Discover Landscape and Portrait Paintings and Courses with Ian Price and a Massive Congratulations to…

Posted on May 18, 2024 by ianpriceart

Hi Everyone,

Since the last update I’ve had a successful Clevedon Spring Exhibition, Exhibited at the RWA with the Friends and I’ve had a portrait of Ruth accepted for showing at the Mall Galleries, London with the New English Art Club, one of the most prestigious art groups in the UK.

You’ll be able to see Ruth at the Mall Galleries from 13 – 22 June 2024. The portrait was completed over three sessions from life. She’s been a lucky model as I also sold some watercolour sketches of Ruth at the Clevedon Spring show.

I’ve also been having a lovely time doing some painting outdoors in some great locations in Bristol, Devon and the Isles of Scilly. Here are a few from the Scillies.

Immediately though I’ve showing some landscapes at the NSA Members Exhibition in Failand this weekend, get along it’s a lovely venue in Failand, 18/19 May.

Next month I’ll be showing new work on the BS9 Arts Trail at Redmaids School, 8-9th June. Hopefully I’ll have enough space to show some of my new larger seascapes that I’m currently working on.

If you’d like to try oil painting outside with me, I’ve a couple of landscape painting days coming up in the next few weeks Sunday 2nd & 16th of June. I can provide any equipment you don’t have so it’s a good chance to see if you like it. We’ll be painting around Black Nore beach in Portishead.

If you’d like to try portrait painting and don’t know where to start, I’m hosting a couple of one day sessions with Clevedon Art Club where you can choose a day or charcoal or oil/acrylic. These are bookable via the Clevedon Art Club website and are open to non-members too.

Later in the autumn I’ll be running two two day workshops where you can dig a bit deeper into Capturing a Likeness in charcoal or paint, it’s also good opportunity to learn some tips and gain experience in a supportive environment. Details of these are on my website.

I’m pleased to welcome Andrew James R.P. back to Portishead to run he Expressive Oil Portraits course for the tenth year, if you’ve some experience in Oils and Painting from life then it’s not to be missed, always great fun with great outcomes too. There are only a few places left. Finally a massive congratulations to Andrew who won the Ondnaatje Prize for Portraiture at the RP this year, it’s really the portrait painting equivalent of a BAFTA, complete with a gold medal.

Let me know if anything take your interest or get in touch to enquire about a purchase or a commission.

You can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the galleries on my website.

Grab a space on Capturing a Likeness in Drawing

Posted on March 15, 2024 by ianpriceart

I’ve some spaces left on the Capturing a Likeness in drawing course this weekend (16/17 March) in Portishead.

I’l have different and contrasting models on Saturday and Sunday, they are both really great to draw and challenging in different ways.

The day is 9-4pm. Details here, https://ianpriceart.co.uk/portraits-capturing-a-likeness-in-drawing/

If you would like to do one day only or prefer to work in oils let me know. One day would be half price.

The painting course the following weekend is full but I’ve more dates in the autumn.

I’ll be back I touch when I get the landscape course dates fixed.

2024 Course Dates – including portrait courses with Andrew James and Ian Price

Posted on February 5, 2024 by ianpriceart

I had a great time teaching courses myself for the first time last autumn and I’ve scheduled some more portrait courses for 2024.

I’ve also confirmed Andrew James again for the annual autumn Expressive Portraits course. I think I’ve run it 20 times now. However this year due to various reasons including, literally, time and tide, the courses are two days each.

Get in touch either directly back to me or via the contact form on the course pages. Note my portrait drawing and painting courses in March are quite soon.

Capturing a Likeness with Ian Price

Suitable for beginners and experienced artists, they cover drawing techniques, introduction to limited palette, and assistance with transitioning from drawing to painting. Basic materials are provided, and participants can bring favoured paints and easel.

Note the ones in March are quite soon!

Ian Price course – portraits – capturing a likeness in drawing

Sat 16 & Sun 17 March 2024
Weds 2 & Thurs 3 Oct 2024

Ian Price course – portraits – capturing a likeness in paint

Sat 23 & Sun 24 March 2024
Fri 4 & Sat 5 October 2024

Andrew James 2 Day Expressive Portrait Course

The course is built around expressive portraiture. Observational work set up to enable the formal qualities of oil paint to become a more explicitly descriptive medium and asserting a more active form of observation and connection whilst still capturing a likeness.

Andrew James Expressive Oil Portraits

Tuesday 8th- Weds 9th October 2024. Single model for 2 day pose.
Thurs 10th- Friday 11th October 2024. Same schedule with a different model holding a 2 day pose.

Oil Painting Outdoors

Note that the dates of the landscape course for 2024 are not confirmed but I am able to offer one to one tuition or tailored courses for small groups. Please use the form on the oil painting outdoors course to enquire.

Ian Price Course – Oil Painting Outdoors

I’ve enjoyed having a bit more time to do lots of painting in the last few months, more ships after being chuffed that my tanker painting sold from the RWA open as well as landscapes and portraits.

I’m very excited to have started to sculpt in clay and am looking forward to seeing how I progress this year or if my hopes shatter in a kiln!

Let me know if anything take your interest or get in touch to enquire about a purchase or a commission.

You can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the galleries on my website.

Summer news and Autumn Courses

Posted on September 10, 2023 by ianpriceart

Hello again, here’s a quick update on recent work and where to see my work this autumn. However the biggest new is that I took the daunting step to make art full time in March so I’m now running some courses myself for beginner or intermediate painters for the first time.

I’m also organising the Andrew James portrait course for the tenth year so get along to that if you’ve some experience with oils, more details below.

Recent News

I’ve had a great Summer and crammed in quite a bit of painting in the south-west, including Sidmouth Folk Festival, Cornwall as well as Clevedon! I’ve painted 20 plus over the summer so check my posts in Instagram.

Last week was the opening of the RWA open exhibition in Bristol and I am beyond chuffed to have had two paintings selected from the 6000 submissions.

Thanks to Hemali Modha for the photo of myself ( with Andrew Hardwick and my son’s shirt) and for helping to organise such a great exhibition. It’s a great exhibition this year with a colourful main gallery; attractively split by subdued and full on colour.

My work is in the Methuen side gallery, the sage painted wall really complement the landscapes and seascapes hung. They are in great eye-level spots, don’t miss battery point in the corner. Perhaps I got two in because they aren’t showing any Prince Charles watercolours this year? (Thanks your majesty!). The black and white room looks as good as ever including a scarily valuable Frank Bowling work and a piece by Hamish Young who exhibited with me earlier in the year. The exhibition is on for the rest of the year. Get along but more urgently get along to this …

ArtPort 23 Portishead

On the weekend of 23/24 September I’ll be exhibiting my work part of the ArtPort 2023 festival in Portishead which is continuing to grow year on year. Come and find me in the church opposite Somerset Hall in the High street. It’s broadened to a burgeoning arts festival, come along to see the range of music, guided walks and other art events on offer. Brochures should be dropping into Portishead letterboxes shortly.

Courses

Once again I’ll be organising the Andrew James Expressive Portrait courses in October which is always fun, educational and stretching for those with some experience of painting in oil paint. Dates for these two three day courses are the 13-15th October and 16-18th October.

Take a look here to see the quality of Andrew’s work. on Instagram or on his website. He really is one of the most respected portrait tutors in the country.

Most excitingly (and terrifyingly) I’ll be running some art courses myself at the same location in Portishead Yacht Club.

A two day introduction to oil painting outdoors 16/17th September, so whether you want to try oil painting for the first time or want a bit of support as you paint this might be for you. I’ll be able to provide or advise on materials as required.

A few weeks later from the 30th September I’ll be running a three day Portrait course on Capturing a Likeness. This will be aimed at beginners and inexperienced artists who want to learn techniques to capture a likeness in charcoal leading to oil paint. This has been in response to people asking for a companion course for the Andrew James Course. This is filling up but get in touch if you are interested in a future course.

Find out More

So please get in touch on the contact forms on the respective pages if you want to book a place.

That’s quite a list I’ve blasted at you there, I hope our paths cross at one of these events.

If anything take your interest get in touch to enquire about a purchase or a commission.

You can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the galleries on my website.

I’m back on the horse

Posted on April 30, 2023 by ianpriceart

Or have fallen back off the wagon depending on your viewpoint.

I’m back painting on a regular basis after a slow down during the pandemic followed by a very full time work period but I’m looking forward to spending more time painting, exhibiting and even acting as a tutor for the first time this year. Exciting times!

