David Atack - Portrait Painter

Trouble wi`th` Sitter
04 April 2010

It was January and snowy when the last Blog entry went live, and we were all excited here at Marley Hall as David took orders for prints and continued his portrait of Brenda and Hogey. Then silence. Something had happened to disturb the excitement at Marley Hall. It is simple. Hogey died on 8th February 2010 at 11.30am. His last actions were to put his snout up for a kiss from mum and then to sigh after his chest was rubbed as only his dad can do it. Then rest. Hogey was a fit and well Dalmation for 12 years, but had struggled with slipped discs and athritis for over 18 months before deciding to rest. He adored the vet, and was a fantastic advert for acupuncture as well as for his amazing reaction to sophisticated medicines. But Hogey`s time came, and only now has David returned to complete his portrait, and only now can we say `Trouble wi`th` Sitter` when we miss the sitter so much. Slap our wrists, at 13 1/2 Hogey was a great age for a Dalmation and it is time to celebrate his life, not to feel sad about what we miss!! What better way than in paintings and pictures!!

Running Hot and Cold
13 January 2010

Traditionally, January 13th is classed as the coldest day of the year, but prints of the Jazz Pianist are running hot at Marley Hall today!! Today David is signing number 11 of a Limited Edition of 50 prints of this amazing figure composition, and this one will be winging its way to a client in London as soon as the ice allows us access to the post!! Yes, we are living true to the tradition since the Marley estate is shrouded in ice, David dons his thick Aran wool sweater, pretends he has not that minute taken his hat off (sorry about the distressed hair!!), and keeps the theme going by signing the print with Brenda’s snowman pencil.

Fire Dogs
12 January 2010

A new painting is on its way!! At the moment its working title is “Hogey with Brenda”. Hogey (Hogarth!) Atack has been David Atack’s constant companion for over 13 years, and is very much part of the scene at Marley Hall. From the moment he arrived Hogey made Marley Hall and its beautiful surroundings his home. At age 10 he raced around the grounds and Hogarth Hill to your right as you enter the estate was quickly named after the one who always got to the top first, and Hogarth Court was opened as a rear entrance to the Hall when Hogey pushed his way through the closed gate. Now Hogey is more comfortable in front of his fire in the study at Marley Hall, near to where Brenda works, and it is here that the “sittings” for Hogey’s portrait are taking place. As outside temperatures remain blow zero David paints in his hat, and Hogey stays close to the fire dogs holding the flaming logs. It really is a dog’s life today!!

No business Like Snow Business ---
11 January 2010

David is painting his latest commission, Hogey with Brenda, and he needs to get on because the next commission has booked in for sittings --- then looks out the window and it has snowed again, wow!!! Artist explores the Marley Hall estate in the snow and there we have it, the inspiration to paint!!! The snow traps sound, the beauty is moving, the scene is tranquil, but the urge to paint excites ----

Tribute to Doug Murray
10 January 2010

As the first requests for further prints of the `Jazz Pianist` come in, BBC Radio Ulster`s Walter Love presents a tribute to Doug Murray, the Belfast pianist and trombonist who died in December `09. David`s blog is mentioned in the tribute and comments on the painting of Doug playing the piano are great --- `What I particularly like about your work is the positioning of Doug vis a vis everyone else ---- he is alone, utterly absorbed in his art, and for most people he is background sound and just an accompaniment to their own chatter. I find it a very touching rendition of the essential loneliness of any artist` --Peter Andrews, London.

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