Before the Concert

Great vibrant feel in this one, Derek - I think it's better with the old underpainting, gives it texture. Why buy a new board, when you can reuse a discarded painting, only to end up with a really good result?

Thanks muchly Pat

This is really good Derek. The colour works, like music.

This is brilliant Derek

Beautiful subject very well rendered, Derek.

Cheers John, Russell and Cesare

Superb

Cheers mate

Wow! A great effect Derek. Full of colour and atmosphere.

Thanks Sarah

Well it's worked really well! Makes me think you have somehow depicted the music as well.

Thanks Shirley, yes I was tapping or nodding to the swing behind me.

Very striking Derek. Wanted to put a Derek-like comment but couldn't think of anything to query!!! Besides I like waiting for your responses - it's almost a challenge.

Adele - I trust you are not thinking of me in a regular appraiser/critic mode, when you say Derek-like comment. This forum does welcome comments and constructive words about the images posted and that is what I aim at. Hopefully I am not upsetting you or any other contributors. I am plain speaking (from Darlo what d'you expect?) but I say what I think needs to be said in the nicest possible way. Some months back I did cross swords with another artist in here and I got upset, but then I found he had a reputation of being stroppy, not liking crits etc and thinking himself a GREAT artist and no one else would understand, Got a lot of back up from many in here, now not hardly heard from him. I am in admiration of your work, don't worry. Thanks for you comments on this piece, I do rather like it.

Amazing.....

Thanks Peter

This is great Derek, lovely composition and colours.

Excellent scene setting. Much nore exciting than landscape I am sure!

This is excellent Derek...love it!

You have a knack of coming up with the unusual Derek, brilliant piece indeed.

Love your comments Derek. I await them in great anticipation. Actually I will be putting on a painting that has been hanging on my wall for a couple of years and I said to Chas "Gosh the little building is floating off the ground - Derek is going to comment" Had me rushing to find the original photo and realised the front of it is not attached to the ground! Whew!!

I love this piece Derek, and it's a subject close to my heart. I play in an eight piece swing band in Bournemouth. Agree with all comments here. The painting is vibrant and atmospheric, and I want to get up and play! I've been putting off tackling this subject because I know I would get bogged down with detail (all that brass tubing!....Nightmare!!!!) Beautifully done Derek!

Lovely work Derek, great composition and colours.

Love this arrangement Derek, great colour too.

This is great, Derek! It has all the atmosphere in it! It is brilliant. I can feel the atmosphere here and hear the Auditorium filling up! Very, very clever!!

Cheers Jenny, Gudrun, Fiona, Alan, Adele, Bob, David, Carole and Jennifer. Bob the trick is not to paint every instrument, just a mark, The viewer reads it. Adele I look forward to a building not attached to the groud.

It's great to see musical instruments let alone hearing them. I was in town the other day and the only real instrument I heard was a busker playing a violin. And at a concert with the BBC Big Band recently the theatre was half empty, what is happening?

Thanks Fred I put it down to the modern and growing larger trend of streaming music online, the damn mobiles and the way of the youth today. We are going to a BSO concert this week and the Portsmouth Guildhall will not be full, most there will be blue rinse brigade.

What an interesting painting, original and intriguing. Do you sand the old painting down and then gesso it?

No not at all Caroline thanks, straight on with the paint.