by Clare Bowen | Feb 20, 2020 | Bridge, Cityscape, London
Sometimes a painting doesn’t go to plan. I started a large one before this and I worked for 2 days on it and then scrapped it. Drawn out, the composition seemed to work but with paint on it was ‘thin’ and lacking. On a big canvas there is nowhere to...
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 | Oct 1, 2019 | Boats, Cityscape, Venice
Barnaba Canal, the square next to where we are staying. It has such a nice atmosphere with locals sitting drinking their Aperol spritz & tourists eating ice cream (including me!) This was painted before the tourists and all the workers crossed the bridge on their...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 23, 2019 | Cityscape, Sunrise, Venice
Such a tough subject! I went big too 12×16″ 🙂 It was early morning and the sun was behind the building, so the tones were close together and colours similar.I looked for the warm and cools and made sure the drawing was correct and the skyline details which...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 14, 2019 | Cityscape, St Marks Square, Venice
Bascilica, St Marks Square 10×12″ Third attempt at this beautiful building, each year I have a go at it and don’t like the result but this time I’m happy! I took a slice instead of painting the whole thing and simplified the shapes. Keeping the...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 28, 2019 | Cityscape, London, Sunset, The Thames
Beautiful light and pastels colours! I wasn’t going to include the left side of the embankment thinking it was to contrasted but I think it helps the composition and really shows off the light colours. Plus the romantic stroll aspect has a good feel.
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 | Feb 22, 2019 | Albert Bridge, Cityscape, England, London, Sunset, The Thames
No wind, beautiful light and cloudless sky. Such a great combo, with the silhouetted shape of the old Victorian Bridge (built in 1873.) I maped out all the dark structural areas first, not much detail just main shapes and then the lighter sky. Tricky when it changed...
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 | Dec 4, 2018 | Christmas, Cityscape, London, Rain
On Saturday I took part in The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) Paint Live day. 60 artists met up in the Mall Galleries to have a paint off in London – 1/2 mile radius of the galleries in central London. It was raining and grey but I decided to...
by Clare Bowen | Apr 19, 2018 | Artist Life, Bridge, Cityscape, London, Richmond Bridge, River Thames, Spring, Sunshine, The Thames
I have been visiting my sister in South Africa a hard decision not to take my paints but lovely to have family time and a break. So I’m fresh and ready to go and what a day to start back…Painted this yesterday in glorious spring weather. So warm it...
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 | Feb 13, 2018 | Albert Bridge, Bridge, Cityscape, Landscape, London, The Mall Galleries, The Thames
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...
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 | Jan 19, 2018 | Bridge, Cityscape, Hammersmith Bridge, London, The Thames
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...