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Trees Trees Trees
Landscape painters cannot avoid trees. That is true even here in Cambridgeshire, which probably has fewer trees than anywhere in England. A noble isolated oak, willows by a slow moving river or clumps of birch and alders in wetland are all classic motifs. They have been painted so often by great artists it is easy…
Read MoreCertainly Winter Now
Weather forecast says light cloud – but it still looks dark and gloomy out there. I have spent the morning in the studio working up compositions from colour sketches, drawings and photos. If the composition is right the painting will almost “paint itself”. If not I have often resorted to sawing bits off the panel…
Read MoreLast of Summer
Summer is fading fast but it just means Autumn is on the way, my favorite time of year. I have been out catching the last of the wheatfields. I have also taken the opportunity to improve the photos I take of my paintings. I just use a point and shoot camera. Setting them outside…
Read MorePainting Shapes
I paint most days but every few months there are times when it seems a challenge. Normally it is not because I don’t want to, but because I convince myself that I cannot do it. I should prehaps let you be the judge of that. I have two strategies to get going again that tend…
Read MorePainting the fields
Out this afternoon painting wheatfields before the farmer crops them. I think it will make a good basis for a larger studio painting. I can play around with light and darks on the ground caused by the clouds. In the photo the bug stuck in the sky proves it was really plein air Here is…
Read MoreGetting Back Out There
Slowing getting back into the swing of standing in fields waving my brushes about. This one was at my default painting spot that I can walk to in 20mins. Just tree, water and sky but it changes every day
Read MoreOut and about after Lockdown
Long time since last post – not stopped painting but “stuff” gets in the way of the blog and painitng outside. Working from home due to Covid-19 and spending 10 hours at the computer is not conducive to wanting to spend more time at a screen. Anyway getting out a bit more now and enjoying…
Read MorePainting in 30 Deg C Heat
I am off work this week so planning to go out every day with the paints. As the week has gone on the heat and the dust as gradually bleached out all the colours. I have never been to the South of France but I assume the air is much clearer so the colours remain.…
Read MoreStill Painting
It has been rather a struggle to get out painting over recent weeks. The rain does not normally worry me, but the general greyness does sometimes dampen my enthusiasm. Any hint of the sun and I am off! I have been tempted to try painting a few sunrises/sunsets. I alway thought they look rather naff,…
Read MoreCambridge Open Studios
A busy time at the moment, preparing for Cambridge Open Studios , the fifth year I have been involved in this excellent organisation. I am currently preparing the twenty or so extra picture frames that I have ordered, and selecting pictures to hang. The most enjoyable part of the weekends is talking to visitors and…
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