#397 ‘Gondola Ride, The Grand Canal’ 8×14″
We went back to this spot to do it again! With a wider format board and looked at the aerial perspective, there is a lot of sky colour put in the distant buildings. The colours of the sparkle are tricky to see, but they start warmer yellow/warm colour and go to...
#396 ‘Ospedale, Venice’ 9×12″
It's hard to believe this lovely old white building was used as a hospital, such grandeur in Venice! I focused on getting the colours vibrant as they were sunlit and the strong shadows on the building and the water.
#395 ‘Evening Sparkle, The Grand Canal’ 8×10″
A great spot at the end of a jetty close to the Maria Della Salute for a wonderful sky line and also near the gondola action! The sparkle was a so bright on the eyes!
#394 ‘Campo Ognissanti, Venice’ 9×12″
I've not painted this before, canals are always a challenge this one was in contra jour which helped to simplify the tonal shapes. With morning light so the sky is a warm yellow, the sparkle moved across the canal and was gone within the hour. The boat in the...
#393 Monet’s Spot no.2 8×10″
9am softer more diffused light than the 8am painting with rapidly moving water sparkle. Not putting in too much detail like windows, just suggesting them.
#392 ‘Morning Sun, Monet’s Spot no.1’ 10×12″
8am - Strong tonal contrast with the sun peeping over the building. Warm sky and cool water colours.Blocking in and simplifying the tonal shapes with a yellow glowing sky.beginning stages with water sparkleSee next post for 9am....
#391 ‘Afternoon Reflections, Venice’ 10×12″
I see this view every day I leave the house and always stop to have a look! I have 4 paintings on the go of this subject and just this one finished! I'm planning a series on it.I studied the shadow colours and I wanted to make the light colours pop.I painted the...
#390 ‘Early Sun, The Grand Canal’ 10×12″
My favourite spot from the Academia Bridge! I don't get tired of this view. The sun coming up and just peeping over the buildings creating a lovely warm glow, contrasted with the cooler water.
#389 ‘Early Morning, San Marco Square’ 11×14″
I convinced my family to come with to San Marco at 6am sunrise no people just pigeons. It has a magical quality at this time, they really enjoyed it. I wanted to paint a bigger more of a statement piece of this square. Not easy to get the drawing and perspective...
#388 ‘Sunrise 3, San Giorgio Maggiore’ 8×10″
The final sunrise painting in a series of 3. I was pleased the sun was near enough to paint a portrait format with the San Giorgio next to it. I am happy with the glow I managed to get from the light of the sun, not easy!This week I have had my family staying...
#387 ‘Sunrise 1 & 2, San Giorgio Maggiore’ 6×12″ & 20x50cm
The first in a series of 3 paintings I did of sunrise one after the other.This stage is when the light is low and the colours rich. A small quick sketch to capture the moment. Then I changed to a bigger board:The sun just peeping over the horizon, with very light...
#386 ‘Sunset, Campo Barnaba’ 9×12″
I stood on a small bridge thinking I'll do it in the evening when its not so busy. But I didn't know it was the first night of the glass week, with much street celebrating and fizz popping! Quite a bustle and lots of people were stopping to chat and look at my...
#385 ‘Dawn, Maria Della Salute’ 8×14″
I tired a portrait format, which I was surprised at how well it works. With a limited palette and harmonious colours.
#384 ‘Venice, Early Evening’ x2 paintings
I wanted to get some movement in the water and variation in the sky.I did a very quick one while the sun was going down.
#383 ‘Early Mist St Marks Basilica’ 9×12″
Very misty at some points the Basilica almost disappeared! The tonal values were so close together, I had to make sure the darkest darks were quite light. Also not putting into much definition or hard lines - a suggestion of shapes.I couldn't resist putting the...
#382 ‘Mist St Marks Square’ 20x50cm
An atmospheric morning, I wanted to capture a bigger area of it so tried this shape board.Very quiet but a lot of brides having their photo taken this morning!!
#381 ’10am Maria Della Salute’ 8×10″
Painted without drawing out first as I know the shape now.Risked painting in the day hoping I wouldn't be moved on by the police!Not too many colours to keep it harmonious. Painted the sparkle first before it moved out of my painting view.