I’m currently in the middle of North Somerset Artweek, open until (and including) the 8th of May Bank Holiday. Once again I’m offering cakes and cards to support the Black Nore Lighthouse Trust. Last time we raised over £400 to support its upkeep. Come on people these cakes aren’t going to eat themselves! Save me and my stomachs from myself!!

You’ll also get a chance to see work by Hamish Young and Ruth Ander including work that celebrates the Severn estuary.

My portrait of Varosha is currently in the ongoing Bath Society of Artists exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. It’s one of my favourite exhibitions so get along to see it and enjoy a day out in Bath too (take the park and ride for your stress levels though). It runs until the end of June, I’ll be taking a return trip myself.

If you don’t get a chance to come and see me this week then next month I’ll be part of the BS9 art trail in Bristol which runs 10-11th June.

A bit later in the year I’ll be part of the ArtPort 2023 festival in Portishead which is continuing to grow year on year.

Most excitingly (and terrifyingly) I’ll be running some art courses myself in the Autumn at Portishead Yacht Club..

A two day introduction to oil painting outdoors 16/17th September, so whether you want to try oil painting for the first time or want a bit of support as you paint this might be for you.

A few weeks later I’ll be running a three day Portrait course on Capturing a Likeness. This will be aimed at beginners and inexperienced artists who want to learn techniques to capture a likeness in charcoal leading to oil paint. This has been in response to people asking for a companion course for the Andrew James Course.

Once again I’ll be running the Andrew James Expressive Portrait course in October which is always fun, educational and stretching for those with more experience of painting people in oil paint.

So please get in touch on the contact forms on the respective pages if you want to book a place.

That’s quite a list I’ve blasted at you there, I hope our paths cross at one of these events.

You can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the newly updated galleries on my website.

Many thanks, Ian.

Artoholics your drought is over!

Posted on September 2, 2021 by ianpriceart

I’m falling off the Art wagon in September after an arid couple of years.

As an aperitif September kicks off with the BS9 art trail at Trinity college in Stoke Bishop in Bristol the weekend of 4,5th September, it’s a beautiful new venue that I’ll be sharing with 15 artists and will be open 11-5pm. I’ve been painting sporadically over the last few years so the there’ll be lots of work being shown for the first time including larger looser landscapes painted during lockdown when the plein air options were limited.

Dawn Gordano Valley, a new larger lockdown work.

If you’re not sated North Somerset Arts week is following on and I’ll be opening up my house on the 11,12 and 18,19th of Sept as venue 28. Arts week is moving from it’s usual May spot to make this September awash with art. I’ll be open both weekends from 11am to 6pm. I’m pleased that Ruth Ander will once again be exhibiting atmospheric monoprints, many featuring the estuary. I’ll be joined for the first time by Hamish Young, a freshly minted RWA. Hamish is an intriguing contemporary artist who makes 2D and 3D work using everyday materials and found objects.

I’ll be supporting Black Nore lighthouse again this year which is accessible via my garden. I’ll be making a contribution to support Black Nore lighthouse from each of my paintings sold. Tea and Cake has kept it going for the last five years so it’ll be great to help in some way to keep it looking smart and insured.

That’s not all, if I am still standing there’s a chaser of the Portishead Arts festival, 25th & 26th September. I’ll be exhibiting with many other local artists at Somerset hall in the centre of Portishead.

The frazzled husk that remains of me will be running the Andrew James portrait class in October. It’s always a great combination of enjoyment and education, if you’ve experience of portraits and oil paints then come and stretch yourself with one the best portrait artists working in the UK today. There are 2 three day courses 18-20 Oct and 21-23 Oct. Full details are on the course page.

Curzon Cinema fundraiser and RWA Open

Posted on November 24, 2019 by ianpriceart

The Curzon Cinema is one of my favourite places to visit so it’s been great to be invited to help raise funds for repairs by painting a roof tile for auction. There are some amazing works already up on the Art in the Tiles page including several from the Aardman studio who are great supporters of the Curzon.

I think I’m right in saying it’s the world’s oldest continuously running cinema having opened in 1912, every visit is an event.

One of my most memorable Curzon memories a few years back was broadening my young kids mind by taking them to see a silent film screening complete with live organ accompaniment. What a change from all those Hollywood kids films I thought. I knew that Nosferatu was a classic “vampyre” film and hadn’t seen it before myself, as the story unfolded I grew increasingly uneasy about my idea. The level of tension and terror exceeded my expectations of what a 1920’s silent film could manage, my squirming grew as a lynch mob chased Nosferatu along the dark city streets. I won’t spoil the plot but my kids did survive the experience. Hence the dark theme of my tile.

The Art on the Tiles auction will take place on eBay, starting on Sunday 1 December and finishing on Sunday 8 December. I’ll be dropping off my tile there tonight when I go there to see Monos very shortly [edit. Crikey Monos was intense but a must see and the soundscape was unique].

The RWA Open Exhibition is always a joy and that’s coming to a close on the 1st of December. It’s particularly colourful this year and I’m lucky enough to have my portrait of Andrew Hardwick RWA hanging in a great spot near the entrance in the same space as some of his paintings. Get along while you still can.

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the galleries on my website.

Thanks,

Ian

£480.65 raised for Black Nore Lighthouse during N. Som. Artweek

Posted on May 13, 2019 by ianpriceart

The sun has set on North Somerset Arts week, Ruth, Brian, Nibs and I would like to thank all of our fantastic visitors for the great feedback, encouragement and purchases. We all sold something in the first hour and a half which blew away the nerves.

Congratulations on your generosity and appetite; cake, tea, card sales and donations raised a massive £480.65 for Black Nore Lighthouse charitable trust.

Thanks to Bill Shier for his amazing efforts taking people up and down the lighthouse both weekends and for being the person that saved it from being scrapped.

Thank you all!!!

Open Studio weekends coming up in May

Posted on April 17, 2019 by ianpriceart

I’ll be opening my studio for North Somerset arts week again 11.00am to 6.00pm over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (including BH Monday) and the following weekend, 4th, 5th, 6th and 11th and 12th of May. If you can’t make these dates and are local we’ll be opening up on Weds evening 8th May 5.30 to 8.00pm.

This time I’ll be sharing the venue with incredibly talented local printmaker Ruth Ander. Ruth layers unique prints on Japanese paper, she’ll be presenting a range of work including new work evoking the estuary location.

Hopefully there is something for everyone to enjoy, come along to browse, chat, listen, eat, drink or explore…

As in previous year’s Black Nore lighthouse will be open for visitors to climb inside during the afternoon while I’m open. This is accessible via the garden and I’ll be selling tea and cakes in support of its upkeep.

I’ll have a large number of new plein air oil paintings of the local area and from further afield on show for the first time as well as new studio paintings, apologies for not sharing more on the blog recently. Much of my new work is exploring the fast changing light at dawn and dusk.
I’ll also be showing some examples of my portraiture and life class work.

Also I’ll have Raku pottery by Brian and “Nibs” Fowler at the venue, they’ll be exhibiting a range of vessels, bowls and figures that show this exciting medium off to the maximum. If you’ve never seen the Raku process before it’s fiery and unpredictable, there will be a couple of Raku burnings in the garden on the final Sunday when you’ll have an opportunity to scrub off the carbon yourself and reveal what the process has created.

Finally I’ll be showcasing some estuary soundscapes by a local producer Dave Howell to add to the atmosphere. When that’s not on I’ll be playing a bit of vinyl on my turntable, or LPs if you are my age.

So something for everyone, hope to see you there.

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the galleries on my website.

Thanks,

Ian

Clifton Exhibition closes and Clevedon opens

Posted on August 16, 2018 by ianpriceart

If you are in the Bristol area then you can catch my work in a couple of places.

I’ve got five pieces at the Clifton Arts Club open exhibition which closes this weekend 19th August. You can catch both of my Clifton in the snow Beast From the East paintings. I painted back at Easter along with a couple of warmer Cornish seascapes.

I’ve submitted work into the Clevedon Open Exhibition which has a private view to kick it off tomorrow night (Friday 17th August). Hopefully I’ll have got some more landscapes in there too! (Including a snowy Portishead one).

Get along and take a look, especially if you like looking at snow in the middle of Summer!!! Clifton closes Sunday at 1:30pm, so hurry. Clevedon runs until the 27th of August.

