5 on top of 12x10

My Wet Canvas Panel Carrier

I have built my prototype for a compact wet panel carrier. Having looked at what was available on the market I decided I either didn't like the design, materials or size of many. Those I did like were too expensive and as many were in the USA import duties would be added on top of the price. Most are in the region of $100 or more.

So, I have designed my own, similar to some out there, as a compact model. The one built so far is for 12 x 10 inch canvas panels but I will also make them for 10 x 8 and 7 x 5 panels. It can easily be replicated to any size required.

The boxes will mainly take 6 wet panels to keep them compact but I will be making a box to take twelve 7 x 5 panels, which will still be quite compact. Adding a handle and/or carry strap will be an option.

The 12 x 10 box is shown in the photos below and measures just 32.5cm by 28cm. Weight, before added the boards is a mere 760 grams (or 1 lb 11oz)

I plan to test this on location in Venice in July, and if successful, would be able to offer these to fellow painters. They would all be hand made to any size specified.

I would be keen to know what other plein air artists think of my carrier. Please do comment and let me know.

View of box - upright

View of box - on side

Close up of brass hinge

Close up of locking clasp

six 12x10 panels in the box, back to back

Interior of box when empty showing groves for panels

Two bits of news

No 1 - You can now subscribe to receive emails whenever I post on this blog or send out a newsletter. The boxes are just over there on the right.

No 2 - Daily Paintings


I recently became aware of the popularity of making a small painting, that is postcard size, on a regular if not daily basis. This is both great practice and also fun to do as it doesn't take as long as a larger painting.  Many artists are now enjoying doing this.

So I've created another blog just for these daily, or regular at least, paintings. Have a look at it here
http://postcardfromscotland.blogspot.co.uk/

You can subscribe separately on that blog for updates when new paintings are posted.

Watercolour Demo for Kelty & District Art Group

Tomorrow morning I am carrying out a watercolour demo for this small group of artists.
Kelty & District Art Group 10am on 26th June 2015 - Starting with Watercolour
Moray Institute is 92 Main Street, Kelty, KY4 0AQ 

Do come along if you can.

Dunfermline Art Club Exhibition

Paintings framed and ready to hang tomorrow in the Dunfermline Art Club summer exhibition. This is very good for me, I'm usually still doing the framing half an hour before they are due in!
Will be on display, and for sale, outside Debenhams in the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, Dunfermline from Monday 15th until Wednesday 24th.

Patchings Art Festival

This time next week I'll be attending Patchings Art Festival, to catch up with old friends and hopefully make some new ones. I plan to attend both Friday and Saturday. I hope I can keep my 'art supplies' purchasing in check but there are always so many bargains to be had it's not easy to hold back!
I hope one day to be able to exhibit there myself. Who else is going?

Watercolour Sketch in North Berwick

Today was a very windy day with sunshine and occasional heavy downpours. I decided to paint a quick watercolour in my Moleskine sketchbook. Took about 30 minutes but I did stay inside the vehicle due to the strong winds.
Although sunny when I started it didn't take long for the rain to appear again. I stayed with the initial vision however. Hope you like it.

By the way, I did make the notes in a straight line, just the angle of the photo and curl of the paper took over.

Photos from the exhibition

Here's some photos of the exhibition, now up and running for the month of May. If you are anywhere near Dunfermline it's in the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, unit 22.

Next Exhibition starting May 7th

My next exhibition will be held in the Dunfermline Art Club Gallery starting on Thursday 7th May and running for the rest of the month.  I feature as the Artist of the Month.

The art club are very fortunate to have their own gallery situated in Unit 22 of the Kingsgate Shopping Centre on the High Street, Dunfermline. For those who don't know where it is, it's at the top of the elevator opposite the indoor entrance to Marks & Spencers.


I will have a whole wall to display my original paintings, plus a browser with more mounted originals and prints at much reduced prices. There will also be a selection of greetings cards with my images.

I will show some more of my paintings on this blog and on my Facebook page
COLIN JOYCE Artist
If you can't make it along and are interested in buying one of my paintings please send me a message.

The gallery is open between 12 and 4pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week. It also contains a variety of works by other club members.

Hopetoun House Easter Exhibition

Only a week to go for the opening of our exhibition held in the Carriage Room, adjoining the Stables Tearoom, in the world-famous Hopetoun House, South Queensferry near Edinburgh.

Commencing Good Friday 3rd April the exhibition continues until Sunday 12th April. Opening hours are 11:00 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is free via the tearoom, although there is an entry fee for the main part of Hopetoun House if you want to see that too.
Website  http://www.hopetoun.co.uk/

Here is another of my paintings to be exhibited. A view of Princes Street, Edinburgh from Calton Hill.

