Art idea, tree colours

Here is a quick imagined sketch, video below

 

Sledmere , view over the garden wall.

I was walking through the walled garden and reached a maroon door.It led out into the park. I noticed the perimeter wall on my left and wandered across and I could see over the wall. This view of the main street and prominent dome, the shadows on the road telling me I was looking eastwards provided enough interest for a painting. The suggestion of the village school with a couple of spikes above a pale coloured house at the top of the hill speak of  life here going on. The village is closely tied to Sledmere House with buildings painted in the same colour, buildings of a particular architecture. I like Sledmere. 

Oil on canvas board, 14x10 inch.  Available from my online store.

New Year doodle…garden is asleep. Go to full screen.

 

Happy New Year, don’t forget to hang your calendar.

 

Happy New Year to everyone

 The Old Harbour from Drypool Bridge

North Dalton and church on a misty day

 Boxing Day 2024.

I thought about visiting the Warter Priory Estate, however mist shrouded the landscape, seeming to get more dense as I travelled to the higher Wolds. It was impossible to do a landscape painting, so remembering a recent visit to North Dalton where we visited the pub (so George could have a drink…) I headed to it. Parking at the village hall, not far from the studios of Rose and Robin, I set off to walk George, who lead me towards the Star, no doubt remembering his previous visit. To get there we walked past the pond, on an elevated footpath causing a cacophony as a group of ducks, sitting on the pond dredging saw us above them and flew to the pond. The pub, THE STAR was open but we returned to the car. This view, from the car park shows a glimpse of the church across a well tended garden. I decided to set up the pochade box and paint the view. Despite the weather the coniferous planting together with cornus (red dogwood) and  flowering shrubs made the composition interesting. People passed with their dogs, an elderly Alsatian, a Labrador, a lady with a spaniel came over and we chatted about my friend David Hockney. As I left Beverley via the Westwood evidence of  the Boxing Day hunt could be seen. People walking up from Beverley town, one or two riders wearing hunt livery approaching from the road to Bishop Burton. I remembered, as I painted, that years ago as a young man I would be playing rugby on this day which often involved becoming grounded in the Humber as the ferry from Hull got stuck on a mud bank…ahhh…memories.

Painting available here.

This painting is featured in part two of my book Plein Air Painting, showing the stages of completion.It will be available in the New Year. Part one, featuring the area around Beverley and the Low Wolds is already published. Books available from my online store here.

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Plein air painting, part 1 of 2 BEVERLEY AND THE LOW WOLDS

 Available here

iPad sketch, short video

 

Very short iPad sketch video

Lair Hill House, from the road to Goodmanham.

14x10 inch, oil on canvas board.

Looking north, across Lair Hill, on the road to Goodmanham we can see Lair Hill House enfolded by a tree belt. It was a cold winter day in December, I am fighting time as the strong northern wind brings a spiritless numbing to my hands. I have to work quickly while I can still pick up the brushes. The painting has worked well, The winter colours speak of the season, soon it will be Christmas Day and though I see no Santa yet, robins are never far away. When winter sun illuminates the land we see subtle colours. The pale tree trunks, reddish tinges to some trees, ferted (fertilised) green fields beginning their journey to next years harvest. I see little traffic here except one or two local farmers who pass in 4x4 vehicles. Driving home I spot a Mortimers wagon reminding me of a conversation with trainee agronomists.

Available from my online store HERE

Landscape painting - ART books for the plein air artist.

Produced to open up as a sketchbook with all pages filled with double page pen and ink wash paintings. Showing the countryside of the East Riding and including the Yorkshire Wolds.

 

This first edition book contains examples of 12 x 10 inch pochade box, plein air paintings though the emphasis is focussed on how to make and use a pochade box. It explains in detail the elements and materials needed, gives examples of previous iterations finishing with my well proven portable design for a box, inside of which is everything the painter needs. Canvas holder, storage for brushes and paints, palette for mixing, water carrying etc. It is a 'must have' book for serious and aspirational plein air artists.

 

A first edition, seriously complete book of almost four hundred pages. Essentially a collection of paintings all produced using my pochade box. The paintings are all oil paintings 12x10 inches. Each painting is accompanied by a description of events, a kaleidoscope of serendipity, happenings, thoughts and poetry. Paintings have all been produced 'en plein air' in and around Beverley, Lockington, Lund, Etton, South Dalton, Holme on the Low Wolds. ( Another book is in the process of editing which will accompany this volume featuring the High Wolds).

