Stephen J Quirke watercolour blog and online gallery
Posted by Stephen Quirke on May 5, 2013 under Art, Demonstration, Kogelbaai, painting, seascape, watercolor, watercolour | 
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Here is my latest version of the demo I am trying to get right – maybe I will achieve this before I die.
This is on Arches Hot Pressed (love that hot pressed surface) 300gm and is 760 x 560 mm – a full sheet.
I was listening to the most beautiful arias as I painted – Carmen Habanera by Bizet is playing right now.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on April 28, 2013 under Art, Demonstration, Kogelbaai, painting, seascape, watercolor, watercolour | 4 Comments to Read
It has been a while since I have done my “your life in light and colour” talk and I have been keen to get it sorted out again. I have updated my talk, reducing it to 7 points and an introduction and conclusion. And today I gave it a go, producing this painting:
This is on Canson paper which is about 185gm I suppose. It is the first time I have used it and I am not sure if it is even meant for watercolour. The painting is 760x560mm.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on April 27, 2013 under Art, Drawing, Family, figure, painting, portrait, watercolor, watercolour | 2 Comments to Read
Here is a picture of my friends Douglas and Alicia with their two sons:
This is on a full sheet of Arches 300gm Cold Pressed (760×560 mm)
Posted by Stephen Quirke on April 16, 2013 under Art, Drawing, figure, pencil sketch, watercolor, watercolour | 2 Comments to Read
Here is a watercolour figure I did from a photo off the web. I was almost finished when I realised the bikini was painted on so I just left it off. An occupational hazard of downloading photos to paint. All in all I feel I have taken a step forward in understanding figures so – well there you are.
The painting is on Arches Hot pressed 300gm and is 380 x 280 mm
Posted by Stephen Quirke on April 15, 2013 under Art, figure, watercolor, watercolour | 2 Comments to Read
Figure:
This is about 380×280 mm on 300gm Arches Hot Pressed which is such a lovely ground on which to work.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on April 1, 2013 under Art, Namib, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 2 Comments to Read
Here is a watercolour of one of the beautiful valleys in the Brandberg in Namibia.
This is on a full sheet of 300gm Arches Coldpressed (560 x 760mm).
Posted by Stephen Quirke on March 16, 2013 under Art, Namib, watercolor, watercolour | 2 Comments to Read
I am dreaming dreams of painting in the desert as I prepare a portfolio of work for my gallery in Namibia.
Here is a watercolour of Spitskoppe – Grosse Spitskop in the background with some of the granite boulders that dot the plain around the peak.
This is on a full sheet of Arches 300gm Cold Pressed
Posted by Stephen Quirke on January 22, 2013 under Art, en plein air, painting, Strand Pipe beach, watercolor, watercolour | 4 Comments to Read
This morning I had a chance to go down to The Pipe to do a painting.
This is 180x280mm on 185g Arches Cold Pressed.
I have been battling with a lung infection for over a week now. it has improved to the level of a dry cough so this morning when Aura and Sinead went for a walk on the beach I went and sat in the sun to paint. It was nice to chat to some of my mates and others as they passed. Cosmic Mike came and chatted while he waited for Scottish Mike to arrive. He is keen to wheel out his mother’s Watercolour kit he said.
Sinead is going off to study medicine tomorrow and had quite a bit to do so I was told not to hold up proceedings. So I did this in about 30 minutes. It was good to stop when I did as I was in danger of overworking this. However I can see little bits I could work on. I also tried to introduce some dark highlights but the scene really is medium tone. There is scope to add details to the poles and under the walk-way. Maybe next time I will sit a little closer and make this a more central feature of the painting.
Right now I am getting ready for another workshop in Town tomorrow. I will be working at a venue near Kirstenbosch Gardens – under the Eastern face of Table Mountain – mmm – must take a sketch kit…
Posted by Stephen Quirke on January 5, 2013 under Art, en plein air, figure, Strand Pipe beach, watercolor, watercolour | Be the First to Comment
This is a couple lying on the beach at The Pipe.
This is 190x280mm and is on Arches 185gm cold pressed.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on under Art, painting, portrait, watercolor, watercolour | Be the First to Comment
This is how far I have got now. I have finally got the drawing right but am not so keen on the painting.
This is 280x380mm and is on Arches Cold Pressed. It feels a little overworked. Time to review the approach of Charlie Boy (Herr Reid).
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