Portrait commission for the National Museum of Wales Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru
September 21, 2021
In 2018 I was commissioned to paint a portrait of the out going President of Amgueddfa
Genedlaethol Cymru National Museum Wales, Elisabeth Elias.
The first female President of the Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru National Museum Wales. The portrait presents Elisabeth in a behind the scenes view of Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd National
Museum Cardiff, where the portrait is set. Elizabeth poses in the conservation studio with easels either side of her displaying two other portraits- one of Lady Countess Rhondda and the other of Agatha Christie by Oskar Kokoschka. In the centenary of the suffragette movement it seemed a fitting setting to portray Elisabeth.
It was wonderful opportunity to meet and paint Elisabeth, and a real honour to have the final portrait displayed in Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru National Museum Wales collection. Diolch yn fawr iawn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru!
Study of Elisabeth Elias. Charcoal on Paper 
Elisabeth Elias, Past President National Museum of Wales 36x28ins oil on canvas
Recent Commission for Rossall School
July 9, 2013
Portrait of Dr Stephen Winkley. Oil on canvas
Here is a recent commission I completed for Rossall School. The painting now hangs in the school hall along with the pictures of all the past headmasters. The dog in the painting is the Headmasters pet Bluebell, a school celebrity! I had a great time visiting Dr Stephen Winkley and Bluebell the dog. They were both great company and very easy to work with. They happily accommodated my many artistic requests. Thank you to both sitters, and Rossall School.
Landscape process – subject
October 24, 2010
Heres my set up for the painting, looking up and out from the river bank through the trees.
Landscape painting offers up many different challenges to studio based work. First amongst these is finding the right subject to paint, which can be surprisingly difficult when confronted with so much to choose from. For me personally its really helpful to get to know a landscape, and develop a feel for the place before beginning. When I’m painting outdoors,the changing weather conditions, and the changing light force me to make decisions a lot quicker than I would in the studio. This I like as it makes me work a little more intuitively, and feeds back into my studio work. Often the pictures are smaller because of the practical difficulties of working outside, but I have plans to make larger works in the future.
The photos are of a recent painting trip to the river Usk in Wales. I went there with the intention of making some studies of the river bank and the moving water, but ended up settling on a view looking out from the river bank towards the nearby fields. I think I wasn’t happy with my preconceived idea of what I wanted to paint, as it was inhibiting how I approached the subject. I like it when I find unexpected subjects, it makes the whole process feel more spontaneous, and challenges my way of thinking, keeping things fresh.
Finished painting from the banks of the Usk. Oil on Board. by Joe Galvin 2010
Joseph Galvin Artist 