Posted by: Paul A Reeves
on Sep 13, 2011
Tam O Shanter - Acrylic on board.
Like most artists, I look back at work that I have done in the past, and reflect on how I am progressing. Most of the paintings I exhibit and put online are those I have created over the last few years, and work that I believe is showing a distinctive development of my style.
This painting I made when I was eighteen years old, and it's one of the few paintings in my collection from those days that I still feel good about showing among my more recent work.
It's very different to the style that I am currently developing. I like the direction my current style is going in, and hopefully it will become recognisable as being mine. But I still see me in this painting. I still see me growing.
I went through very dramatic changes at this period in my life as far as my artistic awakening is concerened. I really felt for the first time like I was becoming an artist.
I love Robert Burns poetry, and I have made several paintings and drawings depicting his work. Tam O Shanter is my favourite Burns poem, and I wanted to capture the most exciting moment in the story when Tam is almost caught by the witch called Nannie. Tam tries to escape over the bridge, or brig over the river Doon, because a witch can't cross over running water. Tam manages to escape, but not before Nannie yanks the tail from his horse Maggie.
Prints of Tam O Shanter and other artwork of mine can be seen and purchased here.
www.2canvas.co.uk Paul Reeves Art
And here.
www.pearlprints.co.uk Paul Reeves Art
Posted by: WatercoloredHands
on May 22, 2011
Tagged in:
yevgenia watts ,
woman ,
watercolours ,
watercolors ,
watercolor ,
portrait ,
pensive ,
Painting ,
impressionist ,
girl ,
female ,
daily painting ,
Costa Rica ,
colorful ,
art
Reference photo is my friend Lorna. She is originally from Costa Rica and we met during both of our first years in the U.S., at an ESL class. Unfortunately, the painting doesn’t look like her, even after numerous reworkings (if you look close, you can see areas of diluted gesso here and there). I guess I’ll have to paint another one some time and aim for more resemblance!
Speaking of years in the U.S., yesterday was my 7-year move-i-versary (thanks Genevieve for another made-up word I can add to my vocabulary 
) It feels so strange.
Originally posted on November 1, 2010 at: http://watercoloredhands.com/2010/11/01/a-portrait-a-day-26-lorna/
Posted by: Paul A Reeves
on May 18, 2011
Tagged in:
urban ,
The Simple Things ,
smoking ,
Scottish ,
scotland ,
Paul Reeves ,
Painting ,
oil ,
labour ,
canvas ,
artist ,
art
Being a non smoker, I was pleased about the UK ban on smoking in public places. I've lost count of the number of times I've returned home reeking of second hand smoke. It did however occur to me, that it was a bit unfair on those that don't chain smoke in public places, and this is one of the very few comforts that they desire, to enjoy a smoke along with a drink.
I wanted to show this with the image of a middle aged man, still working and clearly a labourer. A clear example of the backbone of our nation. Here he is enjoying a few of the simple pleasures he desires in life, a smoke and a dram.
This is quite a large oil painting, and I experimented with some new ideas of moving the oil around the canvas using my fingers and pieces of cloth. I was very pleased with the results, and continue to use the same methods with other paintings.
Prints of The Simple Things and other artwork of mine can be seen and purchased here.
www.2canvas.co.uk Paul Reeves Art
And here.
www.pearlprints.co.uk Paul Reeves Art
