MAN IN A BLACKSHIRT

The drawing is three fourths and a half of what constitutes painting. Jean-August-Dominique Ingres.

I think he's got a point. A really big one. So it's back to the drawing board.
Here's my latest portrait in pencil. I try to think about it as painting with a pencil. Great fun, really, when you get into it. Why not give it a go.
All you need is a sheet of paper and a pencil. And a face of course. If faces are in short supply, just look in the mirror.

VARIATIONS ON A THEME

Three Spanish painters. It took me a while to get this more or less right, as you can see from these preliminary exercises.

A LETTER FROM SAATCHI ONLINE

It's always nice to get a letter from Saatchi. Here's what it said: Dear Ray Johnstone, Your work featured in Art We Love This Week. I'm a creative consultant at Saatchi Online and I'm writing to let you know your piece " Woman in the Studio" is being featured in Art We Love This Week . 'Art We Love This Week' is collection of work we feature once a week that we find particularly interesting and worthy of a week of notoriety. Please feel free to share this news with your friends on twitter ... or look on our facebook to join in with conversation and postings with fellow artists ... Best, Molly Jo Shea

NEARLY AS OLD AS ME - TWO PAINTINGS OF SOWETO

(

Trawling through an old file recently, I fount these two views of Soweto that I painted about 52 years ago. Nothing to do with painting in France, really, but here they are anyway.

DESIGN FOR A BOOK COVER

This my cover design for a collection of my short stories.
But beware, the copy says it all. What you see is what you'll get.
And as sure as a pound to a pinch of you know what, some people will have difficulty with both the style and the themes.
But I don't give a fig. I'd rather get a reaction from readers - even if they hate my writing - than be read with indifference.
So, if you decide to read any, please be sure to read the warnings.
Here is the link:
http://rays-books.blogspot.com/

THE SPANISH PAINTER

After several years of focussing on painting, I've negleted drawing, which is where I believe it all starts.
it's a great discipline and it teaches many basics, including control of the pencil.
So I've decided to do a series of portrait drawings. Here's the first.
The subject's a Spanish painter who lives nearby. I've painted him in the past, but he has such an amazing face that I decided to do another portrait, this time in pencil.

YOU TURN 60 ONLY ONCE EVERY LIFETIME

So, George is getting old. In fact, he's SIXTY today. Even if he's being trying to forget it. But we won't let him.
As you can see, George likes Guiness.
And, as he's made 60, Guiness must be good for him. Maybe if he drinks lots of it, he'll make a hundred.
Happy 60th birthday George.
(Can anyone guess who I'm talking about - if not, send me an email).