by Clare Bowen | Oct 3, 2019 | Artist Life, Boats, Oil Painting, Seascape, Studio, Sunrise, Venice
It’s like unwrapping old friends once back in the studio seeing all my paintings again and in such better light than the house we had in Venice. Felt quite excited seeing them all as a group. Several unfinished but wont take long to get them done.. Extras I...
by Clare Bowen | Dec 30, 2018 | 2018, Artist Life, Award, Competition, Landscape, Snow landscape, Studio, Venice
My favourite paintings of the yearI wanted to write a summary of this years happenings….I have completed a whopping 160 paintings (not including the duffers and wipe offs!) quite a few more than last year – mainly because of the Venice trip. And it’s...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 9, 2018 | Academia Bridge, Artist Life, exhibition, Italy, Maria Della Salute, St Marks Square, Studio, The Grand Canal, Venice
Home from Venice and my studio line up, I can’t fit them all in! I do feel pleased and proud with what I achieved in a month. I felt sad leaving such a wonderful & inspiring place. I am already planning a trip to go back next year! I enjoyed...
by Clare Bowen | Aug 31, 2018 | Artist Life, Artist Tips, Equipment, Studio, Travel, Venice
FLYING WITH OIL PAINTS & art equipment. Thought you might want to see what I’m taking to Venice – I am very lucky to be going for the whole month of September! ???? It’s the longest and biggest painting trip so far…. Last year we...
by Clare Bowen | Jun 21, 2018 | Artist Life, Flowers, Peonies, Pink, Still Life, Studio
This is a whopper for me – two foot by two foot! I enjoyed it and surprised myself that I could do it and it turned out nicely :-)I did start on a a 11×14″ but it still felt crampt so I routelled around in my cupboard and found this canvas, I...
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 | Dec 31, 2017 | Artist Life, Studio, Surrey
A selection of paintings in my studio Its been an amazing year….over the past 12 months I have blog posted 127 paintings, taken part in the Surrey Open Studios plus 5 joint exhibitions, and been on many paintings trips home and abroad!It was a very busy...
by Clare Bowen | Dec 7, 2017 | Artist Life, Equipment, Paint Brushes, Studio
BrushesI love Rosemary & Co brushes, why? High quality, easy to clean, keep their shape for ages, lovely to use! (no, I’m not sponsored by them sadly!)I used to use their Ivory range a synthetic bristle, a cross between the feel of nylon...
by Clare Bowen | Dec 6, 2017 | Colour, Colour Theory, Equipment, Oils, Paint, Studio
A fellow artist asked me to do a post about the equipment I use. I thought this was a good idea as I’m interested in what others use and can often learn and get ideas.So I hope to do four posts on my equipment especially around plein air painting (outside...
by Clare Bowen | Oct 22, 2017 | Paintings, Pochade, Studio, Venice
Venice was such an amazing place to paint. Much harder than I expected with so many battles but I’m really pleased with the outcome.Some Venice painting Stats:I painted 15 in 6 days and 11 paintings turned out ok enough to show you! I walked on average...
by Clare Bowen | Jun 5, 2017 | Boats, Emsworth, Framed Paintings, Paintings, Studio
Painted this a few days ago. I was standing at the end of the jetty that I had previously painted #178. When I arrived the tide was almost at it’s lowest, it’s surpising how quickly it turned and changed. When it did the boats turned 180 degrees! And...
by Clare Bowen | Jun 3, 2017 | Framed Paintings, Paintings, SAOS, Studio
It starts today! I’ve been meaning to write this post for a few days but the preparations for the Open Studios always take longer than I think.We are ready (just!) and excited to open the doors to the public today and for the next 3 weekends – see pic...