As the year draws to a close, here are six of my favourite paintings created in my studio this year. One for each month up until June. I’ll share the six from rest of the year later this week.
January
Library Vibes
You can’t see music although artists have tried to show it. if I were to try to describe this busker’s music, it would talk of warm, rich colours, fusions of mellow browns and golds. The colours are rich and deep, like the music from the saxaphone. The musician was deep in thought, focusing on making glorious sounds come out of the belly of the Golden Horn. Although it may have been silver, I can’t remember, and the photo is ambiguous. I’m choosing gold because it suits the sounds and my memory of the scene.
February
Tower Bridge
Iconic Landmark
Tower Bridge, probably the most famous bridge in the world. Talk of London and its architecture and the distinctive Thames landmark will be mentioned soon enough. Built to solve the increasing traffic problems of a city with a large river running through it.
March
Christ Church from St Aldates
Tom Tower dominates St Aldates. Honey stonework weathered by the elements. In a city full of landmark architecture, it reigns supreme as the icon of Oxford.
April
Hay's Galleria
Standing in a darkened portal, we look towards the Thames through Hay’s Galleria. Under the archway that frames a brilliant scene. Golden colour lights up the whole painting. Drawing your eyes, through light festooned arches, to the blue sky beyond. Perhaps you are attracted to the clock face, suspended mid air on barely visible chains?
May
Flaming Piper
When someone uses a set of Bagpipes as a flame thrower, it’s an impressive sight, and one I was keen to capture. Sadly, I didn’t get the money shot as he’d stopped flaming when I took the photo, but that didn’t stop me from letting imagination fill in the blanks.
June
Balliol Door
The lone figure strolls past the Balliol door, deep in conversation on her phone.
She pushes a blue bike, one that matches her phone. Her face is obscured. She focuses on that all important call. We can’t tell if she’s as a student or just a regular citizen, about her business. Oxford is an old city, with so many narrow streets and alleys that it is often quicker to walk or cycle from A to B. Rather than use a car or the bus.
So is your favourite among them? Join me on New Year’s Eve when I share Six of the Best from the latter half of 2022.