Three Boats

A lovely relaxing morning spent on Thursday at the last Skyblue Drop-In session before the summer break.

The tranquillity seems to have come through to this pastel painting. It was completed with Conte pastel on Winsor pastel paper, and measures approximately 11" by 8".

Just after this I went into work and life became a lot less relaxed.

Diamond Juby(lee)

Lancing Art Club is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee. One of the categories for entry into the exhibition this year is on the theme of Diamond Jubilee.

Since I am also 60 this year, and with a surname like mine, it seemed that a self portrait might fit the bill. Rather foolishly the format of a Jack of Diamonds playing card was chosen. Foolish, because it requires not one but two self portraits.

Anyway here is the finished product, measuring approximately 9" by 12", and painted with Atelier Interactive acrylics on Bockingford paper.

It remains to be seen, if anyone understands the relevance.

All Saints Church, Buncton

A great couple of days painting this week. Monday a 2 hour life drawing session with the beautiful Nicole, and Tuesday 2 hours in the sunshine at Buncton Chapel sketching with some friends from Lancing Art Club.

I will not publish any of the sketches from Monday, as I know nudes can offend, but this is the pastel sketch completed at Buncton. Parts of the church date from 11th Century and it was just an outstanding day.

The sketch measures approx 9" by 6" and was completed with Conte pastels on Sennelier Pastel Card.

The Gleaners

The entry date for the Littlehampton Open is fast approaching. The theme this year is "Harvest" , and this is a study for a painting I hope to enter.

The reference is a black and white photograph from the turn of the last century. These poor souls were the wives and children of the farm workers, who were allowed to gather the corn left behind after the field had been harvested. It was a useful addition to the household diet.

Just look at how they are dressed, and the child's buggy, looks a lot like modern buggies.

The study is done in pastel, and I think I will use the same medium for the final painting.

Plein Air painting 2013

Normally by this time of the year, there would have been many trips out into our beautiful countryside to paint. However, personal circumstances, and the weird weather have restricted me to three sessions so far.

I decided to use Conte pastels on 6" by 9" Sennelier pastel card, because it's easliy portable and the small size means that a sketch can be completed quickly. The disadvantage is that you cannot capture too much detail, or perhaps that's an advantage.

Anyway from the top down:

An interior at St James the Less Church, North Lancing

St Nicholas and the Tollbridge from the west bank of the River Adur

Rope Tackle and the Railway Bridge over the River Adur

The Chapel at Lancing College from the River Adur.