Plein Air panel 11th February 2010

This is the small 6" x 8" plein air panel that I promised to post. It was completed in 1 1/2  hours during a bitter snowy afternoon with a 40 m.p.h. freezing wind blowing the whole time!

It started off being a painting all about the Oak tree standing alone in the open field. Catherine and I had seen and photographed this tree earlier in the day catching the beauty of the light effects in the snow. When Catherine and I returned in the afternoon, the sun had strengthened its grip on the day allowing wonderful long shadows to form in unison across the open fields. They lengthened as I painted, and I was in danger of breaking my own rule of chasing the light and changing moods in its rendering. 

In the end the painting became less about the tree and more about the shadows of the dying day. I featured the tree in the end, seeking only to add dimension to the landscape and some degree of proportion. Really though the essence of the work was in reducing the shadows and light effects to mere patterns and shapes of interest. applying them in their almost elemental form.

I will be working on several versions of this scene over the coming months as I was captivated by all that it had to offer me as an artist. I know Catherine is planning several watercolours based on the same theme. We both agreed that it will be used in some of my sporting works in the future too. 

Finally we agreed that we would visit the site in the spring, summer and autumn to record its seasonal moods. This particular landscape is a simple one yet seems charged with an infinite number of possibilities with regard to its artistic potential.

I hope that you like this little study and I hope that I managed to convey to you the  freshness  and feelings of the day.

Best wishes Paul

snow snow snow

What a lovely day Catherine and I have had today. After walking the dogs, where they had heaps of fun charging up and down in the 8" of snow we had had overnight, we set off with cameras in hand and walked around the village and took some great reference shots which we can turn into paintings back at the studio.

After getting too cold to take any more photos we headed home for a warm lunch. Later we headed out once again for more photography and some painting.  I had seen an old Oak tree in a field near to Saltwood Castle and decided to do a plein air study of it. That is what I proceeded to do, my fingers numbed by the chilling  40 mile per hour winds and drifting snows  two hours later I had finished, having taken many photos in between painting. Catherine had become too cold and  headed back home some 35 minutes earlier. I will post the image tomorrow, as I had no light to take a photo of it today.

Catherine had recorded some of my efforts though during my painting, so here are a couple.

Just the one blog now

Ok,  for those who have followed both my blogs it has been proving a problem keeping them both going along with my increasing painting schedule. So I have imported all the posts from my old Plein air blog and combined them into this blog.

So all posts in future will include the En plein air postings and all will appear here.

Image above is a Willet from Florida. The painting, for sale is an oil on canvas 20" x 12" and called  'Marina Reflections- Willet'.

Oil Sketch

This is a 1 1/2 hour oil sketch completed yesterday of an elderly male model. I know strictly speaking it is not En plein air, but it is Alla prima.  I ran short on time to do more, but enjoyed what I had accomplished.

Having photographed this oil on paper, I sadly tore the image trying to get it off of the board, next time I will leave well alone. I still have the painting as a record, but that will be it.

Hot off the easel

This is my latest painting, literally just finished an hour ago. It is a studio version worked up from an idea and a demo sketch I painted for Hythe Art Society in early January. I decided to stretch the image to 12 x 28 inches and place the swimming lab to one side allowing more of the surge and wave to be explored on the right hand side. I think that it gives an overall satisfying appearance and a relaxed feeling to the composition.

I have sent a photo of it to my publisher, I am sure they will want to include it within their portfolio.