The Red Shoes

Winter Sunflowers

2012-02-15T17:44:00.001Z

Effortless Brushstrokes

2012-02-11T10:00:00.002Z

A Cotswold Forge
Oil on board 90.5 cm x 68 cm
£995.00
(or £99.50 per month with own art)

Last night was the Private View at Beside The Wave gallery and then on to the Private View at Falmouth Art Gallery. This is my painting that is now hanging in the Falmouth Art Gallery along side some wonderful paintings by great names. It was a lovely duo of opening nights and I felt very honoured to be exhibiting with old masters and some of my contemporary younger masters as well including: Andrew Tozer, Miles Heseltine, Ben Warner, Phil Hogben, Paul Wadsworth and Chris Rigby.
The painting above is another from the forge, this time in oils and larger and here is the little plein air study that I made while the blacksmith was working. The study forms part of the exhibition at Beside the Wave.

Blacksmith
Oil on board 14.5 x 18 cm
£245.00
(or £24.50 per month with own art)

They are both framed with a simple but substantial gold frame and available from Beside The Wave, who also do Own Art, which lets you pay in 10 interest free monthly instalments, a fantastic scheme!
The exhibition runs until April 14th and is well worth a visit.

New Exhibitions, or Wafting About With Giants

2012-02-09T08:32:00.000Z

Charcoal and chalk on brown paper

I am back from London, it was a fantastic fair, we met some really interesting people and sold some brilliant paintings and drawings. Now I am home, back in my paint covered clothes and working hard on a whole bunch of new paintings, destined for two exhibitions. I shall not show any new works here for a while. I will, however, post this up, it is a large charcoal drawing, part of a series of drawings, probably of interiors but I have an inkling that a few portraits might be hatching.
There is a new exhibition at the gallery which I am helping to hang tomorrow. It is a mixed show called "Effortless Brushstrokes" The catalogue is on line already, you can see it here, and there will be more available on Friday. It is in collaboration with Falmouth Art Gallery. Fourteen of our artists, including myself, are being hung alongside the likes of J.S.Sargent. Lamorna Birch, Dame Laura Knight, Sir Alfred Munnings and Kurt Jackson. What company to keep, I am very honoured. After Friday I shall post up my "exhibits".

William's Window

2012-02-03T09:46:00.001Z

Watercolour. 43 x 61 cm

This is the window of a small blacksmiths forge in Gloucestershire. It is a glorious place, filled with old tools and pieces of metal, rust colours glow in the light from the blacksmith fire and light from the garden outside is filtered through a curtain of cobwebs. I spent a good afternoon painting while William, the blacksmith, worked. I love days like that and have made several paintings of this place which will be exhibited soon.

Fountain at Gordes

2012-02-01T08:16:00.001Z

Watercolour.

76 x 58cm

A beautiful place, a little hill town, perched on a rock in the Vaucluse department of Provence. A warren of stone houses, little alleyways and hidden cafes to discover. I found a bar where you could sit on a tiny balcony high up above the lower houses, looking out over the Provençal landscape, while swifts flew through the hot dry air. I spent a happy few hours there, a cold beer on the table and a sketchbook to hand... I would love to be there, right now, until then I shall have to make do with looking at my sketchbooks and making things like this painting.

Kitchen Sink Drama

2012-01-29T23:29:00.001Z

Watercolour

My own kitchen sink drama, leaving for London in the morning, very much looking forward to the art fair, not looking forward to leaving big Dave on his 50th birthday!

The Window of Her Maiden Name

2012-01-20T19:28:00.000Z

The Window of Her Maiden Name
Watercolour
38 x 38 cm

Painting this was quite emotional, its not my child's room but as the last of my five left home six years ago I knew the feelings that this room held so well, and they came flooding back.
This is the room of a daughter, tidy and almost empty, she has gone off to university, flown the nest. Eagerly embracing her new life away from her childhood home, leaving behind her a wake of bitter sweet sorrow. The deep longing ache that every parent feels, standing in their child's room, watching from the window of her maiden name, wishing them all the best that the world can give but crying inside for the loss of that part of your own life that will never return.
Another paintings for the Watercolour and Works on Paper Fair at the Science Museaum 2nd to 5th February.

His Old Chair

2012-01-19T15:39:00.000Z

His Old Chair
Watercolour
30.5 cm x 41.5 cm

This old chair, battered, worn and comfortable it has born witness to a life. Brought by a mother for her son for his first study room at school it has been with him ever since. The boy grew into a man, life threw at him what it throws at most of us, he became a father and life moves on. The chair sits, like a quiet guardian of a private history. A lovely thing. A possession like this is always a lovely thing and I really enjoy painting such a treasure.
This will be at the Watercolour and Works on Paper Fair.

Going to the Fair

2012-01-16T17:15:00.000Z

I get as excited about going to Art Fairs as I used to when I was a kid and the fair came to town. They are hard work but brilliant fun, meeting lots of people, selling work by our artists (including mine) and exchanging my very muddy, paint splattered, every day clothes for something a little more refined.
This fair Watercolours & Works on Paper looks to be very interesting, just take a look at who is being exhibited there.

