Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Happy Christmas for 2009





Catherine and I would like to wish all my clients and friends best wishes for Christmas and happiness in 2010.

Many thanks for all your support during 2009.

Despite the ongoing recession it has been a fair year for Paul Apps Fine Art. It has seen new subjects being studied and painted as well as a resurgence of older subjects re examined in my studio.


Added to that has been an increase in outdoor activity on my part painting more Plein air studies than ever before, and it has to be said, it is a bug that has taken hold. I simply cannot get enough of being out there and painting my reaction to the scene or chosen object in front of me. I do so whenever the chance allows me.


Happily new galleries have come on line this year offering my work to a greater audience than ever before, with the promise of even more galleries supporting me in 2010. It is an avenue that I actively follow. This, coupled with the revamped website and two active blog pages are now reaching many more people, and judging by many of the comments I receive, things are heading in the right direction. I hope to add a properly running shop with the website as soon as possible in 2010.


Finally, Catherine now has her own website, it has been a long time in coming, but I hope that it will do very well for her in the coming years.

Happy Christmas for 2009





Catherine and I would like to wish all my clients and friends best wishes for Christmas and happiness in 2010.
Many thanks for all your support during 2009.

Despite the ongoing recession it has been a fair year for Paul Apps Fine Art. It has seen new subjects being studied and painted as well as a resurgence of older subjects re examined in my studio.

Added to that has been an increase in outdoor activity on my part painting more Plein air studies than ever before, and it has to be said, it is a bug that has taken hold. I simply cannot get enough of being out there and painting my reaction to the scene or chosen object in front of me. I do so whenever the chance allows me.

Happily new galleries have come on line this year offering my work to a greater audience than ever before, with the promise of even more galleries supporting me in 2010. It is an avenue that I actively follow. This, coupled with the revamped website and two active blog pages are now reaching many more people, and judging by many of the comments I receive, things are heading in the right direction. I hope to add a properly running shop with the website as soon as possible in 2010.

Finally, Catherine now has her own website, it has been a long time in coming, but I hope that it will do very well for her in the coming years.

Small study



A small study of walkers along the shore at Camber Sands. This panel is only a 4" x 12" letter box style.
It was an extension of some recent plein air studies that I had completed in the area.

New plein air studies 11th December 2009




I painted recently with Karl Terry and Paul Rafferty, who was over from France for a week painting in and around the area. It was nice to meet with him and do some work. It would have been better if the weather had turned a little warmer, but hey, at least we avoided the snow.

This little panel is the Rye Harbour inlet as seen from the Harbour Masters buildling, adjacent to Fred Cummings
painting studio also painted, but in another panel.

After Paul left for the airport I left for Camber Sands nearby and completed another panel as the sun was setting. This is Camber Sands and walkers looking toward Rye. The end of the harbour can just be seen to the left of the painting.


Both panels took an hour each, I hope you like them.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Latest image




This Pheasant is my latest small painting measuring just 9" x 12" oil on canvas. As you can see it is a winter scene, simple and I hope effective in design. I have warmed the colours in the snow so that you should not shiver when you look upon it.
I hope you like this latest offering
best wishes as always ..Paul

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Plein air with Karl and Chris




Well finally the paint is dry enough to photograph so I have put two of the five images from the days session  for you to see.
This was the first one of the day, standing near to the mouth of Rye Harbour looking back at Rye itself. The sun was out, but that soon changed. 7.30 am for about an hour or so.



This was the second of the five for that day, We did not move from location, instead I just swivelled around and looked at Camber sands across the mouth of the harbour entrance as the clouds gathered. Again about an hours work to nail the image.

I will post the others soon.
Best wishes Paul

Latest Images that I have done.



This is a little 9" x 12" study of a Barn Owl hunting at twilight along the reed beds at Oare Marshes in Kent. I really enjoyed the freshness of this little painting, it was uncomplicated in its design and a pleasure to create.
I hope that you like it.


Sunday, November 15, 2009

Visit to Oare







My son Barnaby and I took the opportunity to visit Oare Marshes on the 6th and 7th of November.As we arrived I was able to film the masses of starlings as they flocked for roosting, it was fantastic to see them. We camped in the van overnight on the 6th ready for first light in the morning.

We settled down for a cold night, and it turned out that we had chosen the first night to have frost upon the ground in the morning.

 After surviving the night Barnaby was less than happy to get up at 5am, though his choices were extremely limited on this occassion.

The morning was more than I had hoped for. Many Golden and Green Plovers were over the East Flood as we watched the sunrise. We enjoyed a coffee and later breakfast as the red sky turned to orange, then yellow to pale blue. Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Egret, Snipe were just a few of the many species that could be seen.

We had a great day and took many reference photos, which I am still sorting through!



Golden Plovers on the East Flood.