Almost forgot to mention more exciting news. I’ve been selected as Mr April in the Bristol Impressions Calendar. I’m really chuffed about this having had one on my wall most years since tentatively starting to paint. So I was really pleased when the team there selected me to join their elite ranks. Thanks!

Black Nore in the Snow

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart for more recent news or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

Where are you going to go this weekend?

Posted on June 8, 2018 by ianpriceart

This weekend (9th and 10th of June) I’m at the BS9 and the inaugural Portishead Around the House art trails at the same time!

Just likes buses that all come at once but the Portishead painting bus takes you around Portishead and it’s estuarine environs while the BS9 one takes you around Clifton and on into Cornwall. Where are you going to go this weekend?

Venue 10 at the BS9 Arts Trail is Elmlea school in Henleaze, BS9 3UF. It’s a great venue in the centre of the trail in Henleaze and full of Bristol talent.

Venue 8 at the Portishead Around the Houses Art trail is at 20 Woodhill Road (not my own NSA venue). I’m exhibiting with some fabulous local artists so it’s well worth a visit.

If you want to come and say hi I’m afraid you’ll have to come to BS9 in Bristol as I’m the venue organiser.

Some surprising recent news, I took part in the UK’s first ever ArtBattle. The challenge is to paint something in 20 minutes and the audience votes, there’s a final round and a winner is announced. The winner goes on to further regional heats and there’s a national and even a world champion! My family were mortified that I was going to compete with graffiti artists and worst still the venue was a nightclub frequented by my kids – the shame of it. To cut a long story short and to embarrass everyone further I won it.

It was really good fun and there’s another Bristol round next month, also a Facebook event. Why not give it a go or go and have a look? There’s some film of it somewhere you might be able to find on YouTube.

Over the hump in 2018

Posted on April 10, 2018 by ianpriceart

This morning I got set up for the NSA #65 show in Nailsea, this evening I looked around the venue for the BS9 art trail at Elmlea school and lunchtime I found out I’ve had a painting selected for the New English Art Club for the first time EVER.

Come and celebrate the post hump 2018 with me at the private view of the NSA exhibition #65 on Friday (13th April). Ignore the fact it’s Friday the 13th and get out from under your duvet, it’s all downhill from here, see you there.

My wall at the NSA #65 show

I’m particularly excited about finally getting a piece into the NEAC show at the Mall Galleries. One of the first “proper” artist’s I met was the marvellous Dawn Sidoli NEAC RWA who has always been overwhelmingly supportive of my efforts over quite a large number of years of no NEAC luck, so I’m relieved to feel I’ve rewarded her faith.

To quote from the press release, ahem…

“Work by a local artist has been selected from over 1,600 entries to appear alongside paintings by some of Britain’s leading figurative artists. The New English Art Club’s annual exhibition is on display at Mall Galleries in central London between 15 and 23 June 2018.

Continuing to build on its tradition of painting and drawing from observation, the New English is a vibrant and diverse group of visual artists whose work is highly collectible and widely admired.

Its Annual Exhibition is a showcase for members and gives aspiring artists an opportunity to exhibit alongside some of the best figurative artists working today in painting, drawing and printmaking.

Many diverse styles of art have developed since its founding in 1886, adding richness and variety. The New English aims to foster excellence in all its activities and continues to assist and encourage the art of painting to develop even more expressive possibilities.”

Some of the “richness and variety” in my selected work was added by it being blown off the easel and rolling down the slope leaving all sorts of exciting vertical marks which I embraced.

The show in Bath is still on until Mid-May, get along if you can, it’s a cracker.

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart for more recent news or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

On view in Clifton, Bath Society of Artists and the Mall Galleries this weekend

Posted on March 22, 2018 by ianpriceart

A good week, when I got back from the private view of the Royal Society of British Artists I checked my email and found I’d had a painting selected for the Bath Society of Artists exhibition. I’d also braved the snow last weekend for the “meet the artists” at the Clifton Arts Club Exhibition at the Clifton Suspension Bridge visitor centre. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to paint some more snow so I drew in the punters by painting the snowy gorge.

So I’ve got work in three diverse, exciting venues currently.

The RBA private view was rammed and it was a pleasure to meet some new plein air painters I’d not had the chance to talk to before, Neil Pitcher, Karl Terry and others. It runs at the Mall Galleries in London until the 31st of March.

Some paintings from #beastfromtheeast2 at Clifton Suspension Bridge. The “views of the South West” exhibition at the bridge visitor centre runs until the 25th of March (open 10-5).

And a few chilly paintings of the Portishead coast from #beastfromtheeast1 a few weeks ago.

Beast from the East 1

The Bath Society of Artists is a prestigious regional exhibition and I’m delighted to be selected after not having the opportunity to submit last year. My recent painting of Botallack which was painted on the spot got selected. The exhibition is at the beautiful Victoria Art Gallery in the centre of Bath and runs until the 12th of May (check out the excellent permanent collection upstairs too).

Bottalack

You’ll also have a chance to see my work more locally in April at the North Somerset Arts pop up shop in Nailsea. 11-22nd April, 65 High Street, Nailsea, BS48 1AW.

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart for more recent news or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

March at the Mall Galleries

Posted on March 2, 2018 by ianpriceart

I am one of 83 artists from across the UK shortlisted for the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2018, the UK’s leading competition for British contemporary representational painting and drawing. Having made the shortlist my work will be exhibited at London’s Mall Galleries from 5–17 March. 1,144 artists entered this year’s competition – the highest number in the prize’s 13-year history.

Not only that but I’ve also been selected for the subsequent exhibition at the Mall, the Royal Society of British Artists.

The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of skill, concept and draughtsmanship in painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing and runs from 21-31 March 2018

The RBA works including my painting are now available to browse online at the Mall Galleries website.

It’s always exciting to be selected for the Mall exhibitions, I’ve not submitted to either show before so it’s particularly encouraging to be part of these successive and prestigious shows.

Both are works that are representative of the way I work and the local area of Portishead. A cargo ship sailing to Avonmouth docks Wallenius Wilhelmsen, exhibited at the LPS (header image above) and the sun glinting through the lens of Black Nore Lighthouse, Borrowed Light exhibited at the RBA.

Borrowed Light, Black Nore – exhibited with the RBA

If you are in London take a look but otherwise come and see my work more locally in April at the North Somerset Arts pop up shop in Nailsea. 11-22nd April, 65 High Street, Nailsea, BS48 1AW.

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart for more recent news or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

Thanks for your support in 2017

Posted on December 31, 2017 by ianpriceart

Thanks for a great 2017, hopefully plenty more to come in 2018 for us all.

Here’s my best 9 from Instagram #2017best nine

And my unofficial best 9 from 2017 that didn’t make the cut.

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart for more recent news or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

Lido Cafe Exhibition Opens Friday

Posted on November 23, 2017 by ianpriceart

After a successful outing at the Cambridge Art Fair I’ll be showing work at the Portishead Lido Cafe this weekend. It opens on Friday 24th and will be open until 9.00pm, there’s a bar!

Here’s some recent work all of which will be hanging in the Lido. Come along and say Hi, I’ll be there all weekend.

Some familiar Portishead scenes like the banner above.

Some from further afield, Cornwall.

Some very local, Clapton Moor.

Opportunities to see my paintings near and far

Posted on November 6, 2017 by ianpriceart

Well relatively far anyhow. Some of my work will be showing with Farmer Fine Arts at the Cambridge art fair this coming weekend. Andrew Farmer is a fine and ridiculously prolific painter himself and he invited me to exhibit with his gallery along with some real up and coming painting talent. Take a look at his site and even better if you can make to that part of the country take a look at the fair. Look out especially for Tom Stevenson and Maria Rose who are ones to watch for the future. I really ought to get some painting swaps sorted while I still can!

As well as some larger work I’ve packaged up some of my life class studies for the fair too.

HJ Ink and Brush

Closer to home I’ll be exhibiting with the Portishead Arts painters at the Portishead Lido Cafe again at the end of this month.

I’ll be showing some dinky little ship paintings that I’ve enjoyed creating over the last few weeks along with some recent plein air painting work fresh off the easel, yesterday in fact. I’m really enjoying this low winter sun.

P.s. if anyone has the Sky Arts channel then you might be able to spot me in the background of the recent episode of Landscape Artist of the Year. It was on last week but it should be on catch up. I’ve not seen it but I’ve seen some shared screen shots. I’m the one wearing an apron that looks like it’s been involved in some kind of dirty protest.

