A painting that took a long time to paint!

"Twilight Settles on the Moors"

It can be very rewarding to take a fresh and honest look at your work every now and again.I began work on this painting two years ago. I framed it and it featured in two large exhibitions under the name 'Full Circle' I had named it thus because it was a return to the subject of my very first paintings - the North Yorkshire Moors. I was pleased with the result and especially liked the subtlety of the sky reflected in the moorland. However when it came back to me I began to have a vague unease about the piece. I hung it in a very prominent position where I could look at it frequently. Gradually it dawned on me that although very meaningful to me the painting had very few points of reference for anyone else, in fact not to put too fine a point on it - it was very mundane, even boring! Here it is though the photo is not quite true to the original:

"Full Circle"

I decided to see if I could add some interest to it so bravely took it out of the frame and taped it onto my easel. It was surprisingly easy to add the sheep. Because I only use transparent colours I could wash out the pale background and carefully paint them in. Then I highlighted the vivid purples of the heather so abundant just now and added a couple of flying grouse. Suddenly the painting came to life and became the essence of the fabulous North Yorkshire Moors. I thought it deserved a new title. Anyway if anyone asks me how long it took me to paint this I can truthfully reply..."Two years and forty minutes!"

Have a look at more paintings of the North Yorkshire Moors by Glenn Marshall

"Sheep and Snow on the Yorkshire Moors"

I am doing a large watercolour as a wedding gift for a lovely couple. This is a preparatory sketch focussing on the sheep which are an integral component of the eventual painting. I wanted to work on the sheep but it always better to put them in the context of a painting so I can make sure they look right and what better location than the Yorkshire Moors in winter. Now the acknowledged master of sheep and snow paintings is one Joseph Farquharson. He was a Victorian painter who specialised in just that subject and also a bit of a character to say the least. He was a Scottish Laird who was very famous in his time and a member of the Scottish Royal Academy. But how the other half lives. He was a plein air painter but working outdoors in a Scottish winter was not going to be easy. However being a laird and money no object he soon devised a working method. He had a carriage made with a studio inside complete with stove and a copious supply of single malt to keep out the cold. He would be towed to his preferred site and could paint 'outdoors' in warmth and comfort. He even had life size models of sheep made so he could arrange them where he wanted rather than go to the bother of having to make quick sketches in case they moved! Whichever way you look at it I reckon he was a very cool customer. I haven't got a carriage or models of sheep so I will just have to make do with the single malt.

More Winter paintings by Glenn Marshall

Hole of Horcum

"Hole of Horcum"

This engagingly simple little watercolour (15” x 12” approximately) has quite a tale to tell and also gives valuable insight into my early works. The origins of the painting were formed during a memorable visit to the Hole of Horcum one cold (very cold!) winter’s day with two artist friends – Tony Hogan and fellow exhibitor Rob Gobel. It was so cold but we parked up and crossed the road to paint “en plein air”. I remember I was wearing fingerless mittens and my hands were freezing. We shivered our way through a sketch and then incredibly decided to get the paints out. We were stood on the edge of the steep drop and people must have thought we were mad. The paint just would not dry on the paper so we abandoned the attempt and beat a hasty retreat to a warm and welcoming pub in Pickering. However the scene stayed with me and using the original sketch I produced this somewhat fanciful painting. The floor of the valley was lit up but I exaggerated the effect giving me a rather contemporary effect. This so called ‘contemporary’ effect enabled me to get into the prestigious Blake Gallery in York when I painted a copy of this but double the size and it eventually sold. Of the two paintings this is the best because of the spontaneity involved as I worked my way through what I wanted to portray. It contains lots of elements of my early style such as the very loose sky painted with the board on its side so the wet clouds ran in the direction I wanted. This then is a reminder of happy days gone by and I am very pleased to be able to include it here in the ‘Three Journeys’ Exhibition.

See more from 'Three Journeys'

An Optimistic Painting.....

"Signs of Spring"

This 20" x 16" watercolour will feature as part of my upcoming 'Three Journeys' Exhibition at Bridlington Spa from 1st August to the 2nd September. Like all my paintings it is based on a real place and in this case an old sketch of Skipwith Common in North Yorkshire. As the largest expanse of heathland bog left in the North it can be pretty bleak in winter. However this was always intended as an optimistic painting because even though it is clearly still very 'wintery' there are signs of warmer days for the discerning viewer. The snow is beginning to melt and the ice on the pool is breaking up so Spring is definitely on its way. Soon the silver birch will spring to life and the whole area will be transformed into a scene of warmth and colour. Isn't Mother Nature just fair grand (to be said with a Yorkshire accent please)!