Lapwing coming into land, on the East Floo



It has been a while



Caught in the act as it were,  local photographer  Jon Lydon snapped myself, Karl Terry and Chris Daynes as we painted our way through the day at Rye Harbour in East Sussex on Wednesday 11th November. The photos do not show the wind we had to contend with as we captured various aspects of the harbour over the days work.

We started at 7.00am and finished, 5 paintings later around 4.30pm, ok we had a healthy, well not so healthy fried full English breakfast to seal out the cold weather. All in all the day was fun and productive and I will post the images up later on as they are drying at the moment and I do not wish to disturb them for photos just yet.

I hope to get out again next week and have another go.



 Myself with Karl in the background





Myself with Karl and Chris

All photos by Jon Lydon with thanks...

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Third Stage




Now then, as promised the next days painting on this panel. More detail has been added, especially to the barges, the foreground mud has been developed to show water from the previous tide still draining as the new flow reaches it. I have warmed the river water as well. Not too much more to do now and I feel that I am on the home straight with this painting.

 


Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Next stage




Okay, not too much has happened except a lot of corrections in the drawing of the barges. More blocking in of areas especially in the foreground along with more detail in the far bank of the Orwell river. I have started to suggest the masts, some weed in the area in the wet mud and more information in the reflections as well. Still a long way to go.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

New painting underway


This is the end of the second stage of the painting I am currently working on. I have used the brush to roughly draw in and place the barges where I needed them. I have continued to paint the sky elements and far shore of the River Orwell. Lots to do, I will post more soon.

The painting is 12" x 16" oil on gesso panel.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Two days at glorious Pinmill, on the River Orwell 23rd & 24th September


Receding Tide at Pin mill  9" x 12" oil on panel 2 hours
For a long while I have been itching to be able to visit this tiny little part of Suffolk. Blink and you have missed its treasures, yet it is one of the most popular destinations for marine artists that can be found along the East coast of England. Pinmill is situated east of Ipswich in Suffolk, nestling along the southern banks of the great river Orwell. It has been painted so many times that locals think nothing of seeing an artist set up his/her plein air pallette and start work. We are, it is said, as common as a gull, and you know all said and done, that's fine. This tiny community is based around a 15ft slipway and a few hundreds yards of concrete walkway known as the 'Hard'  that extends out into the river across the expanse of mud at low tide, and one extremely old and popular pub called the 'Butt and Oyster'. You know on a good tide boats can tie up to the pub and be served their drinks whilst remaining on board their vessels. Believe it or not this Pinmill was the main point for early shipping imports to be landed, bound for Ipswich. It is also the location for the last known outbreak of the Bubonic Plague, now there's a thought.

Anyway enough of the history lesson. We arrived in the camper full of eager anticipation, paint boxes and cameras in hand.Sadly the sun was not really with us and the light was flat, but hey a little licence, and it was not such an issue. We arrived as the tide was reaching full height, by this I mean that it was over the wall and across the road, cutting the place in two parts, apparantly this is normal, and even more extreme on flood tides. I set up and started work immediately, I chased the tide as it left the road and retreated back across the expanse of mud. The colours were so rich and diverse, violets and oranges in the mud, all complemented by the famous Thames Barges now resting in the shallows, their rich red sails contrasting beautifully with the indigos and blue violets in the sky. The whole scene was idyillic, and transported one back a hundred years.

As the light faded we packed up and sat where we had been painting, drinking a pint from the Butt and Oyster and chatting about the fabulous afternoon. Catherine had sourced some great photographs along the way as I had  painted. We finished the evening over a wonderful meal and a welcome glass of wine whilst  looking out across the river from the pub. As the sun gave way to night so the mood of the river sank deeper and deeper into an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

                          
                                        Beached Barges at Pinmill       9" x 12"   oil on panel

 This was a painting that I gave time to, it was started at 11am and was 2 1/2 hours duration.We had been up  at first light capturing the beauty of the area on film, so breakfast came late and we were paddling in the fresh mud of the Orwell at 6am.
After our well deserved breakfast, I settled down to paint the image above, whilst Catherine carried on with the camera,  the colours were now all different as the barges shone from their beached and trapped positions on the mud. Watery pools  lay as jewels amongst the reds and purples of mud and green weed attaching to ropes anchoring these great vessels. Once again the race was on to capture the essence and feeling of the scene before once more the tide returned to reclaim its land.

Relunctantly we had to say goodbye to Pinmill as the tide reached full height for another time, and we will wait for yet another time to revisit this fantastic place, I now see what Edward Seago saw, it was his great art that led me here, and I am thankful for that.
I hope that you enjoy this post and my art within it.
Best wishes Paul

Monday, October 12, 2009

Hythe Canal 19th September 2009



On this day I took the opportunty to paint the Royal Military Canal that runs through the centre of Hythe town close to my home. It shows the boating station further up on the left with all its dingies moored in the centre of the Canal. It was a painting that I started at midday and finished in 1 1/2 hours.

