Fleeing the Fire.

I was inspired to paint this picture by a photo taken at a festival in Spain. It was so dramatic. A Horse and Rider emerging from a blazing fire. The painting is 40cm x 30cm and was mostly painted in watercolour. The background was painted in Lemon Yellow, allowed to dry before spraying with a little water into which I dropped or brushed Cadmium Red and a mixture of Light Red and Ultramarine. After drying the Horse and Rider was painted in acrylic using Burnt Sienna and a mixture of Light Red and Ultramarine.

Dolphin trusts man to help it.

This is just such a lovely event. A dolphin tangled in a fishing line asks a diver for help and the diver responds. Please watch this it will warm your heart. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21176914

Spiritual Guide

Every morning when I leave my studio there is a Sparrow sitting on the gutter above. He always sits next to the grass growing out of the blocked downpipe. Always he chirps and looks down at me. He seems so cheerful and even as I scraped the ice from my car this morning I felt he was sent to keep my spirits up. Indeed I think he is my higher spirit.I feel great love for this little bird.

Unicorn in the Forest

Here is another Taoist free flowing painting. This one painted it self, almost like an early morning meditation in which thoughts arise from the subconscious. The paint flowed into a form and the form suggested some detail to me. It was like a sentence from The Heart Sutra ' Form is only emptiness, emptiness only form ' It was painted in three stages. The background colours of Permanent Rose, Lemon Yellow, Windsor Blue, Windsor Red or mixtures of were washed on. After drying the paper was wet with a spray and stronger colours were added and left to flow and dry. Then the detail added in Paynes Grey, Ultramarine and Titanium White. Finaly a spatter wash was added. If you are interested in buying this painting please contact me. My other art work can be viewed at www.chrisgauntartist.co.uk

France begins in Yorkshire

Yorkshire the county of my birth,now the starting point for the Tour de France! Is this another sign of globalisation or a gesture of admiration for Bradley Wiggins? I know the Tour has started in England before but it does seem strange that a French Tour should include another country! Surely France is big enough? Nevertheless we are in for a treat as the Tour runs through the marvelous Yorkshire Dales taking in beauty spots such as Kettlewell and Reeth. Just typing the words triggers waves of nostalgia as I sit in exile in the north of Scotland. When French viewers see the wonderful countryside of Yorkshire we can expect a flood of French escapees from the new high tax regime in France. Yorkshire pub food will now include Cog au Vin with Yorkshire Pudding on the side. It's enough to make me want to move back myself.

Taoist Painting.

Another experimental water colour and acrylic painting. I am trying to go with the flow in a Taoist way. I allow the colours to flow and make shapes and then add a little detail with acrylics when the watercolour is dry. I used Lemon Yellow, Sap Green, Winsor Red and Windsor Blue or mixtures of them to create the base. Acrylics used were Paynes Grey, Ultramarine and Titanium White. It is quite exciting because it is unpredictable and I think my next few pictures will use this system.

Magic Wood

Magic Wood is the title of this loose watercolour painting. Can you see the magic?

Purple Patch



Just Splashing Around With Abandon!

Still Seeking Spiritual Answers.

A very lovely man died today. Reg Dean age 110 passed away today. He was much loved and according to people who knew him well, spent his whole life helping others. Always kind, he looked for the best in people.
In a remarkable interview on his 109th birthday he said there are three questions to ask in life.
1. Who am I. 
2. Why am I here.
3. Where am I going.
He then said ' I am afraid I don't know the answer ' Pausing for dramatic effect he continued ' to any of them '
Perhaps the spiritual answer to a long life is a sense of humour!

Wallace and Gromit. A Matter of Loaf and Death.

Feeling blue? Here is the answer. I have just bought for only £6.00 The Complete Collection of Wallace and Gromit. I just love this humour ( although it may be a bit too British for our American cousins ) and if you still feel blue after watching it, well maybe see your doctor!

My favourite is ' A Matter of Loaf or Death ' although ' A Close Shave ' is a strong contender. They are all great.

Do you like Wallace and Gromit?

Great Pecs ( or should that be Nice Pecks )

Blue Cockerel by Chris Gaunt.

Do you buy eggs from the Happy Egg Company? This is an ' ethical egg producer ' and according to Metro, a London paper sent to me by a friend, they go the extra mile to keep their hens happy!

So much so they have produced a calendar especially for them. Called ' Nice Pecks ' It features 12 alluring cockerels in various seductive poses. Apparently they were selected from over 100 cockerels and photographed by a fashion photographer!

Hens are very visual creatures and are said to feel calmer and safer in the presence of cockerels. The calendars are being given to farms and smallholders.
If any human out there can't get one of these super calendars why not buy one of my chicken prints or originals instead? www.chrisgauntartist.co.uk