Alan McGinn
@ahmcginn.bsky.social
Artist, mainly painting, among other things. Looking for beauty and meaning in the familiar and the everyday. Penchant for loud guitars and the occasional good whisky. No NFTs, so don't ask. https://alanski.blogspot.com/
Pub portrait. Man in the corner enjoying a pint and some quiet contemplation. Warm haven on a cold, dirty winter's night. #supportyourlocal #Pencildrawing #portrait
December 9, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Pub portrait. Man in the corner enjoying a pint and some quiet contemplation. Warm haven on a cold, dirty winter's night. #supportyourlocal #Pencildrawing #portrait
Portrait of Joan watching TV. Joan is my mother-in-law, a wonderful lady slowly sinking into dementia. Happy in herself, still enjoys company and a wee dram, and happy to let me draw pictures of her. None of us are here for ever so we should make the most of the time we have.
December 8, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Portrait of Joan watching TV. Joan is my mother-in-law, a wonderful lady slowly sinking into dementia. Happy in herself, still enjoys company and a wee dram, and happy to let me draw pictures of her. None of us are here for ever so we should make the most of the time we have.
Durham Cathedral from Observatory Hill; Autumn Colours. This one took three visits to that location with my easel, many lovely interactions with people while I was there, and several hours in my studio. You have to let each painting go on its own journey.
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches
December 7, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Durham Cathedral from Observatory Hill; Autumn Colours. This one took three visits to that location with my easel, many lovely interactions with people while I was there, and several hours in my studio. You have to let each painting go on its own journey.
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches
A bit of quick gouache & pencil sketchbook action from today. My favourite medium for getting down some colour and composition for further painting ideas. Near Bishop Thornton in North Yorkshire. Never be without your sketchbook for these moments.
December 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
A bit of quick gouache & pencil sketchbook action from today. My favourite medium for getting down some colour and composition for further painting ideas. Near Bishop Thornton in North Yorkshire. Never be without your sketchbook for these moments.
I saw my first real painting up close when I was a child and was immediately fascinated by how a painting was just blobs of colour on a surface. That still informs my painting technique to this day. Portrait work-in-progress detail.
December 1, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I saw my first real painting up close when I was a child and was immediately fascinated by how a painting was just blobs of colour on a surface. That still informs my painting technique to this day. Portrait work-in-progress detail.
Another session on this painting I've been working on, Observatory Hill in Durham.
November 18, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Another session on this painting I've been working on, Observatory Hill in Durham.
Work in progress: Observatory Hill on Remembrance Sunday, painting and listening to the incredible sound of the Cathedral bells peeling out into the landscape. #WIP #durham #durhamcathedral #remembrance
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Work in progress: Observatory Hill on Remembrance Sunday, painting and listening to the incredible sound of the Cathedral bells peeling out into the landscape. #WIP #durham #durhamcathedral #remembrance
The world is full of beauty. Get out and make the most of it. Durham Skyline from Observatory Hill - Autumn Colours Oil on canvas board 10 x 12 inches October 2025 #pleinair #landscape #CoDurham #durhamcathedral #Durham #oilpainting #landscapepainting
November 2, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The world is full of beauty. Get out and make the most of it. Durham Skyline from Observatory Hill - Autumn Colours Oil on canvas board 10 x 12 inches October 2025 #pleinair #landscape #CoDurham #durhamcathedral #Durham #oilpainting #landscapepainting
Autumn Sun in Tynemouth,
Oil On Canvas board
12 x 16 inches
October 2025
This was done during a trip to Tynemouth with Urban Sketchers Tyne Wear & Tees group. #Tynemouth #pleinair #landscape #urbanlandscape #oilpainting #landscapepainting
Oil On Canvas board
12 x 16 inches
October 2025
This was done during a trip to Tynemouth with Urban Sketchers Tyne Wear & Tees group. #Tynemouth #pleinair #landscape #urbanlandscape #oilpainting #landscapepainting
November 1, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Autumn Sun in Tynemouth,
Oil On Canvas board
12 x 16 inches
October 2025
This was done during a trip to Tynemouth with Urban Sketchers Tyne Wear & Tees group. #Tynemouth #pleinair #landscape #urbanlandscape #oilpainting #landscapepainting
Oil On Canvas board
12 x 16 inches
October 2025
This was done during a trip to Tynemouth with Urban Sketchers Tyne Wear & Tees group. #Tynemouth #pleinair #landscape #urbanlandscape #oilpainting #landscapepainting
Autumn colours on a cold day. You'll never regret going out to paint.
October 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Autumn colours on a cold day. You'll never regret going out to paint.