The Canal was dug out by hand upon the orders of the Duke of Wellington as a defence against attack from Napoleon Bonaparte . It is many miles long starting in Sandgate passing through Hythe and out into the Romney Marshes to Rye in Sussex. It was a mammouth undertaking and a monument to mans endeavour. It was a compliment to the much famed Martello Tower forts the he also commissioned to be built along the shoreline at this point.

I will post a new image of these large and unique forts shortly as an artist friend and I are planning to paint them very soon.

Best wishes Paul

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Making Ready at the Swale Barge Race 2009



Well I make no apologies for yet another painting of Thames Barges, they are so inspiring my painting right now, but I promise that I will serve up some more wildlife paintings  very soon, in fact as I am writing this I have a new Tiger image on the easel.

The Swale Barge match was a new experience for me, and I had gone to Harty Ferry the night before to document some of the Thames Barges and Smacks as the came down the Swale and dropped anchor in reddiness for the next mornings event. I slept over in the car park in my camper so that I could be up with the first light and get some great reference for later use.

Whilst working the previous evening, I had a chance meeting with a local gentlman fisherman who invited me out on his boat to enjoy the race. I jumped at the chance as you would imagine. I was so glad that I did, despite the later heavy wind and and swells in the estuary. Without his kindness and invitation my reference would have been severely limited, but it was anything but. I was able to capture wonderful colours, light, mood and atmosphere.

This painting 'Making Ready' depicts the first light of the day which was moody, misty and extremely atmospheric. The barges have prepared and loosened their sails for the start of the days activities.

I hope you like the image,

Best wishes Paul.

Faversham Creek 11th September 2009



I enjoyed doing this two hour painting of Faversham Creek  It is a place that I had been wanting to visit for a while, and on the 11th of September I did just that. It took me a while to find, but when I had got the position I wanted I was not disappointed. It was mid afternoon as I settled on the river bank and set up my paints. I was was looking into a bright descending sun which presented many challenges as the light was constantly changing. The painting was completed between 5pm and 7pm, after which I was cold and suffering a very stiff neck from the wind, but hey, it was an enjoyable painting exercise.
Faversham Creek is a well known home for old sailing craft and in particular the famous Thames Barges. There were few in when I visited as some had moved to Colne for the final Barge match of the season. A good reason to go back on another day, as if I needed a reason. The Creek offers so many painting opportunities to the plein air painter. A destination requiring many visits.
I hope you enjoy this painting which can be found on my website galleries.
Best wishes Paul

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Lucie B




This is a modern replica of an Oyster Smack with a Spitzal foresail, if I said all of that correctly.
I painted the image from the reference I obtained in the Swale Barge Race in 2009. Since painting this image I have been on board this fine vessel and it is awesome up close.
The painting will feature in a new show at the Francis Ilses Galleries on the 31st of October 2009 along with several other marine paintings of mine in a mixed marine themed show.

There are two versions I have posted of the initial sketch idea I made. To begin with it was way too small and then  I over compensated and made the vessel too large for the canvas.



I then rubbed all this out and started over with the whole thing being about a third less in size, happy with that I began to paint and ended up with the image above, hope you like it.



Best wishes Paul

Seven Sisters in Sussex




What a beautiful place to be. Catherine and I had wanted to visit this place of outstanding natural beauty for a long time, so when we were travelling down in the camper to the Marwell show, we decided to make a small detour. After seeing all our friends at the excellent Marwell wildlife show,( during which Catherine sold a tiger cub painting, which was great news), we stayed in the area overnight and then headed along the coast to Seaford Head in Sussex. The Seven Sisters is one of the most photographed sites in the world, and when  we first viewed the cliffs we understood why.




Even though the light was flat and the wind was doing its utmost to throw us off the cliffs, the view in all directions was astonishing. We braved the howling weather and set up our paints and began to work. It was not very comfortable, but at least we found a seat to work from which gave us an ideal vantage point.

The  session was not without its fun as the wind took Catherines watercolour off on a journey that was only intercepted by her camera tripod!




We ended the day happy and enjoyed a candlelit dinner in the van as we watched the sun go down on the beautiful cliffs.

The next morning we trekked down at first light and managed to gain some fantastic photo reference of the cliffs at sea level before the heavens opened up, at which point we began the drive home.