 All available from my online store

Also lots of other items, 2025 Calendar, prints, ORIGINAL paintings, cards etc.

 

Plein Air Painting - Part 1 Beverley and the LOW WOLDS

 My journey into publishing has resulted in this book, my third art book. It details my plein air painting adventures over several years. This book is part one of two, featuring Beverley and the LOW WOLDS. It is a special book. It is nearly 400 pages long and the format is essentially a painting accompanied by a record of the day. It will be an invaluable guide for the prospective painter of landscapes, I describe how I work, my materials, method and systems. I also have included personal reflections on aspects of painting, in particular, the notion of time.

Short video here.

Available from my online store.

Happy Christmas everyone

 

Horse Dale, Huggate.

 Available from my online store

I have many happy memories of this area, especially meeting local farmers and listening to their stories. One of which being that, on a clear night, looking down Horse Dale gigantic container ships brightly lit up can be seen from here as the pass in the North Sea near Bridlington.

Beverley Minster from Hallgarth

 

I did this standing by the road in Long Lane. It was a pen and drawing which was used by Beverley Grammar School for some years on the cover of the School Carol Concert programme. The headmaster also used it as a letterhead, printed quite feint on school stationery. Here is the sketch with colour added, it is an A3 print available from my online store or by contacting me via the exhibition link ( at the side of the picture you will see a speech icon with three dots, this will send me your details).

Go here to see this in my exhibition

ONLINE store 

Print of Beverley Minster, inside view towards the organ.

Available here

Prints for presents 2 - all from reproduced fom my paintings.

Prints of Paintings by John Geekie

Have a look round this vitual exhibition of prints which have been taken from my paintings.

Prints of Paintings by John Geekie

Prints for presents? Virtual exhibition 1

Click image to go to the exhibition where you can inquire about any of the prints.

Sketch of table lamp using an iPad.

Cape Gooseberry fun

 

GRAB your 2025 calendar, price increase 1st December.

 Considered by many to be my best calendar, it features paintings made this year. It is A3 sized wall hanging. Check out my online store to order.

FREE virtual tour of 2025 calendar

Link 

If you are taken to another exhibition, hit the + sign on the left of the gallery to reveal the page below 

Then click the calendar

Make your own table christmas tree.

 

Father Christmas angel - print and make,

Here is something for you to make. It will stand on a windowsill, table but I like to put it on top of the tree. We know Father Christmas had a red coat so why not colour it in. See lower left of the sheet. 

PRINT ONTO A4 SIZED THIN CARD, CUT OUT AND ASSEMBLY.

 

 

Calendar reminder..Price increase 1st December.

 

 

Hi everyone, I have absorbed postage costs for some years but now find an adjustment necessary. This means that the price will increase from the 1st December. Please order before then to get the usual price. Click image to go to the store.

Westwood, BEVERLEY. Flood alleviation work.

Sketchbook capturing flood mitigation works

The excellent Landplan team worked on sloving the flooding problem on part of the Westwood recently. Did this quick sketch after walking George. The autumn colours are transforming the scene with the Minster, as ever, watching over.

 

Beverley Minster - Christmas Tree Festival

 

FREE virtual tour of 2025 calendar

Link

If you are taken to another exhibition, hit the + sign on the left of the gallery to reveal the page below

Then click the calendar

 

FREE virtual exhibition of recent sketches at Beverley Minster

 Click image to go to the virtual gallery.

FREE Virtual Exhibition, Burythorpe, Ryedale sketching and painting

 Click image to go to the virtual gallery.

Wonderful Beverley Minster mini-meditation, iPad sketch and video

 Click the image to be taken to a short video

Online store - Christmas presents from calendars to books to original paintings

Autumn gold at North Grimston, North Yorkshire.

On the way home saw this tunnel view leading to the cottage at the end of the road at North Grimston. Decided to quickly set up the pochade box to try and capture the ‘feel’ of the colour at this time. As I painted bright yellow and gold leaves occasionally floated down covering the road. Clumps of fallen leaves littered the road edges giving the effect of a road made of gold. 

Available at my online store.