#301 ‘Light over Baggy Point’ 8×10″
Within minutes of starting this painting my subject disappeared - the light! A huge raincloud came over, I carried on for a bit but then abandoned and started another one. The rain cloud was amazing so dramatic, I enjoyed painting it. The photo doesn't really...
#300 ‘Barracane Beach’ 8×10″
I felt out of my comfort painting this, not used to rocky shorelines and big waves! But it's good to push the skills and enjoyed painting it. Quite a sheltered spot and by the time I finished full of children and dogs! I decided not to include them as I had...
#299 ‘Sunset, Woolacombe Beach’ 8×14″
I painted this one straight after the first, as I was upset with that painting (it had been a struggle!) Also the sunset was amazing and I wanted to try and capture it in paint.I only painted for about 40 minutes as it was over by then and nearly dark! (very cold...
#298 ‘High Tide, Woolacombe Beach’ 8×10″
My husband and I are in North Devon for a week, to paint, photograph and rest. This was my first painting, it was tricky as I forgot my plastic palette insert for my pochade so mixed my paint on the back of a board (not ideal!) It's surprising how just one thing can...
#297 ‘Albert Bridge’ 12×16″
During a rainy day when plein air isn't so easy or appealing I painted this in my studio from a small plein air I did in September last year. I had started it (see pic below) and then it sat in my studio for a month. I was unsure as to whether it was going to...
#296 ‘Storm Approaching, East Head’ 8×12″
We knew a storm was coming and only had an hour or so to paint, I was with artist Sarah Manolescue.Finding a spot that wasn't in the direct line of the gale was tricky. I liked the dunes being lit by the sun and the building clouds as a backdrop.The people gives it...
#295 ‘Late Afternoon Reflections’ 10×10″
I had a plan to paint the sunset at Emsworth (Hampshire), I had seen it recently and went back to paint a certain view. But on the day you have to choose what's good and yesterday it was these beautiful still waters, reflections and strong colours...A lovely subject...
#294 ‘Low Tide, Langstone Harbour’ 8×10″ & Video
I went back to Langstone (in Hampshire near Portsmouth) yesterday it's been a while since I painted their. It is an inspiring place even with just a trickle of water! Video NewsI've been wanting to video my painting process and share it for a while. My recent...
#293 ‘Winter Sun, Emsworth Harbour’ 8×14″
Some plein air painting days don't turn out as you expect...I went to Bosham first but with high tide, a biting wind, no reflections, and no boats it wasn't inspiring so I went to my other favourite painting spot (Bosham Channel) but again with high tide it wasn't...
#292 ‘Winter, Winkworth Arboretum ‘ 8×10″
I completed this oil sketch in one hour this afternoon. The sun was out for about 20 minutes when I started which was a bonus as it looked so much better with the light on the trees. Squinting my eyes I could see quite a difference with the lower foliage being in...
#291 ‘Cutmill Creek’ 9×10″
One of those that happened like magic! It painted itself. I spent sometime looking for the 'right' composition and ended up back at the first place I looked! I had been put off as my back was right next to a main road - loud and fast.But I enjoyed painting it and...
#290 Tower Bridge 10×12″ & Preparing for a Days Painting
The sky was beautiful when I arrived a typical English with cloud fluffies and crisp blue behind them. I was lucky as by the time I'd painted the sky it had clouded over and it was mainly grey! So different and not as magical.I thought it maybe helpful & or...
#289 ‘Winter, West Wittering Beach’ 12×16″
Very windy day but beautiful light. I got sucked into the big view and used a big canvas. I was pleased with the bones of it - composition and the sky but then I got home and it underwhelmed a little, I think the colours were too muted and so nothing to loose I...
#288 Mist & Snow The Devils Punch Bowl 8×10″
I didn't know we were due snow, so Sunday morning was quite exciting! I dropped everything to get out and paint at the highest point in our area - The Punch Bowl. I was drawn to these trees because of the shapes and the snow on them and the feeling of...
#287 ‘The Trundle, South Downs’ 8×14″
I painted this scene previously at the beginning of the week. I wanted to go back and try it again, this time smaller and with more care. (The first was a quick sky painting.)I also wanted to use thicker paint. I had this intention before I started plus...
#286 ‘Winter, Hammersmith Bridge’ 8×10″
Really tough conditions, biting cold wind, gusts of 38MPH, I tied my easel to the lamp post so I didn't have to hold onto it the whole time. Trying to do any detail was tricky as it buffeted your arm but I'm still happy with how its turned out, it captures the essence...
#285 ‘Winter Sky, The Trundle’ 12×16″
A fast painting with the emphasis on the sky. Really enjoyed moving the brush strokes around on this big board. Working bigger allowed freer mark making and arm movement - it was fun!The chalk path was tonally light and almost glowing in the low light of the...