Si if you are in London around the vicinity of the Science Museum please come and say hello, stand B30 and now you are reading this and thinking about it go and "like" their page on facebook, its the friendly thing to do and they have just posted up one of my paintings!

Framed

2012-01-12T15:43:00.000Z

I am really pleased with the frame that I had made for the memorial portrait of the good dog Shiver. It feels very traditional and fitting, it goes well with the fact that he was a much loved hound and his picture is painted on 10,000 year old mammoth ivory. Behind the painting is a small area of gold leaf which gives a certain warm glow to the painting as the light reflects through the tiny brushstrokes. All in all it makes a very special thing which I know will be treasured for many years.

New Year Shenanigans

2012-01-06T12:34:00.000Z

January 5th 2012
oil on canvas
40cm x 60cm

Last year I began my plein air river project on January 5th and soon after I started it I was commissioned to paint a plein air painting on January 5th 2012 as a 50th birthday present.
It was to be of this view, which is the mouth of the Helford river and it was to be painted whatever the weather.

The river project ground to a halt in September, due to the need to paint for exhibitions, which is a good thing indeed (I plan to fill in the missing days on the river over the next few years so that eventually I will end up with a whole years worth of paintings.)

Anyway back to the story of the commission... yesterday dawned with very strong winds, a far greater problem for the plein air painter than rain or snow or hot sun. I hatched a very cunning plan...I drove my van to the specified place, set up my easel inside and with the side door open painted from there. It worked brilliantly, shelter from the wind and a great view...

so I got the painting completed in relative comfort...

until I tried to leave when my trusty van became well and truly stuck in the mud

much splattering later

I phoned a friend, in the form of Big Dave and my lovely son Joe who came to the rescue with Dangerous Dom's land rover.

so I got home, very muddy, the van is a mess and I am wondering if a land rover would make a better mobile studio.

The painting was delivered wet, as per instructions and was very well received.

and here is is a little study that I did a few days before to try out the view!

The new year has started well, I have lots of paintings all being framed and ready for exhibitions and I shall post them on here over the next few weeks. I hope you had a very happy new year and I wish you a fantastic 2012.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-24T10:25:00.001Z

Merry Happy Jolly Ho Ho Ho

Have a Fantastic Christmas

and a Brilliant

New Year

10,000 year old Mammoth Tusk

2011-12-23T15:24:00.000Z

Shiver
Watercolour on Mammoth Ivory
3.5cm x 4.5cm
1.5inches x 1.75 inches

Yesterdays miniature painting demonstration in the gallery was painted onto a little slither of 10,000 year old mammoth tusk. I wanted to paint something special so it is a portrait of my sons dog, Shiver, a beautiful young lurcher, who died a month ago. I will get this framed and I know he will keep it and treasure it.

Trebah Path

2011-12-20T16:52:00.000Z

Trebah Path
360mm x 365mm
oil on board
SOLD

More from Trebah Gardens, trees like fireworks exploding leaves and colours. Such a lovely garden to visit.

Two Quinces

2011-12-19T17:01:00.001Z

Two Quinces
55mm x 110mm
oil on board
SOLD

The Pie Miniature

2011-12-18T08:25:00.000Z

Poppy, Three Days Old
Watercolour on Polymin
85mm x 105mm
3.3 inches x 4.1 inches

This is the painting done for the miniature painting demonstration at the gallery yesterday. I wanted to do a small portrait and of course three days ago I got a willing model! It was painted using Daniel Smith watercolours which are made from real earth and gemstone pigments. I used the traditional technique of millions of tiny brushstrokes to build up the colour depth.

This is the working piece with some of the colours used, check out the fantastic names! The painting will be framed with a mount of deep red and a wide gold frame and this one I am keeping for myself.
Portraits like this can be commissioned and come framed at a cost of £300.
Another demo on Thursday and this time I think I will be painting on a little bit of 10,000 year old Mammoth tusk, if I can source the image that I want to paint that is.

Demonstrating, Small Style

2011-12-17T08:29:00.000Z

Today I shall be setting up a tiny studio in the Upper Gallery at Beside the Wave and getting on with a little painting. I shall be demonstrating the art of painting miniatures, tiny paintings on a variety of surfaces. I have some vellum, some very smooth wooden boards, some ivorine and a small piece of 10,000 year old Mammoth Tusk!
If you are in Falmouth today pop in and say hello.

Two Medlars

2011-12-16T16:59:00.000Z

Two Medlars
110mm x 60mm
oil on board
£135
or £13.50 per month with own art

Fireworks Helford Village

2011-12-15T16:55:00.001Z

Fireworks. Helford Village
500mm x 600mm
oil on canvas
£750
or £75.00 a month with own art

I have posted this up before but it is in the exhibition and now it is beautifully photographed by Amrita who does such a great job at the gallery photographing all of the work.

Welcoming Little Pie

2011-12-14T13:17:00.000Z

Yesterday our daughter Becci and her Partner Nick became parents. Little Pie was born at 5.10am on 13.12.11. We went to meet her a few hours later, here she is, our granddaughter, little Pie. No official name as yet but already she has begun to fill sketchbook pages!

Trebah Plein Air

2011-12-13T16:48:00.002Z

Trebah Plein Air
150mm x 190mm
oil on board
SOLD

Painted in the summer on a visit to Trebah Gardens. Lovely lush jungle gardens meandering down to the sea, leaves of different sizes and colours.