I was one of 50 wildcard entries painting Worm’s Head on the Gower, this was in addition to the 6 artists selected for that heat. It was a really enjoyable experience being in a group of artists who were all excited to be there. It was great to meet so many artists face to face and I hope our paths will keep on crossing. As a bonus we were able to park up the campervan in the crew field which had a spectacular view of Worm’s Head.

It was really interesting to see the programme being made and it was great to meet *spoiler alert* the heat winner Alice Boggis-Rolfe Art who I’ve followed on social media for a few years and knew my work too. But even better I got to speak to and shake the hand of Tai-Shen Schierenberg, one of the judges, I love his work. Unfortunately my painting didn’t work out so well, my foreground turned to non drying gravy, I painted over some of the brown mess when I got home, too late for the programme though. There’s always next year…

Worm’s Head, with repainted foreground!

The application process is open for next year already if you fancy giving it a go. I can really recommend it if you are able to make any of the heat locations.

RWA Open Exhibition and back to Cornwall

Posted on October 2, 2017 by ianpriceart

I’m really pleased to shared that I have a painting exhibited in the RWA Open Exhibition which opened last weekend. It’s the most prestigious open exhibition in the region and I felt very privileged to have attended the varnishing lunch on Saturday. So many fantastic paintings on show, really exciting but with a a good chance of the artist being in the room and not knowing what they look it was a bit frustrating, badges of the paintings pinned to the artists next year! The exhibition runs until the 3rd of December.

Painted from the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Varnishing lunch speeches

My painting hanging gooseberry like between plein air supremo Tom Hughes and his partner Serena Curmi

I’ve also had a recent trip to Cornwall doing some more plein air painting, enjoying some turps dribbles in the sunshine.

Fave painting spot again

Cape Cornwall detail

Nanjizal Cove

Nanjizal arch

Dusk Cape Cornwal

In contrast to the turps dribbles I also did some palette knife painting with Newlyn School of Art while I was down there, watch this space for more local palette knife work over the Winter, if my future experiments succeed.

Rock Flows at Cape Cornwall

Cape Cornwall Coastguard Station

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart for more recent news or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

Marina Painting this Weekend (5-6th Aug) and my Summer Painting Tour of Britain

Posted on August 3, 2017 by ianpriceart

This weekend I’m really excited to be taking part in the Marina Arts Trial in Portishead, I’ve had a small part in organising it along with the other Portishead Arts people and will be doing a demo on Saturday, wish me luck. Saturday is all about people coming along and joining in to do something arty. We’ll be supplying acrylic paint, boards and brushes, there’ll also be felting workshops and a pastel demo by Michelle Lucking. We’ll be hanging all the work around the Marina ready for Sunday which will be a day of celebration and relaxation for me as I won’t have to do a demo. I’m really looking forward to Paris, a renowned graffiti artist, painting a 25 foot yacht! I might do a painting of him painting. There’ll also be some skateboard trickery, the whole weekend is also raising money for youth projects in Portishead, you can pledge to buy one of the created art works online here, get in quick to bag a bargain, there are a limited number left.

Here’s a Marina painting from June.

Sunset catching Marina

Apologies for it being such a long time since the last post. I’ve been doing plenty of outdoor air painting all around the country, I only realised how much while writing this.

I had a quick trip in June to Lyme Regis on the South coast to paint with the very talented painters Maria Rose and Tom Stevenson.

Pink Flamingo, Lyme Regis

I’ve long heard about the Buxton Spa Prize competition and this year I had an opportunity to take part. I spent a warm, sunny day painting outside in the most gorgeous market town. The visit coincided with a farmers market that kept me well fed for the next few days too.

Buxton

I spent a weekend at Priddy folk festival at the start of July, a chance to paint and sketch some performers as well as the crowds.

Tom McConville

Bouncy Slide Priddy

I went from there to a one day course with artist Richard Pikesley NEAC and by contrast painted some arable farm scenes in Wiltshire and picked up some tips too, mostly look harder!

Farmyard and Barley

I then had an opportunity to paint on the Gower with a load of other artists. The weather was so changeable I was oblivious to a red sunburnt neck until it was too late, the drizzle was deceptive. Apparently it’s not enough to have sun-tan lotion in your bag at your feet, you need to put it on your skin.

Worm’s Head, Gower

Last weekend I took part in Pintar Rapido, Europe’s largest outdoor painting event that runs annually in the Chelsea area of London. I did a little painting of the Albert Bridge in Chelsea on the day before that I was pleased with despite having left my turps at home.

Albert Bridge Chelsea

The prize ceremony on Sunday was a great opportunity to meet up with artists that I’ve previously only known through social media, one of whom Adam Ralston I’ve admired for a long while and I was very pleased when he was announced as the ultimate winner. Congratulations Adam.

More painting trips are coming up, look out for a bit of Cornwall followed by a bit more Wales. I can’t wait and I hope to see some of you this weekend.

Also don’t forget the Clevedon Art Club Open exhibition which opens and I’ll hopefully get some work selected for, perhaps some of these.

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

Say Hello BS9 arts trail, Wave Goodbye N. Somerset Arts Week.

Posted on May 31, 2017 by ianpriceart

A lot of news to catch up on…

My open studio at North Somerset Arts week was a great success and was capped off by a Ceramics Raku firing by Brian and Nibs Fowler on the lawn on the final sunny Sunday afternoon. As well as being great fun it raised money by selling little Raku ceramics in aid of Black Nore Lighthouse. Thanks to you all also for your card purchases and tea and cake consumption, in particular the huge amount of sponge consumed on the previous Sunday, which help boost the overall amount raised to £400, nearly double the amount raised in previous years and thank you Lois Pryce too for her support and paintings.

After Arts week I dropped off work at Clevedon Pier and am pleased to share that I got a commended in the painting category of the Clevedon Pier Community Competition and my work is on show in the Porthole room at the pier until the 4th of June. It’s a beautiful venue and the school category work on show is tremendous including a portrait by Zoe the granddaughter of Brian the raku potter, what a talented family. The winner in the Photography section by Mike Kleinsteuber really pushes the boundaries too.

School category, Zoe’s top.

THE porthole

The PV was a beautiful evening

My little one and the Photographic winner by Mike Kleinsteuber.

I’m still rearranging the house following the upheaval of having three rooms of paintings and ceramics and my lawn has not yet recovered from the kiln scorching but no time to rest there’s another art trial coming up. The BS9 arts trail covers Stoke Bishop, Westbury and Henleaze.

I’m really excited to see how this goes as it will be my first time in a Bristol Arts Trail and the venue is allowing me 5 metres of space in a hall with 11 other artists so I should get a chance to meet lots of people and get to know the other artists in the hall.

I’ll be at Elmlea school (venue 5) which is in the middle of the trail; a great spot. If you didn’t get a chance to see my work in Portishead then try and call past and say hello.

Ian

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

Final weekend of my Open Studio

Posted on May 5, 2017 by ianpriceart

Don’t forget it’s the final weekend of my open studio.

I’ll be open from 11 to 6 on Sat 6th and Sun 7th.

I’ve got this pair back for it.

It’s been a pleasure having the work of Lois Pryce in my dining room all week and spending time with it.

Paintings by Lois Pryce (close up)

Finally don’t forget the beautiful ceramics of Brian Fowler. There will even be a Raku firing demonstration on Sunday afternoon.

You’ll be able to watch the process and scrub the carbon off to find the beauty underneath.

Brian Fowler ceramics

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ianpriceart

My Open Studio Weekends in Portishead

Posted on April 18, 2017 by ianpriceart

I’ll be opening my studio for North Somerset arts week again 11.00am to 6.00pm over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (including BH Monday) and the following weekend, 29, 30 April, 1,6,7 May.

Hopefully there is something for everyone to enjoy, come along to browse, chat, listen, eat, drink or explore…

I’ll have many new plein air oil paintings of the local area and from further afield on show for the first time as well as a new studio paintings. Much of my new work is exploring the fast changing light at dawn and dusk.
I’ll also be showing some examples of my portraiture including a painting of my son that was recently preselected for the Royal Portrait Society show.

Last Light, Black Nore

Lois Pryce (no relation) will be exhibiting with me for the first time. Lois paints local scenes, still lives and life studies in a bold expressive style that I hope you will enjoy.

Also I’ll have Raku pottery by Brian and “Nibs” Fowler, they’ll be exhibiting a range of vessels, bowls and figures that show this exciting medium off to the maximum. If you’ve never seen the Raku process before it’s fiery and unpredictable, there will be a couple of Raku burnings in the garden on the final Sunday when you’ll have an opportunity to scrub off the carbon yourself and reveal what the process has created.