#284 ‘Beach Huts, West Wittering’ 8×10″
I was drawn to this subject but wasn't sure if I could paint it! I enjoyed painting the huts that morning so I thought I'd try.The reflections adding an extra element and interest - it had been a recent high tide and puddles were left.I used my viewfinder to honed in...
#283 ‘Morning Walk, West Wittering’ 8×14″
A lovely morning a couple of days ago with strong low winter sunshine.When I paint I try and work on it as a whole without spending too much time on one area but there is often a part in a painting that I avoid or leave longer than other areas this time it was...
#282 ‘Bosham Channel’ 8×18″
A gorgeous morning ones of those days when everything works out and even the painting! I went with painting friend Sarah Manolescue, the sun was low and contra jour with great sparkling light on the water.These are the first stages see pic below:I put in the...
#281 ‘Last Light, Seaford’ 8×14″
This one I scraped off after nearly covering the board as I wasn't happy with it and liked the light better as the sun was setting - warm apricots.It does seem to take a while to get to know a place, especially a new subject like white cliffs! Scrapping off gave...
#280 ‘Rock Study, Seaford’ 8×10″
We had four days in East Sussex, a wonderful coastline with chalk cliffs and rocky outcrops. Having not painted white cliffs before they are a challenge! It's all about the tonal values, everything was tonally close together the sea sky and cliffs, not easy! Very...
My Painting Year 2017
A selection of paintings in my studio Its been an amazing year....over the past 12 months I have blog posted 127 paintings, taken part in the Surrey Open Studios plus 5 joint exhibitions, and been on many paintings trips home and abroad!It was a very busy year...
#279 ‘Sunrise, Devils Punch Bowl’ 10×10″
This was the last painting I managed before it poured with rain and the snow sadly melted. I have painted this scene before but from a photo during our joint exhibition in March this year, doing this I felt more familiar with the subject.I chose a...
#278 ‘Sheep Grazing, Bramshott Chase’ 12×16″
This was my third time painting this view (from our back garden) and I felt brave enough to have a go with a larger board (my biggest to date outside.) I had no idea whether it would work out, but having 'learnt the subject' and feeling comfortable with it I...
#277 ‘Snow falling, Bramshott Common’ 8×10″
We had heavy snow yesterday and it was carnage outside our house, we are on a hill and cars were slipping, sliding and crashing into each other, and then abandoned. Quite a sight!Plus 40mile hour gusts made blizzard conditions. So I wrapped up in many layers - 3...
#276 ‘Spire in the Mist” 10×12″
Gorgeous light when I arrived at the Trundle yesterday. I liked the contrast of rich greens and strong shapes in the foreground to the soft pastels colours diffused by the mist on the horizon. You couldn't see the sea or Isle of wight and the land and sky merged...
#275 ‘First Light, The Devils Punch Bowl’ 8×14″
A very tricky subject, as the composition is minimal, you have to make more of it than is actually there! The mist rolled up the hill at the end which changed it as well.When I got it back to the studio it was one of those that was disappointing, it didn't work....
#274 ‘Silver Birch in Snow’ 8×10″
I have been distracted with Christmas preps so haven't posted the last of my snow paintings from the beginning of the week.Across the road from us we have Bramshott Common with lots of Silver Birches, I have found it difficult to find a composition I like in the past,...
#273 ‘Shadows on Snow’ 8×10″
Second painting from the back garden this time quite different weather being a sunny and crisp morning with long purple shadows on the snow. The shadows went surprisingly quickly which meant there was no time for mixing. I used some of the paint on my...
#272 ‘Grazing on Snow’ 8×14″
Second painting from the snow in the past couple of days. Really lucky to have this view from our back garden, with snow and sheep it transforms! Not much light but the snow was still really bright and the sheep looked surprisinlgy yellow! I came back from...
#271 ‘Snow on Bramshott Common’ 8×10″
Really tough painting conditions. Snowing, windy and bitter cold. Snow on the land makes it magical and I didn't want to miss the opportunity so I wrapped myself up in two of everything- trousers, coats, scarfs, socks...! Even a new fleece balaclava, allowed me to...
#270 ‘Morning Frost, The Trundle’ 8×14″
I'm a bit behind with posting as I have three to put on, two snow paintings and this frosty one.Took artist friend Sarah Manolescue for the first time to the Trundle. It was a gorgeous morning and she was wowed! I moved so I could get the sparkle on the sea in the...
Equipment #2 Oil Paint Brushes
BrushesI love Rosemary & Co brushes, why? High quality, easy to clean, keep their shape for ages, lovely to use! (no, I'm not sponsored by them sadly!)I used to use their Ivory range a synthetic bristle, a cross between the feel of nylon and...
