Applying the Digital Paint,

Salford 6th February 2018

This is a photography post with a bit of a difference.

I mean – what do i do with a pic after i’ve taken it ?

With my new Nikon Camera (i use that term very loosely) I can already adapt a photograph thanks to the imaging tools on the camera

OK if i just want to switch the image from Colour to Black and White, and add a bit of Sepia, but what about an artistic angle ?

Here’s an original photo of the Fort at Albufeira in the Algarve, taken with my Sony DSC H-300 Bridge Camera

It looks good enough – i particularly like the anchor 🙂 but with a few tweeks using my Art Programs i get some lovely effects. This photo was edited with the latest edition of Corel painter essentials, but I also have a copy of adobes photoshop essentials to hand, should I want to create any layered effects.

402a

Here’s the same photograph using an oil effect – very impressionist……

402b

Here’s the photo using what Corel call a “Coloured Pencil” Effect

402c

and here’s one using a “Modern” paint effect

They’re all a bit abstract in their way but they produced some great artwork!

Shiny things

Art Gallery, Astronomy, Museum, Museums, Photography

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Salford 16th August 2017

taken by inky like a magpie in summer, and collated for your enjoyment in response to the daily post

Ooh, Shiny!

1. Diamond backed frog with two coins of the realm

2. The Moon, taken from a Salford Sky at Night

3. Plane in the test flight area of the RAF Museum at Cosford

4. Oldham Museum and Art Gallery – with its glass roof

5 . Coins

6. Pottery at Salford Museum and art Gallery

7. Imperial War Museum North’s Metal “Shattered Earth” – Really Shiny on Summer days

An Impressionist View

Art, Art Gallery, Arts, Buildings, Poetry

Manchester Art gallery, Manchester, england

I’ve taken some time with this

Mulling over the angles on where to

Photograph this classic building

Rolling around in my head – what media to use

Everyone has their favourites, but I like using vibrant paints

Some say, that all art is

Subjective – you’ll either like it – or you wont

Indeed, the same can be said for the photographic genre

On the whole though – its what you get out of it

New views of an old building – fresh from the artist.

Antiqued

Art, Art Gallery, Arts, Poetry

Faded

The picture on the wall

began to show its age some time ago

a recollection of a noted man

some time ago

Father Time has been kind

to this wise old master

but now the critics of history

have had their say

Furrows in the oiled canvas

collect small particles of time

requiring an assistant

to brush away grime

And with each bit of dust , a colours attached

and with dust removed , some colours dispatched

but staff they are there, with a very fine brush

a delicate job – that cannot be rushed

Original colours – hide behind dark

as grime is removed – to the eyes there’s a spark

The painting it seems – is no longer jaded

as colours return to before it was faded

Scribbles in Notebooks

Art, Art Gallery, Arts, Photography, Rehabilitation, Relaxation

Pens and Pencils

Salford , 18th July 2016

“Just a humble little scribble from my notebooks”

I like writing and drawing, and though i’ll never be the next big thing when it comes to these artforms – I still find them helpful in my never ending mission to concentrate the mind.

Pen Drawing, Roman Ruins, Oledeniz, Turkey

Whenever i’m off somewhere nowadays – I take my kit of supplies with me – notebook (A5) , pencils and paper, Bridge Camera, SD Cards, travel card , cash and not forgetting – supplies for lunch.

I get to my intended destination – I’ll have my lunch, find a suitable vantage point and begin recording what I see. Sometimes – it’ll be a poem or verse, and others – it’ll be a photo or a drawing. The inspiration comes from what I see. The process, concentrates the mind. As the basic forms take shape on the page – either in word, or in drawing – ideas come alive on the page

Impressionist painting of the Roman Wall, Castlefield, Manchester (c) Brian F Kirkham 2015

When I get home – I’ll play around with the scribbles and drawings. Thanks to my laptop I now have two marvellous sets of tools to turn my images into artworks – I principally use Adobe photoshop elements, but also use Corel’s Painter Essentials suite for its wide range of brushes.

