Skyline 2

Lionel I'm sorry I missed your birthday yesterday, a belated Happy Birthday!! Congratulation on the completion of your course, no wonder you haven't had the time or inclination to paint....perhaps now you can relax and get back in to it. It was certainly well worth the trouble of re-photographing your paiting as this version is my favourite. I love that sky.....huge, heavy and superbly painted. Love the touch of orange/yellow in the clouds and the cloud shadow on the buildings. It's another super painting Lionel!

This photo is so much more dramatic Lionel.

Great sky. Great line .

Belated happy birthday, Lionel. I fear I didn't know. What are you now - 31? 32? If you like painting skies, take a look at one of our current masters - www.kenbushe.co.uk. He paints in oils, and very occasional watercolour sketches, Acrylic can be difficult, because of the blending problem, but I think the difficulty has been talked up a bit by those trying to flog interactives. However - I've always been a cynic. Have you seen the work of Roger Bansemer, the US artist, who very often uses acrylic? Worth a look. Like your painting, anyway - and as I've said before: of all those on POL, I think you're the one who has made the greatest progress since your first postings - you're a one-man testament to the usefulness of the site.

Thinking about it a touch more, you and Paulette - it's been really encouraging to see the growth in confidence, maturity and skill in your and her work.

Thank you Fiona - extremely kind as usual!! When can we expect another pic? Thanks Carole - I'm glad you like it. I've left the first posting on site just to show how deceptive the photograph can be! And thank you Sian for your kind comment. I always appreciate your comments, Robert, and the ones above are particularly encouraging. Thank you so much for them and for the reference to the "sky" artists. I will certainly follow them up. I wish the 31 or 32 age was correct. Actually, it's 78. I took up painting after I retired when I discovered Bob Ross on daytime TV. I know a lot of people deride Ross but there is no escaping the fact that he has got a lot of people picking up a brush who would otherwise have never considered it. Again, thank you all for your continued encouragement. Another sky is in the pipeline! (Is that possible?).

Yes, the sky is really dramatic in this one. It packs a punch. I shall have a look at the link Robert has left. I have been struggling to get started as well; a virus which is still lingering after 3 weeks, and now these awfully dark days. I have tinkered this afternoon and had to resort to putting my daylight (BIO daylight) bulb on to see what I was doing. I suppose that kills two birds with one stone; the ability to see and perhaps better humour!

Happy belated birthday, Lionel! Both paintings are lovely, but personally I think I like the first one better. It has a lighter atmosphere, which resonates with me. Merely personal taste. I think you should keep both in your gallery as they're both good. They will speak to different people differently.

Very atmospheric - love the dark sky with the colourful buildings against it and the shafts of light. I have seen the paler version, but this one is better and, as you say, truer to the original. I find photographing paintings a nightmare, especially at this time of year when the light is bad. I end up flitting all over the house holding a painting, trying to find the perfect spot to get a decent photo of it. As soon as I find somewhere good, a large dark cloud comes over and I am back to square one. I would love to own an A3 scanner, which would get over the whole wretched problem.

I like it.