Manchester Blue – Digital Prints

Manchester Blue – Original Painting

About the Image:

Where to begin describing the Etihad stadium featured in this Manchester City Stadium painting? A place dear to the heart of the supporters.A building designed with crowds all football fans in mind . The numerous spiralling walkways that lead into or out of the ground. The blue wall lists the names of supporters, in recognition of what really makes anything great. The body of loyal fans who turn up, come rain or shine, to witness success or defeat all in the name of the beautiful game and Manchester City football team.

The stadium dominates the image. The arc of the roof spangled with fireworks like speckles of light blue against the indigo darkness. Structure and form mark out stadium below. The walls of glass tinting them green and yellow in an otherwise blue scene. A lone speck of red on the team’s crest., in recognition of their Lancashire heritage. The golden yellow ship hinting at the ship canal and Manchester’s trading past. Then the date 1894 when the team was formed. The Etihad stadium is a relatively recent edition to the City’s history, Moving there from it’s old Maine road ground in 2003.

If you look at the windows you’ll see reflections of the supports, with long cables taught under the weight, and adding a hint of delicacy to an otherwise solid structure.

The paint is applied in swathes of texture, with ink layered on top in energetic squiggles, like the weaving of a footballer dribbling the ball across the pitch, with a view to reaching the goal.

Signs are everywhere.  “Welcome to Manchester City” is emblazoned above the East stand entrance. Above that the Etihad stadium and the team’s crest, while other less distinct notices direct the flow of the crowd.

In the foreground tubs of shrubs soften the scene.Not in a way that will limit the fans access but will protect them from a surge of crowds keen to be inside in time for Kick off  Or hurrying to get home or to the pub. Then continues the celebration or commiseration with fellow fans. Either way this is a place where memories are made. Hopes won or lost, for those who live and breathe Manchester City, THE football team.

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Creation: The original picture Manchester Blue was initially drawn with pencil onto watercolour paper on board. These lines were then drawn over using masking fluid and then painted using watercolour paint and acrylic ink. Salt was also used in the process and some of the ink blown around using a straw. Once the painting was dry the masking fluid was removed to reveal the finished painting.