by Clare Bowen | Feb 10, 2019 | Blue, Contra Jour, English Landscape, Landscape, Snow, Snow landscape, Snowscape, Sunrise, Yellow
The second painting done straight after the first. You can see how much the sun has moved to the right and rose. Warmer blues and lots of colours in the snow! But also a limited colour palette – warm and cool.In this one I wanted more of the shadows as I...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 2, 2018 | Contra Jour, Gondolas, Italy, Maria Della Salute, Sunset, The Grand Canal, Venice
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!
by Clare Bowen | Oct 2, 2018 | Canal, Contra Jour, Impressionist, Italy, Venice, Yellow
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...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 14, 2018 | Accademia Bridge, Contra Jour, Maria Della Salute, The Grand Canal, Venice
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.
by Clare Bowen | Sep 13, 2018 | Contra Jour, Maria Della Salute, San Giorgio Maggiore, Sea, Venice
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...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 11, 2018 | Contra Jour, Maria Della Salute, The Grand Canal, Venice
The scene got better as the light came around the buildings and sparkles on the water!
by Clare Bowen | Sep 10, 2018 | Contra Jour, San Giorgio Maggiore, The Grand Canal, Venice, Water sparkles
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...
by Clare Bowen | Aug 10, 2018 | Beach, Contra Jour, Cornwall, Sandymouth Beach, Seascape, Yellow
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...
by Clare Bowen | Aug 9, 2018 | Boats, Contra Jour, Cornwall, Kingsand, Tonal, Yellow
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...
by Clare Bowen | Jul 31, 2018 | Beach, Contra Jour, Hampshire, Oil Sketch, Sky, Southsea
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...
by Clare Bowen | May 8, 2018 | Boats, Bosham, Contra Jour, West Sussex, Yachts
I haven’t painted in while because my lovely Mum in Law died last week, it wasn’t expected and very sad.I am now back to work and this weather has been glorious for plein air allbeit a little hot!I timed it just right for this contra jour – sparkle...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 8, 2018 | Contra Jour, Hampshire, Hills, Landscape
First visit to paint in the Meon Valley with the Isle of Wight in the distance, a lovely area and will do lots more here.Surprisingly cold with still some snow on the ground, I was drawn to the rounded shapes of the hills overlapping and skeleton tree shapes of...
by Clare Bowen | Feb 20, 2018 | Barricane Beach, Beach, Contra Jour, Devon, Sea, Seascape, Sky, Winter
The last painting of our Devon trip….Nipped home for lunch and came straight back as we knew the light was going – rain due. I didn’t know what I would paint which often happens, you just have to see when you get there what looks good and...
by Clare Bowen | Feb 15, 2018 | Contra Jour, Devon, Rocks, Sea, Seascape
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...
by Clare Bowen | Feb 14, 2018 | Beach, Contra Jour, Devon, Sea, Seascape, Sky, Woolacombe
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...