New Spring London and Paris work and forthcoming exhibitions

Tuileries Gardens, Spring light, April 2013

Finally spring has come at last! It has been an exceptionally challenging winter for plein air painting and I have been occupied with researching new projects and experimenting with oils.

By Pont St-Louis, Morning Light

I took myself off to Paris for a few days - to find a different shade of grey from London.  I was fortunate to arrive in the first week of spring - the chestnuts had just come out and the light was dazzling.  It was difficult to know where to start, just like a very good box of chocolates.

Seine, late afternoon

The Seine was busier than the Thames, unexpected amounts of river traffic and, as one passerby pointed out, the currents are almost sculptural. The light hitting the waves was a bonus as were the glorious sunsets. It made it an interesting contrast to the Chelsea Embankment.

Seine sunset, April 2013

Towards Lots Road, Evening light, April 2013

Back in London to find more events - the fast and furious pace of the London Marathon was one of them

London Marathon - Finish

I will be participating in the following shows in May and June:

Thursday 16- Sunday 18th May
My studio show, Wimbledon Art studios (studio 402, blue building) www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk

23 May - 8 June Small Paintings Group, Russell Gallery, 12 Lower Richmond Road, Putney
(invited artist) www.thesmallpaintingsgroup.co.uk

24-28 June Chelsea Art Society, Kings Road SW3 http://www.chelseaartsociety.org.uk/ 

June - Artists of the Pageant, Turner's House, Twickenham
Last year I was an invited with other painters to paint the Diamond Jubilee pageant on the roof of the City of London School.  As you might remember not even the weather could put a dampner on this extraordniary spectacle.

New work for 2013

The last couple of weeks have been occupied with researching new painting projects -  views of the Shard and London streets as well as ongoing projects in St James' park and on the Thames.  The early spring light is a marvel to explore - clear and bright with all the optimism of spring around the corner.

I have been continuing my work in pastel as it suits the transient moment. it has been pretty chilly and thermals come in handy.

Kensington street, early morning light (in progress)

Kensington Street, Midday light (in progress)

 

 

 

 

Piccadilly, late afternoon light (in progress)

I'm in the process of researching different views of the Shard and have been on various bus routes and long walks to get the wider picture. It's an interesting building - designed to be a blade of light - it catches the light on the dullest of days.  This is the first time we have seen it properly, fully glazed.  I'm going up into the building in April.

Shard and light

I have also been getting work ready for mixed shows in march:

Art@Clyde and Co, Guildford, where I will be giving a talk on 5th march about my work
With Surface ICA www.surfaceica.co.uk in Hartley Wintney
With Moorwood Art, near Hereford 6-18 March
With Quiddity Fine Art

For further infomation please either contact me louisediggle@yahoo.com or see my website www.louisediggle.co.uk

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Back to work with lots of ideas in the offing and 2013 shows to finalise.

Watch this space - new 2013 work to be put up shortly

Louise

Happy Christmas!

Mid December and it's been one of the busiest and exciting periods in my painting life.  The exhibtions have exceeeded my expectations and my work is in Cork Street for the fourth time this year.

There are three pastels of the speed walk are in the Medici Christmas show, Art for All - http://www.medicigallery.co.uk/ and runs to the 24th December.

Regent Street Lights 2012

At the moment I am concentrating on London over Christmas at night.  There are some glorious Christmas lights at the moment and I've worked on ones on the Kings Road, Elizabeth Street, Pimlico and Regent Street.  They give such delight.  I think it's important to include shoppers, buses and brake lights.  There is so much bustle and action at the moment. I was very impressed by the generousity of the bank who left their lights on until the cleaner left so that I could see to pastel.  It has been hideously cold though and necessity breeds invention to try and keep the fingers from freezing to my pastel box. All suggestions welcome - I'm trying to track down battery heated socks..

Further projects to the end of this year will include the ice skating rinks and the Christmas markets which abound and more lights.  Plenty of exciting projects lie ahead in 2013 and I plan to produce a series on the Shard as well as more paths into London.  The light at this time of year is so lovely.


Happy Christmas and here's to lots more pastelling! 

Kings Road lights 2012

November Exhibitions and Artist in Residence, Save Cork Street Campaign

The pace has been fast and furious.  The autumn light and the transience of the richly coloured leaves have been magical to pastel.  I’ve also been in the throes of exhibition organising:

Wimbledon Art Studios – my studio show, 22-25th November (Studio 402) www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk where I will be showing my pastels of the Diamond Jubilee, Olympics and Paralympics

Daggett Gallery, Tite Street Group – Kensington Church St – 20-24^th November.  I will showing mainly still life work in oils

My work is also on show at Moorwood Art, Bruton, Somerset and I was invited to participate in Art for All, Medici Gallery, Cork Street 6-23 December 2012 www.medicigallery.co.uk

If you are interested in coming, please either look on the websites above for information or contact me on louisediggle@yahoo.com.

