IRISH GUARDS BAND AND POLO GIRLS, WINDSOR

OIL PAINTING FINISHED, IRISH GUARDS BAND AND GIRLS

My oil painting is finished now, measures 50cm x 50cm.  The subject was painted using as inspiration sketches I made at Windsor Great Park polo games, particularly the Cartier Gold Cup, plus photos taken last year and previous years.  I am hoping to return to Windsor Great Park this year and do more sketches of the players and the animated onlookers, in their finery.

GUARDS BAND PLAYS AT WINDSOR GREAT PARK POLO - IRISH GUARDS

FAMOUS BAND - BEARSKINS AND SCARLET TUNICS,  AT WINDSOR GUARDS POLO CLUB

I have turned out some photos taken in 2006 at the Cartier Gold Cup polo, in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.  The photos are on a CD, because in those days I had no digital camera.
I am planning a new painting, hopefully using these old images and a sketch.

The marching band of the Irish Guards, resplendent in scarlet tunics and bearskins, are in some of the photos.
I think they are the Irish Guards, because from the website (link below), regarding Guards uniforms:

The Official Website of the British Monarchy

I read that the Irish Guards have a blue plume on the bearskin worn on the right side.

CARTIER GOLD CUB IN 2006 - TEAMS DUBAI AND BRONCOS

I remember  exciting polo between the finalists,  Dubai and Broncos, and watching the cup being presented by HRH Queen Elizabeth.

Here is the first rought sketch for my idea

POLO AT WINDSOR GREAT PARK - CARTIER GOLD CUP

Cartier Gold Cup day is one of those days when the well-off and those with aspirations to be well-off collect together to consume lots of champagne and Pimms, to eat picnics by their cars and to thrill to the top class polo games.  There is one game in the morning, and the main event at 3 in the afternoon.
The reason for my attendance was to enjoy the polo and to take lots of photos, so I can continue with the paintings of horses and  riders.  Also to consume some nice cool white wine and have a picnic too.
Luckily it was a bright day, with cloud and a little sun, so the photos are fine.  Will add a couple.
The major game was extremely exciting, England versus New Zealand, and before the game, we had the New Zealand display of dancers in what looked like straw skirts and battle paint, but they were too far away to make them out or hear anything much.  They displayed in front of the Royal Box where HRH The Prince of Wales sat up on the balcony.  No lady seemed to accompany him, that I saw.
I talked to two nice people who run a gallery called Equestrian Art UK who had an interesting display of horsey paintings on their stand.  They told me they attend all the major horsey events, like Cheltenham, Newmarket, Goodwood,  eventing etc etc.
It was fun looking at the crowd, which seemed to comprise mostly quite young and very young people, the girls dressed to kill - in killer heels too!  Wonder how they managed to walk on the turf.
I suppose the older well-off nobs were on the other side of the ground, in the South Grandstand and expensive seats near the Royal Box.  We were in the cheaper North Grandstand but even so the tickets plus the cost of car park cost an arm and a leg.

This oil painting has just been completed, based on two riders in the teams of Hurlingham (blue) and the Prince of Wales (red).  The painting is 30cm x 25cm.  The title is 'Golden Jubilee Trophy. 2010'

CLOCKTOWER, CROYDON - EXHBITION BY CROYDON ART SOCIETY

This is the exhibition of Croydon Art Society at the Croydon Clocktower gallery, in the centre of Croydon town centre, Surrey (UK).

CROYDON CLOCKTOWER

I have three works on show here until the end of May, 2010.

One oil painting, of the Polo play at Windsor Great Park last summer, when I painted this little study 'en plein air' at my easel next to the polo ground.  Sorry the photo is very poor quality!

I also have on display two collagraphs of engines, one called The Rocket, and one called The Tank Engine, self-explanatory titles.
Collagraphs are an unusual form of printing, because you make the original as a collage using various textures and card, sand, seeds, thick paper etc.  Then you seal the collage with many layers of varnish to keep out moisture and preserve the soft material.  This 'plate' is then inked up with etching ink and printed on special paper in the same way as a conventional etching, but not so many finished prints can be made before the 'collage' shows signs of wear.

Invigilation at the exhibition again was interesting, and while I was there, one of the organisers of the exhibition, the wonderful Archie, was taking photos of all the exhibits to put on the Croydon Art Society website:
Croydon Art Society

POLO PAINTING ON SHOW AT DULWICH, SOUTH LONDON

As a member of the South London Women Artists group I applied to show one of my paintings to be on display at Dulwich Library from 1 March next. I heard today that a painting, which I did en plein air at the Polo match at Windsor Great Park (Guards Polo Club) has been selected for this exhibition.
At the polo match I set up my easel last June, 2009, at the edge of the polo field, and managed to paint three small canvases.

There is a problem with painting fast moving polo ponies, of course! I usually focus on ponies going in one direction, then as each time the field of play moves in that direction, I try and catch the pattern of the ponies and riders.

Unfortunately I remember that on this occasion the players tended to play at the other side of the field. It was difficult to take photos to back up my painting because I forgot to pack my zoom lens!

Anyway the result is fine and you are welcome to come to the private view at Dulwich if you send me an email.
My web site will show the painting and the other two I completed, very soon.

Why not contact www.southlondonwomenartists.co.uk