Charity shops and painting

studio with new painting

 So today I have spent the third day in the studio on this composition, initially its a slow process working out how to start the painting and then I take each stage as it evolves and change and modulate my original plans to fit with each new development.

setting up my flowers for painting

  I make  working sketches that are short-hand visual aids for patterns,

etc this one is inspired by some beautiful dress material of my daughters, I must add it was inspired not copied as the original bears no resemblance whatsoever.  The vase was from a charity shop, as soon as I saw it I knew it would translate into paint,  and the copper tray was from a lovely interiors shop Ryle and Company that has now moved to Glencormac, Kilmacanogue. I have done 6 hours in the studio since this morning and my head hurts and I am painted out, must escape and get some fresh air!!

All painted out!!

Patterns and Woodpiles

The Invitation 122x92cm oil on canvas

Every year we stack up our logs against the outside shed, in preparation for when the evenings draw in.  I love to paint the logs piled up, the patterns and shapes that are created by the round cross-sections of the branches or the straight edges of the split trunks are endless and very painterly.  I will often paint logs in a log basket or the evening’s logs piled up in readiness next to the stove or fire. 

However, since the last storms we have even more wood piles around the place, all around the garden, waiting to be brought down and stacked nearer the house. These make for wonderful subjects for drawing and teamed with this lovely and unusually dry sunny weather we have been experiencing , means I don’t need to go too far for inspiration.

new painting-Ballet Dancer

I have always loved and admired Degas’s paintings of ballet dancers and women bathing especially  his vibrant and freely drawn pastels on paper.  So inspired, I set out to paint a figure bent over tying laces; quintessentially feminine adorned in silk and netting and the ribbons of a ballet dancer.  I have been looking to Russian textiles from the late 19^th century for my next solo show in 2015, and have been so absorbed in those wonderful home-spun Ikat coats worn by the men and women of that region.  Dramatic graphic designs of purples, greens and reds criss-cross and intersect the outer garment, which is so beautifully lined, and embellished with bold floral patterns of pink and red roses, peonies, hollyhocks and lilies, contrasting with strips and patches of material depicting delicate garlands of forget-me-nots, daisies and pansies.  The women look strong and challenging ( like Augustus John’s partner Dorelia)  as they stand for the camera and seem timeless and still translatable to me, despite the centuries between us. 

Ballet Dancer 42x24inches oil on board


Ballet Dancer has now been framed in a contemporary limed-wood frame
making its outside dimensions 122x76cm oil on board.

It is now available
 for further enquiries please contact me at lucy@lucydoyle.com

original idea for Ballet Dancer

Eduard Degas

one of my life drawings

Moonlit Garden!!

Planned a moonlight garden painting last month, and started working on the composition and staring at the moon at every opportunity .  With all that in my head I decided to paint it in situ outside during a sunny day but try and think moonlight colours!!..... and this morning was the day.  No trace of wind, warm and sunny, no distractions except for Biscuit who I had one eye on the whole time.

Biscuit- not much help!

Painting in garden

Bloom

Garden Flower Arrangement 92x76cm oil on canvas

I have been working on new work for my next solo show in 2015, and have been working on a lot of flower and flower-based paintings. So armed with my secateurs I raided the hedges and flower beds around the house and managed to collect enough for a large flower painting.  Finally finished it on Friday and mindful of our annual Bloom in the Park and not being able to get there this year, have painted it instead.

Earlier this week in my studio

brought the flowers into the house

Ordered Chaos

This is me in my studio earlier today working on my latest painting......

Working from still life objects in my studio, and composing them into a painting.

Hampstead Affordable Art Fair 2014

Still life with garden produce 71x71cm oil on canvas

Garden Terrace 71x71cm oil on canvas

I will be showing these new paintings Still life with Garden Produce and Garden Terrace as well as work from my recent show Scheherazde  at this year's Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead, London from 11th -15th June 2014, represented by The Doorway Gallery stand H2