Raku Pot, Brian Fowler

Avonmouth, Lois Pryce

So something for everyone, hope to see you there.

Thanks

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the updated galleries on my website.

Clifton Suspension Bridge and More

Posted on March 30, 2017 by ianpriceart

I’m exhibiting work at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre with Clifton Arts Club, it’s a great space and it runs until Sunday the 1st of April. I’ll be there Sunday afternoon if you want to say hi, it’s open from 10 to 5pm and is free.

Winter Mizzle, Suspension Bridge

Za Za Bazaar

It’s been a while since I’ve posted but I have been out painting over the Winter and to prove it I’ve just updated my Landscape gallery, take a look here. I’ve also broken it down by area, Wales, West etc. Any comments welcome, I’ll be updating the lifeless and portrait galleries in the next few days too.

I’ve got lots of new work to show at the North Somerset Arts week which is coming up in the next month. The paper brochure is already out and it should be downloadable from the NSA site shortly. I am exhibiting from my home “studio” in Portishead again on the Sat 29th, 30th April, 1st May (Bank how Monday) and the following weekend 6th, 7th May. I’m easy to find as I’m last in the brochure! I’ll be exhibiting with painter Lois Pryce and Brian Fowler who creates beautiful raku and pit fired pottery, More news on this shortly.

Thanks

Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and on Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart.

Selected for ING Discerning Eye for Third Year

Posted on November 14, 2016 by ianpriceart

I’m very proud to share that I’ve had a painting selected for the ING Discerning Eye exhibition in London for the third year in succession. My selected work is an oil painting of a peat black ploughed field from a weekend on the Somerset Levels in the Spring.

The Discerning Eye annual exhibition is a show of small works independently selected by six prominent figures from different areas of the art world: two artists, two collectors and two critics. This gives the impression of six individually curated exhibitions with separate personalities. They always have a “celebrity” collector, this year it is Celia Imrie. It’s alway interesting to see who has picked your work and how it fits in on their wall.

It was originally supported by the late Brian Sewell who thought that small works were often overlooked in the art market.

Here is this years work along with my previous submissions and private view photos. (Note to self, work harder to avoid appalling glare in photos!)

Ploughed Peat

Private View

Spot the red dot

Have We Enjoyed Ourselves Enough Yet, 10 x 12 inches (ING Discerning Eye and RWA Open selected, Clevedon Selector’s choice).

Porthcawl Lifeguard Lookout

Click the links for the posts about the 2015 and 2014 exhibitions.

It’s well worth a visit if you are in London but if you can’t make it then don’t forget that you can see my work at the Portishead Lido cafe again in a few weeks from the 25-27th of November. I’ll be exhibiting again with the Portishead Arts group.

The 2016 Discerning Eye Exhibition will be open from Thursday 17 November until Sunday 27 November, between 10am and 5pm daily, at the Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1, just to be clear that I’m not talking about a Bristol shopping centre. Admission will be free and all the works will be for sale.

Another Lido show last weekend of November

Posted on October 31, 2016 by ianpriceart

Thanks for all your support during the last Lido show.

I can reveal that the Portishead Arts group are running another pop up show at the Portishead Lido cafe for three days in November , Friday 25th, Sat 26th and Sun 27th, 10am – 5.30pm, with a late night opening with a bar on the Friday until 9pm.

Take a look at the Portishead Arts group website for more details of the other artists taking part.

I’ll be displaying a wider range of work than last time including some work from Cornwall and the Peak District so if you didn’t make it last time or want to see some paintings from further afield come along.

Here’s a little plein air (well inside the cafe) painting I completed during an afternoon cake induced lull. If you look closely you’ll see it’s a drier, more blocky technique than usual. This was mainly due to it being solvent free to allow the visitors to enjoy their triple decker coffee and walnut sponge without being in a turps haze. I’ll take low odour solvents next time!

Portishead Lido show up and running

Posted on September 23, 2016 by ianpriceart

Not a bad commute* to work today. I’m stewarding at the PortisheadLido for the Portishead Arts pop up gallery. I’m here today and next Friday. Come and say Hi.

*walk

Group Show at the Lido Cafe in Portishead & more

Posted on September 17, 2016 by ianpriceart

I’m excited to be taking part in the inaugural show of a new groups of artists and painters in Portishead that go under the banner Portishead Arts. We have a
website where you can find details of the other artists involved.

There’ll be a great range of work on show including painting, photography, jewellery and illustration so come along and enjoy a slice of cake and perhaps even have a dip in the Lido.

The show will be on for over a week from Thurs 22nd to Friday 30th of September the lido is open 9.30 to 6.30 every day (later on Monday mornings I think), I’m planning on stewarding on both the Fridays, I might take my painting kit along to paint the estuary in any quiet periods, so come and say hello.

For this show I’m focussing on local scenes, pretty much all painted within a mile of the Lido. My painting of the lido is the top right image on the flyer above.

Here’s a recent one painted after a last minute decision to walk down and catch the last light at Black Nore lighthouse. I’m so pleased I did, once again I was painting over a failed painting so it was doubly therapeutic, I’m so lucky to have this on my doorstep.

Last Light Black Nore 10 x 12 inches

As well as these outdoor paintings I’ll have a couple of larger works that were painted back in the studio, such as Winter Wave.

Ian Price Winter Wave 24 x 24 inches

The Autumn is always an exciting period with so many shows on, I’m lucky enough to have had a painting selected for the ING Discerning Eye exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London which is coming up in November. More news in the next post!

I hope to see you at the show. Don’t forget you can also follow me on twitter and now Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook.

In Bristol, Clevedon and Wells this month…

Posted on August 19, 2016 by ianpriceart

I’m in three places at once currently.

You’ve got until Sunday the 21st of August to catch my six works at the Clifton Arts Club exhibition, sorry for not posting earlier (hols). This exhibition holds a soft spot for me as I won their Prize of Excellence last year and this year was very pleased to receive a Selector’s Choice from Malcolm Ashman RWA.

Dusk, Battery Point – a selector’s choice at Clifton

I’ve got four paintings on show at the Clevedon Art Club Open exhibition. Their sixtieth anniversary exhibition will be held in the Science Atrium of Clevedon School from Saturday August 20 to Monday August 29 2016. Daily from 10.30am – 6.00pm. Sundays 2.00pm – 6.00pm.

Red Barn, at Clevedon Open

My painting Red Barn (above) was selected for the A2 open but not hung, so I’m glad to say it’s been selected for the Clevedon Open.

I’m still exhibiting in the A2 gallery in Wells for the rest of August, there’s more info in my last post. Here’s one of my paintings on show which was based another smaller painting I made following a long walk up there.

Quantocks Copse 2, at A2 Gallery

You can also keep up to date with my work on twitter @ianpriceart, instagram @ianpriceart and also Facebook as ianpriceart

Somerset Levels

Posted on August 3, 2016 by ianpriceart

I expanded my horizons into the Somerset Levels (and the Quantocks) during the spring. I’m very pleased to say that you’ll be able to see some of my efforts in the A2 Gallery in Wells during August.

I’ve had three paintings accepted for their summer show running 4th to the 31st August 2016

A2’s biennial open submission exhibition shows work from national and international artists practising contemporary and conceptual art and mine.

Here’s a detail from one of my entries.

Everything has gone green

Posted on June 11, 2016 by ianpriceart

I’ve previously favoured a muted palette so at this time of year with all this lush, verdant growth wherever you look I feel a bit intimidated.

My theory is that evolutionarily we are programmed to discern differences in the many shades of green to help guide our ancestors to sources of food and water. Also green in Spring is especially acid. How many works of art can you think of that accommodate the true strength of these greens? It’s very easy to foul up a painting that includes green.

Many artists today (myself included) and throughout history have worked around this by downplaying the true strength of green to ensure a harmonious picture. Even Constable browned down his greens.

Gone Fishing, Usk Reservoir

Gone fishing. Avoiding green at Usk reservoir in the Brecon Beacons.

I decided to try to focus on this weakness, tackle it head on and paint more green, more strongly.

I sought some advice from artists about how they made such strong and believable greens. Mix your own greens from warm and cool blues and yellows, avoid viridian, practice with sap and hookers green and use premixed light green moderated with earth colours came the conflicting advice.

