by Clare Bowen | Aug 26, 2018 | Buildings, Haslemere, Surrey, Townscape
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...
by Clare Bowen | Aug 15, 2018 | Architecture, Beach, Blue, Buildings, Portsmouth, Seascape, Southsea
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...
by Clare Bowen | May 11, 2018 | Bosham, Buildings, Reflection, Seascape, West Sussex, Yachts
A quick sunrise painting of Bosham on a largish canvas. Getting the essence of the scene, brush marks still visible, did this in a hour. It was a beautiful morning, so still and glass like refections.Tricky to paint as there was an ethereal quality to it, sort of...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 31, 2018 | Albert Bridge, Artist Life, Buildings, Cityscape, London, Sunrise, The Thames
An artist mind and attitude has so much to do with painting as their body! It can really get in the way sometimes. On Thursday I went to London I had prepped a lot the night before to make me feel ready and have some sort of plan. The last time I went to London I...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 20, 2018 | Buildings, Field, Landscape, Snow, Surrey, Trees, Winter
I went back to the same area as the previous painting the following morning – you can see the church in the distance, I’m stood further away. I loved the tracks and countryside feel.Enjoyed the colours of the bushes on the right side and the strong fence...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 19, 2018 | Bosham, Buildings, Harbour, Low Tide, Seascape, Sky
My husband Nick and I went down to Emsworth – Hampshire/West Sussex coast line to paint and photo for a long weekend. This was my first painting from it.It was a struggle painting and I nearly ditched it 3/4 of the way through. I didn’t think it was...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 9, 2018 | Barn, Boats, Bosham, Buildings, Sea, Seascape, Sky, West Sussex, Winter
Yesterday was blowing a gale in Bosham Harbour but it was a bright wintery day and of course the best spot to paint was at the windiest point!I like the bright blue covers of the yachts and the old barn style building – the sailing club. A challenge to...
by Clare Bowen | Jan 31, 2018 | Buildings, Lake, Landscape, Reflection, Surrey, Trees, Winter
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...
by Clare Bowen | Jan 28, 2018 | Bridge, Buildings, Cityscape, Clouds, London, The Thames, Tower Bridge
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...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 21, 2017 | Boats, Buildings, San Giorgio Venice, Seascape, Sunrise, Venice
I got there before the sunrise so I could mix some initial colours and draw out the basic shapes. I knew it would be quick and I wanted to capture the light and colours of the moment. At the same time I drew out a second board which I will post tomorrow.When the sun...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 21, 2017 | Boats, Buildings, Gondolas, San Giorgio Venice, Seascape, Venice
I painted with Sally Balick another artist, who helped firstly because it was such a busy spot and to be with another person helps, also to get ideas on how others tackle a tough subject.You don’t realise how much the boats move until you try and paint them. Up...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 20, 2017 | Buildings, Venice
A really tricky subject. We got there early morning to paint in the fog, but it was so dense to start with we couldn’t see it to paint and then it quickly cleared and no mist left just building!I kept it a sketchy and loose not getting caught up with detail, the...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 19, 2017 | Buildings, Cityscape, Easel, Mist, Venice
I wasn’t sure how I would tackle the mist but once I had found this great spot and mixed my colours, I really enjoyed it. Someone said to me to put colour notes down early on in a painting. Which I have been doing recently, especially in such a tonal...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 17, 2017 | Buildings, Grand Canal, Maria Della Salute, Venice
Monet painted this scene along with Ken Howard. You can see why with water, lovely shapes and light!When I started it was still hazy with the mist. But an hour into it and the sun was shining and intense, it totally changed the scene. I was floundering trying to paint...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 17, 2017 | Buildings, Mist, San Giorgio Venice, Sunrise, Venice
I couldn’t post while in Venice, I tried but had difficulties with Nick (my husbands) laptop, and I was out painting so much time was limited. I did write notes for each painting so I wouldn’t forget. I will post two a day for the next 5-6 days :-)First...