Six artists' work will be on show: myself, Mike and Diane Young, Ken Young, Priscilla Brightman and Jacqueline Wakely.

Work in Progress - A New Painting

I was hoping to have a photo of the completed painting in this post, but it's going to need another day to complete. In the meantime, here is a photo I took after the blocking in stage the other day, which does give a taste of the finished painting.

The view is from the south side of the Forth River looking North West towards Fife, where I live, with the tide well out leaving just little streams of water and lots of wet sand. The beach is Crammond Beach with Crammond Island just out of shot to the right. You can walk to the island at low tide.

Hopefully the completed painting will go on tomorrow evening.

I am happy to receive comments, by the way. I'd love to know what you think.

Painting for Hopetoun House

Here is another oil painting heading to Hopetoun House for the Easter Exhibition. Again working from one of my photographs it catches a glimpse of Edinburgh Castle caught in the late evening sun.

Hopetoun House Easter Exhibition

Delighted to be part of a group exhibition at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh opening this Easter. It's in the room next to the cafe so easy to find.

If you are in the area please do try to visit. I'll be there most days if you want to say hello. I'll know nearer the time which days they are but definitely the opening day.

I'll post some paintings over the coming days so watch out for them. Here is the first one.

This one is called 'Early Light, Morningside' painting from a photo I took one morning in Edinburgh.
It's an oil painting on canvas board size 10 x 8 inches.

All the paintings will be for sale at the exhibition but if you like it, and really have to have it, by all means contact me for details.

Arty things in Edinburgh

Had a great day in Edinburgh accompanied by friend and fellow artist Ken Young.

Starting with a tour of  the Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) exhibition in the Royal Scottish Academy building, plus an exhibition of Scottish drawings. Well worth a visit before the end of the month.

Next we visited the Open Eye Gallery in Dundas Street for the preview of three artists.

Fife based artist, Archibald Dunbar McIntosh with his acrylic work.

Hugh Buchanan’s detailed watercolours.












Lara Scouler's pastels


Definitely worth a look if you are passing.

We then moved along Dundas Street to call into the Scottish Gallery showing the photography of David Eustace, followed by Colours Gallery with a mix of artists to view.

Finally, on the gallery tour we visited EDS Gallery, home of the Edinburgh Drawing School where artists such as Aine Devine, finalist on the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, has work on show. She also teaches there. Again, a variety of artists were on the walls. We were made very welcome by the delightful Fiona, who even made me a cup of tea. Thanks for that.

We then scoured the antique stores for items suitable to include in still life paintings. I returned home with quite a few things which will find their way into my paintings. We are both planning a series of small paintings including various objects, curios if you will, so watch this space.
I'd love to hear your comments about what I putting on my blog.

Feel free to share on Facebook, Twitter etc.

Until the next post...

DIGITAL ART Demo

Just returned home from giving a demo on digital art to a local art club, Dalgety Bay Art Club in Fife, Scotland.

This was an introduction to using an iPad and what is possible. After coffee break I spent 40 minutes using an app called iPastel to produce this painting of a winter scene from Yorkshire using a copy of a watercolour I painted some years ago.

Seemed to go down well.

NEW SMALL PAINTING

A wet street scene. 

It's a while since I posted a painting.

Last Wednesday, for my art class students, I started painting this scene from a photo I took in Edinburgh recently. The photograph was taken against the light but it wasn't actually raining at the time. It had been earlier.

I wanted to show how one could create reflections and the effect of a wet road. Although the painting wasn't finished on the evening all that really remained was to add some details and the darkest areas, trees, pedestrians etc.

Let me know what you think of the result. It measures about 10 x 7 inches, watercolour on Saunders Waterford 140lb (300gsm) Not paper.
Feel free to share on Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Oh, and why not subscribe to my blog and get informed when I post.

Peploe and Kirkcaldy Art Gallery

What a treat. 

Visited the Art Gallery in Kirkcaldy, Fife today to catch the watercolour exhibition again before it finishes tomorrow. It features well known Scottish artists such as Anne Redpath, Elizabeth Blackadder, George Gillies and my personal favourite, Arthur Melville.

Melville had two large works on show, one of a bullfighting scene in Spain and the other of the gondola boatyard in Venice.

Moving through the rest of the gallery I was able to view, in no particular order, a Lowry, Jack Vettriano, Hornel, J D Fergusson and Sickert.

One room, however, was dedicated to Samuel John Peploe and this was an absolute treat. The range of subjects included a self portrait, still lives and highland landscapes. 

If you get the chance, I would recommend going along to view it.

(Sorry there are no images as it may breach copyright but you can google the artists )