My Painting Year 2018

My favourite paintings of the year

I wanted to write a summary of this years happenings....I have completed a whopping 160 paintings (not including the duffers and wipe offs!) quite a few more than last year - mainly because of the Venice trip. And it's not all about quantity I have been aiming for more quality pieces and a bit bigger in size too. 

This is the Instagram top 9 where an app counts the most likes for each painting, and then puts them in the top 9 order.....

Instagram Top 9 2018

I entered The Artist Magazine competition which exhibits the finalists at the Patchings Art festival in July. I won the Royal Talens award and received £250 worth of linen canvases! Plus The Artist Collection award - exhibiting with the top 10 finalist.

'Gateway to Bramshott Common' 10x10"
Wining painting exhibited the Patchings

One of my highlights this year was being accepted into the New English Art Club (NEAC) A prestigious exhibition held at The London Mall Galleries. They call themselves the contemporary impressionists which is how I see my work as well! This was the painting accepted.

'Silver Birch in Snow'  8x10"

In October I was part of the Chelsea Art Society annual open exhibition which has had many famous artists who have exhibited here including: Turner in the mid 19th Century, followed by Whistler, Sickert, Augustus John and John Singer Sargent, it's wonderful to be included in!

The Artist Magazine I have been reading this on off since the 80's! and have always wanted to write an article for them. This year I did that! Plus I'm now writing another for next summers edition.

My Article in Januarys The Artist Magazine :-)

Venice in September I was lucky enough to spend 30 days in this dream painting place! I felt truly inspired and even though it was exhausting to keep painting intensively the whole time, it was worth it and couldn't really get enough of the place! I producing 45 paintings. Plus some bigger pieces since I've got home.
I have already booked to go back next September for 21 days!

My Venice painting haul!

'Venetian Cafe' 30x30cm
Completed back home in the studio 

This small plein air I thought could go bigger and have more content so I tried an enlarged  version in the studio and I'm pleased with the outcome!

40x50cm Oil on Canvas Studio piece                                              9x12" Plein Air Sketch

I have decided to continue to blog for another year. It's been quite a challenge to keep on top of the posts, especially when I am producing a lot like when I was in Venice doing up to 4 a day! But I think it's still a beneficial process for me and hopefully those of you who read it.

News for next year
I am very excited to be doing my first solo exhibition in Chelsea, London next May. 
The Title is: London, Venice Coast & Country
Date: 14th-18th May 2019
Place: "The Studio” 73 Glebe Place, London, SW3 5JB 
If you would like an invitation to the Private View on the 14th please contact me. clare@clarebowen.co.uk
I will do a post about the show nearer the time.

Thank you for reading my blog posts and supporting me though this year. I hope to have you along for this coming year too!
With best wishes
Clare

#355 'Middle Ward, Windsor Castle' 12x16"

My first plein air competition! I found it quite nerve wracking to start with and didn't realise how big is would be with 100 artists! 
There were areas we were allowed to paint in the grounds and it had to be choose before hand - tricky if you've not been before! 
A stinking hot day with no where to shade & the reflecting heat from the walls and concrete made it unbearable at times. So I'm pleased with the outcome, it's also not what I'd usually choose to paint. The sky was lovely and the building silhouetted which made it hard to get the right tonal value and colours of the building. The people I think bring some life into it and it was soooo busy, an amazing amount of bodies go through this place. 
Spot me with some kids!

The size of the board was big and it being a new subject, it all felt out of my comfort! 
We had a pop up exhibition at the end where it was judged and even though its big for me my painting looked too small to stand out well.
No awards but a big learning and not sure whether I will enter again next year...time will tell!

A note to say I am painting two commissions at the moment in my studio, hence less posting on here but I will be back at it soon, lets hope the sun continues just a bit longer! Clare

News Update

There are certain land marks in an artist career and one of them for me is getting into the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) exhibition (& later be a member of their Society).

The ROI was founded in 1882 and is the only British Art Society that promotes work of the highest standard exclusively in oils.They hold an annual exhibition in the Mall Galleries in London.

I tried for the first time last year and had 2 paintings selected - which means through to the first round but didn't get hung in the show. 

Today I am going to the Mall Galleries because I've had 3 paintings selected, very excited! (see pic above) 

The first round is judged on line with digital images. The next stage is taking the framed paintings so they can judge to whether they are through into the exhibition! Oh my!

The last few days I have been painting the above frames and making them as good as I can, fingers crossed I hope to get one painting through!  I will let you know next week when I find out 😳

I have also been preparing for a Venice trip leaving Tuesday this week, for 6 nights. Really excited to be going to Venice and paint for the first time, I have been just once before in 2012 and wasn't doing outside painting then so just sketched. 

I have been making boards and more boards!! I don't want to run out. 

I hope to blog when I'm there, depending on if I get any time in between painting! Otherwise I will catch up at home.

Lastly back in the summer I won 2 prizes with the Artist Magazine one was with Royal Talens receiving £250 worth of art materials.  I choose Rembrandt which is artist quality paint, it arrived yesterday and the colours look amazing (I've not used them before), a bonus I can take some with me to Venice, yay!