#380 ‘Late Afternoon, The Grand Canal’ x2
I painted the one below first as it was above the San Giorgio Maggiore and a huge sparkle on the water. and then as the sun went around it was above Maria Della Salute which is the main picture.I had started this one the other way up see pic. But thought the...
#379 ‘Sunrise, San Giorgio Maggiore’ 20x50cm
I did this one straight after the previous painting. The sun just popping up over the horizon.A longer format to get the sun and building in.Soft misty light not so much colour as pre dawn.
#378 ‘Early Morning, San Giorgio Maggiore’ 6×12″
Early morning rich colours strong silhouetted shapeIridescent waterBefore the sun came up.
#377 ‘Hazy Light, Maria Della Salute’ 8×10″
The scene got better as the light came around the buildings and sparkles on the water!
#376 Time Lapse Video – ‘Dawn, San Giorgio Maggiore’ 8×10″
I faffed with the set up for the video getting it all my easel in and the subject behind it.The painting took 40mins the video is 37 seconds...I was there first at 6am and then there were 5 photographers, a meditation sitter, tourist with selfie stick and a...
#375 ‘Maria Della Saluete 7am’ 9×14″
Another gorgeous dawn paint plus a quick painting thrown in too!I spoke to artist ken Howard as he was on the bridge he saw my finished painting and made a positive remark about it. (I went home smiling!) He also said the Italian police are now being kind to artists...
#374 ‘Morning Light, San Giorgio Maggiore’ 8×10″
I took a risk and included the foreground wooden structure, I wasn't sure whether it would work until I had done it. Using a limited colour palette of warm and cools and limited tones too.Bringing colour sin from the sky and the building into the water also...
#373 ‘Venice Nocturne’ no.1 10×10″
Two paintings in a day and then do a nocturne I was exhausted! But making the most of having artistic company and so it was a loose, lively interpretation.Before I left the house I mixed my palette of colours, yellows, oranges violets and a black. Because even with a...
#372 ‘Venetian Alleyway’ 6×12″
I felt inspired to try a sky-hole painting and this alley is right on our doorstep in the Dorsoduro area. It's afternoon light on a very narrow long alley leading to the Grand Canal at the end. The light at the end was so bright you couldn't see any...
#371 ‘Painting St Marks Square, Venice’ no.2
The second quick painting I did in St Marks Square with wonderful apricot light.
#370 ‘Painting St Marks Square, Venice’ no.1
We were a little worried about being moved on by the police - as there was a big whoha about it recently with artist Ken Howard being moved on, so we went at sunrise and did two quick paintings of the Basilica and The Square.Beautiful light and worth getting...
#369 ‘Afternoon Light, Maria Della Salute’ 8×10″
I am finding it difficult to keep up this blog and do the intensive painting! As some times I'm managing to do 4 paintings in a day.So I will still keep posting but write less as the writing part takes so long to do! Better that than not posting at all....Monet &...
#368 ‘First Light, Maria Della Salute’ 8×10″
Did painting no.367 then immediately wanted to paint the scene again as the light was gorgeous! I moved off the bridge but just next to it in a cafe space. I'd just started mapping in when the guy said you have 30 minutes until you need to move...So I painted...
#367 ‘Pre-Dawn Maria Della Salute’ 8×10″
This was so fun to paint!! Although a little daunting too as many artists over the years have painted this subject standing on Academia Bridge from Monet to Ken Howard...We are very lucky as this bridge is a few minutes walk from our house. It's a dream subject for...
#366 ‘First Oil Sketch of Venice 2018’ 8×10″
When I arrive in a new location I just want to get the first painting under my belt! Start it off and get into the flow, I also just feel itchy to do it!So this was it, feeling my way with the colours, shapes and the strong bouncing light of Venice. Decided to do...
‘Flying with Oil paints & Art Equipment
FLYING WITH OIL PAINTS & art equipment. Thought you might want to see what I'm taking to Venice - I am very lucky to be going for the whole month of September! ???? It's the longest and biggest painting trip so far.... Last year we came back from Venice...
#365 ‘The Swan Inn, Haslemere’ 8×10″
This weekend I painted with Haslemere Art Society on the high street on Haslemere. It's to promote the annual exhibition at the Museum 8-15th September. A fun morning with the members and a few passers by taking an interest and a subject I wouldn't have usually...
