Go! Rhino 'Southampton dock rhino'

Go! Rhino 'Southampton dock rhino'

The City of Southampton has been invaded by Rhinos!

Well actually they are not real ones, but 3D fibreglass ones painted by local artists and schools. Marwell Zoo is behind the initiative 'Go! Rhinos' to help with the protection of wildlife. Each Rhino has been sponsored by a company or organisation. After their public display on the streets of Southampton, the Rhinos are due to be auctioned off and the proceeds put toward wildlife protection, plus two local charities.

The Rhinos are on display around the City from July 13 to 22 September. There are 36 large rhinos, painted by local artists to see on the 'GoRhino' trail, plus around 80 smaller ones painted by local schools, which can be found in many shops and public buildings in the City. The Rhinos are all beautifully painted and look great on the streets. I'm pleased to say that the public, especially, children, seem to be enjoying them. I often see children cuddling them or having their picture taken by, or under them!

I was commissioned to paint a Rhino and I took the theme of the Southampton skyline, which in one direction is dominated by the large cranes working at the Docks. There are several types of cranes. Some are used for general cargo, some with containers and one distinctive design is a floating crane. I thought that this would make an interesting design theme for a Rhino as it incorporates something that everyone in the city has seen in reality but not pictured as an artwork. It was decided to make the skyline be seen as a silhouette against an evening sky. This would make it easier to paint and give the design more 'punch'. Some famous buildings were added in to the skyline, such as the SeaCity museum, and the clock tower of the Civic Centre, in which the actual clock became the Rhinos eye. The sky was kept as one shade of orange to keep things simple. Stars were added as were clouds to add interest. The dark red clouds had highlights on them to help 'crispen' up the design and add contrast to the silhouette cranes and other details.

It took just over a week to do and I was quite worried about doing something as large as this. I usually paint at quite smalls scales on canvas. Painting one of these Rhinos is more like a DIY job!

I used household paint and masting tape to try to get straight lines. Because of the technical nature of the cranes, I needed to paint them reasonably accurately, particularly as it was to be sponsored by DP World, and Associated British Ports, the owners of the dock cranes. I initially started with drawing a grid over my design in photoshop. This grid was them carefully mapped out on to the rhino, so that I did not have to do much guesswork and freehand drawing on the Rhino of these complicated shapes. Each colour had several coats of paint, and after completion several coats of varnish were applied. The paint was matt, but once the varnish was applied the colours sprang in to life and made the design look dynamic!

dock rhino in situ

 

dock rhino studio shot

Southampton Watts Park in the Snow

Southampton Watts Park in the Snow

 

This painting was created in early 2013 and is based on a crude photograph taken with my mobile phone a few weeks before of Watts Park (also known as West Park) when covered with snow. I took a number of pictures at the time and the romantic couple seen here were added from one of those to help give a sense of scale and interest. The statue is of Issac Watts, a famous resident of the town of Southampton. Born in 1674, Watts was a leading nonconformist. I thought the dark, bare trees made an interesting contrast to the fresh white snow.

The painting has a base of red acrylic paint, followed with the actual painting done in oil. It its painted at size of 16” x 20” on canvas. 

Southampton Watts Park in the Snow

Southampton People in Park

Southampton People in Park

 

This Oil painting was done in May 2013, and shows a young family out in a Southampton Park during an Autumn.

The painting is created on canvas board, sized to 16” x 20”. Initially the board is painted a bright, Acrylic red ground. Then the actual painting, done in Oil, is worked on top.

Southampton People in Park

Southampton Blue Anchor Lane

Southampton Blue Anchor Lane

This painting was done in March 2013. It shows Blue Anchor Lane in the boundaries of the old part of Southampton City. On the right can be seen the Tudor House Museum and King John's Palace. On the left are flat built c1980s, but originally on the site were other Tudor dwellings, with the upper floors overhanging the street, which were pulled down during the Victorian era. The street, built on a slope down to where the sea was originally, was known locally as 'Piss Pot Alley'. The occupants of the houses would throw out waste water, etc, straight out in to the street where it would go run down to the sea. St. Michael's church, founded in 1070, can be seen in the distance.

The painting is created on canvas board, sized to 16” x 20”. Initially the board is painted a bright red ground. Then the actual painting, done in Acrylics, worked on top.

