Andrew Smith - new artwork in the making
A timelapse video of Andrew Smith painting Birżebbuġa, Late Afternoon
Andrew Smith - a master of atmospheric art
Welcome to the latest post from the Allura Art blog.
Once again we feature Allura’s most prolific artist, Andrew Smith, an adept watercolourist and master at capturing colour and tone to convey ambience and a sense of place. Here we share new images of Malta we have recently received from Andrew, produced during his outdoor painting sessions. Further new artwork can be found on the Allura Art website.
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Andrew Smith painting on location at Ġnejna Bay
Although British-Maltese artist Andrew Smith usually paints in watercolour, sometimes he also paints in gouache. His style and approach owe much to Impressionism, a movement which emerged in 19th century France at a time when paints had just become portable, liberating artists from their studios and freeing them to paint outdoors.
Andrew explains “I love to get outside, disconnect from everyday life and observe nature. The landscape here is all about light, warmth and architecture.”
Birżebbuġa, Late Afternoon by Andrew Smith
The impressionistic painting Birżebbuġa, Late Afternoon was created in the Southern Maltese town of Birżebbuġa. It features the restaurant Districtfive with Pretty Bay and the beach in the distance, and the sun in contre-jour position (behind the subject).
To watch a video of this piece being painted, click here.
According to Andrew, “Malta and Gozo combined have hundreds, perhaps thousands, of interesting places to paint for any artist willing to use their imagination. There is an abundance of subjects, such as urban areas, countryside churches and harbours in a very small area.”
Qormi, St George During Feast by Andrew Smith
The painting Qormi, St George During Feast is a rendition of the church of St George in Qormi during feast season, a series of religious celebrations in Malta to honour the patron saint of a village. The lights and colours of the vibrant scene are depicted in watercolour.
“Watercolour was my first love.” Andrew Smith
Speaking of location painting, or ‘plein-air’ (open-air) painting, as it is also known, Andrew says “painting outdoors and outside of your comfort zone is important for an artist, especially nowadays with so much information and images an artist has access to in the form of adverts and social media. Painting outside provides a method of disconnecting from these distractions and allowing the creative process to flourish.”
Sunrise, Salini Bay, Qawra by Andrew Smith
Sunrise, Salini Bay, Qawra is a gouache on paper piece completed on location in spring-time. An impressionistic interpretation of the sunrise, it is painted with vivid colours to immortalise the birth of a new day.
Once Andrew has found a suitable location and set up his easel, a typical plein-air painting can take up to three hours, depending on the subject-matter and the painting’s size.
Msida Creek by Andrew Smith
The atmospheric Msida Creek is a watercolour piece, painted on location in Msida in the early hours. Gentle brushwork and soft flowing neutrals infuse the bustling Maltese harbour with warmth and serenity.
To date Andrew has painted at around 300 different locations across Malta and Gozo and describes himself as “a passionate watercolourist.”
“The watercolour medium is highly versatile,” he explains, “and great also for painting outdoors. It can produce wonderful, powerful results, particularly when it comes to mixing colours. This can be very difficult to achieve with other media. Watercolour was my first love and continues to this day to be my primary medium.“
For more information about Andrew Smith and to see the rest of his Allura Art portfolio, visit Andrew’s profile on Allura Art.
Finally, a brief introduction to the Allura Art Collection for first-timers…
Allura Art is an evolving collection of original paintings, some figurative and some abstract. The website features pieces in a variety of genres, styles and sizes to suit home, office or commercial interiors and which also make beautiful and unique gifts. Furthermore, the search by price page makes it easy to browse according to your budget.
The Allura Art collection is regularly updated with new artwork and new artists. To receive updates by email, join our mailing list.
Allura Art deals only in genuine and authenticated originals which are sourced directly from reputable living painters. We offer original fine art at studio prices with secure online payment and safe shipping internationally or local delivery throughout Malta and Gozo. Visit the Allura Art website or find Allura on Facebook or Instagram at @allura_malta. Contact Allura at info@allura.mt or +356 99583389.
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