Author: Ask

I sold my very first painting when I was 19 while still at college and held my very first solo art exhibition in November 1972. In the 8 plus years that I lived and supported myself and my young family entirely from my art, I held a further 7 solo art shows, and have since had a further 8 in the UK.

Oil painting by Elaine Ask in Nottingham

Posted on by Ask in Oil paintings by Elaine Ask
"Garden in Nottingham" Oil on Canvass 410 x 410 mm May 2011 by Elaine Ask
“Garden in Nottingham”
Oil on Canvass 410 x 410 mm May 2011

This garden is in Washdyke Lane, Hucknall, Nottingham. The owner, who sadly has since passed away, was holding an artists’ get together . We were encouraged to be productive so I brought along my oil paints, and this smallish square canvass and set up my easel in his garden. Fortunately it didn’t rain and it was warm enough to be comfortable standing outside all afternoon. I was forced to think carefully about what to leave out in order to make this painting work , using only his garden as the subject. The bench, the garage and a few flowers were enough to create what you see here.

Little Fishing Boat in Samos

Posted on by Ask in Oil paintings by Elaine Ask
Little Greek Fishing Boat in Samos - by Elaine Ask 2019 300 x 400 mm Oil on Canvass
Little Greek Fishing Boat in Samos – by Elaine Ask 2019
300 x 400 mm Oil on Canvass
Little Greek Fishing Boat in Samos – by Elaine Ask 2019
300 x 400 mm Oil on Canvass
Ψαροκάϊκο στη Σάμο

Sometimes the canvass you have to work with, doesn’t quite match the proportions of what you wish to include in it. See a photo below of the actual scene.

Photo of the same scene taken before starting on the painting above. Here you see that the boat is more elongated than eventually depicted in the oil painting, and of course my favourite ultramarine blue predominates moving away from an accurate colour rendition of the sea.

Pastel Drawings in Greek Taverna

Posted on by Ask in Drawings by Elaine Ask, Pastel line drawings
"Greek Taverna at Night" "Ελληνική ταβέρνα τη νύχτα" Pastel Drawing by Elaine Ask 1986 410 x 290 mm unframed 
“Greek Taverna at Night”
“Ελληνική ταβέρνα τη νύχτα”
Pastel Drawing by Elaine Ask 1986
410 x 290 mm
520 x 420 mm framed
"Greek Taverna" "Ελληνική Tαβέρνα" Pastel Drawing by Elaine Ask 1986 410 x 290 mm unframed 520 x 420 mm framed
“Greek Taverna”
“Ελληνική Tαβέρνα”
Pastel Drawing by Elaine Ask 1986
410 x 290 mm
520 x 420 mm framed

I don’t often draw in pastel, but fortunately these two favourite pastel drawings have survived 33 years to date!

Pencil and Watercolour Drawing of Saskia Aged 3

Posted on by Ask in Drawings by Elaine Ask
Pencil and Watercolour Drawing of Saskia aged 3, by Elaine Ask 1982 owned by Saskia Kouyioumtzi 300 x 200 mm
Saskia aged 3 eating her supper at Hare Park Lane where we lived in the 1980s

This style of drawing is one of my favourite where the lively pencil sketch from life is the main element of the composition , then overlaid with a light watercolour wash to allow the structure to still be viewed while also adding a dimension of colour.

Stolen Paintings – Elaine Ask

Posted on by Ask in Oil paintings by Elaine Ask

When I first moved to Dewsbury, the street opposite our house was a source of inspiration for many of my painting around 1989. One of my favourites was of a guest house with an amazing Victorian conservatory. Others were of houses on that street, some of which were purchased by the owners.

1989 oil painting by Elaine Ask. House on Park Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
House on Park Road in Dewsbury, with Wonky Gateposts
Oil on Canvass by Elaine Ask 1989

My second husband had a fledgling printing business, which he worked hard to build up. He hung several of my paintings in his office to decorate the walls. Unfortunately the business failed and the bailiffs were sent in, and despite my paintings being nothing to do with the business assets, they were removed and sold so I never saw them again. One was of my older daughter in stripy leggings. I wonder who has it now…..?

A few years later my then husband and I split up. He only took with him 4 or 5 of my best framed paintings, which I did not begrudge him of course, but strangely enough , some time after that his home in the Barnsley area was burgled. The only things the thieves took were my paintings, one of which was that of the Victorian Conservatory at Ayton Guesthouse! If you have it, let me know, as I would love to have a photo of it at the very least…

Oil Painting Every-Day Life Scenes

Posted on by Ask in Oil paintings by Elaine Ask
In this oil painting by Elaine Ask, Saskia sits in an armchair, staring at the TV, though you don't see the TV.
“Saskia Aged 15”
Framed Oil on Canvass
1994

This is a homely domestic scene. The teenager has an almost vacant, look, as she sits watching TV, and certainly doesn’t appear to be that happy. You can’t see what she is thinking, as she is wrapped up in her own little world. Its evening time, and in the top left hand corner of the painting, adjacent to a small plant, the little lamp on top of the wooden desk casts reflected colours onto the desk itself and the wall to the right, on which a painting of a child playing the violin hangs. The armchair on which she sits has a yellow cellular blanket draped over it, while the second armchair next to her is adorned with colourful cushions. On the far left is a patterned carpet/rug.

So many colours and patterns, yet somehow they all hang together!

Greek villagers in Sarti, Halkidiki. An oil painting by Elaine Ask oil on Canvass 1984
Greek Villagers Sorting Out Their Crop of Beans
Oil on Canvass 1984
610 x 457 mm

Another painting from life , created ten years earlier than the one shown above, depicts Greek villagers going about their business in the summer of 1984

Oil Painting of child eating grapes

Posted on by Ask in Oil paintings by Elaine Ask
Saskia at the Italian Water pump. 600 x 800 mm (830 x 1030 mm framed)

This is an older oil painting and it continues to be one of my favourites. It depicts my then 5 year old daughter eating black grapes that a kind Italian gentleman has just helped her wash under the tap at this Italian water pump in the street. Its the end of our long summer holiday in the North of Greece , so we are hitch-hiking home via Italy.

Saskia always loved to imitate her brother, wearing his outgrown underpants , aged 5 : of course she doesn’t do that anymore nowadays!