Wine in The Garden

2011-12-12T16:45:00.002Z

Wine in The Garden
370mm x 360mm
oil on board
SOLD

Another friends garden, another beautiful haven and a great bottle of wine, they keep a fine cellar at this house!

Little Peace Garden

2011-12-11T16:40:00.002Z

Little Peace Garden
250mm x 200mm
oil on board
SOLD

This one isn't a miniature, its a little plein air painting of a beautiful corner of my friends garden, known as the peace garden. This was painted at the end of the summer, in the hazy lazy sunshine of September.

More Cups

2011-12-10T16:37:00.000Z

Gold Spot
85mm x 85mm
oil and gold leaf on board
SOLD

Striped Cup
95mm x 95mm
oil on board
SOLD

Blackberry and Apple

2011-12-09T16:32:00.001Z

Last Blackberries
65mm x 130mm
Watercolour on hot pressed paper
SOLD

You cant have blackberries without an apple

Apple
115mm x 75mm
oil on board
SOLD

Dotty Stripy Cup

2011-12-08T16:27:00.001Z

Dotty Stripy Cup
100mm x 100mm
oil on board
£150
or £15.00 per month with own art

Tiny coffee cups are something that I like to paint, and collect, I have quite a few and also know people who don't mind lending me their tiny coffee cups to use as subjects for these little paintings.

Cherry Tomatoes

2011-12-07T16:19:00.004Z

Cherry Tomatoes
65.. x 130mm
watercolour on hot pressed paper
SOLD

Little beauties on an antique linen tea towel, these tiny paintings take a lot of steady hand and sharp eye coordination.
I shall be giving two demonstration days, painting miniatures at the gallery on Saturday 17th December and Thursday 22nd December from 10 am until 5pm. Its free and you can watch me ruin my eyesight and ask as many questions as you like.

all these paintings are framed..like this.

Christmas Show

2011-12-06T16:19:00.000Z

Blue Birthday Pot
85mm x 85mm
oil and glod leaf on board
£150.00
or £15.00 per month with own art

Beautiful Blue Bowl
85mm x 85mm
oil and gold leaf on board
£150.00
or £15.00 per month with own art

Over the next few days I shall post up all of the paintings that I have done for the Christmas show at Beside the Wave Gallery in Falmouth.
Should you want to buy any of them then all you have to do is follow the link and contact the gallery. They do a brilliant scheme called "Own Art" which is an interest free loan that spreads the cost of a painting over 10 months... it makes everything suddenly seem much more affordable!
The other thing you could do is follow their blog, it provides a fascinating insight into the working life of the gallery and our artists and keeps you up to date with what is going on.

Fairs, Prints and Christmas.

2011-11-23T07:56:00.001Z

Porch Full of Sun
Limited Edition Print
Beside The Wave Gallery

Edinburgh was brilliant, I almost sold out of my work which in itself is a very exciting experience. Meeting and talking to the people who are going to make what you have created a part of their lives is really special. Watching people fall in love with paintings is amazing, there is almost a physical reaction, a tangible buzz of excitement in the air.
We are back from that stunning city now and I have a couple of months of concentrated painting ahead. This morning I am heading north again to visit the gardens and allotments belonging to my Aunt and my Mother, I am keeping my fingers crossed that they haven't done some tidying up, I want the muddle of autumnal gardens!

Blue Remembered Hills
Limited Edition Print
Beside The Wave Gallery

The gallery is holding their annual limited edition print show where they take their favourite paintings throughout the year and have editions of only 50 printed beautifully. I was very happy to be included and these two of mine are now available as prints.
They are experts at packing and sending and I think that you can even buy them (the prints, not the Gallery staff!) with "own art" which is an intrest free loan spread over 10 months which makes then super affordable! Ring the gallery if you feel the need to have own of these. Have a look on the web site and go Christmas shopping!
The Christmas paintings show opens on December 1st and my catalogue paintings have already sold out, there will be more in the show and on line from the first.

Blue Shutters

2011-11-21T11:50:00.007Z

Oil on board 35 cm x 35cm.
SOLD
Blue shutters, blue chair, blue shadows. Another painted in Provence, that pink, terracotta wall was addictive, the textures and colours were lovely, I couldn't stop painting it. This too has sold!

A Simple Room

2011-11-20T11:45:00.003Z

Oil on board 35 cm x 35 cm or 14 x 14 inches
SOLD
This was my room in Provence. Such a calm and simple room, full of peace and tranquility. Cool inside while it was hot and blazing outside. Even the presence of scorpions and a lightening strike didn't diminish its quiet presence. I liked it very much.
The Art Fair is going brilliantly, the previous two paintings have sold as has this one and the one scheduled to post up here tomorrow. In fact I have almost sold out! I am a very happy artist.

There is a Small Cafe

2011-11-19T11:39:00.003Z

Oil on board 47 cm x 57 cm, or 18.5 inches x 22.5 inches
SOLD

This is from my trip to Provence in the summer, I wanted to get some of the texture and colour of the walls and the little scurrying hidden alleys and small cafes. Oh to feel that sun, when outside here all is grey mist and rain...it seems like a world away!

