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/
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
Made a start to this little commission. This style of terrace in Trimdon Grange is ubiquitous to the former pit villages of Co Durham. #pleinair #oilpainting #CoDurham #landscapepainting
May 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Made a start to this little commission. This style of terrace in Trimdon Grange is ubiquitous to the former pit villages of Co Durham. #pleinair #oilpainting #CoDurham #landscapepainting
Wi tippeny be we fear nae evil;
wi usquebae, we'll face the devil.
wi usquebae, we'll face the devil.
May 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Wi tippeny be we fear nae evil;
wi usquebae, we'll face the devil.
wi usquebae, we'll face the devil.
Finished this. The Insanity of Cars; Middlesbrough Flyover at Rush Hour. Oil on canvas. 12 x 16 #urbanlandscape #Rushhour #Middlesbrough #oiloncanvas #Northbound #Teesside
May 16, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Finished this. The Insanity of Cars; Middlesbrough Flyover at Rush Hour. Oil on canvas. 12 x 16 #urbanlandscape #Rushhour #Middlesbrough #oiloncanvas #Northbound #Teesside
Thought I should put a bit more energy into getting my paintings back out into the world. Taking a punt on the Cass Art prize with this one. #CassArt #oilpainting #artist #exhibition #DH7 #CoDurham
May 15, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Thought I should put a bit more energy into getting my paintings back out into the world. Taking a punt on the Cass Art prize with this one. #CassArt #oilpainting #artist #exhibition #DH7 #CoDurham
Another session on this one this evening. I think it's there. It'll sit on my mantle piece for a wee while and I'll spot anything that needs more work, but I'm happy with it for now. #WIP #pleinair #oilpainting #urbanlandscapepainting #DH7 #ushawmoor #CoDurham
May 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Another session on this one this evening. I think it's there. It'll sit on my mantle piece for a wee while and I'll spot anything that needs more work, but I'm happy with it for now. #WIP #pleinair #oilpainting #urbanlandscapepainting #DH7 #ushawmoor #CoDurham
Evening sun in #DH7 Stopping now as the light has already changed too much. I'll come back for another session soon. #pleinairpainting #oilpaint #urbanlandscape #CoDurham
May 13, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Evening sun in #DH7 Stopping now as the light has already changed too much. I'll come back for another session soon. #pleinairpainting #oilpaint #urbanlandscape #CoDurham