The Side Entrance

Tripped on this as my painting buddy and I were looking at a water feature nearby that was much darker that I wanted to do on this really grey day. The photo doesn't really come close to showing the greyness of the day.  

 

I wanted to play with a limited pallet of white, burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Interesting what happens to the mind when you don't have a fuller range of colors and you have to reinterpret colors to what you have on hand.

I didn't think that the scruffy little tree would be the center of interest. I was going to make it smaller and have the entrance as the centre of interest. But, as I began to downplay the tree, it's presence started to speak to me of more than just this view. England has many paths and entrances and walkways that have a bit of overgrown foliage in the way. I have come to like that. Not all is neat and in order here, but it remains beautiful for sure. Thus the attention I gave it.

The Side Entrance

12 x 9

Finished product got more of the grey day in it. There are lots of them here. The owner invited me to come back to paint there again. I love the perk of meeting new people when you paint out.

I will do some more paintings with this limited pallet to explore it even more.

I am painting my butt off!

Muddy Path on a Grey Day

8 x 10, oil on panel

What a mess this day was. Wet, mucky, stick-to-your-boots mud. And it was darkish too. What a day to paint outside! The challenge was to bring some life into all the dark. There is some but I strive for more.

Shack at the Silo

9 x 12, oil on panel

Another muddy day in England (and very windy too) but with a bit of fleeting sunshine. This shack was so overgrown and had such character it drew me in. The door actually kept on flapping open and closed in the wind.  This one was fun to paint. I don't do many structures for fear of getting too caught up in the details. One day buildings will be something I will conquer but they just aren't pulling me at the moment. Here I had found a somewhat sheltered area to set up in but my painting buddy decided to plop himself in the middle of the unplanted field of puddles and... more mud. His painting blew over into the mud several times.

Untitled

8 x 10, oil on panel

This is part of my commitment to learn how to paint the moving clouds. There is such drama and energy in this kind of cloud cover as the sunshines peaks through in varying degrees so quickly. I do not consider this to be a success (among other things I think the composition is trite and uninteresting) but I did get a bit of insight. I did 2 other small studies of the clouds and learned even more but the photos of those paintings are pending the battery recharge on my camera. 

A better photo of the post from the other day. This was not a plein air painting but I think I am starting to take some of the things that I am learning en plein air and applying them to my studio work.

Sheep Study

5 x 7

These little guys are right outside my window so I don't even have to pack up to do them from life. I am after getting their shape and values in as few of strokes as I can. I am pleased with what took place here. The bottom one is headless because the neighbor came out and tossed them some bread and they moved. I will be doing more of them as I take advantage of my opportunity of having them so close since I won't be here forever.

ps - I am still  not pleased with my photos. These are not scanned cause they are all still wet. 

From the last 24 hours

Heavy Snow

9 x 12, oil on panel

This one was actually done with a photo reference that I took nearby. It is actually a rickety old fence that is quite grown over and the snow made it quite heavy. I loved the shapes that were created with the lighting. I also love the challenge of finding and depicting the many colors in the white shadowed areas. Once again, the photo does not quite show all of the color I put in.

Two Chinese Teenagers

9 x 12, oil on panel

This painting was an hour's worth of work. The girls had never modelled before and had slept in so they were late and had to leave early. They chatted in Chinese the entire time but kept their pose throughout.  I really found it interesting to see the difference in their skin tones and head shapes.  There are drawing flaws for sure but I am mostly happy with this one. There was no time to noodle it - and that is good, but I could have used another hour with them. I also do enjoy keeping it a bit sketchy in a portrait.

En Plein Air

"The Little Bridge at Manor Park"

8 x 10, oil on panel

 Side note: I may have cracked the photography problems I have been having. Hopefully I will get better colour representation in them from now on.

I set out with my hand warmers and foot warmers to the park near home. So many subjects to choose from. I settled on this bridge. To the right the path goes up the hill to the village. To the left takes you around the lake. I really enjoyed doing this painting even with it's challenges. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. That is the key when there is so much growth around. Just use detail where you really need it. 

Lots of people went walking by and stopped to admire. 1- I think I made a new friend. 2 - I may have found a potential client. Lesson learned: bring business cards with me whenever I go out.

and the cows get in the way........

No photo today, just a story.  I went to the park to paint today. I hadn't been there for about 10 days. Of course I knew I would have to take time to greet my cows. They were lazily lounging under the trees and barely moved as I came  up to greet them. Having finished my hellos and seeing that they were staying put in their reclining state, I thought I would take advantage of the situation and paint them. No sooner did I get all my gear set up then one by one they started getting up and coming over to investigate. All 9 of them surrounded me, sniffing and licking my setup and me. Of course I could not start painting yet - couldn't even get the pallet with the paint out yet. They hung around for 5 - 7 minutes then slowly started moving on .....but then turned and came back again.

Three of them were surrounding me, their massive heads, me and my painting gear could have fit inside a 41/2 foot ring. I had to take hold of their horns so they wouldn't catch on my pochade box or my stool or on me. They were so close I couldn't get into my bag to get the camera out. One took a step away and peed. One didn't take a step away and left a fresh and steaming pile of poo a foot away from me.

So I gave up on painting there and decided to walk to the other end of the field where they were showing no interest. Half way to this other end I turned around and they were all following me. I sat on my stool and just let them do more of their usual thing until they finally got bored and wandered off. They eventually came back into the scene but not until I was able to get a painting done. I will post it soon.

Later on in the day I was working on another painting in my studio and could not figure out where all the long hairs on my pallet were coming from. Hmmmm......

Love them cows!!

Cascade at St. Mary's Abbey

The Cascade at St. Mary's Abbey

24 x 30cm

Oil on panel

This painting is an iconic image in West Malling where I live. 218 years ago Turner also painted this. I love knowing that as I walk the road from my house to the village, I am walking in his footsteps. And doing the same view of the water just gives me tingles.

Another Path

England Path #2 to East Malling

5 x 7

Oil on Panel
SOLD

This path is narrow and so inviting. So many of the paths in England are. There is such a romance about them. At times I feel like I am in a fairytale book as I walk them. I let my imagination wander.

A Walk in the Park in England

"A Walk in the Park in England"

5 x 7"

Oil on panel
SOLD

These romantic scenes are around every corner in this woodland area. I could feel the footsteps of the many, many others who have walked here before me. The open woods just let the sunlight stream in. I really enjoy how light blue can capture such a mood.