Edinburgh Art Fair

2011-11-16T11:39:00.001Z

Soft Velvet Light SOLD
Oil on Canvas 120cm x 150 cm or 47 inches x 59 inches

I have been hibernating, painting all hours like a fiend. We are going up to the other end of the country for Edinburgh Art Fair and, as everything went so well in London, I wanted to take some new work. This is the biggest. Another painting of my dear friends room. I enjoy working in a different media with the same subject and it certainly focuses the decisions that you have to make throughout a painting. I love the result, its a sumptuous room and the oils bring a real richness to the colours. I have a series of interiors planned, and some fine houses on my radar. I have also got a painting trip to my Mother's allotment as well as my Aunt's garden, both lovely places (hopefully they haven't tided them before I get there!) December will be a busy month.
My river project has lost out though, I haven't painted the view since September but I plan to fill in all the days that I have missed on the same days next year... well that's the plan, it has to be flexible, life is changing at such a pace right now.
So I am off to catch a plane in a moment, its whisky, porridge and haggis for me!
I will post up some of the other new paintings during the week and then in December I will post up some of the new paintings that I have done for the gallery Christmas show.

Shortlisted

2011-10-27T10:14:00.000+01:00

I have just got home from a very exciting and successful week exhibiting with Beside The Wave Gallery at the Affordable Art Fair.
It was hard work but very enjoyable, a fantastic buzz to the whole event and I got to meet several people who had only been blogging names to me before which is always lovely.
I sold a lot of work, both mine and the other artists that the gallery represents, got some commissions and was approached by another gallery about an exhibition.
So I returned home on a bit of a high to find a message about the Artist of the Year Award which is being run by Artist and Illustrators magazine. Now I am impossibly excited! I have been shortlisted! There is a voting page with all of the images, I am in the landscape section. Looking through them I think the standard is high so I will be extremely proud to win but I am very proud to have been shortlisted.
The image above is the painting, the River Helford (of course) and here is where you can vote . Check out the others as well, they are all interesting paintings.
I had actually forgotten that I had entered, I have to frame the painting now, in super quick time and get it delivered up to London, right by where I was staying a couple of days ago! I am just relieved that I hadn't exhibited it of sold it!!
Now I am painting non stop as we go up to Edinburgh Art Fair in just about three weeks time. Its like buses, you wait ages and then suddenly everything happens at once.

A Soft Light

2011-10-13T09:32:00.000+01:00

Pure Watercolour 100 cm x 90 cm or 39.5 x 35 inches
This is the home of a lovely friend of mine, the same one whose hall I painted the other day, it is filled with sumptuous fabrics and beautiful crystal and shiny silver and hung about with witch balls. In other words a joy to paint. I found another home yesterday that would also make great subject matter, the unsuspecting owners don't know it yet but I have plans on their house!
I am posting this up now for several reasons, firstly, I think it is finished. I have been working on it over the past couple of weeks and I find that putting things up on my blog helps me to see if there are any bits I want to change or carry on with. Its a bit like viewing your painting in a mirror, it helps to see it clearly.
The next reason is that in the next couple of days I am off to London with Beside The Wave to do the Affordable Art Fair. It means a week of hard work, loads of talking and meeting lots of people and hopefully selling lots of paintings. If you are in London and would like tickets then click the gallery link and they will help you. I will be there, in my posh clothes, come and say hello, we are stand H5. So I would like to leave a big bold watercolour image up on my blog while I am away.
I also like converting the centimeters into inches, I really have lost my concept of size in inches. Doing the conversion gives me some idea of the size of some of Andrew Wyeth's watercolours, he is one of my artistic hero's and I have never seen his work in the flesh, just in books. This work here is big, and some of his are big, it is a difficult medium to take large and he is a master.

One Apple

2011-10-11T17:54:00.001+01:00

Miniature. Oil on board 7.5cm x 11.5cm or 3 x 4.5 inches
A little bit of tiny work. I have a little still life stage set up in my studio, made from an old wooden wine box and some bigger cardboard boxes with a light hatch. It is perfect for painting tiny miniatures which is perfect work for rainy misty weather. So that's all good then!

All About Watercolour

2011-10-06T11:45:00.000+01:00

This painting, along with 20 more of mine and others by John Raynes, Amanda Hoskin, Richard Thorn and Richard Tuff will be in the "Celebration of Watercolour" exhibition which I will be helping to hang tonight at Beside the Wave gallery in Falmouth.
It is a sparkling and splendid collection of some very stunning watercolours, I am excited and proud to be taking part. It is on for two weeks at the gallery and, if you are at all interested in the exciting medium of watercolour, want to see it being used in an exciting and dynamic way, try to pay the gallery a visit.

Another of mine, one that I like very much, that will be in the show.
Earlier in the week I held a workshop day with the Constantine Art Society. It was loosely based around watercolours, my workshops are quite diverse. It is a lovely group of people and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and produced some lovely work.

Lots of different styles and approaches to making art. Its such a good thing to do, getting together and working. They meet once a week and, judging by the lively banter, have a jolly good time.

