A week in Amagansett

Annette and Geof Grant invited us to join them for their wedding anniversary at their home in Amagansett. We spent a very happy week with them and new friends. I bullied three people to sit for me for quick paintings. What a very beautiful area. The Devon Yacht Club wins the prize for immaculate situation and the best place to watch the sun go down.




Denis and Rachel entertained me with their erudition and educated me on many varied topics.


Grace was a lovely sitter. I hope I did not take her away from her holiday too much. I did not time the paintings- too much else was going on.

Three afternoons in the garden

I have just spent three afternoons painting in the garden. It started as a quick 2 hour sketch of our friend Carmen and ended up being three sessions as we were all enjoying ourselves.

We were very fortunate to have Aaron Pavellis join us. He is very busy on a commission but made time to keep us company. Aaron is an excellent painter with very high standards. I always appreciate his company as he is both very entertaining, he always has an excellent eye for advice and is a fount of great knowledge (www.aaronpavelis.com).







My very lovely wife Ola provided us with snacks, coffees and lunches. Ola is always happy to point out any flaw in my paintings, a skill I deeply appreciate! Her hospitality kept everyone very happy as, I think, the photos show.

Martia is a very sporty young woman and mother who lives nearby. She very kindly sat for a timed 2 hour sitting. I back lit her to empasise her wonderful bone structure.

A 2 hour timed (not including breaks) painting of Pepe wearing my hat. Painted in the basement at home which is spacious but has a yellowish paint which, I think, throws a colour cast.

I need to check but my memory says two two hour visits for this painting. Conversation was excellent and I felt so deeply the desire to reflect Channy's natural beauty. I hope I caught something.

Our dear friend and neighbour Molly beat me! I started the painting from life but it was not to be. I might as well have sat down a sparrow. So after ten minutes I lay down my brushes, snapped a couple of pictures, enjoyed Mollies lovely company, and then spent a couple of hours with the computer screen later.

There are few more joyful people in the world than Ann. Her husband Tom is equal in positive energy. I look forward to painting his handlebar moustache and full beard; Tom is a true Santa in both beard and spirit.

To catch her vitality I chose to do face on so we could easily talk. And we did. I painted manically while chatting consistently. We did one session of two hours followed by a one hour on another day. I am not sure how much was added by the second sitting apart from assuaging my lack of personal confidence.

I deeply hope she likes it...