Actually looking a little sad to me. A4 watercolour.
Gladioli: Actually looking a little sad... - Positive Wellbein...
Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation
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Gladioli
BrentWArtist
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BrentW
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'Glad' enough for me Brent_Wilson. Very pretty!
I think most artists feel dissatisfied with their work. I used to dabble at painting some years back and mentioned my feelings to a "real" artist. He said you have to try to work out what you think isn't quite right or ask yourself a simple question... what is it I don't feel happy about in the picture. Its by experimenting and making errors which help us improve. You also have to be able to take honest criticism.
In my eyes your work is good but if you want to improve further perhaps a good art book or class could help.
Just to let you know I love your work.
😀
My father is an accomplished watercolour painter and tutor of some renown in the area where he lives (SW Scotland). He is providing me with guidance, although at a distance; I live in west Wales. As for books, I really enjoy the work of John Blockley (who tutored my father) and John's daughter, Ann. Both have published books that I could recommend.
Then you have the best possible critic and advisor in just one person Brent. You are very fortunate to have someone you respect and trust.
I live in a lovely spot in South Wales. Where abouts are you living in West Wales? I Love Pembrokeshire and the more rugged coastline of Cardiganshire. Such a wonderful place to get inspiration.... Fantastic landscapes and seascapes to choose from.
Cheers for now.
😀😊☺
I live near New Quay, with its dramatic coastline but rolling countryside. The latter makes for walks that are gentle -- something needed at my age, stage and condition.
My critic told me that my painting is bottom-heavy, needing something to lead the eye upwards. I think I shall call this one finished and, with the advice in mind, move on to the next one. 
New Quay is very hilly Brent so I assume you don't go down to the beach very often. I stayed there some 30 years ago. Has it changed much?
As for your art work, you obviously feel you need to move on to the next one, so, what inspires you? Do you have something in mind? Do you go out and draw your pictures first then add the paint, or do you paint directly onto the paper/board?
Cheers 😁
I am avoiding the beach, and pretty much have done since I moved here three years ago. It is often far too crowded for me. As for the hills, I lived for 30 years in the Caribbean, for the first seven on the volcanic island of Nevis, the remainder on Trinidad, where I lived in the Northern Range -- the easternmost extension of the Caribbean Mountains/Andes. The hills here, though steep, are short in comparison. But I stick to gentle, rolling walks as much as I can.
I think I have become inspired by flowers because they are self-contained subjects. Landscapes I find far more challenging to make interesting. I leave those to my father.
My, you must have lead an interesting life Brent. My aunt married a Venezuelan doctor and lived there for over 30 years. I visited and had the holiday of a lifetime. A week spent at a private beach, another week on a yacht visiting beautiful carribean islands like in the bounty advert. And finally, the best bit, an expedition to The Lost World of Conan Doyle. What an adventure it was! Thats another story though.
What brought you to West Wales Brent? Quite a contrast from your earlier life and experiences. Were you a bit of an adventurer?
😁
I went to the Caribbean as a physics and maths teacher under the auspices of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). Finding I loved the pace of life, I extended my stay. To fill my time, I undertook an external PhD in micropalaeontology through Aberystwyth University, qualifying in 1998. I was head hunted to work in the oil industry in Trinidad and Venezuela (mostly eastern Venezuela). After five years, I accepted a job in 2003 as a lecturer in geology and palaeontology at the University of the West Indies on Trinidad. I rose rapidly to the rank of professor, which I was awarded in 2012, being a prolific researcher and publisher.
There was a fly in the ointment. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004. Initial treatment with radiation failed, as did salvage surgery in 2012. I stayed on Trinidad as long as I could, until the treatments available there (other than palliative chemotherapy) failed in 2017. Then I returned to the UK, seeking more advanced care.
A CT scan about a month ago showed that, under my present treatment, the metastatic lesions in my lungs have disappeared. That just leaves me with one to my spine to cope with. I am trying to continue with my research, but have taken up watercolour painting as a diversion. After all, I had to find some way to keep myself occupied while shielding.
An interesting life? I know we should not push ourselves here, but you might try Googling "Brent Wilson Living on an Arc".
So, you have written a book about your experiences Brent, how marvelous. . Sounds pretty magical in many ways while horrific in others. I'm trying to get a copy of the book on ebay so I can take my time to absorb the contents. I also read an article about the island of Nevis. Certainly extraordinarily beautiful but interesting in other ways too!!! (The Guardian Newspaper Report)
I'm so sorry about your career being cut short after attaining such heights. Are you getting any further treatment at the moment? I have to say you certainly deserve a lot of respect for the way you are dealing with it all even though its likely you will be experiencing some dark moments at times.
What does micro palaeantology consist of? Is this the research you are still doing? It sounds fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of an archaeological dig near where I live a few years back and was so sorry when it ended. But micro palaeantology, well that's something else.
I'm looking forward to reading your book when I get it. So, for the moment, take it easy Brent, keep strong and enjoy the beauty, peace and solitude of West Wales. And I hope you continue to get much pleasure from your paintings which I love.
🌵🌴🌳🌲🌱🌿🌻🌼🌻🌼🌷🍇🍅🍓🍒🍐
Hi Roadrunner. Micropalaeontology is the study of fossils so small that a microscope is needed to see them. Many groups of hard shelled microscopic creatures make fossils; I specialised in a group called the foraminifera -- which are basically shelled amoeba. They are beautiful. I gained a reputation for innovative research --- so much so that the editor of Micropaleontology literally begged Jacqui not to allow me to retire, and that I was in 2013 made a Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The latter was strangely in the Department of Maths and Statistics, not the Paleobiology Department. My main SI colleague and myself are still publishing together, though my work is not as prolific. micropress.org/microaccess/...
I do hope you enjoy my book, should you get a copy. I certainly enjoyed living the experiences recounted in it, as well as writing the book itself.
Oh, and yes, the treatment and care I am getting from the NHS is amazing. On Trinidad I was treated by one man, who did a marvellous job but in the end proved overwhelmed by my very stubborn cancer. Here I am being treated by a team and feel as though I have fallen onto a lovely, comforting safety net. I wrote a blog about my cancer experiences, but have not updated it much recently. It became depressing to do so while on Trinidad, and there is too much for me to explore in Wales for me to spend time writing more bloggy stuff. If you fancy a read, you will find it here (please forgive its grommaticul errurs): yananow.org/display_story.p....
BrentWArtist
I have just had it pointed out to me that I have painted a hollyhock, not gladioli. <Hangs head in taxonomic shame>
bobbybobbAmbassador
Your painting is very pretty and I love it. It must be great to have an artist providing guidance, you are very lucky. I will have a look at the books you have recommended as they may help me move forward. 😊
Well I recognised it as a hollyhock so that's something! I thought great painter, rubbish horticulturist!! I really like the textures and muted colours xx
GhoundsReading Rabbits
Better at painting than plant identification; I'm the exact opposite!!
Looks amazing 😊
Super to me!
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