One member of the group turned up with quite a surprise, a painting by my great great grandfather E.M.Wimperis,

Wonderful to be able to really study how he painted it, it was one that I had never seen before.
Finally after all this watercolour washing about in my mind I sent off for a test sheet of Daniel Smith watercolours, you can get a sheet of little blobs of actual paint, what a fantastic idea, so that you can actually try them. I suspect that I may be spending some money soon, they are lovely. I haven't had a real play yet but so far I am quite impressed.

I got them from Pegasus Art online shop, and can thoroughly recommend that web site, very efficient service, ordered things on Tuesday evening, late at night really and they arrived today, Thursday morning. Brilliant!

The White Wash

2011-10-03T08:35:00.001+01:00

Oil on board 40 x 50 cm SOLD
Its Monday and its a good sunny day, its wash day! Just finished this painting of washing hanging about in a sunny back yard. I am very fond of a line of clean clothes drying in the sun. Years ago I had a house with an orchard and the washing line was strung between two old apple trees. It was almost a treat to go and peg out the clothes, especially in the spring with the scent of apple blossom or the autumn with the perfume of ripe apples. It has to be a washing line though, not the spinny round ones, good old fashioned lines are the ones for me.

Apps...

2011-10-01T09:41:00.000+01:00

Click here to get this app

Don't get too excited, there are no moving bits or funny noises, what this contains is some of my sketches and some info about forthcoming exhibitions. I am on a very steep learning curve, teaching myself how to build apps, this one is for trial purposes really. I am planning on making apps that will add to the appreciation of someones work. For example, if you like their paintings then the app will give you a chance to browse their sketchbooks and perhaps a link to a bit of video of them talking about their work. That's the plan anyway, and this is the test piece . Right now this is an app for an android phone, I am working on an ipad app but that takes more time and money, I will get there. In the meantime, if you have an android phone and fancy a look at the first app then click the link and download it...its all free. Let me know what you think.

Gold Spot

2011-09-29T08:25:00.000+01:00

Oil with gold leaf on board 8.5cm x 8.5cm or 3.34 inches x 3.34 inches
Small! But very lovely, strong espresso in such a fine cup, beautiful!

End of Summer Pots

2011-09-28T11:07:00.000+01:00

Oil on board. 15cm x 20 cm
A little plein air study as a present for a very dear friend. I love this time of year, every year I love this time of year! The slow wind down, the faded beauty, the deep rich smells of autumn and the bounty in the hedgerows.

Porch Full of Sun

2011-09-26T12:45:00.001+01:00

Oil on board 28 cm x 40.5 cm SOLD
The lovely hall way of a lovely friend of mine. Beyond the front door is an old fig tree that makes a beautiful verdant arch to walk through and in the hallway there are always flowers and a wonderful art collection, stunning ceramics and a huge collection of paintings.
I think doors and gateways make great subjects, they are promising something, leading you in, or out. Telling a story without words.

Those Blue Remembered Hills

2011-09-24T09:24:00.002+01:00

Oil on board 38 cm x 48cm or 15 inches x 19 inches. SOLD
I have been busy painting, of course, to have some new work for London. The Gallery and I are off to the big city in October to exhibit at the Affordable Art Fair, so if you are in or around London on the weekend of October 21st come along and say hello.
This painting is from the trip to Provence, I was walking past the open door and suddenly saw a beautifully framed view and instantly thought of the Housman poem A Shropshire Lad and the line "What are those blue remembered hills," So as I had the title the painting had to follow.
My photographing of the painting leaves a bit to be desired, in reality the door is not bent!

2011-09-03T08:35:00.001+01:00

Oil on canvas 50cm x 60cm SOLD
My garden is tiny but has a host of pots and tumbling plants, it is a good place to sit and occasionally enjoy the sunshine.

Old Sheds

2011-09-02T07:54:00.002+01:00

Oil on board SOLD
21.5 cm x 31.5 cm.
Another from my friends garden with a beautiful stumble of sheds and pots, I like the hidden places in gardens the potting sheds and jumble, like scribbled notes in the margins of a page.

August

2011-09-01T08:28:00.000+01:00

Oil on canvas, 50 x 60 cm
This is the fireworks display at the end of Helford Regatta on Saturday August 26th and it is the "August" painting for my river project, I painted the fireworks two years ago in watercolour and in some respects I think I preferred the watercolour, it was difficult to do but splashier. This has bits that I like very much, I got the firework smoky atmosphere down on the far left where the little lamp glows. I also like the dimly lit boat shapes but some of it is just a bit too gaudy for me. However...its good to experiment, what do you think!

Evening 29.08.11, in the evening light the reflections were a beautiful green but the leaves seem to be about to turn.

Later on the same evening looking the other way, a little boat going out making a small wake through the deep dark reflections.

Austin Restoration

2011-08-31T08:50:00.001+01:00

Oil on board 31 cm x 26 cm. SOLD

There is a little cottage, buried deep in the Cornish countryside, down a rutted track, tucked into the woods above the Helford river. This secret forgotten place has a beautifully muddled garden with old sheds and a homemade greenhouse. Inside the greenhouse sits an old Austin A40 being slowly restored. Everywhere there is an air of timelessness and a deep sense of peace. It is the home of a friend of mine so I am able to go and look and paint in glorious quietude.

