Graeme Skinner – Graeme Skinner

References

Graeme Skinner — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 13:08:45 +0000

Wandering this morning I added more images to my reference library, one day I’ll pick one of them and actually paint something

Quick wander

Graeme Skinner — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:10:40 +0000

We went for a quick wander on Caldbeck Common yesterday, just to blow away some cobwebs. The light was rather nice, and I took this as a reference for a future painting

Alt Maen

Graeme Skinner — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:13:20 +0000

Panoramic photo of The Old Man of Coniston, we were going to wander up to the top but I’d forgotten my crampons.

Whist I like it in colour I’m tempted just to keep the black and white version…

In contrast

Graeme Skinner — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:28:04 +0000

We went out to Watchtree Nature Reserve yesterday for a change of scene, whilst I enjoyed looking at the moss covered trees, the contrast to the modern(ish) mechanical of the crashed jet engine was quite interesting.

For future reference

Graeme Skinner — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:39:50 +0000

There can never be too many reference photographs can there These are for when my hand decides it’s ready to use a paint brush again, when we went for a wander at Long Meg the grass looked like it would work in an illustration or two.

Lowther

Graeme Skinner — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:19:05 +0000

It’s been a long long time since I was last on the grounds at Lowther Castle, I’m guessing over 30 years and it was known as Lowther Park (or something similar) and was very different than it is today – in fact I can’t remember exactly where the previous park was located in relation to the castle. Anyway, being at a bit of a loose end at the moment Julie suggested we visit Lowther Castle as it’s close by and the weather was nice. Most of the photographs are for my reference when I can draw and paint again….

Wrong handed

Graeme Skinner — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:18:57 +0000

I know it’s only been a couple of weeks since my operation* but then I was bored and frustrated on day two not being able to do something creative, today I went for a wander and took the camera along to try and reduce the boredom/frustration – taking photographs with my left hand was a challenge, and I could use my right hand for the lighter stuff. There were quite a lot of blurry photographs, but some were acceptable

*Carpal and Cubital tunnel surgery on my right hand/elbow

Box 5 – writing slope

Graeme Skinner — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:37:27 +0000

This one took a while as I could only work in short bursts. Made out of Sycamore (apart from the pen tray insert and tenon pegs which are walnut wood). There’s a 1946 farthing set into the lid, as this is a 80th birthday gift the pen was also turned from the same Sycamore.

Well it’s been a while

Graeme Skinner — Sun, 31 May 2026 14:27:38 +0000

I’ve not painted in far too long, it hurts to paint which is rather annoying when I enjoy the time with a paintbrush as it’s a good opportunity to switch off the brain anyway I decided to try and paint something a week or so ago, luckily I could manage a few minutes at a time before the niggling pains stopped play. As it’s been a while since I painted anything I wanted to go back to basics and grabbed a 25x18cm piece of paper, some cobalt blue and raw umber watercolour, and some white gouache for a painting of the sea at Silloth, Cumbria.

A drift of balloons

Graeme Skinner — Sat, 30 May 2026 12:50:21 +0000

I was pottering in the garden early this morning when I noticed a nice drift of hot air balloons in the distance, so I grabbed the camera