Painters Online

????????? www.painters-online.co.uk 60 October 2020 artist p ProArte Award Mike Barr Town Hall Bus Stop, acrylic, 17¾ 3 11¾in (45 3 30cm). Mike likes to paint what he knows and says he knows this bus stop very well: ‘Every morning for many years I caught my second bus to work. In the rain and semi- darkness the rain produces some amazing atmospheric scenes of people scurrying to work and school. ‘Working in acrylic, I have found it best to work quickly, just like watercolours. The MDF board was sealed and textured at the same time and this shows in the final painting. Hanging around and blending too much can ruin the feeling of liveliness. The texture and broad brushstrokes certainly animated the painting and I was happy with the result. It sold almost straight away and won this great award! Town Hall Bus Stop was painting number 55 in my three-month daily painting regime this year.’ www.mikebarrfineart.com t GreatArt & The Artist Exhibition Awards Philippa Powell Chilli Jam & Cheese, oil on board, 8 3 8in (20 3 20cm). Philippa comments: ‘With no formal training but after many years learning to create through trial and error I have reached a very enjoyable point in my painting life. I am very lucky to have a painting buddy. We set off across the fields en plein air in warm weather but when it turns chilly we can be found in our warm kitchens. Chilli Jam & Cheese is a result of one of these enjoyable sessions, the subject of which was provided by my friend. We sometimes consume the subject after!’ www.philippa-powell.co.uk p ColArt/Winsor & Newton & The Artist Exhibition Awards Jonathan Mitchell Autumn Light, CaddamWood, oil, 18 3 23½in (45 3 60cm). Jonathan tells us: ‘I`ve been working fulltime as an artist since 1990 when I graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. My inspiration is derived primarily from places I visit (both rural and urban) in my native Scotland. ‘I am very much interested in depicting light, as illustrated in this painting, which features the type of contre jour lighting scheme I enjoy; the viewpoint is looking straight into the sun which generates heightened tonal contrasts, strong cast shadows and silhouetted forms. ‘ Autumn Light, CaddamWood was painted from a photograph I took last October in the woods of that name to the north of Kirriemuir, County Angus. I`m not much interested in photography other than as a means of creating a painting, but it is important to me that the photo I use as reference is one taken by myself. I find it unrewarding to paint a landscape which I haven’t experienced first hand. So, whilst I am very much a studio-based artist, I share with the plein-air painter the desire to evoke something of the sense of place we experience when we are at large in the world around us.’ www.jonathanmitchellartworks.com