The Blue Pot

2011-08-30T09:40:00.000+01:00

Oil and gold leaf on board
8.5 cm x 8.5 cm or 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches
I have been working on some miniatures lately, tiny meditative still lives, they are very calming to paint as the concentration level is quite high. This one is featuring the most beautiful pot that I brought with some late birthday money. My Mother-in-law gave me the money telling me to make sure that I spent it on myself and so I did. The first time in my life (I am ashamed to say) that I saw something in a gallery and brought it simply because it was beautiful...I felt very grown up!!

Before the Storm

2011-08-26T21:04:00.002+01:00

First Thing

2011-08-19T07:41:00.000+01:00

Evening Light After Rain

2011-08-18T12:40:00.000+01:00

2011-08-16T09:32:00.000+01:00

16.August. Rain Sweeping In.

15.August. Early Start

11 August. Sails on the River

10 August. Early Evening Mid Week.

Garden Shed

2011-08-13T18:01:00.000+01:00

Watercolour 80 x 80 cm or 31.5 x 31.5 inches.
A big watercolour about gardens, one of my favorite subjects. Am painting loads but blogging them very little, there will be a break from this interweb thing. I want to be introspective and concentrate on some work. Back soon I expect.

Two Mornings

2011-08-09T08:44:00.000+01:00

Tuesday 9th August 7am

Monday 8th August 7.30am

Preview

2011-08-04T10:25:00.001+01:00

A Seat in the Shade
Oil on canvas 80cm x 120cm

Private view is on Friday evening 6 pm until 8pm, come along if you are in town if not you can see all the paintings here. from 10 am on Friday August 5th. The exhibition runs until 18th August so if you are nearby drop in and have a look, better still, support the arts and buy one!!

Lovely Sky

2011-08-03T11:14:00.000+01:00

Oil on board 20 x 15 cm
First thing this morning, really lovely sky, sun shining, still water, beautiful.

First Light, Last Light

2011-08-02T07:18:00.000+01:00

Saturday July 30th, 8am, grey sky, no wind, still and cloudy, water ripples and snakes into the shore..

Monday August 1st, 8.45pm, the light levels are falling fast, very high tide with soft silky water.

Bales

2011-07-30T08:06:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-29T10:59:00.000+01:00

"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

2011-07-27T08:05:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-24T18:49:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-21T09:03:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-20T08:42:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-19T10:21:00.000+01:00

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

Night Lights

2011-07-15T09:11:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-14T10:14:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-13T12:36:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-11T09:42:00.001+01:00

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

2011-07-09T11:03:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-07T09:41:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-06T12:02:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-03T21:53:00.000+01:00

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

2011-07-01T09:16:00.000+01:00

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

Back Home

2011-06-30T19:17:00.000+01:00

Crillon Le Brave Steps Watercolour

Terrace Pots. Gouache, small.

The road Home, Gouache, small.

The Well, Gouache, small.

Vines in Midday Sun. Gouache, small.

I am home, if you have bothered to scroll down to this bit we can talk! Provence was brilliant, I did 57 paintings in oil, watercolour and gouache. My ability to post was limited by a very exciting lightening strike beside my bed. I kept good company with scorpions and fell in love with a mountain. There will be more paintings tomorrow, right now, my friends, I am enjoying a very fine glass of red wine and an even finer meal, steak and salad ( an extraordinary salad) made by my dearest Big Dave who I have missed so much! More paintings tomorrow.
All of the paintings posted are done "en plein air", many will be available for purchase through the gallery Beside The Wave in August, more info later.

Tuesdays Crop of Paintings

2011-06-21T21:30:00.001+01:00

Farm & Cherry Orchard. Afternoon.

Monday Evening, Dusk.

Les Demoiselles, early morning.

House Mid Morning. SOLD

Boules, Early Evening.

Monday Blue Skies

2011-06-20T16:53:00.001+01:00

A Little Early Morning Vignette. Watercolour

Rose & Rosemary Morning Shadows. Oil

Midday Potager. Oil SOLD

French Window with Blue Jug. Watercolour

The Lavender Abbey Watercolour

Sunday

2011-06-19T18:46:00.000+01:00

Early Morning Mountain Worship. Oil.

Midday Market. Watercolour

This amazing place is called Gaud, or Gawd, anyway I wasnt allowed to stop to paint, nearly had to sulk as I was chivvied along to a lavender abby, which was OK but I would have relished the challenge of painting this place...

Saturday Stuff.

2011-06-18T17:10:00.000+01:00

The Terrace Before Breakfast. Oil

The trusty easel painting the Terrace before breakfast.

Washing Line and Pegs. Oil, (slightly less pink in real life)

Rain on Mont Ventoux (from the studio window.)

Night, Crillion le Brave. Watercolour

Ruin Late Afternoon Sun. Watercolour.

The Remains of the Day

2011-06-17T20:17:00.000+01:00

The Ruin, Afternoon, Cloudy. Watercolour.

Provence Potager

2011-06-17T11:55:00.000+01:00

Provence Potager, Storm Clouds. Oil

Morning Light. Oil.

The Ruin, Thursday Afternoon, watercolour

Afternoon Mont Ventoux, watercolour

Pots on the Terrace, watercolour.

