Eric Bell Fineart

Eric Bell Fineart I've enjoyed drawing and painting all of my life, but now that I have retired it is starting to become a bit of an obsession.
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Initially, all I seemed to paint was landscapes and boats, but that all changed a few years ago when I spent some years attending life drawing classes. Then a year before the Covid lockdown, I discovered the joy of portraiture under the expert guidance of Michelle Downes. Nowadays, I'm happy to tackle virtually any subject, including commission work.

This is a wee oil sketch that I finished recently. It's of Suilven known as the sugar loaf mountain in the far north wes...
30/07/2025

This is a wee oil sketch that I finished recently. It's of Suilven known as the sugar loaf mountain in the far north west of the country. We are off on a weeks holiday to this area in a couple of weeks time. My sketch book will be going with me and I hope to come back with enough stuff to keep me going for the next few months'. I've submitted this sketch to the open exhibition section of this years Pittenweem Arts Festival; it'll be interesting to see how it performs.

This is a little oil sketch that I did a few years ago. Although there's not a great deal of detail, I rather like it si...
09/04/2025

This is a little oil sketch that I did a few years ago. Although there's not a great deal of detail, I rather like it since I think that it suggests some form of narrative happening on a warm sunny beach. The original will be on display at my forthcoming exhibition. This will be held on 4th to 10th May. The venue is the same as last year; The Burntisland Heritage Trust building. 4 Kirkgate, Burntisland. I hope that as many of you as possible will be able to come along and bring a friend. Who knows, there might even be a glass of wine available on that opening day.

Thought I'd have a wee break from chimps and since I'm in Australia at the moment I thought why not something Australian...
05/02/2025

Thought I'd have a wee break from chimps and since I'm in Australia at the moment I thought why not something Australian. I did a koala last year, so here's my version of a "jolly" swagman or swaggie. From waltzing matilda. Mind, when I look at him, he's not so far removed from the chimps.

Here's the next cheeky chimp. Obviously, he's not seeing very much, evil or otherwise. next one to follow soon.
01/02/2025

Here's the next cheeky chimp. Obviously, he's not seeing very much, evil or otherwise. next one to follow soon.

I've found recently that I really enjoy simple pencil drawing.I like the precision that this medium gives as compared wi...
26/01/2025

I've found recently that I really enjoy simple pencil drawing.I like the precision that this medium gives as compared with the freer, more fluid feel that I get with oils. I also like chimps, so put the two together and this is what you get. Obviously this is based on "hear no evil": guess what will be coming next? Onyhoo! Christine tells me that I don't post enough stuff, so this is a start.

I had good fun trying my hand at an impressionistic style painting. There's a Japanese garden near Dollar which is well ...
24/11/2024

I had good fun trying my hand at an impressionistic style painting. There's a Japanese garden near Dollar which is well worth a visit, although I've been told that it has become so popular that you have to book before visiting. One of the features of the garden is a wooden Japanese styled bridge which is very reminiscent of Monet. Just crying out to be painted.

A couple of years ago, we took our caravan to a site just north of Oban. The view from the caravan looks out over the Fi...
18/10/2024

A couple of years ago, we took our caravan to a site just north of Oban. The view from the caravan looks out over the Firth of Lorne to the Island of Lismore, with the hills of Mull just visible in the far distance. The painting shows the point when the early evening sun was dropping down in the west behind a single large storm cloud. Pretty eye catching?

The only painting that I've managed to do over the summer, was to paint the outside of the house and that doesn't really...
01/10/2024

The only painting that I've managed to do over the summer, was to paint the outside of the house and that doesn't really count, even though it took a lot of time and effort. However, that and various other DIY jobs are now behind me and so I'm back at the easel again. This landscape is based on a vineyard that was only twenty minutes or so from the site in France where for several years we kept our caravan. I think that paintings like this hold more memories than simple holiday snaps.
With an eye to the future, I've made a provisional booking for a venue for another exhibition to be held April/May next year and so my French vineyard will probably be the first entry

A few days ago, I finished a commission piece of wee Lucy for her Grandmother. I have to say that she was an absolute jo...
18/06/2024

A few days ago, I finished a commission piece of wee Lucy for her Grandmother. I have to say that she was an absolute joy to paint, mainly because she is just full of mischief, much so much so that I couldn't smiling as worked worked on it.

07/05/2024

Well, that's the exhibition over and what a positive experience it has been. No negative comments at all, and the icing on the cake was the sale of five different pieces of work. I want to thank everyone who came along to support Michelle and myself and to those who helped promote the event via social media. All much appreciated.
I'll need to sharpen my pencil and start preparing for the next one.

21/04/2024

Well, only nine days left to our exhibition and I've got to say that I'm looking forward to it. (with a wee bit trepidation). I got my last picture back from the framers yesterday. I think that is the last in a whole host of tasks that have had to be carried out in recent weeks. Things like buying special hooks to hang over the top of the exhibition boards and nylon fishing line to connect said hooks to picture hooks to hang the various works.: typing labels and notes for hanging beside the exhibits, etc etc. Any way, I'm sure it will be good fun and educational. I've started on my next picture, which will take a wee while. It's going to be a portrait of Lucy, number four out of my five great grand kids.

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