Category Archives: Portraiture

Join Me at Bath Art Fair: Discover My Latest Works – Plus Exciting News!

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As you might already know I paint in oils outside around Portishead and the south-west, however alongside this I paint the Severn Estuary and its shipping and over the winter I’ve painted several larger scenes in the studio, I’ve really enjoyed working more freely, splatting and dripping and just about surviving the turpentine fug.

These larger works will go on display to the public for the first time at the Bath Art Fair 21st-23rd February. You can get half price tickets for the weekend using the code HALFPRICEWEEKEND – tickets here, there are a limited number of FREE Friday evening private view tickets available, let me know if they’ve all gone I might have some spare. It will be my second time at the fair, which hosts over 80 artists, I’ll have a larger stand this year so you’ll have a chance to see all my recent work, large and small, landscape and portrait or lifeclass, framed and unframed. If you can’t wait until then and want to see the work sooner then get in touch.

Shortlisted for Wales Contemporary

I’m also pleased to share that I’ve had two paintings shortlisted for the Wales Contemporary Art Exhibition 2025 and will be showing at The Garrison Chapel, Chelsea Barracks in Central London from the 25th of February and the Waterfront Gallery in Milford Haven, Wales from the 25th of March to the 17th of May. One of the selected works ‘Mediterranean Highway, Cyan, Sage, Plum’ is shown below, named (longwindedly!) after the name of the vessel and the feel of the close hues chosen.

Artsweek Coming in May

You might already know of the artist Andrew Hardwick, he’s a member of the Royal West of England Academy. I’m really excited to reveal he’ll be exhibiting with me during North Somerset Week here at Black Nore in Portishead 3-11 May, Andrew is very well known for his imposing, heavily textured landscapes full of emotion, https://www.andrewhardwick.com.

More Bath News

Coincidentally and very excitingly Andrew and I have both just been elected to join the Bath Society of Artists. I’m extremely proud to join this talented group of prestigious artists and have future opportunities to exhibit my work alongside them. I’ve had work selected for their excellent open show at the Victoria Art Gallery for many years and ‘Emergent Tanker’ below was one of last years selections. It was painted on a heavily painted colourful impasto surface and some of the original breaks through to create close up interest and detail in this otherwise calm piece.

Course Updates

I’m beginning to organise the courses for 2025 and it’s the 11th year I’ll have hosted Andrew James’ Expressionist Portraits in Portishead.

I’ve not fixed any dates for any Landscape painting courses yet. If you’ve a small group that would like to try oil painting outside, let me know. We can pick a fair weather day to paint at Black Nore beach or wherever you would like to paint. We had a really fun few days painting together on Black Nore last Summer. Get in touch via https://ianpriceart.co.uk/oil-painting-outdoors/ or email ian@priceph.co.uk

Thanks to all that have supported me over my first years as a professional artist. If you’ve bought a piece, why not send me a photo of how it looks on your wall?

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 Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the galleries on my website.

Grab Your Bath Art Fair Discount Code And Last Course Spaces

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You’ve still time to catch the great group show put on by Clevedon Art Club. You can also see the Sea show; curated by my fellow artist and gallery owner at the Huw Richards Evans Gallery in Clifton. Both shows close after the Bank Holiday (26/8) and include some of my new paintings.

I hope you’ve had a great summer, I’ve been steadily painting in the studio and outside over the summer. I also spent a week sketching musicians and singers and painting the promenade at Sidmouth Folk Festival (in a variety of weather conditions!).

Yesterday I dropped off my two paintings at the RWA open for exhibition over the winter. This is the second successive year I’ve been lucky enough to have two paintings selected for this prestigious show.

I’m taking part in the mighty Bath art fair https://www.bathartfair.co.uk rubbing shoulders with established galleries for the first time, frankly terrifying! If you’d like to come along, say Hi and see my latest work en masse you can use the discount code HALFPRICEWEEKEND. There are limited free preview night tickets, let me know if you want the preview code to claim one. 

Later in the month I’ll be at ArtPort Portishead’s annual arts festival, 28/29th September, pencil it in your diary now.

I’ve a few spaces left for the portrait painting courses I run in October. I had a great time teaching at Clevedon Art Club over the summer and I hope you can join me.

It’s the 10th year I’ll have hosted Andrew James’ Expressionist Portraits in Portishead, only limited spaces left.

I’ve not fixed any dates for any Landscape painting courses. If you’ve a small group that would like to try oil painting outside, let me know. We can pick a fair weather day to paint at Black Nore beach or wherever you would like to paint. We had a really fun few days painting together on Black Nore over the Summer. Get in touch via https://ianpriceart.co.uk/oil-painting-outdoors/ or email ian@priceph.co.uk

Thanks to all that have supported me over the Spring and Summer. This includes those at the Clevedon Spring Exhibition and the BS9 Art trail. If you’ve bought a piece, why not send me a photo of how it looks on your wall?

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 Instagram @ianpriceart as well as Facebook @ianpriceart or just browse the galleries on my website.

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

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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

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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.

Abbie, drawn yesterday.

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

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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

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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.

Open Studio weekends coming up in May

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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

Thanks for your support in 2017

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

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

Instagram offical best 9

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

Unofficial 2017 best 9

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.

Mother and Welsh Dresser / Mam a’r Seld

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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

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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

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).

Clifton Arts Club Prize of Excellence

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).

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

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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).

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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. 

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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.