First Morning In Provence

2011-06-16T12:30:00.000+01:00

Mont Ventoux early about 6am

The first painting site of the day.

Ochre Cliff, oil

Ochre Cliff, watercolour

From the Terrace, morning. Oil

House in Hot Sun, watercolour

So now it is lunchtime and it is hot, it is very lovely here but as I cant make the spell checker work I am not going to "wax lyrical" much. I shall paint and post up what I do. It is difficult to stop right now, everywhere I look I see a painting. Look what was in my bedroom this morning...

Provencal Evening

2011-06-15T22:21:00.000+01:00

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm
After a long day travelling, I have arrived in this beautiful place, cicadas shout into the indigo night, I had to do a little scribble before watching the moon, blood red eclipsing over the vines,

The Sky Above and Painting with Ghosts

2011-06-11T19:28:00.000+01:00

Oil on board, 15 x 20 cm At last! Back after a whole week away, oh it feels good to be sitting painting "my" view again. It is the evening, the sky above was so big, clouds massing after a glorious day, maybe rain tomorrow?
Anyway after my mammoth packing day I sorted out my studio and when all was spick and span I decided to restore my great great grandfathers prochade box... and start to use it.

I cut a piece of MDF to serve as a pallet and a couple of boards to go in the slots so that I can paint many sizes. There is a beautiful brass thing that holds everything up.

This is the makers mark, its old this box, he was painting in the 1850s

My paints sit where his did now and so, as I wander around painting my world, I hope he is there with me, painting alongside his great great granddaughter!

Holidays

2011-06-10T09:00:00.000+01:00

June has turned into a very busy month. On Wednesday I collected this from the framers. I am so very happy with the result, it looks beautiful. It is January 7th from the "Plein Air River Project". I photographed it in the back of my van before delivering it to the Falmouth Art Gallery where it is to be part of their British Impressionists exhibition this summer. If you are in Falmouth this summer go and see it.

I am very pleased to be included in this show alongside some fabulous artists. Unfortunately I wont be able to go to the private view as I shall be doing my own impression of an impressionist and painting in Provence!
I leave on Tuesday and having had a house full of visitors have left packing and planning until now. I am flying out on Wednesday and having not travelled from an airport for a good long time I was a little worried about the luggage allowance so... I got myself one of those handy luggage scales, threw all my art materials and some clothes into my bag and hoisted it up on the scales. I was horrified to see that it weighed in at 25kg, I am allowed 20kg. I spent ages taking things out, finding a lighter bag, deciding not to take gouache, ripping backs off sketchbooks, putting all of my clothes on at once until, peering closely at the numbers I realised that I had been reading pounds not kilogrammes! I need that holiday!
As a consequence of all of this activity you may have noticed that the plein air river paintings have been absent, I am hoping to do one today, Saturday, Sunday and possibly Monday but after that I shall not be here for the rest of June.
The project will resume, with a vengeance in July but I am hoping to post the products of my Provencal painting as I go. Au revoir and a bientot!

Busy Times

2011-06-08T10:51:00.000+01:00

Frenchman's Creek 60 x 40 cm Oil

Hazy Helford 40 x 30 cm Oil

Low Tide, Polwheveral Creek 40 x 30 Oil

Reflection 2

2011-06-07T16:19:00.001+01:00

Oil on board 20 x 20 cm

Reflection 1

2011-06-07T16:19:00.000+01:00

Oil on board 20 x 20 cm.

Real Summer

2011-06-05T14:29:00.000+01:00

Trebah Gardens, oil on board 20 x 15 cm
Sunday morning visit to beautiful Trebah and a little time out to paint.

June 4th Saturday morning, early. I have my old folks staying so dragged my Mum off to do some painting, she "had a go" with oils for the first time and I think she enjoyed it, I did this at the beginning of a baking hot day, proper summer weather.

June Morning

2011-06-03T14:50:00.000+01:00

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm
The cloudless start to a beautiful June day. Smoke blurs the distance although its a bit early for a bar-b-que! The water is broken up into little choppy wavelets by a warm breeze and early sunlight catches on a few leaves. Nice day!

Honeysuckle

2011-06-02T09:33:00.000+01:00

Oil on board 15 x 20 cm
Fantastic morning, bit cloudy but still and so quiet, the scent of honeysuckle is heavy on the air. Every time I think that I have too much to do to go down and paint the river and I drag myself wearily off to do a painting I am so blown away by the beauty of the place. It is a total pleasure to be able to sit and paint for an hour. I come home full of energy and "vim and vigour"
Today I took a photo of the halfway stage, thought it might be interesting to see how much it changes through the painting. So here it is ...

all bitty and too dark in places, the line of boats in the distance needed to be more smudgy and I had trees in the wrong place on the horizon.
Also here are some details showing what is difficult to see in the main picture...there are colours in those dark places.

And all boats are just squiggles of paint

sky holes are flicked on bits of paint as well, just a dab here and there.

Always look closely at paintings to see how they are made. It can be very informative.

