the colour and shape

finally... a website!!

2011-12-17T15:31:00.000-08:00

please have a look at my fresh rough website attempt ....

http://www.steffanjohnsonfineart.com/

'The Moses' study in Nitram Charcoal.

2011-11-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

A bargue plate drawing of the right arm of ''The Moses'' (c. 1513–1515) is a sculpture by the Italian High Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti...the right arm holding the Law tablets...from this angle you can't see the whole arm..http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/artwork.php?artworkid=12927...so Bargue kindly left a record of it through drawing it..

a charcoal copy of Bargue's plate 1, 24. ''Arm of Moses' (in the book).
extract from the book : ''the strong right arm of Moses holds the Tablet of the Laws in its hand.''

first complete bargue with Nitram charcoal sticks, they are really top quality...have been off with man flu so given me chance to have a go with the charcoal. good bye pencil's me thinks!

on the easel at the mo...Cast oil study of Michelangelo's David. ( the right eye)

2011-10-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

something on the studio burner at the mo..semi finished..got the main stuff in but the tweaking starts and as my sanity ends...

' Cast study of Michelangelo's David' .30 x 40 cm.

(used sight size method for measurements).

oil portrait of Dad. 'Graham'

2011-09-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas study of M. Ginsburg's study of 'Emily'

2011-08-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas study of M. Ginsburg's study of 'Emily'....

Gondolier John Singer Sargent -- American painter 1881-1882

2011-08-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

a day study of Sargent's incredible painting.

2011-08-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

2011-08-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

a step closer to finish with 'the view towards Lower Machen and its Toll House'.....

2011-07-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

16 x 8 oil on linen. (the top half of the painting isn't so dark..my canon digital hand held isn't really ideal for taking photo's of work I'm afraid!)

broad haven for the weekend..then back to lower machen to continue with the work in the field..and the view towards the village.

2011-07-05T09:45:00.001-07:00

The first is the lovely coastline of Broad Haven looking towards the cove. words can't describe the beauty of sitting by the coast and lost in the view of the endless ocean with brush in hand.

both are works in progress, but you get an update of what I'm working on at the moment.

the second is the view towards the village in the Wheat field near lower Machen, where the path carries on to Michaelstone-y-Fedw. again another prime spot, lost among the grass with a wonderful view back to the village.

latest work...outdoors in the drizzle..the place to be with an easel and brush

2011-06-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

view to the mountian from the viaduct near Machen run.

2011-06-12T01:43:00.000-07:00

angry farmers , and the Run

2011-06-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

Been a while since I've written anything on my blog, so thought I'd get busy with my typing fingers.

Met a lady who was doing water colours near Wyhndam Terrace (?) a few days ago, and she had been out all morning, painting in the shade, and painting the street with the church and the flowers drooping over the fence. It was good to chat with a local artist ( a rare breed) and find out her background in teaching art in further education colleges. Well since then I've been an eager beever to get outside and with the summer's weather its been ideal to get out the fields..which was enjoyable until a irrate farmer told me to move on as it was hay bayling time.. so rather than suffer the wrath of his tractor's rottars I moved on back to the wooded area, locally called the Run. Machen has its history and this wooded area bears the scars of the heavy industry Machen used to know. It was a pleasure painiting in the run and meeting inquisitive dog walker after dog walker and bumping into friends. I've posted up a photo of the afternoons work, so hope that you like and hope I captured something of the feeling of being in the Run.

So, with the Summer ahead of us, its time to say good bye studio and hello Plein Air!

the easter still life drawings in paint.

2011-05-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

new photo of old painting...

2011-03-30T12:54:00.001-07:00

Oak and Sheep near Michaelstone - y Fedw

2011-03-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

Old Old Oak, near Lower Machen

2011-03-08T08:56:00.000-08:00

Machen Oak near Lower machen, near Draethen.

2011-03-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

a finished shot. here you'l noticed I finished the house, established the cast shadow of the oak, and clarified the light hitting the tree.

I felt it would be easier to start again on the tree as the tone families and shadows were getting a bit lost and I was confused as to where I was, so rather than fiddle, I figured starting again, and at the same time working on edges and losing as much of the hadrness of the branches that was necessary.

I took this on the side as to see what I was trying to do in blurring the edges and fuzzing the sky and clouds around the branch / tree edges.

start back into clouds and softening branches. re working tones of background bushes.

second post on Hollow Oak tree near Draethen , Lower Machen , study.