Of course, if I want to use the time to concentrate – the computer gets switched off – the box of paints comes out and i’ll put something together from my notebook drawings onto my painting pad in Coloured pencil, pastels, watercolours or even oils

Painting of IWM North, Brian F Kirkham, Salford 2015

Old Painting

Art, Art Gallery, Arts, Poetry

I wrote this for a contest on Allpoetry.com – but over time I reckon it reminds me of some really good artworks at IWM North (Where I Volunteer), The Lowry in Salford, Salford Art Gallery and its Sister Gallery in Manchester.

In the dark recesses
of the vault
she sleeps

Timeless beauty skilfully captured
by the artist
in Oil

Youth frozen on canvas
Preserved for History
in Dust

Beauty forgotten in time
Stored for Eternity
by Prospectors

And her mark left
visible on old
Painted Walls

Incomplete

Art, Art Gallery, Arts, Character, Childhood, Humour, Poetry

Incomplete

The masterpiece sat on the wall

a jigsaw of a painting 8 x 10 ” Tall

triangular pieces of plastic in a frame

copying a master – the artist’s aim

But along comes a little lass – proper and sweet

who notices a space in the jigsaw so neat.

The artist he laughs out – that’s now’t out of place

till a security man points out his disgrace

For there on the jigsaw – is an obvious space

and of piece that’s missing – there is no trace

the staff searched the galleries, the stairwells and halls

but of jigsaw piece – there’s nothing at all

But without it – the artist – doesn’t get all the cash

so round all exhibits – he begins to dash

If only he thought to look under his foot

the missing jigsaw piece – is stuck under his boot!

Engraving Art

Animals, Art, Art Gallery, Arts

Revealing an image one bit at a time….

Although I never studied it at school, I’ve always had an interest in art. Whether it be using pencil, pen, pastel, crayon or ink, there’s something that raises a smile when I’ve produced something worthy of hanging on the wall.

It’s also therapeutic, in that it aids my attention and concentration. Which is good for me as occasionally my mind wonders like an untrained puppy….

The Artworks here were created from kits – a Preprint is printed on the top of a blackened metallic / coloured border. As the image is scraped away the picture in the metallic is revealed.

The Kits come in five kinds – Copper, Silver, Gold, Holographic and Rainbow. My favourite subject ? the Animals are my favourite subject

Ducks (in Silver)

Penguins, Diving (in Silver)

Kittens in the Garden (in Silver)

A City United

Art, Art Gallery, Arts, Football, Places, Sport, Sports

As a sporting Volunteer in the county, I’ve had the honour of helping out at some great venues throughout Greater Manchester.

Manchester City – Etihad Stadium (c) Brian F Kirkham

This painting was created in Corel Painter Essentials by me.

It’s of the City of Manchester Stadium (or as the Manchester City Fans now know it, The Etihad). The current home to Manchester City Football Club and the site of the Commonwealth Games Athletics Competition in 2002…I’ve helped out here on a number of occasions as an Event Volunteer. Favourite moment ? Helping out at the UEFA Cup Final when Glasgow Rangers played Zenit St Petersberg of Russia.

Nearby is the Regional Athletic Arena – which hosts major athletic events in the summer season. As a member of Sale Harriers Volunteer Squad, I assist judges with Marking and retrieving items during field competition.

Manchester United – Old Trafford Stadium (C) Brian F Kirkham

This second painting was created in Adobe photoshop and is of Old Trafford Football Ground – Home to Manchester United Football Club and one of the venues used at the 2012 Olympic Games during the Football Competition. I was a team leader for the ambassadors lining the route to the stadium on this one. Saved one or two taking on Manchester’s Rush Hour to get to the stadium. Cheers, Chants, Vuvuzelas and songs – all in support of the world’s best playing in Manchester – for Olympic Gold

And my favourite fans I greeted to the stadium ? Has to be the Brazilian Team!

Out with the Samsung

Art Gallery, Arts, Canalside, History, Media, Museum, Photography, Studios, Theatre, Waterside

Shots of the Mediacity & Quayside taken on a Walkabout of the Quays in Salford. Camera used was my Samsung WB-250…the one I use as a backup for Panoramic Shots.