Monday 08th July 2019Sky Blue Summers in Northumberland
Thank you Tyne Valley Express magazine for this interview about my painting 'The Blue Porch,' the Gallery Bed and Breakfast above the gallery - and summers in Northumberland.
Wednesday 23rd January 2019The Tree House
I'm pleased that the story of one of my favourite paintings has been featured in the Tyne Valley Express this month. I found both of these windows in a long-abandoned house in Huntshieldford, Daddry Shield, Weardale. The house was in such a poor state that I had to crawl into it - the back wall had completely collapsed. And yet, once inside, it was a treasure trove of 'found' objects, including a tallboy, stuffed grouse and plant pots. There was an elderberry tree growing right through the floor.
I produced both of these paintings based on windows in that house, '
Tree House' and 'Window' - and the hole in the roof in 'Window' makes me think of the painting to myself as 'Velux.' It's a personal favourite.
Friday 20th July 2018Blanchland - from Jaspah Crewe, Blanchland
This is a really interesting blog about the beautiful and historic village of Blanchland. Janice Hutchinson of
Jaspah Crewe wrote the blog, copied below.
Jaspah Crewe is a shop beside the White Monk Tearoom, just across from the Lord Crewe Arms.
Jaspah Crewe stocks my paintings, prints and books and is an eclectic emporium of arts, jewellery, glass, ceramics and cards.
Blanchland
The picturesque village of Blanchland (above), set in the glorious landscape of the North Pennines, grew out of Blanchland Abbey and takes its name from the monks’ white habits.
Not Persil-white, apparently; a 15th-century report rebuked the monks for drinking too much beer and told them to get proper haircuts and employ a washerwoman.
By the time John Wesley, co-founder of the Methodists, came to preach in 1747, Blanchland was little more than ‘a heap of ruins’.
Today, this greatly loved village is so picture-perfect that TV aerials are banned. Hence its appeal as a film location in period dramas, including Catherine Cookson TV adaptations and the movie Jude, starring Christopher Eccleston and Kate Winslet. Recently used in the filming of VERA with Brenda Blethyn.
WHERE TO EAT: Housed in an old school, The White Monk Tearoom serves delicious homemade lunches and teas. Sit in the walled garden in summer
WHERE TO STAY: The sensitively revamped Lord Crewe Arms, incorporating features of the abbey.
DON’T MISS: Hadrian’s Wall; walking and cycling (maps available from the Lord Crewe Arms).
SHOPPING Jaspah Crewe: a cooperative of creative members- who make and sell their work and who take turns to work in the shop. Unique gifts from Key Rings to Fine Art. Open 7 days a week 10am -5pm .
Wednesday 18th July 2018Inspirations: Velazquez, Old Woman Frying Eggs
I saw this painting in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh and I looked at it on the gallery wall for a full half hour. The light is superb. You can see the oil that she's cooking the eggs in, and sense it bubbling as you look at the painting.
Essentially, what I aim to do when I paint, is to paint light on surface, and that is what Velazquez has achieved here. It's an extraordinary piece of work.
Friday 02nd February 2018Valentine's Giveaway - 'Hadrian's Wall'
I am running a Valentine’s giveaway, over on my Facebook page. The prize is this signed, limited edition print of ‘Hadrian’s Wall’ - one of my newest paintings. It sells at £125.
To enter, please go to Paul Stangroom Fine Art Facebook page and do the following:
- Firstly, LIKE the actual Facebook page - Paul Stangroom Fine Art - click the page and like it
- Like the pinned 'Hadrian's Wall' giveaway post
- Comment on the post
Shares are 100% appreciated and will help my gallery.
If the winner picks up the painting from my Prudhoe gallery, I will have it framed for them. If it has to be posted, it will come mounted, backed and wrapped instead. We will announce the winner on 14th Feb, picked at random. Good luck!
Shop Hadrian’s Wall >> bit.ly/2Co6kJ8
Posted on February 02nd 2018 on 01:44pm
0 Comments
Wednesday 19th July 2017New Series of Small Windows Watercolours
Having just completed two very detailed watercolours, it's very refreshing to develop this new series of smaller Windows works. This small window has developed dramatically in just one week, as you can see if you look closely at the photos below. I've been planning this new series for some time and I have a real sense of enjoyment working on these colourful originals.
The richly textured paper feels fine to work on, and is creating exactly the layered, textual effect I am after.
The second painting in my series of small Windows watercolours is now underway also, see below. I am working on the two, turn by turn. I have many ideas of exactly how to develop the series and it's very satisfying to see the new work taking shape.
Friday 30th June 2017Ruffside Farm
I'd like to share this painting, 'Ruffside Farm' and the first part of the poem accompanying it, written by my friend and poet, Noel Connor, for 'In the Pause of Passing.' It seems to be a poem partly about adapting to and surviving difficult times...
I Grew to Love
I grew to love that tree,
solitary, thick skinned,
clenching itself
to the stony ridge
behind the house,
muscling into the wall.
Young whippersnapper
it defied each winter,
leaned when to bend, to lean away
when the wind demanded,
to grow slow and hard-hearted,
a gnarled knowledge
shaping to survive,
knotting itself to the landscape...
http://www.paulstangroom.v1.gallereo.com/…/paul-stangroom-a…
Thursday 09th February 2017Original Watercolours
This is an extract from my latest newsletter. Just email me on alison190656@hotmail.co.uk if you would like to receive the newsletters direct, or just browse the originals on this website.
To view the whole newsletter, copy and paste this link - http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u=6d36b88598cab0e03c2eca659&id=fef17f96ad
Paul Stangroom Watercolours
I have a small range of original paintings for sale in the gallery. I've been very busy working on a range of different commissions since autumn of last year and so have fewer originals for sale than I used to. Looking at the originals on the walls of the gallery, I realise that many of the subjects I choose feature the scarred or the damaged - such as the ravaged landscape of 'The End of the Line' (above, now more peaceful and healed) or the crumbling 'Wall Fell Farm.'
'Ruffside Farm,'is a derelict farm building (near the historic village of Blanchland and the Derwent Reservoir) that has long fascinated me. It is currently being reroofed and renovated, I noticed the last time I was in the area. I like to see new life being breathed back into these forlorn and fragile places.
I used the painting of Grove Rake Mine for my small sign at the front of the gallery, because it reflects the history of Northumberland, as well as my own personal history, and is a painting that means a lot to me.
'Wall Fell Farm' caught my eye from the Military Road and I went to investigate it several times in different seasons before finally painting it as it looked one wet, stormy day when the light lit up the buildings in a way that seemed magical. I tried to capture that magic in this painting.
Posted on February 09th 2017 on 10:48am
0 Comments