2011-03-01T15:25:00.001-08:00

modeling field and cont with softening clouds. next sessions is to grey the colour of the warm browns on tree and soften branshes and makes sure the tones on them are correct. also, darken hedge, it catches too much attention. and ...also, take a better photo! thanks for looking. more to follow.

notice the cast shadow at bottom right of tree. cast shadows the darkest shadow, and in this painting, its the darkest area.

into. warm red umber into tree (too much so will have to dumb down colour). looking at the 'look' of the tree's branches. does the way the light hit the tree make sense? are the tones corect, does the form turn?

cont. with big form modeling of tree and sky.

starting to break down things using tone but introducing colour ( oak mostly BU ) . the field has been patched in. continuing soften hedges, and branches. introducing colour into mid / light tones in the background.

same old oak, different angle, different posture. progress in stages.

2011-03-01T14:58:00.001-08:00

dead colouring stage/local colour. start planning out colours and where they should be. start puting down a flad bed of colour (or trying to) . notice tree - here I've started the 'big form modeling stage' ( creating a '3d effect' put simply...modeling the 3 family tones. remeber - stay in those 3 families - create a unity of tone.
the background - is lightest. as the view receeds, things get brighter - look out on a grey day and notice the tone shifts as well as the saturation of colour. this is vitally important.

I was taught that nature cheats, - and so the human brain has to order the choas of tone and colour in front of you when your painting and process all that info - into creating an illusion on canva.s that is basically painting/drawing! so there are rules you have to abide by in order to 'talk in paint' . the old masters where MASTERS in ordering what they saw in from of them , into masses and lines of tonal colour on the canvas in front of them.

I've also started the sky here. the lightest tones are low. I don't know what I do with skys, but clouds are fun. watch them, and think of them in paint as you drive your car. watch the shapes move and the study you get in tone from a cloud are second to none.

(the Burnt umber white/ campitura colour are all part of the first stage - the drawing in/monochromatic stage were i break down light/darks and start to bring the tonal families into play. start breaking it from 2 tone - dark /light to 3 tone - light , mid , dark. all staying in the monochromatic stage. no colour.

starting to plan the compostion and feel of the piece. asking myself, what do i want it to feel like? were are th cool/ warm areas? were is the darkest darks and the lightest lights going to be? what colours do I want to use? what do i want to use form the photo, what don't I want to use?

I then soften edges were they need to be soft and start breaking down the drawing into light / dark areas. I use bristly brushes and turps to soften the drawing and get nice fuzzy areas.

the beginning of the process. I transfer drawing from drawing with a grid, I grwid up canvas and enlarge the drawing, se everything is in its right place. this is the longwinded and drawn out part. I use burnt umber and turps.

machen Oak ..near the Mad Mile, Lower machen

2011-03-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

my old buddy the oak tree near lower machen. He's been hanging out in this field for a long time, asked him if he'd be ok if I painted him ever now and again. He liked his warm brown coat, he was getting tired of his old grey winter coat. He said I could come back again and paint him, so I did. That post will be up as soon as i finish with the art work. oil on linen.

art work from the last few months ...

2010-12-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

a still life based on the theme of the Senses.

a Bargue study. Pencil.

still from a commissioned piece 'the beach of 'Llanbedrog near Pwllheli, near Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw.' Painting, Oil on Canvas. 50 x 70

Detail of 'Llanbedrog near Pwllheli, near Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw.' Painting, Oil on Canvas. 50 x 70

Still life with Bronze Bucket and Eggs. 40 x 60. Painting, Oil on Canvas.

The Broken Violyn' Still Life' Painting, Oil on Canvas.

A drawing based an David Grey's portraits 'http://www.davidgrayart.com/#goto=figure-archive&viewimage=5 of figures wearing turbans. A truly stunning painter. You can find more of his work on the website previously mentioned.

Commissioned drawing for a friend , who is in involved in a Karate stance.

Another commission drawing based on Kick Boxing. Red Chalk on Grey Paper.

recent drawings and paintings in progress..

2010-10-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

Daniel and the Lion's Den. A copy from a painting of Briton Riviere.

A torso studio from George Bargue plate.

A head studio of a Bargue plate.

A horse study from a photo.

As we were walking through a field by the river not far from where I live, we came accroos this perfectly flat field, covered with sheep grazing around this solidatary Oak tree. Those lonely oaks that you can find in this area are really good subject matter full of character and unchanged by time or weakened by adverse weather. Real stand out characters.

pencil study from photo.

A revisited painting by request by Oriel Plas glyn y Weddw. Llanbedrog beach. the huts and the sweeping beach with the backdrop of the Snowdonian hills are a place worth spending long summer days at.

2010-09-27T01:52:00.000-07:00

Bruno. Graphite on paper.

Cast painting. 'Carpeaux' .oil on canvas. unfinished.

'Forgiven' A copy of Thomas Blackshear's painting. Graphite on paper.

