Successful local artist Neil Simone gave an illustrated talk on his “45 years as a painter” using the new overhead camera, microphone and projection system.
Neil talked about about his career from graphic design and as a self taught painter in Wembley, moving to Harrogate, then setting up in Whixley and today in Glasshouses.
Even though his early paintings in a variety of styles sold they were not distinct enough to enable him to have a one man show. He learnt from this difficulty, listened to curators advice to paint what interested and inspired him. He developed a unique style of altered reality, merging landscapes and domestic features with an element of fantasy.
One of his many ideas was his easel illusion. This is a painting apparently on an easel with further levels of the illusion of paintings stacked in front, as illustrated. This is all painted on a thin flat board. This opened up further opportunities to display in galleries.
He repeated this format to make further large “easel” paintings and some in smaller sizes.
His many ideas in his unique style of multiple images in ambiguous combinations have lead to national and international interest. His paintings have sold world wide.
He increased his sales with quality prints at affordable prices.
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Neil paints in traditional oils on gesso surfaces and on smooth clay board. He uses low odour thinners and Liquin to enable him to paint smoothly with watercolour brushes to give better control than traditional stiff hog hair brushes. Liquin also reduces the long drying time of traditional oil paintings.
He uses a mahl stick to rest his painting hand above the painting surface to keep control of the fine brushstrokes.
Neil gave a short demonstration of trees in a grassy landscape. He showed how diluted oil colours could be easily mixed together, moved around and blended on the surface to make varied colours and textures.
His paintings can be seen in Sutcliffe Galleries in Harrogate, Artful Arts in Pateley Bridge High Street and on his website https://neilsimone.com