THE ARTIST ON THE HIGH STREET
One to one with city painter Don Lavelle
PEOPLE
You ’ ve probably seen artist Don Lavelle at his easel on High Street , in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral or in a tucked-away corner of the city . That ’ s because he spends five days a week in Winchester , working in all weathers , and has done for many years , always finding something new to capture on canvas .
“ Before I retired I was an industrial chemist ,” he says , “ and that scientific part of me lends itself to making sure my paintings are spot-on architecturally and everything is in proportion . But it ’ s always people that bring them to life . I regularly ask someone interesting-looking to pose for me for a few minutes so I can add them in .”
Don , who buses in from Romsey each day , never tires of Winchester views . “ There are so many lovely spots to gather inspiration from ,” he says . “ I generally have five paintings in progress and alternate between them .”
It takes between 80 and 100 hours of painting time for each masterpiece to be completed in situ , with the attention to detail extending to individual paving stones and recognisable faces of local characters .
“ I only leave my easel to get a coffee ,” he says . “ One day it disappeared as a local thought I ’ d forgotten it . I finally tracked it down in a bank , where it had been taken for safe-keeping .”
Paintings average around £ 600 , with many of them commissioned by local people . “ Winchester has so many locations that resonate with people ,” Don says . “ Often a painting will evoke special memories for the buyer and I ’ ll work in their family too .”
Entirely self-taught , Don says that every painting brings him closer to the perfection that he strives for . “ I ’ m a terrible self-critic c ,” he says . “ Knowing when to add that final brush stroke is always a challenge , so feedback from my wife and passers-by is particularly valuable .
“ A few years ago a little boy of about six or seven stopped by and said , ‘ That ’ s the best painting I ’ ve seen in my entire life . If I had £ 20 , I ’ d buy it from you right now .’”
Don is so often on High Street that he ’ s become one of the regular faces you see there . “ I paint for myself , because it allows me to appreciate life around me in all its detail and creatively interpret it on canvas ,” he says . “ But it is bringing people pleasure through my paintings that I really love .”
www . donlavelle . net Artist photograph courtesy of Su Pan
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