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 | Jun 13, 2017 | Still Life
I wanted to paint from life (not from a photo) while we were doing the Open Studios last weekend. My Mum kindly gave us some cherries to eat, they looked so good I painted them, and then ate them!I enjoyed painting the cherries more than I thought I would, the rich...
by Clare Bowen | Nov 3, 2016 | Still Life, Students
The first set of paintings were done on Tuesday by my Farnham class, we worked on tonal values using just two colours of Raw Umber and White. We made a strip of 7 graduated tones from light to dark trying to keep each step as even as possible. Squinting eyes to...
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 6, 2016 | Boats, Fruit, Seascape, Still Life, Studio
As I said in the previous blog I entered some paintings into the Royal Institute of Oil Painters at the Mall Galleries London. I have managed to get the above 2 through the first round, sooooo pleased and feel like I’m on the right track with my work.All things...
by Clare Bowen | Jun 13, 2016 | 6x8", Fruit, Red, Still Life
It’s been so busy I haven’t had the time or energy to do any painting. But I was itching to do one so I got into my studio by 6am this morning which gave me time to focus and work on this painting before any Open Studio visitors arrived at 11am.I put the...
by Clare Bowen | Jun 6, 2016 | Food, Fruit, Red, Square, Still Life, Turquoise
I enjoyed the previous cherry painting so I thought I’d have another go. I haven’t done this in the past as I was scared to try and repeat something that was successful but decided to go for it and I’m pleased with the result. Lush colours and shiny...
by Clare Bowen | Jun 3, 2016 | Fruit, Red, Square, Still Life
Loved painting these cherries! So luscious and shiny, I ate some while I was painting too.I haven’t tried using tin foil to reflect a subject before, it’s an idea from an excellent daily painter called Carol Marine it works well and adds a challenge and...
by Clare Bowen | May 22, 2016 | 6x8", Food, Fruit, Green, Still Life, Turquoise, Yellow
I enjoyed painting these colours, fresh and clean. I liked the shadows – so much in them, also the harmony of colours and the challenge of a cut in half fruit, first one I’ve tackled! You have to really question what colour is that? And also tone, yellow...
by Clare Bowen | May 19, 2016 | 5x7", Food, Red, Still Life, Vegetable
I wanted this to be well observed but painterly. Rich complementary colours go well together. One for my students to try :-)The title I did want to call it was: ‘I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine’, but it seamed a bit of a mouthful! When I...
by Clare Bowen | May 11, 2016 | Square, Still Life
It was a late finish for this painting today as I went to the framers to start framing some of my work ready for the Surrey Open Studios starting June 4th (not long!)I am pleased with how this one turned out, I wanted to try painting glass and I saw the yellow and red...
by Clare Bowen | May 2, 2016 | Blue, China, Shoes, Square, Still Life
I started out with three pieces in the composition, but changed it as I wanted the clog to be the star.I’m pleased with the blue flower pattern, I left some orange of the ground colour showing it seamed to work better than just blue and white. The little...