We are the sinners. We have all lied, cheated, stole, broken the 10 commandments, you may have broken one in the last hour! Thats what'l keep us out of heaven, because God is just, and He is fair, and because He's just and Fair, He has to punish our sins. But thats why Jesus came, to pay the 'Just Judge' by taking our sin on himself. Thats what this picture is about.

are you good enough for heaven? Have a look at this test to find out.

http://www.areyouagoodperson.org/

Jesus died for us, so that we can live forgiven, in a relationship with the God of gods. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us our sin. it was love for us that nailed him to the cross.

and we can know that love and live with that joy in our hearts if we confess and believe in what Jesus did for us. there's a peace which comes from heaven itself if we know that Prince of Peace in our lives. Jesus.

Oscar. Graphite on paper

A copy of 'The Road to the Cross by Brian Jekel' Graphite on paper.

A copy of 'Samson's youth 1891, a painting by Léon Bonnat.

Sins of the Fathers. A study of, from Kirk Richards painting.

http://www.kirkrichards.com/kr_painting_pgs/sins_of_fathers.htm

value studies from the george bargue plates of drawings from plaster casts :

value studies from the george bargue plates of drawings from plaster casts

Gwen. My niece!

Llanbedrog beach. Near Porthmadog.

value studies from the george bargue plates of drawings from plaster casts

value studies from the george bargue plates of drawings from plaster casts

white rose...part two of a two piece painting for my brother and sister in law's living room wall

2010-03-21T15:06:00.001-07:00

hopefully can get a pic of the 1st rose (in yellow which was painted months ago) to compliment this one which was finished yesterday as a commission from my bro and sister in law - hope you like it (they havent seen it yet!) Al, and Lo!

no more birds ! more still life!

2010-03-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

Hi, heres a painting for an up coming competition in Cardiff which is deadlined for April, so have been steadily painitng this over the last 3 weeks.

the words in the school uniform underneath the Blue Isreali vase are 'O Bydded i'r Hen Iaith Barhau' which means, 'O, that the old language will endure' that is Welsh.

I've chosen the school uniform to represent welsh medium schools and the on going battle or encouraging and helping children take pride and dignity in the language of this Nation. From working in a welsh medium school, I see the importance of school life and how this influences the attitudes of the children to the language. As they learn and are taught the language they too we hope will understand and know the importance of being proud and happy to speak such a unique and lyrical tongue.

this work is unfinished and small modifications are needed.

Hope and despair in Haiti, a drawing in reflection of the horrendous news

2010-01-17T05:59:00.000-08:00

Birds of a feather....art work for the Theatre Brechainiog Show Jan 2010 -April 2010

2010-01-17T05:39:00.000-08:00

a chafinch in flight. a bird that may go unoticed in your garden, but here taken from a captured image, the chafinch shows remarkable poise and beauty, in its form and colour.
oil on canvas.

a song thrush. the bigger of the 2 types of thrushes common to Britain. Here the red of the berries and the blue of the background sky compliment the brown ish white and yellow of the bird's striking spotted plumage. a bird of curiosity and melodic song.

oil on board

the hedge sparrow.oil on canvas.

''are not 5 sparrows sold for 2 copper coins? (coins of small value in biblical times) ...not one of them are is forgotten before God. .. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.'' Luke 12.6-7

The House Sparrow. oil on canvas

''Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for You are with me'' Psalm 23 : 4

mixed media drawing on paper.

the robin and the worm. oil on board

the Skylark /yr Ehedydd. oil on canvas

Song thrush about to burst into Opera. oil on canvas

tree Sparrow. oil on canvas

the Wren. Oil on canvas

chafinch oil on board work in progress

2009-12-05T13:51:00.000-08:00

3 of May - a studio of Goya's 3rd of may painting.

2009-12-05T13:46:00.001-08:00

buzzard

2009-09-06T08:33:00.001-07:00

blue tit on a rainy day....

2009-08-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

what a shocker of a wet day!!

so to cheer myself up Iand because theres a million blue tits in the garden and they cheer me up, I thought I'd draw one!! their chubby happy birds. and look a lot more funky than sparrows!

la concha / Peine del Viento...Spain/Sbaen

2009-08-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

redemption way

2009-08-26T06:18:00.000-07:00

new paintings....