"Three Journeys" - Art Exhibition at Bridlington Spa

Me, Penny and Rob

Three artists…. three mediums….three different journeys will be on show at the Gallery@theSpa Bridlington from 1^st August to the 2nd September 2015. Appropriately entitled “Three Journeys” the exhibition will feature the edgy mixed media water based work of Rob Gobel, the sublime Scottish colourist style oils of Penny McLean and the distinctive watercolours of Glenn Marshall. All three are proud to live here in the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds but their art has travelled to admirers all over the world.

From traditional to colourful expressionism Rob brings life to the Yorkshire Coast, Wolds, Towns and further afield. Travelling widely, absorbing the light, space and colours of open landscape, he produces mixed media paintings mostly done ‘plein air’. This is easier in the warmer climates of France and Scandinavian summers than the challenge of painting the East Coast of Yorkshire in the biting winds of winter!

Penny studied at the Edinburgh College of Art before going into teaching. Inspired by the Scottish painter’s love of colour, texture and expressive brushwork reflecting nature’s natural rhythm in the landscape she realised the techniques could be applied anywhere from the clear light of the Mediterranean to the gentle light of Yorkshire. Even if a scene is not spectacular in the accepted sense Penny proves there is much to see whether it’s the mood, colour, light, patterns or textures all beautifully captured in her oil paintings.   

Glenn fell into art – literally. After suffering a life changing accident in 1999 he took up watercolour brushes mainly to pass time while convalescing. To his surprise he made rapid progress in developing his own style and by 2003 he was selling paintings all over Yorkshire in Galleries and Exhibitions. Since then he has exhibited in London, New York, Houston and Montreal and continues to work on his ‘paintings of light’ using his own unique watercolour palette. 

 Throughout the exhibition it will be possible to meet all three artists at different times to discuss their work, explain their methods and pass on the odd tip or two. Why not come and have a look for yourself at the exciting and innovative “Three Journeys” – you will not be disappointed. 

Three Journeys

I am pleased to be exhibiting with two close colleagues this year at the Gallery@theSpa in Bridlington. The exhibition is entitled ‘Three Journeys’ and features the mixed media of Rob Gobel, the picturesque oils of Penny McLean and yours truly. The exhibition runs from 1^st August all the way through to the 2^nd September. The gallery is open daily from about 10.00 am to 4.30 pm and admission is free. At least one of us will be at the gallery most days but just contact me if you have a specific date in mind and I’ll try to be there to meet up.

From traditional to colourful expressionism Rob brings life to the Yorkshire Coast, Yorkshire Wolds and further afield. Travelling widely and absorbing the light, space and colours of open landscape he produces mixed media painting done mostly “en plein air”. This is easier done in the warmer climes of France or a Scandinavian summer than the challenge of painting the East Coast of Yorkshire in the biting winds of winter!

Penny studied at the Edinburgh College of Art before going into teaching. Inspired by the Scottish painter’s love of colour, texture and expressive brushwork reflecting nature’s natural rhythms in the landscape she realised the techniques could be applied anywhere from the clear light of the Mediterranean to the gentle light of Yorkshire. Even if a scene is not spectacular in the accepted sense Penny proves there is much to see whether it’s the mood, colour, light, patterns or textures all beautifully captured in her oil paintings.

Me…I fell off a ladder and paint watercolours!

Wet Road, Woldgate

Wet Road, Woldgate

I love Yorkshire and am proud to be a Yorkshireman. I was born in the West Riding, spent sixteen years in the North Riding and have now lived here in the East Riding for the past seven years. They all have their own attractions but there is one thing in common. Sometimes it rains. Yes I have to admit that the sun does not always shine on God's Own county. But of course rain does not mean an artist can't find some wonderful things to paint. Woldgate is the road made famous by David Hockney in his 'Bigger Picture' at the Royal Academy.I have travelled on it many times and it never fails to inspire. This was the scene between heavy showers when the overcast sky and reflections in the road transformed this fairly mundane scene into something special. I worked with a very limited palette and subdued tones to try and capture the sogginess of the afternoon. I think I succeeded and hope it encourages you to see things differently on your next rainy day.

Click to see more paintings - some wet some dry!