Equipment #1 Oil Paint
A fellow artist asked me to do a post about the equipment I use. I thought this was a good idea as I'm interested in what others use and can often learn and get ideas.So I hope to do four posts on my equipment especially around plein air painting (outside painting)....
#269 ‘On the River Dart, Devon’ 8×10″
We have just spent a long weekend down in Devon visiting with a friend I did a couple of paintings but it was more of a social visit. Hated the first painting I did! Fussy, overworked, not confident, it was an off painting day and not easy as I was on display in...
#268 ‘Sunrise, Bosham Channel’ 8×14″
I had seen this view passing in the car so it was a bonus it was so gorgeous. I was surprised to see over 30 swans nestling in the sea grass, cleaning and having breaky, it was quite a sight!A very cold start, the sun rose to the left of the picture and the...
#267 ‘Early Morning, Emsworth Harbour’ 15x40cm
Driving down to the coast it was a grey blanket of cloud so I was pleased to find this beautiful sky when I arrived and I liked the little glimpses of light on the water.Painting a sky one of the things I think about is edges. Making some of them soft and others hard....
#266 ‘Putney Pier, London’ 8×14″
I went to see Richard Pikesleys solo exhitbition yesterday at the Russell Gallery in Putney. Really inspiring show, I love his mark making and amazing light! So I was all fired up afterwards and did this painting. I was lucky with the tide it was just right...
#265 ‘Sunrise from Lyme Regis’ 8×14″
I wasn't sure about posting this one as the easel fell over (it was on a slanted harbour wall - The Cobb) and the painting came off the easel and all the solvent spilt onto the painting! This is a photo of it before it was ruined, but thought I'd post it to tell the...
#264 ‘Low Tide Charmouth Beach’ 15x40cm
Gorgeous day with the tide far out, the light was shining on the sand and I was in painting Heaven!The family I put in a Mum, Dad and little toddler were lovely to paint, they moved slowly which helped!I used a mixture of thin and thick paint. The reflections in...
#263 ‘Harbour Entrance, Lyme Regis’ 5×10″
Painting this on a 5x10" boards helps me be more free as its small and feels like a study so isn't prescious and I can attack it! It helped I was quite far away from the subject so its easier to translate onto a small board - see below. I started with thin...
#262 ‘Wintery Skies, Charmouth Beach’ 8×14″
This is a new board size and it works well for this sweaping sort of subject and when you want more sky in. A grey day apart from the sliver of light on the horizon, the sky was fun to paint. There's an estuary going through the beach which deposits water...
#261 ‘Sky & Sea Study, Dorset’ 8×10″
It was a grey day but the sun came out for 30 minutes or so and I grabbed it! When a subject is changing so quickly I paint it in the order it's going change the most. 1. Clouds - the shape & colour 2. Light on the water the lightest part and the...
#259 ‘Golden Cap Looking West’ 8×10″
I have just had a week in Dorset painting the local area of Bridport, Charmouth & Lyme Regis all on the Jurassic Coast.I was lucky with the weather, it didn't rain once! and had some great sunsets and rises.I have about 10 paintings to post from the trip and will...
#260 ‘Charmouth Beach’ 8×10″
A grey morning so I put the emphasis onto the beach by making the horizon line on the top third of the board and using the seaweed lines and pebbles to help lead the eye in.I painted this subject 4 times during last week, so helpful to learn the subject shapes to then...
#258 ‘Dusk, Beer Fishing Boats’ 15x45cm
I had started this on Beer beach a couple of weeks ago, but it was the end of the day and I was pooped after painting since dawn, so I decided to leave it finish to the studio. I'm glad I did because it was a challenge! The boats were the easiest bits and...
#257 ‘View from Battersea’ 5×10″
I was up in London yesterday with friend and artist Sarah Manolescue. We were hoping for winter sun but it was grey and cold! I had one of those days which didn't work well for painting. Why? I started 2 paintings which I have scraped off and this was the...
#256 ‘Pheonix, Emsworth Harbour’ 24x30cm
This scene didn't look that inspiring when I started the painting but knew it would get better as the sun rose. I liked the jaunty angle of the boat and part reflection obscured by the mud. It wasn't long before the tide rolled in and the boat was upright and...
#255 ‘Morning Light, Emsworth Harbour’ 5×10″
I did this one straight after the previous painting posted. Just moved around the harbour a bit. I am a sucker for sparkle on the water! The boats were really silhuetted and strong shapes. I moved my body so the compostion of them worked...
My plein air experiences, insights, battles and painting life blogged as often as I can.
[email-subscribers-form id=”1″]