#452 Sunset Walk, Chelsea Embankment

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.

#449 ‘View from Battersea Bridge’ 30x40cm

by Clare Bowen | Feb 27, 2019 | Albert Bridge, Battersea Bridge, Blue, Chelsea, London, The Thames

I have painted this bridge many times – easy to get hooked onto such a great subject! Plus it helps to really get familiar with something painting it over and over like Monet did. Recent paintings: Morning, midday, golden hour, twilight, and this one at 2pm....

#448 ‘Twilight, Albert Bridge’ 30x40cm

by Clare Bowen | Feb 26, 2019 | Albert Bridge, Chelsea, London, Sunset, The Thames

Started en plein air. When the sun goes down the colours intensify! I might come back to this one and lighten the bridge a little more. A contrasted painting with very lights and very dark darks, so I had to lighten the darks and darken the lights so they...

#447 ‘Golden Hour, Albert Bridge’ 30x40cm

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...

#446 ‘Midday Light, Albert Bridge’ 30x40cm

by Clare Bowen | Feb 18, 2019 | Albert Bridge, Blue, Chelsea, Impressionist, The Thames

The end of last week was so sunny and warm, feels like spring is coming (already!) But I wouldn’t say no to another snow day to paint 🙂 Painted on a very textured canvas – one I was given as a prize from the Royal Talens Company. I hope it adds to the...

#412 ‘Albert Bridge, Reflections’ 12×12″

by Clare Bowen | Nov 3, 2018 | Albert Bridge, Bridge, Chelsea, Clouds, London, Reflection, Sky, The Thames

I used a home made linen board….METHOD for making one: I roughly cut out some preprimed canvas stuck it to a MDF board so it overhung on the sides. I used Neutral PH PVA glue (so it wont rot in the future.) Once dry I cut it butt up to the board with a...

#411 ‘Autumn Light, Albert Bridge’ 24x30cm

by Clare Bowen | Oct 31, 2018 | Albert Bridge, Autumn, Bridge, Chelsea, London, The Thames

Arriving in London I had a plan to paint the same scene as I did this time last year:Including a bit more of the river bank and boats on a bigger board.The tide was very low, which helped the composition anchoring it on the side. Also the space between the pink part...

#352 ‘Moored by Richmond Bridge’ 11×14″

by Clare Bowen | Jul 8, 2018 | Boats, Richmond Bridge, ROI, The Thames

I started this on a Friends of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) plein air day. Standing under Richmond Bridge – its cool there!There were over 20 great plein air artists on that day and although it was inspiring and lovely to work next to them...

#341 ‘Afternoon Light, Albert Bridge’ 6×12″

by Clare Bowen | Jun 9, 2018 | Albert Bridge, Colour, England, Light, London, Teaching, The Thames

The sun was from behind and directly lighting the bridge, not easy to paint as it’s more about colour less tonal than I have been working, but a good challenge! This was the final painting of the day with my 1:1 student Christopher Mike. I wanted the bridge...

#340 ‘Boats by Albert Bridge’ 10×12″

by Clare Bowen | Jun 8, 2018 | Albert Bridge, Boats, England, London, Oil Painting, Teaching, The Thames

A one to one plein air teaching day with Christopher Michael, choose Albert Bridge area and we were lucky with lots of sunshine!I helped Christopher with the practicalities of working outside, equipment, layout of paint and using a viewfinder and then tonal values and...

#326 ‘Footbridge to Eel Pie Island’ 9×12″

by Clare Bowen | Apr 22, 2018 | Green, Landscape, River Thames, Surrey, The Thames, Trees, Twickenham

An early start up to Twickenham on Friday morning. I wanting to make the most of this glorious weather, although standing in full sun was quite hard work! I painted at Twickenham last July with the Wapping Group it was my first time with them as I was...

#324 ‘Spring at Richmond Bridge’ 9×12″

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...

#323 ‘Sunrise over Albert Bridge’ 11×14″

by Clare Bowen | Apr 6, 2018 | Albert Bridge, Boats, London, Reflection, Sunrise, The Thames

I saw this scene last week on the Thames, it was quite magical!  But I couldn’t paint in plein air as the sun was too bright off the water – I couldn’t see the subject!I did start a painting see below but when I went to work on it in the studio...

#321 ‘Early Morning, Chelsea Bridge’ 8×10″ & The Artist Mind

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...

#297 ‘Albert Bridge’ 12×16″

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...