Southampton Blue Anchor Lane

Southampton Riverside park oak tree with cyclist

Southampton Riverside park oak tree with cyclist

This is painted in Oils on a 16" x 20" canvas. The subject is Riverside Park, on the outskirts of Southampton, Hampshire, UK. A very large,old Oak tree can be seen beside the River Itchen. A cycle lane runes along the river bank and a cyclist can be seen resting on a bench, his bicycle resting against the tree. It is late afternoon and the light within the scene in soft and golden. The area is popular with canoeists and yachtsmen using the water, and families and friends walking through the park or fishing from the banks of the River Itchen.
I was drawn to the interesting form of the Oak tree and the way the evening light was creating a silhouette of it.
Painted in late 2012.

Southampton Riverside park oak tree with cyclist

Southampton Palmerston Park Autumn sun

Southampton Palmerston Park Autumn sun

This painting was done in febuary 2013 as a small exercise, on a piece of canvas board, sized at 10” x 12”. It is based on a photo taken of a corner of Palmerston Park, in the centre of Southampton, during the Autumn of 2011. I was struck by the colour full scene illuminated by the low autumn light. The park is right next to a busy traffic junction, which cannot be seen from this angle.

 

Southampton Palmerston Park Autumn sun

Southampton Northam River Itchen old jetty with sea birds

Southampton Northam River Itchen old jetty with sea birds

This oil painting is a view of the River Itchen, in the county of Hampshire UK. Here it is seen in the area of Northam, in the City of Southampton heading towards the port. Local business can be seen in the background, including a scrap metal merchant. The metal is piled up in several mounts on the berth, awaiting collection by ship, usually about once a week. In the foreground is an old jetty, now reduced to 'wooden bones'. However the local seagulls use it to enjoy the view and sunshine on this summer evening. A swan in circling around the base of the jetty.
The painting is done on a canvas measuring 16" x 20". A bright red acrylic paint base was initially applied to the canvas, followed by a drawing in brown acrylic. A colour wash was then applied, again in thinned acrylic paint. Finally the painting itself is done in oil paint, straight from the tube. Painted in 2012.

Southampton Northam River Itchen old jetty with sea birds

Duke of Wellington Tudor pub Southampton

Duke of Wellington Tudor pub Southampton

This acrylic painting depicts a famous Tudor public house within the historic City of Southampton, UK. This old building was built upon Norman cellars during 1220. It became a pub in 1494.
In 1815 the pub was renamed, from the Shipwrights Arms, to the Duke of Wellington, after the victory of the Battle of Waterloo in that year. The pub can be seen at 36 Bugle St, SO14 2AH .
I feel that acrylic painting techniques work well with man made subjects, because of the technical aspects of painting straight lines, perspective, and the mechanical processes that can be achieved with the quick drying nature of the paint. Painting scenes like this in oil paint can be done, but it requires a lot more time and possibly not so effective. In this case the entire composition is one made up of the challenges of perspective, and capturing a subject that is mechanically based.
The day is a sunny one and the bold, blue sky helps to emphasise the clean and large areas of white, separated by dark wood beams, that typifies buildings of the Tudor period. The collection of people enjoying a drink at the bar help to give the painting life and scale, and show the true use that the Duke of Wellington pub offers the public. A seagull is seen perched on the roof, enjoying the sun.
Painted on a canvas measuring 16" x 20",during 2012.

Duke of Wellington Tudor pub Southampton

Southampton, Boats on River Itchen mud flats

Southampton, Boats on River Itchen mud flats

This painting is painted in acrylics on canvas to a size of 16" x 20". It features a well known view from the Northam Bridge at Northam, Southampton, looking up the River Itchen in the direction of St Denys, and onwards to Winchester. Here the tide is out and old, forgotten boats of all ages and sizes rest on the mudflats. Again this is a popular location with photographers and artists, notably with the interesting textures seen on the landscape and the way that the scene is constantly changing in different light and weather conditions. Painting the reflections in the water of the boats and sky is fun to do and helps to bring the artwork together.

Northam, Southampton,boats on River Itchen

Bursledon Brickworks open day, Southampton, 2011

Bursledon Brickworks open day, Southampton, 2011

This is a painting of an open day at Bursledon Brickworks, Southampton UK during the early morning start up of vintage traction engines. It is a heritage museum site, based in a old brickworks. This  display of traction engines takes place during the spring each year, and this artwork depicts the line up during April 2011. The engine in front is called 'Little Lucy', and is a Wallis Traction Engine. The tall brick chimney seen in the background is a local landmark, although it is shorter than it used to be when the brickworks was in operation. It was fun painting the shining brass, copper and the paintwork on the engines. The woman polishing part of an axle adds extra interest and scale to the scene. Getting the perspective correct in a scene like this is very important. It helps to sell the viewer of the painting the scale and weight of the machinery. Mechanical objects can not be cheated on when trying to ignore perspective, it has to be done right. The ariel perspective (colour fading in the distance) helps to sell the scene and create a smoky atmosphere. The painting is done in oils on a 16" x 20" canvas. 