Here are more of my recent plain air paintings, my main finding is that the right green can be arrived at by many different routes but the important thing is to maintain the true variety of greens across the painting by careful observation. Sadly its easier said than done, I’ve not found a silver bullet and more practice needed.

There’s no better way to practice your greens than to paint outside at this time of year.

Liberty Leading the Trees

Usk Reservoir

A bit more green, Liberty leading the trees, also at Usk reservoir.
I also had a green disaster at Carreg Cennen castle. Total rework needed, no image to protect your eyeballs!

Friesans, Catcott

An improvement, Friesans on the Somerset levels. Also some camera glare, may crop this one.

Castleton Castle, 24×12

Castleton Highpoint, 12×8

Dark Morning, Hope Valley

Some views around the Hope Valley in the Peak District including Castleton castle. There’s plenty of variation in green between these paintings but plenty more to do.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this. You an also follow me on twitter and now Instagram @ianpriceart

Currently Exhibiting in Bristol and Bath

Posted on April 27, 2016 by ianpriceart

I had a great evening at the private view of the Bath Society of Artists open exhibition at the Victoria art gallery on Friday.

I was great so see so many familiar faces in the throng as well as meeting some artists for the first time. I was lucky enough to have had my painting “Sunrise over Perranuthnoe” selected, I wrote about it in my last post, describing how I painted it before breakfast on my last trip to Cornwall. If you get a chance make a day of it by going to the Impressionists exhibition at the Holburne on the same day. (Also enjoyed the work of Kristan Baggaley and Ellen Watson Voyage exhibition at Bath Contemporary but it’s only on until 2nd May)

‘Sunrise over Perranuthnoe” (centre above red dot) and friends

I’m also exhibiting with Clifton Arts Club at the Steak of the Art restaurant on Bristol’s harbourside. These are also paintings from Cornwall.

This is another pre-breakfast dawn painting that I talked about in my last post.

Brisons at Dawn

Kernel Viridian

I called this one “Kernow Viridian” which I appreciate makes it sound like a racehorse but I thought it fitted. It’s one of the more abstract ones I made and includes wax medium, stand oil and lots of rolling and scraping, fun to make.

Close up of “Kernow Viridian”

Not such fun to make was the frames but I was pleased with the outcomes, I’m beginning to get the knack for doing it in a straightforward way that looks professional (enough!).

All exhibitions are running into June so you’ve plenty of time to get along.

Some images from the Impressionists exhibition at the Holborn, George Clausen and Berthe Morisot

To Hail and Back, a painting trip to Cornwall

Posted on March 15, 2016 by ianpriceart

Much to the frustration of my long suffering wife, I only get up early on holiday. This wasn’t hard the first morning of my trip as I’d pulled the van over in a lay-by on the A30 near Penzance sometime after midnight, after a fitful night woke to the sound of manoeuvring juggernauts. I was in Cornwall for an indoor course at Newlyn following on from an outdoor painting course last year. I’d decided to top and tail it with a few days of painting on the coast.

I was near to St Michael’s Mount so I turned onto the Marazion road, squinting into the dawn, seeing glimpses of the mount to my right. I pulled in at Perranuthnoe which I thought might be a likely painting spot, gathered my things and set off. Along the path I realised what a stunning dawn I was missing behind me so decided to turn my back on the mount.

Dawn over Perranuthnoe

I used a pink board and the painting session stopped abruptly when I had my first hail shower of the weekend. I have to thank the hail for causing more of the pink ground to show through, I think this sketchiness improves it.

The shower passed and I moved on to the Mount, I used a smaller board expecting the showers to return and wasn’t disappointed, they did. One feature of hailstones is that they land in your thinners and you don’t notice until you find a large globule of water lurking at the bottom.

Back at the van I had a late breakfast and coffee in some satisfaction having completed two paintings. I drove across the Cornish peninsula to the North coast and headed towards Pendeen. It was on the schedule last year but was too foggy to use; I was keen to see what I’d missed. Pendeen lighthouse was a spectacular but very exposed spot but I found a little nook with enough shelter from the fierce wind.

Towards Levant from Pendeen

Completed Painting

Detail

I used a larger board, 1ft by 2ft, and thought the view along the coast would work on this elongated format. I wasn’t quite sure if the weather was going to hold so I was as free and splashy as a I could with the initial dark painting hoping that much of it could stay to add interest and save time. I’ve included a close-up showing the thinners giving a rocky effect towards the bottom. Once again the hail struck but I was able to retreat to the van to block in the sea and sky before returning to the cliff to capture the frothiness and patterns of the waves.

The next day I moved to Porth Nanven facing The Brisons, it was wonderfully sheltered from the wind. The dawn was a beautiful peachy orange as I attempted to capture it.

The Brisons

At Porth Nanven

The effect was fleeting and I realised in the process that I ought to be prioritising painting the more transient bits at the outset and not painting the rocks! I’m happily still learning.

Next was breakfast and off to Newlyn for an abstracts in oils course I’d booked myself on. My gloopy efforts from the course are still dripping and un-photographable but I may share them at some point.

After the course I ended up at Carn Groose near St Just which has panoramic views of the North coast. Once again a pre-breakfast dawn painting, this time looking back over St Just and a mine chimney.

Dawn over St Just

I tried to grab the dawn much more quickly in this one, hence the heavier brushwork.

After some food I settled down on the headland at Carn Groose, looking towards Land’s End, a favourite painting spot from last year.

Porth Nanven and Land’s End

Detail

In situ Carn Groose

I really wiped, scraped and splatted the surface on this one, I’ve included a close-up.The board was only 1 foot square, I think I would have benefitted from a larger canvas for this session and got even looser.

I was prepared for more hail but I ended up worrying about having not packed sun cream and sat next to a very large pile of my discarded coats and jumpers. The only disappointment of the day was afterwards when talking to some people who had been sat above me. They had been watching humpback whales (now long gone) breeching on the horizon to the right Land’s End. I was oblivious. Next time.

A fun and educational experience all around, perhaps an annual one at the very least and am already looking forward to returning.

Mother and Welsh Dresser / Mam a’r Seld

Posted on February 7, 2016 by ianpriceart

I spent some of the Christmas break painting a portrait of my mother and have spent some more time tweaking since. Sadly she died last Summer after years of deteriorating health. Over the past five or so years I spent my time with her sketching and painting.

She is pictured in the bungalow she moved into after leaving the family home and is in front of the dresser holding the family china. She also has her fall alarm around her neck.

The sketch was ready many years ago! So I was relieved to make some time to start painting.

I dug out my precious lead white, I thought she deserved it. Also good evidence that all portraits go through an ugly phase. This was after the first painting session.

The second painting session showing an improvement and one discarded background.

Another of the many background iterations and showing one of the iPad images I used. This background framed her head too closely.

A close up showing the texture of the lead white paint and the way the gingham fabric was painted. I was pleased with the end result and the fabric was the least or my problems once I’d worked out how to approach it.

I’m relieved I’ve completed it as well as being pleased with the result. I’m not too upset that she didn’t get to see the finished, she did see many of the sketches and paintings over the years and she was really pleased when I gave her a painting of the cat she left behind at her family home.

I’ve another larger image sketched out, also from years ago. Hopefully that will get finished at some point.

Painting-wise something I found very useful during the process was taking a photo and making it black and white. The small size and the monochrome image really helped with identifying drawing and tonal problems, of which there were many.

2015 round up

Posted on December 31, 2015 by ianpriceart

I’m not a great fan of those round robin Christmas letters so I’m writing this with some trepidation. However 2015 has been a year of some progress so I thought it would be worth reminding you of news and any earlier posts you might want to look back on by clicking the links.

It was a year of two (unequal) halves a flurry of painting followed by a cycle of exhibiting.

I began the year by doing quite a bit of plein air painting and went on a course at Newlyn School Of Art with Paul Lewin. The course as well as being enjoyable was also an encouragement to loosen up with mixed media. With hindsight I haven’t taken this as far as I anticipated but it was certainly an inspiration to be looser when painting outside.

Ian Price Cape Cornwall from Carn Groose

Painting Land’s End

St Cuthbert’s Isle off Mousehole

This flurry of activity was mostly to get things to hang on the wall for North Somersets Arts Week. Once again it was great fun to have people coming through the house and I managed to raise £200 for Black Nore lighthouse by selling cards and Helen’s marvellous cakes.

The other main painting event of the year was the Andrew james portrait course which I’ve organised for a few years now and was a great success again fuelled by more of Helen’s cakes. I get a free course out of it and am still pretty pleased with my portrait of Viv.

