42. Collage for September 30x30

Ah well, I managed two full paintings and a few sketched underpaintings.  Thank you, Leslie; I might not have done any artwork had it not been for your challenge. 

Well done everyone else who painted anything at all.

41. Underpainting for Day 29

30cm x 30cm, oil on Pebeo canvas board

 



40. Fenceposts on Whinlatter Pass, Cumbria

6" x 6", oil on primed hardboard

Day 2 of my 30 in 30 (posted on Day 28!).  This is another view between the rain showers.  This is painted on hardboard primed with black gesso and left for a few weeks to dry thoroughly.  I roughly indicated the scene in light grey pencil then went straight in with a large brush and some Michael Harding paint.  The wire on the fence posts was done with a couple of palette knives (one diamond shaped and the other rectangular); I also used the little 'diamond' one to scratch in some foreground grasses.

39. After the Rain on Whinlatter Pass, Cumbria

4"x4", oil on primed hardboard.

 Blocking-in stage.

Well, four days before the end of Leslie's September '30 in 30' challenge, I at last have something to post; it's been impossible before now.  Thank you Leslie for encouraging us to post anyway.  (I may still do a final fiddle with the reflections.)

This is a view we saw when we were in the Lake District a couple of weeks ago.  England has some beautiful spots and the Lake District has some exceptional examples.  It rained a fair bit while we were there but it didn't ruin our visit.  The UK landscape tends to look very green and lush due to the damp weather and it looks and smells particularly good immediately after the rain has fallen. 

38. Barn and Sheep Study

Landscape, oil, 4" x 4"

This is a little study painted from my imagination back in August - I may work it up into a larger painting. 

I made up a set of neutrals and divided it into two then added a little red to one side and a little blue to the other.  I then used the neutrals as a base, adding a little red, blue and/or yellow to them to paint the scene.  I got the idea from Richard Robinson.

37. Summer School Colour Studies

 

Watercolour, A3

Sennelier Oil Pastels on Clairefontaine Pastelmat, 7" x 9.5"

 

On the last day, we worked up some of our studies back in the studio.  The oil pastel study was just something I did on a whim, with no intention of showing it, but I actually like its looseness so I've posted it here with the others.

 

36. Summer School Sketches

On the first day of summer school, we practised drawing and painting reflections as that would be the theme throughout.  On day 2, we drove down to the canal-side at Ware and sketched and painted there.  The weather was superb so it was a lovely day all round.

35. St James's Park Workshop - Sketchbook

 

5B pencil, A5

Watercolour, A3

After lunch, we crossed the road to St James's Park and did quite a few sketches there.  The couple in the foreground appeared to enjoy being the focus of our attention.  They put on various poses and actually held them for a while!  The girl had either one or other foot in the air at any one time - they both looked very comfortable.

34. Green Park Workshop - Sketchbook

 

Watercolour, A3

 

 

 

I attended an excellent one-day workshop run by Paul Banning at the Mall Galleries.  I had met Paul before at an RI exhibition so was delighted to be able to attend his workshop.  He is an excellent draughtsman who agrees that you need to be able to draw to give your image a good structure, even if you paint loosely under or over it.

We walked down to Green Park and set up in front of Buckingham Palace.  I walked about a bit and found these sculptures at Canada Gate.  I had to get used to using watercolour again in its pure form but it's the medium I first learned with so it felt natural after a while.    (I painted in the building and foliage later on.)

33. The Coast on Coasters

 

Seascapes, acrylic, 4" x 4"

This is a set of coasters that I painted for a good friend's birthday as he never has anywhere to put his coffee mug!  :)

The images (clockwise) are: Bluefields, Frenchman's Cove in Portland, the view from the restaurant at Idlers' Beach Hotel in Parrottee (that's my nephew down on the beach).

32. Stable Surrounds

These images from my sketchbooks are some of the artwork we did at our July workshop.  They are all views looking in various directions while standing at the door of the studio.  The colour study is of an old greenhouse in the distance.

31. Painting of a Man

Acrylic paint on acrylic primed paper, 20" x 16".

 

A painting from a resource photo in Paul Strand's book (which was loaned to our workshop).  I have made the gentleman look a bit cantankerous so will be softening his eyebrow area!  I also need to finish his beard.