#364 `Underway’ 8×10″ – Palette Knife Painting
This was a wonderful boat in Cornwall but sadly I didn't have my painting gear with me - we were about to see my Aunt. So I did 4-5 sketches of it and this painting is from one of them. I'd been saving this linen covered board for years, wanting to use it but...
#363 ‘Early Morning, South Parade Pier’ 11×14″
I started this a couple of weeks ago but didn't have time to finish it en plein air so I've just completed in my studio.Its a familiar subject as I used to live near by, although I haven't painted it up close before and with a radical cropping! When I was looking at...
#362 ‘Sandymouth Beach 10×12″
Last painting in Cornwall. I really enjoyed this part of the world, it helped to have amazing weather, light and skies!This is a wet sand and sky painting. I worked on the tones - the sand was surprisingly dark and the sea even darker. I tired to paint the waves...
#361 ‘Crackington Haven’ 11×14″
A large imposing cliff the locals call Sleeping Dragon. A great paintable subject...with low tide and the water on the sand reflecting the cliff and sky. People to give scale and interest plus the colourful life guard flags. The sky I'd taken time to put in the...
#360 ‘Widemouth Bay’ 20x50cm
The North Cornwall surf was so much fun to paint! Looking the other way the beach was busy with people, life guards and surfers, it looked interesting but this way attracted me more because of the colours. - Looking into the sun creates strong tonal shapes...
#359 ‘Sandymouth Surf’ 8×10″
A quickie in the early evening light. I put the marks down and left them, an impression of the moment. The people walking into the shallow sea with their boogie boards. The light on the water so strong almost to much to look at it. See pic below...Beginning...
#358 ‘Morning Light, Kingsand’ 8×10″
I walked for miles trying to get a view with the Cornish houses and sea behind but nothing looked right and then I saw this simple but lovely subject, with old looking boats and amazing light. Unusual yellow sky, contra jour sea sparkles, it was a quick...
#357 ‘Rocks at Kingsand’ 8×10″
I have spent a few days in Cornwall with my husband. We have been visiting family and friends but I have managed to fit some painting too! I haven't painted plein air in this area before, I want to go back and do more, so beautiful and paintable.Before this one I...
#356 ‘Early Light, Southsea Beach’ 9×12″
Good to get back to plein air painting as I had a week in the studio doing commissions, finished and happy :-)A quick painting session this morning before piking up our shared dog (Matte) from my Mum in Southsea. I was really pleased to find these great shaped...
#355 ‘Middle Ward, Windsor Castle’ 12×16″
My first plein air competition! I found it quite nerve wracking to start with and didn't realise how big is would be with 100 artists! There were areas we were allowed to paint in the grounds and it had to be choose before hand - tricky if you've not been...
#354 ‘Sunset Bosham Harbour 11×14″
I faffed for an hour starting another one, putting two much building and foreground in. Then I realised it was the sky I liked so started again and focused on the sky...I had only a little time then before the sun went below the cloud line, very fast mixing and...
Award Winner 🙂
My painting is being shown at The Patchings Art Centre Exhibition. The judges, including the editor of the Artist Magazine & painter David Curtis, look around the show and decide who will get awards. I didn't know how my painting would go down as it's a...
#353 ‘Preparing to Sail, Bosham’ 9×12″
In this gorgeous weather Bosham has Mediterranean rich colours and sweltering heat! Painted on Sunday when the families were turning up to sail. A lovely commission open to what I wanted to paint in Bosham. I turned up and really liked the blues and sweeping path...
#352 ‘Moored by Richmond Bridge’ 11×14″
I started this on a Friends of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) plein air day. Standing under Richmond Bridge - its cool there!There were over 20 great plein air artists on that day and although it was inspiring and lovely to work next to them I...
#351 ‘Sunflowers’ 12×12″
A busy week, hard to keep on top of all the artists jobs to do, including this one!I am lucky that my Mum supplies me with great flowers to paint, like these :-)I decided to paint outside again as the natural sunlight works well on a still life especially flowers. I...
#350 ‘Summer Grazing’ 10×12″ & National Garden Scheme
I did a 1 to 1 plein air day with Elizabeth St John this week. She wanted to paint the view from our garden as we focused on mixing greens. Sheltered by a big pine tree we weren't too hot and managed to get two paintings done. I suggested she mixed her colours...
My plein air experiences, insights, battles and painting life blogged as often as I can.
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