by Clare Bowen | Nov 4, 2019 | America, Autumn, Buildings, Trees
The second painting with the Oil Painters of America group. We were on an old plantation – (big farm) with about 8 out houses these two were part of them. A still grey day but I boosted the autumn colours to make them stand out more. The tonal value and colour...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 31, 2019 | America, Barn, Buildings
I had the opportunity to paint with the prestigious Oil Painters of America group. The morning we spent painting on Burns Grocery Farm, with wonderful old barns, this one is 150 years old. The grey sky seemed to suit the scene and I decided to crop the roof off to...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 23, 2019 | America, Artist Life, Buildings, Townscape
I’m here in America to paint, visit friends and God Children. The last time I visited was in 2003 and this is the first time I’ve painted in the States! It feels a bit of a culture shock, so different to Surrey, England! Also just acclimatising from the...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 2, 2019 | Boats, Buildings, Cityscape, Seascape, Venice
It was raining so I sheltered under the fish market building – see painting below. I enjoyed it a lot so decided to do a couple more! Then I started to see all the wonderful facades around the city. Will do more next time! From the Fish Market Next to...
by Clare Bowen | Apr 3, 2019 | Blue, Buildings, London
Up crazily early 3.45am to get to London to capture the the illuminations before they were turned off! And the deep ‘blue hour’. It’s surprising how quickly it changed from this to daylight see pic below – about 20 mins! I do enjoy the race against time...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 21, 2019 | Artist Life, Buildings, Cityscape, London, Uncategorized
It’s funny how you can love a painting you’ve done one moment & hate it the next. I started this last year en plein air & abandoned it in disgust when I got home. Saw it again recently & thought that’s worth working on! & now I’m happy with the result....
by Clare Bowen | Dec 14, 2018 | Buildings, Cafe, Cityscape, Italy, Venice, Yellow
This week I have been looking after the family Shih Tzu dog, while my Mum is away. He is 12 and has lost his hearing from old age, plus he has gone blind from bad breeding, poor sausage, so it makes painting a little tricky! But I did manage this one in the studio...
by Clare Bowen | Nov 11, 2018 | Architecture, Blue, Boats, Buildings, Canal, Orange, Reflection, Venice
The second in this series. I started en plein air but mainly painted in the studio. I liked the rich blues and oranges complementaries really pop! Strong brush marks and thick paint again, seems to lend itself to this subject.An artist friend I painted with...
by Clare Bowen | Nov 11, 2018 | Architecture, Boats, Buildings, Canal, Gondolas, Reflection, Venice
I drew this one out in Burnt Sienna plus another while in Venice but decided to paint them both in my studio so I could take more time do it in layers. Was aiming for vibrant colours, thick paint, strong shapes and unusual composition.I did do a plein air...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 4, 2018 | Bridge, Buildings, Canal, Italy, Reflection, Venice
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.
by Clare Bowen | Sep 28, 2018 | Buildings, Maria Della Salute, The Grand Canal, Venice
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.
by Clare Bowen | Sep 28, 2018 | Buildings, Italy, Maria Della Salute, Sunrise, Venice
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….
by Clare Bowen | Sep 15, 2018 | Architecture, Basilica, Buildings, St Marks Square, Venice
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...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 9, 2018 | Buildings, Terracotta, Venice
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...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 5, 2018 | Accademia Bridge, Boats, Bridge, Buildings, Grand Canal, Maria Della Salute, Orange, Venice
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...