2009-08-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

Hi, thanks for taking time to have a browse of my art work. Recently I have been taking trips outdoors and painting 'plein air' as the term goes. It has been really encouraging and fun to paint in the outdoors, and I have found it really reflective and moving to be surrounded by the subject I am trying to paint. Just a few days ago as I was painting away, a fox casually strolls past my hide out underneath a tree , not noticing my presence there. Not seen a fox in broad daylight strolling across a field in a long time, and this seem to capture the moment of what I was aiming for. The sponteunous events of nature and its freshness and lively on going processes , breaking down and re generating, living and breathing, not caring - just being. In a word, being outdoors and painting has been class. A good class room to be in and learn from. Hope you enjoy my work.
Steff

machen miners

2009-07-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

y llong ar bwys Traeth Borth y Gest

2009-07-22T09:51:00.002-07:00

Borth Y Gest Beach, PorthMadog

2009-07-22T09:51:00.001-07:00

Church near Borth y Gest Beach PorthMadog

2009-07-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

beach near Oriel Plas Glyn - y - Weddw ...y Traeth yn agos i Plas Glyn y Weddw

2009-07-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

missfit banana's

2009-07-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

series of small short paintings this one in a traditional still life theme - painting it I was thinking - like an elephant, like an elephant - being bold and brash but careful I don't wake the lions up .... : D

machen hill towards the sea

2009-07-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

apologies for the dark image - both these new images (this one and the above) are getting photographed again shortly)

sheep near 9 mile point

2009-07-14T04:53:00.000-07:00

chuRch nEar Borth y Gest Beach PorthmadoG

2009-07-14T04:49:00.002-07:00

river runs through 2 of 1

2009-07-14T04:49:00.001-07:00

river runs through 1 of 2

2009-07-14T04:45:00.002-07:00

'Hill Top and pathway to the summit'

2009-07-14T04:45:00.001-07:00

'Tucking in...Near Machen Mountain'

2009-07-14T04:43:00.000-07:00

beaCh - bOrTh Y GesT - PoRtHmAdoG

2009-07-14T04:41:00.001-07:00

Sing a Song of Sixpence

2009-06-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

("I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." quote from 'To Kill a Mockingbird)

(Robin 2 - a light less labored version)

(Robin 3.... with worm)

whats that rhyme? something about sixpence and a blackbird...backed in a pie .. well I'm back drawing birds again... yesterday after recovering from a mysterious fluey type thing (one of the lecturer's at college has it and thought it was hayfever but it isn't) I managed to create 5 smallish drawings of one the coolest birds around here. Between the hours of 9 and 5 your sure to see it on machen mountain singing happily while soaring some gidy heights. I actually felt like being a bird the other day. Strange as it may sound I don't think I'm the only one out there who wishes he was a bird sometime.(Or am I?!)

I think it would be quiet mad just going for a fly around South Wales and a sunny afternoon like today. Don't you think? I'd be well up for it. If Icarus has succeeded I'm sure he wouldn't have come back down to tell us all. He'd have been top busy riding the pockets of hot air and pooping on unsuspecting cars , illigally parked outside the shops.

Oh, And to my knowledge , skylarks aren't sort of trapped in that 8 hour window...they can fly whenever they want... unless their pooping on your car that is.

Steff

blue martin.. .. summer is on the way...

2009-05-18T08:03:00.001-07:00

Summer is already rolling by and the Martins are busy nesting and dancing in the air. I've just been to Milan for a 4 day holiday and loved everything about Italy. There's martins there too but their smaller. There a very unique bird and I always think about them as being super agile. The blues are perfect for ink washes too.

Detail of 3 paintings for the Norwegian church show

2009-05-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

stranager in a bottle

2009-04-17T09:56:00.001-07:00

here'r my first carder method painting. I've played with certain aspects of his method, but this was definitely using the method following it as closely as poss. although.... the mini jar on the right was painted with stand oil instead of the delq mixture.. but ... other than that.

im not sure i like it. its not drawin properly and the wine glass is off. but then.. so the angle is tilted- the black box - is an off angle so it doens't look majorly awkward. well. to me it looks very awkward. but i enjoyed painting the tea pot. its 50years old. ultra retro...my mother bought it for her parents like 40-50 years ago. so i'd imagine its worth a lot in retro-ville. Price it up for me if you ever visit!

oh- the reflection in the wine bottle, that's me. police songs are always a good listen to when painting. and message in a bottle came to mind as its all about reflection and identity.

2009-04-08T16:25:00.000-07:00

wood pigeon

2009-04-08T16:24:00.000-07:00

gold crest / blue crest
coffee/tea charcoal , conte crayon pastel pencils

wren

2009-03-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

robin

2009-03-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

hedge sparrow

2009-03-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

My first post....

a wren a sparrow and a robin.
their all british birds. birds of a feather...

coffee/tea washes and drips.
mostly drawn with my fingers with charcoal then detailed with pastel pencils.

hope they look really old. i was going for that old feel you see in drawings in museums. i ink with coffee - that helps with that.

Coffee/tea bags / charcoal, crushed, 2 cloves of garlic and season with salt.