Viv Portrait

Viv Detail with brush used.

I spent the rest of the year (well apart from life classes) punting these paintings around various juried exhibitions the highlights being the RWA in Bristol and the ING and rubbing shoulders with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters for the first time in London.

Dusk Tanker, exhibited at the RWA

I’m especially grateful to the judges of the Clifton Arts Club Open for awarding me the prize of excellence (which also doubled as my entry for the ROI).

Thanks to Trevor Haddrell RWA, Ione Parkin RWA and Ros Cuthbert RWA, what. a discerning trio.

People ask about my organisation and preparation but it all boiled down to this little scrap of paper I used for shepherding my meagre resources and time, so it’s all smoke and mirrors really. If you can read my handwriting you’ll see there are some misses among the hits so still plenty to aim for in 2016.

The Masterplan! (the only plan).

I mentioned not freeing up as much as I wanted and I am looking forward to a return trip to Newlyn for a course focussed squarely on abstract painting in March. I’m obviously hoping that 2016 will bring as much pleasure as 2015 but to be honest if it brings as much I’ll be surprised and very happy.

Thank you very much for taking an interest and I hope 2016 is a successful year for us all.

ROI and the Taylor Wessing Exhibitions

Posted on December 2, 2015 by ianpriceart

I feel so lucky to have got into the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and be back at the Mall Galleries so soon after the ING exhibition. I went to the private view yesterday and it felt very grown up.The ING was a real range of ages and styles, here at the ROI were serious, established oil painters, faces familiar from all those painting DVDs, painters of serious oil paintings, no playful modernism here.

It was a great chance to meet some Twitter acquaintances in real life too including Andrew Farmer who was the runner up for the W&N Young Artist prize, surely being young enough to be categorised as a young painter is reward enough?

The selected painting was the prizewinner from the Clifton Arts Club exhibition from the Summer. Here it is (and me) hanging out with (under) a Lachlan Goudie painting (off of the telly).

Here are a couple of paintings from the work on show that caught my eye by David Walker, Clive Burnell and Michael Ashcroft as well as work by Mo Teeuw which I didn’t snap, given the terrible photos below this is no bad thing.

David Walker, Caesura

Clive Burnell, Dartmoor

Michael John Ashcroft, Afternoon in March

It runs until the 13th of December 2015 and admission is £3. If you get a chance to go then do take advantage of the great location by visiting the National Galleries off Trafalgar Square as well. On a random wander I found a painter called Boltraffio near some humbling Moronis. The snap doesn’t do the quality of the modelling and colour justice.

Boltraffio at the National Gallery

Also go and visit the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery.

ppp2015_home4

Amongst the refugees and bleak locations this portrait “Norma” caught my eye, there as a counterbalance to the negative representation of older people in the media.

If you get a chance go and enjoy any or all of it.

Once Again Selected for ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London

Posted on November 13, 2015 by ianpriceart

I’m very excited to have had both my paintings selected for the exhibition at the Mall Galleries, on the Mall central London.

view of the throng

The ING Discerning Eye is a show of small works selected by prominent figures from the art world. Each selector is responsible for their own section giving the impression of six exhibitions in one.

Breaking Light Black Nore with Idiot

Porthcawl Lifeguard Lookout

my work (left) showing careful curation next to Sue Wales (BSoA)

The exhibition runs for the next two weeks.

way home showing (indian flag colours on London Eye)

Thanks for reading, do follow if you want to keep up to date with future news and paintings, or follow on Facebook or @ianpriceart on Twitter.

Another successful Portrait Course

Posted on November 8, 2015 by ianpriceart

Another couple of portrait courses done with Andrew James and smiles all around. Most importantly Andrew is looking forward to it again next year. If you’re interested register on the course page and I’ll let you know the timings when the venue schedule is available in the Spring.

This is now the fifth course I’ve attended (and organised) and I think progress is being made, portraiture is still the most maddening strand of art though.

Here’s a run through of what happened on the courses…

Course 1

We started off with some charcoal sketching followed by a quick demo by Andrew. Here’s his sketch.

Here’s my longer sketch, 1 hour I think.

Day 1 was completed with a monochrome oil painting. This was probably my least satisfying painting, I underpainted using a turpsy wash that didn’t dry before trying to apply the thicker paint on top.

Day 2 started with a demo oil painting by Andrew.

We spent some time sketching and working out compositions in charcoal before blocking in.

Here’s my work at the end of day 2.

I found the 3rd day frustrating, battling with likeness but ended up with this at the end of the course.

The following week I tweaked the portrait, very little time was spent and very little paint was applied but the tweaks brought out the likeness more by modelling the chin more simply. Oh and I tried Joanna in a fancy frame! (Excuse the carpet).

Here’s a shot of other people’s work in progress on day 3.

Course 2

I (and another attendee) were lucky enough to do two back to back courses complete with new models.

Here are my sketches from the first day.

As I’d done the monochrome painting earlier in the week, I did a limited palette exercise using the zorn palette (only red, yell ochre, black and white).

Again day 2 started with a demo. This time Andrew tried a more conventional planned approach instead of his usual magic. The results was a more prosaic portrait but as a bonus we saw the pain he went to to complete an eye, it wasn’t just bravura brush marks. He doesn’t seem this bald usually, apologies for the angle Andrew.

Here’s some of the student work in progress.

Here’s mine after the 3rd day

I’d used large brushes for the initial block in and tried to work with them for as long as possible. Andrew made a good point that the machined finish of the board isn’t as pleasing as a canvas would have been.

When I got home. I did some further tweaking to the eyes and lips which I think brought out the likeness and removed the unflattering and untrue goggle eyed effect.

I hope you found this interesting and if you feel up to the challenge next year let me know.

RWA Open Exhibition and the last chance in Clifton Village

Posted on October 2, 2015 by ianpriceart

It’s been a while, my last post was after I put my work up at the Mall Deli in Clifton Village, well this is the last weekend you can see them there. I’ll be taking them down during the week (Thursday 8th October). Many thanks to the staff there it’s been a pleasure to work with you.

I’m moving from one part of Clifton to another though because I’ve had a painting accepted at the prestigious RWA Open Exhibition. It’s open from the 4th of October until the 29th of November.

The accepted painting is Dusk Tanker.

I’ve done quite a few paintings of shipping over the years. I live on the Severn Estuary downstream from Avonmouth docks which is still a busy industrial port. With hindsight I like low or misty light which closes the tonal range between the ship, sea, land and sky and begins to shift the image towards an abstract composition. not a conscious decision but a pattern that’s emerged. Here are a few more.

Cloud and Containers, A5

I hope you have a great time if you go to either venue.

Currently exhibiting in…

Posted on August 22, 2015 by ianpriceart

I’m exhibiting in a couple of places at the moment, the Clevedon Art Club open exhibition and the Mall Deli in Clifton Village.

I’ve had four pictures accepted for the Clevedon open, all of local scenes. It’s at Clevedon secondary school, the Portishead end of Clevedon. It’s a great show and as eclectic as you’d expect. I was lucky enough to sell (at least) one painting at the private view. It was good to see the winners of some of the prizes on offer were club stalwarts too. The exhibition also features prizewinning work by Clevedon school art students from their art coursework.

Battery Point, six codling caught

Buoy Maintenance Vessel, Portishead (sold)

Also I’ll have twentyish paintings hanging on the luscious white wall of the Mall Deli in Clifton Village until the end of September.

I’m really pleased about this as it’s an uninterrupted wall (arts week venue had a couple of windows) and it gave me more presentation options. I think it looks pretty good given it was hung in an hour! So excuse any slight wonkiness; I might pop back. They are scenes of Portishead, Clevedon, Clifton and also some from Cornwall. Most are painted on the spot in oil paint. It’s a lovely smelling deli, sadly I was hanging after closing time, but thank you Oona for the leftover bread, it was great.

Mall Deli, Clifton Village

Update on Clifton Arts Club Open

Posted on July 9, 2015 by ianpriceart

I’m shocked to announce that I’ve won the main “Prize for Excellence” at the Clifton Arts Club open exhibition.

Ignoring this go and see the exhibition over the next two weeks. There’s some great stuff there and the venue is incredible.

redcliffe bay, portishead, sunny showers

I wasn’t trying to look smug, sorry

Trevor Haddrell RWA, Ione Parkin RWA and Ros Cuthbert RWA, what. a discerning trio

Sorry, I also got a critics choice for this. Thanks Ione.

