Switching over to watercolour to try and get back some kind of sense of colour, I have veered too far and become garish! Fun, though.
These aren’t brilliant but I feel as if I’m slowly getting back towards a painting routine. Hope to have more to show soon.
Eek! A garish sky in watercolour ...
A rather watery one of the hill
Still finding it difficult to make time to paint and finding the results are often iffy, but that is how it goes! I liked the colours of this evening sketch, if not the drawing/tones/much else!
quick evening sketch of hills, oil 6x8
I have been trying to capture something about this lovely valley for ages and maybe this would make a good composition – but the colour didn’t really happen (and has been bleached out even more by the camera flash).
attempt to paint Crosedale, oil 6x8
The weather is set to remain fair for a couple more days so hopefully I can produce some more paintings before the end of the month. Off to read about Emil Nolde to get my colour inspiration back …
I’ve only been managing to do very quick sketches in the recent cold weather. It’s back to oils again, for now, but trying to be more adventurous with the colour.
Just trying to make notes in paint, really:
snow under red sky
odd little clouds
arrangement of snow shadows
The photos are a bit blurry due to the flash reflecting off wet paint.
The new canvas duly arrived (and the paint) and I’ve found a new favourite painting spot where I’ve been toiling away this week. Some of the resulting pictures are quite interesting so I’ll add them to this post as soon as they’re dry enough to scan. My painting seems to be going through another transition which is always disconcerting but exciting.
This canvas roll is very different from the last one I ordered – it feels slightly thinner and has a rougher texture which I wasn’t sure about to begin with, but now I’m starting to prefer it as it’s easier to ‘draw’ vigorously with the brush when the surface isn’t so slippy – and an initial sketch of the composition tends to sink into the surface a bit better rather than sitting smugly on top to annoyingly mix with subsequent layers of paint. Ahem … all getting a bit technical there!
I wanted to take a photo of my new painting location as it’s almost magically hidden (I can just about get straight to it now after wandering around to find it the first few times) and seems to be a bedroom/lounge for sheep judging by the flattened ground, bits of wool and other ‘evidence’ (some of which I’ll not describe!). There’s a useful rock to sit on and several tremendous views. My husband needed the camera last time I was there but this time hopefully I’ll manage to grab it and record the place for posterity. (I think next week it may be time to move on to another place.)
Hidden in a sea of bracken
Painting place, with rocky seat.
Clouds gathering - time to go?
A larger painting I’m thinking of listing on Etsy – I haven’t put any big pieces in my shop as yet.
This shows a view down Settlebeck Gill.
Plunging down the Gill
I haven’t managed to update the blog much lately. The amount of time spent working on my painting and trying to set up the whole business side properly went up dramatically since April … which is quite lovely but makes one very thin!
Then I had some unfortunate family news which has taken up whatever time was left – and now it’s a trip back to Skye for me … (Naturally the paintbox and laptop are coming with me though).
For the first time I’ll be travelling through the Highlands on the West Coast Line between Glasgow and Mallaig – it is supposed to be stunning, and will lead to the ferry crossing over to Armadale on Skye – very exciting!
A favourite place on Skye. Oil on board, approx. A4.
… but it’s all gone a bit mad!
I seem to be going through a transition again with the painting – one of those times when it all goes a bit haywire before settling down in a slightly new way.
Found a good view in a fairly quiet valley – it’s one where the hills look very solid and sculptural in the distance and I’m not likely to be interrupted (although you can never rely on that – people here seem to make a beeline for anyone painting and always ask to see the picture. I think it’s really rude!).
Tebay Gorge in Gentle Sunlight
tiny 2.5″x3.5″ oil on unstretched canvas
Tebay Gorge in Evening Sun
4″x4″ oil on unstretched canvas
Sleeping Elephants
4″x4″ oil on unstretched canvas
Gorge as Light Fades
tiny 2.5″x3.5″ oil on unstretched canvas
Tebay Gorge in Cloudy Light
6″x8″ oil on stretched canvas
I’ve been away on the Isle of Skye, so haven’t been able to update the blog for a wee while.
Here’s an incredible sea cliff I sat and painted (rather misty looking) …
Loch Pooltiel
And a relaxing evening view from the rocks.
Glendale beach
Hurray – this week we have had daylight! I have managed to get quite a bit done, mostly in the studio as it’s been so cold … but also one afternoon I painted on the hill until most of me went numb (with cold and as the result of sitting directly on some scree. I’m considering buying a small inflatable mat for the Fellpainter behind.)
One view through the studio window just seemed to flow and the colours seemed so bright after the dark skies we’ve had.
at last - a colourful wintry day
I’ve finally managed to hang all my little paintings on canvas together on the living room wall. I’m going to take a photo or two tomorrow, assuming there’s enough light. More to follow …
The next day:
Hmmm … well we seem to have been buried in a snowdrift and the sky has been dark with the stuff all day, so never mind! Paths have been dug but quickly filled up with more snow, the school is closed and public transport isn’t running. Glad we are home in the warm with food to eat this evening and don’t have to travel anywhere … and I have an interesting book on de Chirico to read!