Back in the 90s, I was the archetypal starving artist in a garret, and what a garret on the 15th floor of a tower block looking over the great city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Big Lamp, Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches C1998 #urbanlandscape #Newcastle #oiloncanvas #landscapepainter
October 30, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Back in the 90s, I was the archetypal starving artist in a garret, and what a garret on the 15th floor of a tower block looking over the great city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Big Lamp, Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches C1998 #urbanlandscape #Newcastle #oiloncanvas #landscapepainter
This unfinished painting of Holy Island was my first trip out with a French Easel. It's been quite a journey since then and that easel dropped to bits. Most of my painting is now done outdoors and steadily wearing out a second easel. A life well lived should be an endless learning process.
October 28, 2025 at 3:58 AM
This unfinished painting of Holy Island was my first trip out with a French Easel. It's been quite a journey since then and that easel dropped to bits. Most of my painting is now done outdoors and steadily wearing out a second easel. A life well lived should be an endless learning process.
Some #WIP shots of my trip out to Tynemouth with the Urban Sketchers Tyne Wear & Tees. Bit of a cold day on the fingers, but totally worth it. #pleinair #tynemouth #urbanlandscapepainting #oilpainting
October 25, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Some #WIP shots of my trip out to Tynemouth with the Urban Sketchers Tyne Wear & Tees. Bit of a cold day on the fingers, but totally worth it. #pleinair #tynemouth #urbanlandscapepainting #oilpainting
No. It's a life-long habit.
October 24, 2025 at 10:16 AM
No. It's a life-long habit.
Had a mental few months and posting on here has fallen by the wayside. However, I did get back out painting at the weekend. Work in progress shot from Observatory Hill in Durham catching the glorious autumn colours. I'll post the finished piece in due course.
October 24, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Had a mental few months and posting on here has fallen by the wayside. However, I did get back out painting at the weekend. Work in progress shot from Observatory Hill in Durham catching the glorious autumn colours. I'll post the finished piece in due course.
Pardon the pun. Started a book of cat doodles. Other animals may be involved.
September 2, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Pardon the pun. Started a book of cat doodles. Other animals may be involved.
Farm Machinery, St John's Chapel, Co Durham. Oil on canvas. My first plein-air competition, had no idea what to expect and got 3rd prize.
July 29, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Farm Machinery, St John's Chapel, Co Durham. Oil on canvas. My first plein-air competition, had no idea what to expect and got 3rd prize.
Found this little painting of St Nicholas aka Newcastle Cathedral I did sometime in the late 90s. #Newcastle #StNicholas #oilpainting #urbanlandscape
June 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Found this little painting of St Nicholas aka Newcastle Cathedral I did sometime in the late 90s. #Newcastle #StNicholas #oilpainting #urbanlandscape
Leave your smartphone at home, take your sketchbook instead, and you can get engrossed in other people getting engrossed in their smartphones. #smartphone #peoplewatching #sketchbook #drawing
June 2, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Leave your smartphone at home, take your sketchbook instead, and you can get engrossed in other people getting engrossed in their smartphones. #smartphone #peoplewatching #sketchbook #drawing
Dog walk, couple of pints, a bit crack with the Wednesday evening crew and a portrait. Not too shabby for a Wednesday night. Danny sitting at the bar. #pubdrawing #Pencildrawing #supportyourlocal #portrait
May 28, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Dog walk, couple of pints, a bit crack with the Wednesday evening crew and a portrait. Not too shabby for a Wednesday night. Danny sitting at the bar. #pubdrawing #Pencildrawing #supportyourlocal #portrait
Big Dave drives a pickup truck for picking up trucks. Ron Perry services, A19 northbound. Watching people coming and going. Conversations in the rain. Filling cars with fuel and and themselves with garage snacks. #Drawing #peoplewatching #A19 #sketchbook
May 27, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Big Dave drives a pickup truck for picking up trucks. Ron Perry services, A19 northbound. Watching people coming and going. Conversations in the rain. Filling cars with fuel and and themselves with garage snacks. #Drawing #peoplewatching #A19 #sketchbook
Band rehearsal today. I think I'll take these two out today. #Gibson #Elderwood #Marshall #Supportlivemusic
May 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Band rehearsal today. I think I'll take these two out today. #Gibson #Elderwood #Marshall #Supportlivemusic
Finished: Corporation Terrace, Trimdon Grange, oil on canvas, 10 x 12 inches. Commissioned by a Canadian lady who's father lived on that street and recently moved to Canada. This will be a present for his 80th birthday. #pleinair #CoDurham #landscapepainter #oilpainting
@grimartgroup.bsky.social
@grimartgroup.bsky.social
May 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Finished: Corporation Terrace, Trimdon Grange, oil on canvas, 10 x 12 inches. Commissioned by a Canadian lady who's father lived on that street and recently moved to Canada. This will be a present for his 80th birthday. #pleinair #CoDurham #landscapepainter #oilpainting
@grimartgroup.bsky.social
@grimartgroup.bsky.social