Bursledon Brickworks open day, Southampton, painting1

This is a 2nd painting of an open day at Bursledon Brickworks, Southampton UK. It is a heritage museum site, based in a old brickworks. This is a display of traction engines put on during April 2011. The engine featured is a Aveling and Porter traction engine (TA  1063).  It was fun painting the shining brass, copper and the paintwork on the engines. The woman on the right photographing the engine was added later to add extra interest and scale to the scene, as was the boy in the trailer on the left. Getting the perspective correct in a scene like this is very important. It helps to sell the viewer of the painting the scale and weight of the machinery. Mechanical objects can not be cheated on when trying to ignore perspective, it has to be done right. Getting the ellipses right within a painting like this is very important.

Bursledon Brickworks open day, Southampton, painting 2

 

Cunard Queen Mary at Weston shore, Southampton

Cunard Queen Mary at Weston shore, Southampton

This acrylic painting shows the Cunard ship, Queen Mary, at Southampton docks during an evening in spring, 2012. The ship, the largest of the 'three Queens', is seen from the view point along Weston shore. Weston Shore is a shingle beach on the outskirts of Southampton city, on Southampton water leading in to the Solent. All ships entering and leaving this port can be seen here. The painting is based on a number of photographs taken one evening, and recomposed in photoshop. The image is then scaled up and transferred to a canvas measuring 20" x 16". The sun is getting low in the sky so the ship is becoming a silhouette, the waves now having bright, sparkly crests as they catch the low sun. The two children swimming in the Solent, with their mother watching, help to give scale to the shingle beach and the layout of the painting. Painted in 2012.

Cunard Queen Mary at Weston shore, Southampton

Southampton Docks from Weston Shore winter sunset

Southampton Docks from Weston Shore winter sunset

This oil painting was created in the summer of 2012. It is painted on canvas sized at 20”x 16”. The setting is the docks at the port of Southampton (UK), as seen from Weston Shore. The paintings shows a large “Wallenius Wilhelmsen” car transportation ship docked beside a large grain silo, a landmark on the entrance to the port. The oil painting is based on a crude photograph taken with a mobile phone during the early part of January 2012, during the last moments of daylight on a sunny, winters day. There were a number of people walking along the stony beach at Weston Shore. The tide was out and I placed a figure in the scene to help give the setting a sense of scale. The scene is quite bleak, cold and largely in silhouette and a large part of the composition is given over to the dramatic sky. It was painted in oils because of the requirement of painting this large area smoothly.

Southampton docks from Weston Shore winter afternoon

Boats at River Hamble, Southampton

Boats at River Hamble, Southampton

This painting is of the River Hamble, near to the Solent and Southampton, in the UK. It is based on a view photographed during the spring of 2012, and features a view of the marina, near the town of Warsash, packed full of boats. There are a number of marinas down the river. The land is very flat and when the tide goes out the mud flats are revealed, showing a covering of moss and algae, with pockets of water isolated from the river. The River Hamble contains many old shipwrecks of archaeological importance. I was drawn to this scene for my painting by this strong, green landscape, that only appears for part of the day and the way that puddles of water remain creating their own small rivers through the landscape.
This painting is created in acrylic on a canvas measuring 20" x 16".

River Hamble, Southampton

Southampton, Northam, river Itchen mud flats, UK

Southampton, Northam, River Itchen mud flats, UK

This landscape painting portrays a well known view from the Northam Bridge at Northam, Southampton, looking down the River Itchen in the direction of the docks and Solent. Here the tide is out and exposes a sea of wrecked boats of all ages and sizes. I was drawn to the interesting things that the location has to offer that would make an interesting painting, like the rotting hulls and the large area of green algae that covers the mudflats, the sea birds looking for food, and the distant features on the horizon. Again this is a popular location with photographers and artists, notably with the interesting textures seen on the landscape and the way that the scene is constantly changing in different light and weather conditions.
This painting is in oils. It is on a canvas that's sized at 16" x 20".