May

2011-05-31T08:47:00.000+01:00

Oil on canvas 40 x 50 cm
Well May has been a funny month, not much rain but quite a lot of grey misty days, lots of fantastic clouds, plenty of strong wind, odd really after such a blazing April. Most of the flowers seem to have bloomed all at the same time, Azaleas and Rhododendrons flowering alongside Roses. This is a very early morning, first light on the river when the night is still a suggestion in the sky and the boats are reduced to shapes in the half light.
I have had a lot of work on this month and haven't been able to paint as many days on the river as I would have liked. I have to keep reminding myself that I said at the beginning of this project that I would paint the view as many days as possible.
June starts tomorrow and I shall be spending half of in in Provence. I am already boring all my friends by mentioning it far too often but I really am very excited! I am going to meet up with three blogging friends, all artists, for two weeks of solid painting. We have a blog, just started, where you can see who we are, what we paint and what happens when Four Go Painting in Provence. Go and have a look, become a follower and enjoy a virtual holiday, with four such practised bloggers and four very artistic personalities it should be interesting.

Two days

2011-05-30T14:07:00.000+01:00

Sunday May 29th.
Misty, almost foggy evening, a few dedicated sailors doing their thing in their big yachts, as I paint the mist drops more. We end up going out on the river in our little dingy, through some beautiful misty creeks in search of an early evening pint, a fine way to spend the evening.

Friday May 27th.
Blue sky and strong shadows. The kids sailing lessons are going on and I get some help from two little artists-in-waiting, must remember to bring some extra materials next time!

Evening in the Garden

2011-05-27T11:35:00.000+01:00

Pure Watercolour
30 x 30 cm
Oh how I totally love painting in watercolour. I have been thinking about this painting for a while, did the first stages a few days ago, stretched the paper, laid down the pale washes, the sky and the far shore then waited...
This morning early I dived in with dark paint and runny washes, there are loads of colours lurking in that darkness. After a couple of hours of flinging paint at it the evening garden appeared. The chair and the table just hints in the dark, the wine bottle picking up the last of the light and the remains of a supper left as just a suggestion on a plate.
I am very pleased with it. Might go back there, to the garden, not the painting, to do some more work, it feels like a good place for some paintings.,

The Quiet Night

2011-05-27T11:22:00.000+01:00

Oil on board 20 x 15 cm
For a while the wind dropped and everything was very quiet, there is some crazy little dog somewhere who shouts a bit but apart from him all is quite still.

Pots

2011-05-27T08:02:00.001+01:00

Oil on board 14 x 14 cm approx SOLD
Another revisited piece, see below for the watercolour version of this. These are my favorite old pots, nicely weathered and the geraniums are bouncing back after a tough winter, little troopers!

Mr Newton Goose-Wings Home

2011-05-26T18:18:00.000+01:00

Oil on "deckle" board 14 x 14cm approx
Out on the river one evening and spotted my friend in his little sail boat, goose-winging his way up to Gweek. I like that little lone sail against the trees.

Yesterday and Today

2011-05-25T16:17:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, May 24th, early. Gouache on paper.
It is always a very calming way to start the day, peaceful purple tones in the water, deep greens and limpid reflections. The sky was the thing with this one.

Today, Gouache on paper again. Another early start. Each time I set out to paint "my project" I wonder why I don't just make it up, stay at home and guess the look, surely it cant be that different day by day...and every time I plod down there and spend a little time painting and realise how different each day is, the light changes, the wind pushes the water this way and that and I notice little changes each time.

Garden Bunting

2011-05-24T16:48:00.001+01:00

Oil on well gessoed "deckle" board. 20 x 20 cm SOLD
Another for my little series of garden oils. A perfect jumble of plants and bright home made bunting all ticked off with dashes of bright sunshine.

Quiet Evening

2011-05-24T08:06:00.000+01:00

Watercolour, smallish.
This is yesterday 23rd May, Monday evening. Very quiet after a very windy day. No one about. The wind keeps making lovely patterns on the water, like meshing fingers, beautiful. As I leave the sun is setting behind the village simplifying everything into shapes so I stay a bit longer and do some quick sketches and get cross because I am very tired but it is difficult to stop!

Three Days

2011-05-22T12:28:00.000+01:00

Sunday Morning Blowing a Westerly. 22nd May
Oil (plus sand) on board 20 x 15 cm,
The wind is quite strong, clouds rushing along and trees dancing around. Tucked away on the little beach I don't feel it, lovely lavender colours in the water as the wind ruffles the surface. I manage to get quite a lot of sand in the paint, by mistake and a very small leaf got stuck too! Church bells across the fields as I walk home.

Very Early Saturday Morning. 21st May
Oil on board 20 x 15 cm.
I am giving a workshop in Looe today so as it is a two hour drive it means an early start. Its a bit grey, perhaps it will rain, feeling all fired up to insist that everyone works from life not photographs, hope they don't mind!

Friday Evening, Kids Sailing Lessons. 20th May.
Oil on board, 20 x 15cm.
I am hiding by some rocks as the place is swarming with kids. It is Friday evening when they have their sailing lessons, great swarms of them in wet suits and little life jackets, all jumping in off the pontoon and having a very noisy time. Sometimes they bob past shouting "are you painting now Sarah?" It is a brilliant life for them here, I don't expect they realise how lucky they are yet! Maybe next week I will sit where I can paint them all in the picture.