It was a great experience, and I am waiting for a chance to paint a studio image from the plein air painting and sketches made on the day.
Best wishes Paul

Friday, October 2, 2009

Recent marine painting


     Lady of the Lea

Well, I have recently started painting marine subjects. I have just fallen in love with turn of the century Thames barges. They used to work up and down the East coast of England right through to the late 1960s I believe.
Now they are the passion of those who have saved and restored them to former glory so that others might enjoy their beautiful lines and shapes
I recently enjoyed the hospitality of a gentleman in Faversham known as Blue and was invited to join him upon his trawler during the Swale Barge match in August. I had a great time, and this painting, an oil on gesso panel 12" x 16" is the first image to come from that experience.
There are now more paintings and they will be posted over the coming days.I hope that you enjoy this painting and  please add any comments below.
Best wishes Paul

Part two of Botany Bay



This was a one and half hour painting at 6.25am the next morning. The tide was out and the sun was shining brightly. Barnaby was away to my right amongst the rocks catching crabs on baited string. ( No harm was done to the crabs in the making of this sequel).
It is the scene from the other end of Botany Bay with the hole in the cliff which is Kingsgate Bay. After this was completed we trundled our way back home, but not before enjoying a hearty breakfast in the van.
Best wishes Paul

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Botany Bay 20th August 2009



Ok, I have been meaning to paint at this popular seaside resort location for a very long time, and on the 20th of August I finally managed to get there. I had promised Barnaby a night away in the mobile studio. Hey I need a name for the camper, e-mail me with suggestions please. Anyway back to the story, we arrived quite late as I managed to get us lost, but arrive we finally did.
Having looked around we discovered that the beach was crowded, heaps of day trippers all enjoying the last of the summer holidays before returning to school. My timing left something to be considered, anyway I had come too far to be put off by the prospect of an audience whilst I painted, besides Barnaby would hve never let me leave and ruin his night away.
Paint I did, aided along by well meaning comments from reddened sun worshippers. The image above as the tide ebbed took 1 1/4 hours to complete.
Hope you like it , best wishes Paul

Corn Rolls



This little study had eluded me last year as I was going away to Africa for a field trip at a time when the corn was
being cut, so I missed the corn rolls. I saw these in Lympne on the 13/8/09 and just had to paint them, hope you like the image.
Check out the Plein air and Marine galleries, as new images have just been added.
Best wishes Paul

Sussex from Farthing Corner



En plein air or bust that is what I say. I love nothing more than going out in my new( secondhand) camper and painting something from a fresh perspective. I have had little time in the past, at least that is what I have often stated to all. Hey what rubbish, make time instead of a feeble excuse, and that is what I have been doing, getting out there and taking Catherine or Barnaby ( my son), willing or not, and getting into the act of painting out and about.

So watch out for more posts and exploits of the plein air kind.

By the way this scene was painted late one evening quite near to my studio. It is the view point at Farthing Corner in Kent, looking towards Sussex. I was chasing the sun down until I lost all my light. It was very recently, just having acquired my new secondhand camper, and Barnaby had nagged me to go out and cook some food for us, so that is what we did.
Hope you like the image

best wishes Paul

Latest Wildlife Painting



Hi all, I just wanted to show you my latest wildlife image of an Elephant. A little enraged and awaiting the rain to come. I have called it 'Distant Rain' a 12" x 16" Oil on Gesso panel and it is presented in a handmade 24ct gilded frame.

I have just been asked to be a part of a show being held by the Haddon Gallery in late October 2009 along with my friend Pip McGarry and Tony Forrest. It will be a  great event and a percentage of the sales will go to aid wildlife conservation, always a good thing.
The painting above will form part of my consignment of paintings for the show.


For dates and full information contact the Fiona Haddon at the Haddon Gallery
Tel +44 (0) 1803 31 31 33

Ok it should have been first in line, but hey!




This is my latest image, literally hot off the easel. It depicts a Sumartran Tigress lauching a suprise attack, an 'Ambush'.
The model for this painting is part of the WHF collection in Kent.
The painting has just been framed and will go on display with three other originals for the first time this coming Thursday at the Marwell International Art Society Show at the Marwell Zoo Park in Hampshire. Full details of this event can be found on my 2009 events page.

I do hope that you like the new painting, I really enjoyed creating it.
Best wishes Paul.

Some slightly older news from my old blog






I exhibited 4 paintings at the recent Marwell International Wildlife Art Exhibition, and one of my paintings called 'Breaking Cover' was awarded 2nd place in the Best Non-British Wildlife category. It was a nice award to receive especially as it is sponsored by the zoo itself, and one I am happy to add to my Cv and efforts as an artist.

Other than that I do not have too much to report other than my recent En plein air painting adventures. I will add those posts in the next few days I hope, so pop back and take a look at what I am doing outside.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Hey a new blog 'En Plein Air'






Ok, it is not the first time that this image has been seen, I have put it up rather as a test. I am trying some new blog software commercially used by Google. It does seem to be easier than the one I am using from BT.
I shall still run my old blog for all the newsworthy items and bits and pieces that I want you to know. This new blog is aimed purely at my plein air adventures, where I can list my latest plein air painting and a little of how and why it came about.
So for now there are two blogs associated with Paul Apps.
Best wishes Paul