Clifton Arts Club Open Exhibition

Posted on July 9, 2015 by ianpriceart

Clifton Arts Club open exhibition will be in the exciting Colston Hall vaults in Bristol this year. The show runs for 2 weeks (PV tonight) hopefully I’ll have plenty of seascapes on view. No great forethought but I realised after the event that I’d only put seascapes in! As usual it’s an eclectic mix of output from local artists in this very arty city. This year closer to the heart of it.

Ian Price Winter Wave 24 x 24 Inches

It’s a fantastic place to visit in any case as its a rare opportunity to see inside the vaults which seem to go on for ever and have built up an exciting patina on the walls over the decades, imagine a Bulgarian nuclear bunker.

Combine it with a trip to the RWA for the Newlyn show or Shaun the Sheep hunting!

Eira Price Sketches

Posted on June 25, 2015 by ianpriceart

Passed away in her sleep aged 88 years.

A willing model, some sketches from the last couple of years.

Oil

Charcoal

Sepia Pen

Impasto Oil

Art Challenge Wales Plein Air Portcawl

Posted on June 7, 2015 by ianpriceart

I took part in the inaugural Art Challenge Wales event in Porthcawl yesterday. It was really good fun and the weather was great after a gusty start. There are many artists who get distracted and upset by people that chat to them, my advice to them is don’t go near Porthcawl, I’ve never met a more open, friendly and chatty bunch of people. They were all very supportive and encouraging.

The challenge was to paint something that captured the spirit of Porthcawl in a day, so first thing I drove there to suss out good spots before taking a couple of canvases to the registration point to get stamped. It’s a bit like the Pintar Rapido event in London (that I’ve never been able to go to!).

It was a windy start to the day so I set up on the leeward side of an amusement arcade where I could capture some of the natural beauty of the bay and some colourful seaside atmosphere in the same frame. And not forgetting the wonky lamppost! I was also drawn to the dark shadow shapes on the left and bottom which supported the shape of the bay. I started sketching the composition on a light red primed 16 by 20 inch canvas and realised by pure fluke I could use sight size measurement which made the drawing and measuring of the structure of the painting much faster.

At this point I overheard a comment that they weren’t on keen on the colour I’d painted the sky, some other onlookers leapt to my defence to tell them I’d not started it yet, like I said everyone was very supportive.

The kiosk in the painting was owned by Myra (pictured and very smartly turned out) who came out of the amusement arcade behind me for a few chats as well as the offer of a cup of tea. With hindsight standing next to the entrance to an amusement arcade was bound to attract attention but in my defence it was closed when I started.

Here’s the finished painting, “Myra’s Kiosk”. I had used quick drying white and quick drying mediums to accelerate drying to allow the painting to be safely left for judging. However this made the paint on the canvas and on the palette tacky very quickly, I’ve got so used to moving the paint around and smearing it that I found it a bit more limiting than normal but I’m pleased with it overall. It’s preframed to allow it to be handled wet and you can see the masking tape covering the frame to keep it clean. I got this idea from the fantastic Roos Schuring Blog.

After taking the painting back to the car and having a bite to eat I contemplated what to paint on my other registered canvas. I hadn’t much time to roam around and I was admiring the abstract shape the lifeguard lookout made on the horizon so I thought why not?

This time I was backed right up against my car to avoid the wind but it didn’t put people off from coming up for a look and a chat, the best one being three burly likely lads from the North East who were very encouraging and after a while one said he took his watercolour kit wherever he went. Never judge a book by its cover.

Here’s the finished painting “Lifeguard Lookout”.

All of the paintings are online ready for a people’s choice vote (from Sun 7th evening) and announcement of the prize-winners later in the week. Ahem, did I mention there was a people’s choice vote?

It was a really great event made by the friendly organisers and locals. Thank you. Hopefully it’ll be back again next year with even more people so get practising.

Exhibiting in Bristol and Portishead

Posted on June 4, 2015 by ianpriceart

I’m pleased to say that I’ve had a couple of paintings selected for the New Visions V exhibition at the Grant Bradley Gallery

They’ve selected a variety of exciting work from the Bristol area and I feel very edgy being in such company! The preview evening is Friday the 5th of June do turn up if you’d like to meet a variety of local artists in various states of inebriation. They put on a good bash there. If you can’t make it or can’t remember having attended here’s the very professional Exhibition magazine that shows a piece by each of the artists.

I’ve also got 8ish paintings of local scenes hanging in Café Gosh at the top of the Portishead Marina for the month of June. It’s one of the top rated places to eat in Portishead too, see their TripAdvisor page.

Bank Holiday visit to Wales

Posted on May 25, 2015 by ianpriceart

Over the BH weekend I went to Wales timed partly to catch the BP Portrait award exhibition which is in Aberystwyth and is highly recommended. It finishes soon before moving on elsewhere. I particularly liked the Paul Benney “pig” painting as well as the prize winners which all looked totally justified in the flesh.

On the way I walked up to Llyn y Fan Fach in the western Brecon Beacons above Myddfai. It’s a stunning spot and famous for its Lady of the lake legend. I was prepared for everything apart from the heat so carried a mountain of pessimistic clothing as well as my painting kit to the top. Here are some photos complete with gnats which found the paintings irresistible. I hope they’ll come off when they dry.

I also managed to grab a quick sketch of Mam too on my rush around South Wales.

The Sun has set on N. Som. Arts Week 2015

Posted on May 10, 2015 by ianpriceart

Thanks to everyone for making it a success again this year. Numbers were up on last time which was great given the other attractions on.

Thanks to Bill Shier for opening up Black Nore lighthouse which you could walk to via the garden. It was great to see how much people enjoyed climbing up inside it, including me, it was like a tardis. The exhibition or the lighthouse was a pleasant surprise depending on whether people arrived by the road or via the coast path.

Card sales went well after expanding the range but cakes sales were down I think due to the Great British Bake Off effect causing lots of full up visitors to arrive! Despite this I’m pleased to say that we still generated £197.80 for the Lighthouse trust. Visit the site to find out more and donate. Thanks to Helen for the cake baking as well as the Folk music last Sunday. Next time simultaneous live baking and fiddling.

Fact of the day: Nore means the line where the sea meets the river. Thanks Bill.

My studio is open again tomorrow, Sat 9th and Sun 10th #NSAW #Venue10

Posted on May 8, 2015 by ianpriceart

Open from 11.00. If the weather’s is Ok you’ll be able to go inside Black Nore lighthouse too. Thanks to all the visitors from last weekend. More cake available!

North Somerset Arts Week, Venue 10 in Portishead. Price, Sergeant, Lilley

Posted on May 1, 2015 by ianpriceart

All ready to go now with the work in place, cakes baked, teabags waiting, signs up. Hope to see you here.

Lovely work by Richard and Karen who are exhibiting with me is shown below along with the venue details again.

Glasswork by Karen Liiley

Richard Sergeant

Ian Price

Ian Price Winter Wave 24 x 24 Inches

Ian Price Cape Cornwall from Carn Groose

Details including opening times in the brochure as below.

Paintings by Richard Sergeant also available at my Open Studio #NSAW15 #Venue10

Posted on April 30, 2015 by ianpriceart

Richard is incredibly creative and inventive and has a really original view of the world. He has hung his paintings at my venue today ready for the opening on Saturday and they are wonderfully presented (after lots of shuffling around and polyfillaing!).

They are beautiful jewel-like little objects. Real gilding on the frames too, he’s been teaching me how.

Come and see them for yourself.

Open Studio – Bank Hol Weekend

Posted on April 26, 2015 by ianpriceart

Open Studio over the BH weekend (inc. Monday) and the following weekend.

I’ll be showing 50 paintings most of which are of the local Portishead coastline and many painted outside in oils. In addition I painted some scenes in Cornwall recently and am also including a few portraits and life class studies.

I’ll be sharing my open studio with Richard Sergeant whose work is often more abstract, unexpected and always interesting and Karen Lilley who will be displaying beautiful glass vessels and jewellery. I’ll also be selling cards, tea and homemade cake in support of Black Nore lighthouse.

The lighthouse will be open to look at on the BH Monday (you can get to it through the garden).

Bonus event! There’ll probably be some folk music playing on the Sunday afternoons with some of these guys. http://youtu.be/1DVlAeS72_s

Opening times and further details in the image below. It’s venue 10 in the Arts week brochure if you have it.