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Inspiration from Artists Week 41 : Ray Blackwell and John McCombs

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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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I tried to,load this one before but it would not let me , Saddleworth clog dance.
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Lewis Cooper

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What a fine artist, and new to me.  He has a linear element in his work that appeals.   For me, it's usually the figure work that attracts the most, but I find this artists landscapes equally impressive.
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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He is a fine artist Lew I’m the opposite to you I go for the landscapes first , however I do really like his portraits and figures very pleasing to look at. 
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Martin Cooke

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Great choice: really excellent landscapes.  Marjorie, funny how you should mention it, because some of the landscapes/townscapes immediately put me in mind of Holmfirth and the surrounding area (I used to live quite close in Thurlstone). I also like the way the portraits/figures have a highly-simplified relatively flat background to enhance and also contrast with the figure(s). 
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Marjorie Firth

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The second one down ( above) , because of the position of the children, reminds me of Joan Eardley’s work, but we can always see influences in every artist’s work.
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Marjorie Firth

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The second one down ( above) , because of the position of the children, reminds me of Joan Eardley’s work, but we can always see influences in every artist’s work.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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You know - no, we don't know: why would we know? - settle down and I'll tell you: you know, of all the painters who have been subjects of this thread, the one whose work I'd like on my wall more than any other is John McCombs. I wouldn't pass a Ray Balkwill with an indifferent sniff, either, but McCombs has a palette, and a way with light, that so far as I see things is unique; we all do see things in slightly different ways, so the scientific community tells us, but for me it's Corot for the nineteenth century, Kyffin Williams and McCombs for the twentieth into the twenty-first.  Oh, and an Alan Bickley would be a nice thing to have as well.  But that would be greedy.  
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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You have very good taste in your choices Robert. Do do agree with a Bickley on the wall, at the risk of embarrassing Alan he is a excellent artist and I think very modest with it, and I say this without trying to butter Mr B up. 

Tessa Gwynne

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I agree you have good taste Robert! I think because I paint (occasionally!) I don’t particularly look to buy art, but I have come very close with John McCombs work, especially his landscapes, and am still hoping I may get one sometime. 
Croft Castle drive, Autumn

Hilary Forbes

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I really like John McCombs work, especially his landscapes and I wasn't familiar with his work either, so thank you for the introduction!
Croft Castle drive, Autumn

Hilary Forbes

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The second artist for the thread this week is Ray Balkwill, SWAc.  He is a well known West Country artist who paints in watercolour, oils and mixed media, and is a strong advocate for painting 'en plein air.' Born in Exeter in 1948, he spent his childhood in a small market town on the edge of Dartmoor. He writes that his passion for nature as well as art goes back to this time, and the 'freedom, mystery and unpredictability (of this landscape) has stayed with him ever since.' He graduated from Exeter College of Art, and then went on to make a career in advertising as an art director. He painted in his spare time, and by 1990 such was the demand for his paintings that he was able to leave his job and become a professional artist. He has had numerous solo exhibitions, and has been a regular contributor to art publications, including several articles for 'The Artist' magazine, a few years ago. He has also been the author and co-author of several art, and art instruction books. I find his use of mixed media fascinating especially his use of pastels over watercolour, which he uses to great effect. I like his loose, expressive but direct style of painting, and the way he captures light and colour as seen in his beautiful, atmospheric paintings of the Exe Estuary.
Croft Castle drive, Autumn

Hilary Forbes

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'The Otter Estuary' watercolour and pastel 'Sun and Shade, Looe.' Oil painting. 'Dartmoor.' mixed media 'Coneen, Ireland'. watercolour and pastel "Sun and Shade, Looe.' Oil painting
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