John Connolly

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

New Studio Assistant started last week

Jessie

My New Studio Assistant started last week. She is a 13 week old Miniaure Schnauzer. She has been helping me with my latest 'Woodland Light ' paintings... On her first day she had blue acrylic paint all over her bottom. (washed it off before it dried)

As it's Spring, I have been doing lots of Cheery and Apple Blossom paintings with a few Bluebell Woods too. My Solo show at Leabrooks is going well and I was pleased to sell 'Skeletal' and 'Autumn Glory' on the first weekend of the show. The Blossom paintings will be first shown at Reading Arts Fair at the end of the month. After which I will be working towards my open studio event which is 2nd - 5th June. Free entrance to my studio/gallery at Ormscliffe Studios in Bolsover. (watch this space for further details or visit my website www.connollyart.com

Autum Glory

Skeletal

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Visit to Calder Gallery, Hebden Bridge.

I have just returned from another mini road trip. 500 miles in 2 days. Reading yesterday, Leeds, Hebden Bridge and Cromford today. It was a lovely sunny day and I wanted to be out painting rather than sit in traffic on the M62. Here are the nine paintings that can be seen at Calder Gallery Hebden Bridge.

Apple Blossom Time

Apple Blossom

Cherry Orchard

Katies Wood

Spring Blossom

Sheerwood Green

Spring Colour

Thistle Down the Wind

Wild Flowers

Don't forget my solo show throughout April at Leabrooks Gallery, Somercotes, Derbyshire. Over 40 paintings from the 'Woodland Light' body of work. If you happen to be in or around Reading at the end of April, why not stop by for a chat at Reading Arts Fair. It would be good to see you there ;-)

Sunday, 11 March 2012

Don't Stand in the Green Bin.

I find myself having a little more time to sit and update my Blog. Because I just fell out of the Green Bin... LOL. I shouldn't laugh really because at 11am this morning my face went white, then yellow and green and back to white again. I had been cutting back shrubs in the garden and the green bin was full of twigs etc. So I decided to stand inside it and squash it all down. Climbing out of the bin was my mistake. I should have known better. It was a green WHEELIE BIN..... and things with wheels tend to move, especially when the drive is on a slope... I fell back. Or should I say, I fell onto my back, smashing my right hand and elbow and back of my head.... OUCH.... Nothing broken, slightly concussed, slight whiplash in neck and a lots of grit to pick out of my elbow. MY fault entirely... so if there are any 'predatory compo solicitors reading this, DON'T call me. The good news is that my new Iphone 4s which was in my pocket escaped unharmed.

I digressed... Isn't this Blog meant to be about my art? Well. I suppose my right hand and arm are something to do with my painting. Both hurt, but neither broken.... so Ill be back in my studio tomorrow. In the meantime, just thought I would add a few more winter woodland paintings completed this week. This weeks full moon providing some of the inspiration.

Full Moon Tonight

Night Falling

Old Wood

Friday, 2 March 2012

Winter Woodland

Having been back to the New Forest last week, I decided to try and capture the woods in their 'Nakedness'. I was only there for an hour so I did a few sketches and took lots of photos to work on back in my studio.

These are the first two paintings inspired by my recent visit, completed this week.

Winterwoods

Winterwoodland

Friday, 24 February 2012

WOODLAND LIGHT to Cheshire, Cumbria, Surrey and Hampshire.

In the past 7 days I have been to both ends of the country with 'Woodland Light' Paintings... Last Wednesday I delivered work to Jack Sevens Art Yard in Macclesfield and on Thursday delivered work to Old Courthouse Gallery in Ambleside, Cumbria. On Tuesday this week I delivered over thirty paintings to 'KD Fine Art', Nr Guildford, Surrey and 'Gallery 55' in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, and as I was only about 40 miles away from the New Forest I walked in Whiteley Woods, nr Lyndhurst (with sketch book and camera) re visiting my favourite trees that I have now seen in Summer, Autumn and Winter.

June

October

November

February

June

October

November

February

The second part of my trip was not as enjoyable. I returned home to Derbyshire via one of my favourite but recently closed, Galleries 'Wonderwall' in Cirencester, whose owner David Bloomfield sadly passed away in January, aged 48. Wonderwall and David will be missed by many artists and customers for Years to come.

I am continuing to work on the Woodland Light project as more galleries have asked for paintings. I will be having a solo show at Leabrooks Gallery, Somercotes, Derbyshire throughout April and will also be showing at the Reading Art Fair on 27 - 29th April.

I will probably spend May getting ready for the Derbyshire Open Studios which is the June Bank holiday weekend. My studio will be open to the public for four days where you can watch me work or just look at the work which of course will all be available to buy.

Monday, 13 February 2012

WOODLAND LIGHT

Since visiting the New Forest several times in 2011, I have been working on a body of work entitled 'Woodland Light'. So far I have produced over 60 paintings which will be shown in several galleries around the Uk throughout 2012. Many paintings are inspired by my visits to Hollands Wood and Whitley Wood in the New Forest. Some were produced plein air and others back in my studio. I have also worked in Sherwood Forest and other woodland areas near where I live in Bolsover and around Cromford in Derbyshire. I will be adding to this work throughout this year aswell as starting my next project which will be inspired by Rivers.

Having just photographed and uploaded 58 paintings, I now have the awful task of giving each one a title...

For further details of which Galleries will be showing 'Woodland Light' see my website www.connollyart.com