by Clare Bowen | May 29, 2018 | England, Flowers, Garden, Landscape, Purple
Painting these flowers in a friends garden was a fine way to spend a bank holiday Monday! When I began this painting I had no idea whether it would work as I wasn’t sure how to tackle it. This is how I started, by blocking the two main greens. The...
by Clare Bowen | May 23, 2018 | Flowers, Jug, Pink, Purple, Still Life
I have wanted to paint peonies for a while, last year they felt too scary to tackle! So I decided to go for it! I painted outside in natural light, there was no sunshine but it didn’t matter. I placed a purple piece of paper under the flowers and decided the...
by Clare Bowen | Apr 21, 2018 | Artist Life, Flowers, Haslemere, Still Life
On Thursday this week I was part of a demo evening with Haslemere Art Society. There were 3 artists including me showing how we work, our process from start to finish.I decided to paint something from life as I find it more inspiring than a photo. I was a bit worried...
by Clare Bowen | Apr 2, 2018 | Daffodils, Flowers, Spring, Still Life, Yellow
I wanted another bash at these flowers with a lighter background and in a glass vase. I choose this green as I thought it looked a bit like grass colour! Wishing you all a Happy Easter and heres to more spring like weather 🙂
by Clare Bowen | Mar 29, 2018 | Daffodils, Flowers, Spring, Still Life, Studio, Yellow
Quite fun to choose the colour combinations when you do a still life. I have lots of coloured paper that I try behind my subject to see what works. This dark blue-green paper made the daffodils really pop and also I liked it that it was close in tone and colour to the...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 17, 2018 | Artist Life, Artist Tips, Flower, Flowers, Jug, Snowdrops, Still Life, Studio
Last of the spring flowers for now especially with the snow falling outside! These little snowdrops were still good after the previous day painting. I didn’t want to repeat the painting so changed from glass to a jug. I use a viewfinder for just about...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 16, 2018 | Devils Punch Bowl, Flowers, Snowdrops, Spring, Still Life, Studio
Carrying on with the spring flowers theme this week. I chose a dark background to show them up. It needed to be darker than the darkest tone of the white petals as I didn’t want them disappearing too much. The little glass vase seamed to...
by Clare Bowen | Mar 14, 2018 | Flower, Flowers, Square, Still Life, Studio, Yellow
I have spent the past 3 days painting in my studio instead of en plein air, a change mainly because it was raining in the beginning of the week and I fancied painting some spring flowers…..I was given this posy by mother in law for Mothers day. I liked the...
by Clare Bowen | Jul 4, 2017 | Flowers, Landscape, Yellow
I went to RHS Wisley with a painter friend. She is a botanical artist and has not painted outdoors before.These variety of sunflowers are called ‘Baby Face’ and when people walked past them they made them smile. Yellows are always tricky to get the...
by Clare Bowen | May 15, 2017 | Dorset, Flowers, Landscape
This is the second painting I did with artist Richard Pikesley.We struggled to find something decent in the murk of drizzle and low cloud. The view we eventually settled on you could easily have driven past as it wasn’t spectacular but it had some great light in...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 16, 2016 | Flowers, Orange, Still Life
Having made a detailed study drawing of gladioli in charcoal (posted Sept 28th) I wanted to have a bash in paint. Couldn’t get the same colour which was deep pink but these orange-red were still very vibrant and lovely to paint. I put in the dark tones...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 28, 2016 | Charcoal, Drawing, Flowers
I fancied getting my teeth stuck into a large (nearly life size, A1) charcoal drawing. We had these flowers which were on their way out but still great shapes. I used a fat charcoal stick for most of it which was like a paint brush I wanted it to be bold but...
by Clare Bowen | Sep 8, 2016 | Flowers, Surrey
I have been saving this painting to post, as I did it during a painting day with Haslemere art society a few weeks ago. I’ve only just joined them, a friendly bunch, and I am in their annual exhibition starting Saturday at Haselmere Museum.I made the mistake of...
by Clare Bowen | Jul 1, 2016 | Blue, Boats, Flowers, Harbour, Water
These boats are so typical of Staithes North Yorkshire area. I like the colours and the flash of pink flowers. I initially got caught up in the view and up the cliff/bank on the other side of the water are lovely red rooved house and sky. I drew it in but...
by Clare Bowen | Jun 20, 2016 | Flower, Flowers, Square, Yellow
Love the vibrancy and sunshine feel to these. They could be in the sunbaked Mediterranean but sadly not! I was unsure about the centre area before I painted as it seamed so dark and boring but looking closely when I was painting it there are so many vairations...
