jamesdonovanart

[jamesdonovanart]

Return to the Albany Gallery

I’ll be exhibiting some new paintings at the Albany Gallery from November 8th. The Albany Gallery gave me my first exhibition as a second-year student in 1996. I made the decision to move away in 1999, where an opportunity to exhibit alongside some of the artists I had studied proved too much for me to pass over at the time. Step forward 25 years and my work is returning to the walls that gave…

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New Commission, New Directions

I was recently asked to make NINE paintings. The choice of subject was mine but I was asked to make a nod to Parnham House in Sussex. Photo credit @jamesfearphotography (Instagram) Study for Parnham, acrylic on panel, 15x20cm Let me make it clear. I am no landscape painter, but this commission has stretched me to make images that I would usually ignore. The gallery below includes paintings of…

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New Studio

It’s been a labour of love making my new shed / studio. It’ll remind me of how I managed to do something positive during lockdown as well as giving me a push towards getting back on track with my painting ambitions. I love being a teacher, but I love making art more!

Here are my basic plans. I’m no woodworker but it wanted to make sure that I stuck to a plan.

All that hard work means that…

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Trailblazer, floating its way to Fosse Gallery this April

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New Work at Fosse Gallery

New Work at Fosse Gallery

I’ll be showing some new paintings as part of a group show at Fosse Gallery between 2-29 April. These new works see a return to using female figures following the majority of recent work including male characters. I often paint variations on a theme as I explore subject matter and don’t like to be tied down to any single process. I could try to devise an intelligent response as to why, but,…

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I’ve been working on some linocuts as a change from the norm. There’s something freeing about the action of carving, especially with the new Pfeil tools that I’ve invested in. Having chunky fingers and tubby thumbs does have its disadvantages, however…

Prints are available from Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff or directly from me. Please email jamesdonovanart@gmail.com if interested. Fresh Cuts I've been working on some linocuts as a change from the norm. There's something freeing about the action of carving, especially with the new Pfeil tools that I've invested in.

[jamesdonovanart]

Drawing...

Drawing…

I’ve been busy with some drawings recently.  My day job ( I teach art at a school in Merthyr) takes over in term time but I make sure there’s still time to draw in front of the telly!     Here are a couple of studies that I have on the go at the moment.        I use soft Caran D’ache watercolour pencils that provide a range of intense or soft tones that allow me to blend colours smoothly. Just…

[jamesdonovanart]

Cornwall

I’ve never been to Cornwall before, but I’ll be making the long drive to Lowe-Holland Gallery in Falmouth this weekend to deliver some paintings for their Summer show called ‘Radiant’, which starts on 1st July and continues until 30th August. Showing in new places has its perks –  I’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to looking in the local galleries and hope to come home with some fresh ideas…

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Jerram Gallery

I delivered some of my paintings to the Jerram Gallery in Sherborne, Dorset yesterday. It’s a beautiful space and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. The gallery will be uploading images of my work soon, but in the meantime I’ll put them here for you to look at:

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A Very Important Commission

I’ve painted plenty of commissions in my time, but when my wife asks for a painting, it’s top priority! Here’s a glimpse of what��s been happening on my easel during the past couple of weeks. It’s taking a while, but it’s a labour of love…

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Latest Works

Here’s a selection of some small pieces on paper that I’ve been working on:

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Galleries Added

I’ve been trying to make my website more user-friendly by adding archives of my work in what I hope is a more streamlined fashion. Sorry if things appear to be haphazard. It’s safe to say that I’m not technically gifted when it comes to this sort of thing. But I’m trying … :)

[jamesdonovanart]

A belated Happy New Year to you! Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff will be showing some small paintings from January 15th. For more details, visit www.kooywoodgallery.com

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One of the paintings included is ‘Cock-a-Hoop’. I was honoured to accept a request by poet Jonathan Edwards to use this painting as the cover image for his heartfelt and unashamedly nostalgic collection of poems entitled ‘My Family and Other Superheroes’. What is even better is that Jonathan was awarded the 2014 Costa Poetry Prize, a fantastic achievement that now sees him shortlisted for the Costa Book of the Year.

It’s been great to see the national coverage aimed at Jonathan’s achievements, especially since every time they focus on the book, it’s got my painting on it!

  New Work Available A belated Happy New Year to you! Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff will be showing some small paintings from January 15th.

[jamesdonovanart]

Painting Up a Storm The weather is really playing a part in my paintings at the moment. Stormy skies, wind and rain have really kicked in during the past few weeks, and without thinking I've included similar themes.

[jamesdonovanart]

Ticking Along

Busy making work for various galleries this week. I’ll give more details soon about where I’m sending these paintings. You can see them in progress via my Instagram feed – follow me @jamesdonovanart

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Bird http://wp.me/s2DrBn-bird Well on my way to finishing my latest painting! Leaving it for the night. I'll make a decision about the type of bird that will perch on the boat tomorrow.

[jamesdonovanart]

Juggling Act

I’m back in school, so it’s safe to assume that I haven’t done a lot of my own drawing, painting or printing this week. What I have been able to do is plan. Planning’s great up until the time when you have to do something with the ideas that you’ve had, so I’m attempting to break s gender stereotype and do more than one thing at once. This has involved sketching on notepads (when I get the time to…