Bales

Oil on board 30 x 20 cm approx
I went out to a different painting spot last night, I wanted to paint the bales before they were gathered in, I love stubble fields, with the track marks and the bits of green grass showing through.  Right now the landscape is being splashed with the pale ochres and greens of cut fields, its a feast for the eyes, lots of colours.

Thursday 28 July,
Red and Blue Sails.

Exhibition Preview

"Heading for Home"  Oil on canvas 120 cm x 80 cm.
The mouth of the Helford River under a beautiful evening sky with all the sailing boats heading for home.  This is somewhat larger than my usual paintings and is one of two big paintings for the exhibition at Beside The Wave which runs from August 6th until August 18th.  The other large painting is of Provence, you will have to wait a week to see that one, its a good-un!
All of the beautifully painted and gloriously framed paintings will be available to purchase from the gallery or from their web site from August 6th. Which isn't that far away, in a weeks time, crikey, I had better get ready!!

Evening Skies

 Oil on board. 15 x 20 cm
Painted while bobbing up and down on the boat, see the slightly wobbly sea meets land line! 
As I painted Big Dave did a bit of fishing and in the space of about five minutes caught ten big mackerel, it was like magic, food for free! 
The sky was brilliant this evening and when we went back to the mooring I painted "the same view" but I was hungry and I really don't like those two boats that keep getting in the way!  I wasn't that happy with it... but, its all part of the project so it has to go up on here, this is plein air, warts and all!

Oil on board.  15 x 20 cm

Friday Night, Sunday Morning

 Oil on board, 15 x 20 cm.  Friday evening.

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm.  Sunday Morning.
Further up the river, breakfast on the little beach, a very fine Sunday morning.

Early Little Clouds

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm
Very early, little fluffy clouds and a pink tinge to the sky.  Its not raining!

The Rain it Raineth

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm
It rains a lot, I am wet, this is July, almost August, it is never right.  I am a bit sorry for the folks on holiday, happy for the gardeners and as for me, well I dont care, I like the rain and I have a solution for painting in the rain and this is it...

 here is the rain box at the start of painting, see the little prochade box nestling quite sweetly in the dry, see the rain on the river.  Nearing the end of the painting session the rain eases off, although by this time I am soaked through despight my trusty rain cape!

Friday 15 July Early Evening

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm.
I know, its a bit late. Lots going on.

Night Lights

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm
About 3.30 am, quite cloudy, the moon kept hiding.  It is always interesting to see what has been painted when getting back into the light.  The sea is very noisy when there is no other noise around.  I used to live at the top of this slipway and the sound of the waves on the shingle took me right back.

Into the Light

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm
I honestly thought that I had blinded myself painting this one, I was looking right into the sun and it was reflecting up off the water, "contre-jour" big time.  It was very beautiful but possibly the peaceful early morning was a bit broken by the shambling stumbling figure that staggered back along the pontoon.  Luckily I didn't fall in and my eyesight has returned to nearly normal!

Still Calm

Oil on board 15 x 20cm
A beautiful calm still morning, about 7am.  What a glorious way to start the day, an hours painting then off for an hours swimming, all before breakfast and then the rest of the day awaits!

Summer Woods

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm approx.
Monday morning, no one about so I am back on the end of the pontoon, where the very first paintings in this series were done, its a good spot, I must brazen it out more at busier times of the day.

News flash, for all who are artists and creative types there is to be a Cornwall Big Paint In  on August 13th, a celebration of creativity and a protest against petty mindedness.  An artist friend of mine Paul Wadsworth was recently hassled by someone demanding to know if he has permission to paint on the beach!!  Thus the big paint in was born.  Join up on facebook and come along if you can, should be good.

Friday Sailing Lessons

Oil on board 20 x 15 cm approx.
 Friday night is sailing lessons for the local kids, they all dash about in little toppers and tiny tubs, the little ones, to young for the sailing mess about on the beach or fling themselves into the river.  Its a great evening with lots of noise and bright sails everywhere.

Blue Garden Chair.  Gouache.  8 x 12 cm approx.
A tiny gouache of a magical garden behind an art shop in Provence, everywhere you looked there was a picture asking to be painted.
I have been hanging exhibitions and writing reviews over at Beside The Wave Gallery, go and have a read and a little look at what is on offer and... they now have a virtual gallery with own art, check it out HERE you can buy my work in 10 easy monthly installments, which is exciting!

Morning Sail

Oil on board.  15 x 20 cm
Early morning, slightly misty and very calm.  Someone out on the river is hoisting his sails, a brief flurry of movement before he catches the breeze and is gone.

Getting Back

Monday.  Gouache.  12 cm x 9 cm

Tuesday.  Gouache.  13cm x 8cm

These little gouaches are small,  I feel like going small for a while.  It has taken me ages to get sorted out after my trip.  I got a horrible migraine one evening and now a seasonal attack of asthma, (I don't like to call it hay fever but that is probably what it is), so am wheezing and spluttering all over the place.  There wont be much in the next few days as I sort and tidy and do some admin.  These little paintings are done every day but might end up being posted in blocks of 5 or 6 at a time.

Perfect Day

Oil on board 20 x 15 cm.

Just a perfect day,

Pic-nick lunch on the boat,

And then later, when it gets dark,

We go home.

Just a perfect day,

Went for a walk in the woods

Then later, a movie, too,

And then home.

Back to the River and more Provence

7am, back to my river project, soft English skies, beautiful!
But, there are more Provence paintings to post up, I just counted them and I did 59 paintings in two weeks!  Obviously they are not all successful but the point is, I worked hard.  I shall make a Provence page for the top of this blog where they can be browsed in their entirety and post a few up here and over on the Enid Blighton style group blog Four Go Painting in Provence


Rainy Day.




Midnight, Summer Solstis




The Blue Chair