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Alan McGinn

@ahmcginn.bsky.social

390 followers 290 following 250 posts

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/

alanski.blogspot.com

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · 23h

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

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · 2d

Autumn colours on a cold day. You'll never regret going out to paint.

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · 3d

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

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · 5d

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.

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · 7d

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

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · 9d

Thank you. I'm sure they will. A day of painting is medicine for the soul.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · 9d

No. It's a life-long habit.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · 9d

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.

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · Sep 2

Pardon the pun. Started a book of cat doodles. Other animals may be involved.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · Jul 31

Thanks Steve.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · Jul 31

Thank you.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · Jul 29

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.

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · Jun 4

Found this little painting of St Nicholas aka Newcastle Cathedral I did sometime in the late 90s. #Newcastle #StNicholas #oilpainting #urbanlandscape

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · Jun 2

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

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · Jun 2

B. Cat on the car is such a strong image, and loaded with meaning.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 28

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

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 27

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

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 26

Band rehearsal today. I think I'll take these two out today. #Gibson #Elderwood #Marshall #Supportlivemusic

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 23

Thank you, kind sir.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 23

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

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 23

Thank you. I don't think it needs much else. It's a commission so I want to get it right, but not take too long about it.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 23

Work in progress. Not sure about this one. Bright sunlight creates a lot of strong contrasts and I was getting lost in an entanglement of big old Hawthorn. I'll get back there this afternoon. I also need some easel maintenance. #WIP #pleinair #oilpaint

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Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 21

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

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 19

Thanks. I appreciate all the feedback.

Alan McGinn @ahmcginn.bsky.social · May 18

This weekend, I published my website and bought a car. The two things are not related. www.alanmcginn.co.uk

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