Yesterday I was Artist in Residence for the Save Cork Street Awareness Evening www.savecorkstreet.com.   

I pastelled  Cork Street over 24 hours.  During the day, the weather was largely overcast and the lovely and subtle London greys were pronounced.   I was interested by the volume of traffic hurtling down the road and the reflections on the cars and vans.  Cork Street has a life of its own when it gets dark. The gallery windows, street lights and spotlit buildings and flags have vibrancy, colour and life.   

Please sign the petition!

Olympic/Paralympic work and Autumn Anticipation

Autumn light, evening, Parliament Square

London has quietened down – the brightly covered hoarding that surrounded so much of the capital has been removed as has the loud purple and pinks used to identify Olympic/Paralympic sites in tube stations. It is duller for the lack of them.  Happily autumn is well on its way and trees are beginning to turn .  In between the rain showers the light has been rich and golden. Lots to look forward to., especially since I’ve acquired a collapsible stool to stand on and be above crowd level. New views.

 

I have been going through my summer games work in preparation for Art for Youth and my studio opening and making adjustments where necessary. I really don’t like to work back in the studio for the risk of losing the spontaneity and experience of the moment.  I try to avoid the specific and feel that it is better to stare and get one’s own impression of the action, be it people, light or mood.   

Excel, Evening light - Olympics

Olympic Park at night

One of the unexpected joys of working outside, are some of people who come up, who don’t intrude but give interesting feedback.  I’ve also had some great photos. This is by James:

Pastelling on the Strand, Olympic Parade

Last week I went to Winsor and Newton to explore acrylic and found more potential in the medium that I had supposed.  I’m going to try it out.  It was an extraordinary experience to tour around the laboratory and reminded me how crucial it is to consider and experiment with materials. On with the new work!

Pastelling the Marathon by St Paul's Cathedral, London Olympics (Andrew Bright)

My work can be seen at:

http://www.louisediggle.co.uk/

Art for Youth http://www.artforyouth.com (10-11 Oct) Royal College of Art

 

Green and Stone, Charity Auction, The Study, Blandford St (10-19 Oct)http://www.greenandstone.com

Open Studio (402)  Wimbledon Art Studios, http://www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk/

Tite St Group Exhibition, Daggett Gallery, 225 Kensington Church Street, W8 (19-23 Nov) 

Surface ICA at Barossa, New Kings Road SW6, www.surfaceica.com  (10 Sept - 12 Dec)

Athletes and Crowds cheering, Olympic Parade

 

Pastels of London during the Olympics and Paralympics

London is slowly getting back to a semblance of normality after one of the most interesting and exciting summers I have experienced in the capital. Boris Johnson promised ‘a summer like no other’ and for once, the hyperbole came up to the mark.

Olympic Rings, Tower Bridge, Early Morning (in progress)

I set up my easel around different corners of London, east and west, and discovered new parts – Stratford, North Greenwich Arena, Potters Fields. Inspiring, vibrant places to paint and new material for my work.  The Thames has always been endlessly fascinating for me with the rapidly changing light and tones.  It has been an adventure to find new stretches, other than the familiar Chelsea bridges.  

Paralympics Marathon, by Temple and Waterloo Bridge

  

One of the things I have most enjoyed about this summer is seeing the utterly familiar in a completely new way – such as the large Olympic medals hanging in the trees in Leicester Square (medalling in Leicester Square…) or BT Live in Trafalgar Square, where the giant screen provided new and interesting opportunities for light to bounce off.  The bold Olympic/Paralympic colours of pink and purple also jollied up London.  I liked the silhouettes of people as they walked along endless miles of coloured plastic sheeting that wrapped up and surrounded the different sporting locations in the city.

Leicester Square Medals - Pastel on card

BT London Live, Trafalgar Square, Paralympics

Floral Crown, St James' Park

It has been an incredible opportunity.  My work can be seen at the following group shows in October and November.

10 and 11 October, Art for Youth, Royal College of Art, http://www.artforyouth.com/Home.html

10-19 October, The Study, 10A Blandford Street, London W1U 4AZ Green and Stone Charity Auction, http://www.greenandstone.com/v2/p/auction.php

29 October – 3^rd November – Consider the Lilies, Gallery 27 Cork St, W1 (11-5pm)

And there will be my solo show at my studio at Wimbledon Art Studios Open, Studio 402

22-25 November http://www.wimbledonartstudios.co.uk/open-studios/next-show/

Lunchtime walkers, St James' Park

More Olympic/Paralympic images to follow in the next blog - work still in progress!