Stephen J Quirke watercolour blog and online gallery
Posted by Stephen Quirke on May 5, 2013 under Art, Demonstration, Kogelbaai, painting, seascape, watercolor, watercolour | 
2 Comments to Read
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 under en plein air, painting, seascape, Strand Pipe beach, watercolor, watercolour | Be the First to Comment
As Morne pointed out – yesterday was Thtar Warth day – May the 4th (be with you).
I had a surf at The Pipe – which was crowded – but I managed to have a bomb. I did not ride it expertly maybe – but I rode it and it was a blast. Then I did this watercolour:
This is on Arches 300gm cold pressed and is 290x390mm – more or less
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 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 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, 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).
Posted by Stephen Quirke on December 28, 2012 under Art, en plein air, landscape, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 4 Comments to Read
At last have managed to make time to paint in my studio. This is a view from the top of the A-Ridge ( I think Mike called it) in the Du Toits Kloof pass:
This is painted on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed and is about 280 x 380mm.
Posted by Stephen Quirke on December 9, 2012 under en plein air, painting, watercolor, watercolour | 4 Comments to Read
No now it really is time for me to start posting my work here again. This has been a hectic year but, it is time to go again.
This is from the stoep of Smitswinkel – between Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp.
I spent the weekend with friends in George as I met with a new client there. On Saturday morning Ted and Sue decided to head out to Calitzdorp to pick apricots on a farm there. Apparently the farmers allow the public to come and pick every year. So I joined them.
On the way back I persuaded the guys to stop off at Smitswinkel – a roadside coffee shop to have a pancake and a cup of tea. Also so I could do a quick sketch. I knew I would not have much time so I went as fast as I could. There was quite a bit of detail what with the pillars holding up the roof and the fences and plants – and all the rafters – too much so I could not put it all in. They had a brightly coloured geranium in a pot on the wall just next to me and there was a row of spekboom (Portulacaria afra) planted at the edge of the stoep. They call it elephants food in the Eastern Cape. A pleasant little scene.
The sound of the cars passing on the road reminded me of my hitch-hiking days and I just plugged along at the painting. The lady in the shop showed us a painting someone had done of her. We all agreed did not do her or the place justice.
As I worked some farmers pulled up in bakkies and sat on the stoep drinking beer. How did I know they were farmers? They were talking shop. Some guys Bonsmara bull – “een van die oue tipes met lig bruin…” heh heh – it was so pleasant. Apparently they were gathering for their year-end function where they were driving up in to the hills in the picture to have a braai and kuier for the evening.
All too soon the spell waned and we had to go…
Posted by Stephen Quirke on September 23, 2012 under en plein air, painting, watercolor, watercolour, Wortelgat | 2 Comments to Read
Here are two paintings I did at Wortelgat, yesterday afternoon and this morning. The first I did yesterday.
This is on 300gm Arches cold pressed and is 280x380mm.
Follow Me!