Northam Southampton

SS Shieldhall at Southampton east docks, UK

SS Shieldhall at Southampton east docks, UK

This is an oil painting of a steam ship called 'SS Shieldhall'. It is painted in oils on a 16" x 20" canvas. She was launched 7th July 1955 and was built by Lobnitz & Co of Renfrew, UK. The ship was withdrawn from service during 1985 and entered preservation. It is the largest working steam ship in Europe. It is part of the National Historic Fleet and is based at Southampton East docks, where it is moored in this painting. It is owned by the Solent Steam Packet Ltd and ABP Southampton. The view is looking south, toward the Solent. The little dingy was added to give the ship scale. The grain silos are a land mark at Southampton docks and can be seen in the background, and are to be seen in some of my other paintings. The colour and reflections of the water were fun to paint, although quite difficult. Painted in 2010.

SS shieldhall at Southampton

Autumn trees in Palmerston Park, Southampton

Autumn trees in Palmerston Park, Southampton

This painting is of Palmerston Park, in Southampton, UK. It is named after the former Prime Minster the 3rd Viscount Palmerston. Autumn is well embedded, the sky clear and the light sharp. I was attracted to the combination of the colour of the trees and the vivid blue sky. The line of dead red leaves either side makes a nice border between the tarmac path and the green grass. It is painted on canvas in oils, measuring 20" x 16".

Palmerston Park Southampton

Boats at Weston Shore, Southampton, UK

Boats at Weston Shore, Southampton, UK

This painting depicts the area of Weston Shore, Southampton. The beach is covered in shingle, rather than sand but is a popular location for residents of the Southampton area. The large river (estuary) is the Solent and sees large commercial ships and passenger liners heading towards or away from Southampton, seen in the background. The distinctive tall grain silos of the docks can be seen on the left, located on the southernmost part of the dockyard area. Netley Abbey ruins are close by. The painting is created in oils, with an initial acrylic base layer. It is based on a number of photographs taken on a cold but sunny autumn afternoon. The large foreground boat, the sailing boat in the distance and the family on the beach were all photographed on the same day and location, but added later to the composition. Painted in 2012 on a 16" x 20" canvas.

Weston Shore

Barge on River Itchen, Northam, Southampton, UK

Barge on River Itchen, Northam, Southampton

This oil painting depicts the area of Northam, Southampton. It is the river Itchen, facing in the direction of Southampton. On the sky line can be seen cranes and in the centre can be seen the tower block that is featured in this painting of the area. On the left is the Northam Bridge, one of the first prestressed concrete bridges, built in the 1950s. The view is from the local boardwalk. The image is based on a photograph, and was a very cold and sunny day, quite late, during the winter months. The water was particularly still, like a mirror. The crane and barge have since been removed. The area is quite popular with photographers and although not a pretty location is still visually interesting. Many varieties of sea bird can be seen clearly from the location.

barge with crane on River Itchen, Northam.

Swans and Boats at Riverside Park Southampton

Swans & Boats at Riverside park, Southampton

This is painted in Acrylics on a 16" x 20" canvas. The subject is Riverside Park, on the outskirts of Southampton, Hampshire,UK. Plenty of swans can be seen on the featured river, known as the River Itchen. The water still has a large salt content at this stage and many sea birds can be seen as well as fresh water varieties. The area is popular with canoeists and yachtsmen using the water, and families and friends walking through the park or fishing from the banks of the River Itchen.
The painting is based on a number of poor quality mobile phone images, taken during a summer evening. A complete composition is built up in photoshop and then redrawn on the canvas.

Riverside Park Southampton

Bursledon windmill, Southampton, UK

Bursledon windmill, Southampton, UK

This is an oil painting of the working windmill at Bursledon, Southampton. It is the only working windmill in the county of Hampshire, UK, and is currently undergoing maintenance. It is hoped that the restoration will be complete in 2014, when the mill celebrates its 200th anniversary. Visitors are able to see flour being produced at Bursledon windmill, and view the other vintage farm buildings on the site, as well as the nature reserve.
This was painted in the winter of 2012 in oils on a canvas measuring 16" x 20". It is based on a photograph taken during September 2011. The image is quite timeless in a way, with nothing from the 20th century in the scene.
It was surprising to the artist to find that the windmill is painted in matt and gloss black paint, rather than a more 'woody' appearance. He believed that it could create a flat looking painting with the black colour reducing the amount of construction that could be shown, and meaning that the overall image would be dull. Fortunately the autumn light did help to show the form of the building however.

Bursledon Windmill, Southampton