It was a dull day yesterday so decided to do a quick sketch in the garden rather than go out.  Good practise in sorting out closely spaced tones. The warm colour in the foreground is burnt grass from the heatwave a few weeks ago. I have been thinking whether I should varnish my paintings.  It…

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Although I enjoy painting Autumn and Winter I have been out making the most of the last of the summer weather.  Below is photo  of  sunrise painting – luckily finished by 7am when the fishermen arrived. The colours are not a garish as in the photo, and once the tree line sorted back in the…

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Not posted anything for a while; getting out painting always takes priority.  I am not a fan of that all over blue light during the hot summer, but it did mean long evenings with that special golden light as the sun sinks.   Autumn is my favorite time for painting, especially when the Rivers and Fens…

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Day started bright but the light soon turned rather flat.  However I spent the morning  in the (relative) high lands enjoying those muted greens still with a hint of Autumn  ochres. Then off to find a new location just down the road where I try a “big sky”.

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Not posted for a while  – been painting most days but been “pushing” myself regards both technique and subject matter and not happy to share efforts just yet.  A few more standard offering below.   I like the Earith one but would lie to repeat with less acidic viridian green. Pleased with the sky on the…

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Hi, not posted for a while as been either working or painting.  Having seen my paintings hung at recent exhibition I realise that I need to go for more adventurous compositions and complex subjects. Need to mix things up a bit to maintain interest when there are over 50 paintings on show.  That said I…

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Many thanks to the many ten’s of you who visited me over the two weekends. I really enjoyed talking to everyone although I am glad to be back in serious painting mode again. I also have to thank my family for making people feel welcome. There will be a repeat performance next year.

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Hi, not posted for a while as when not busy at work I have been working up plein-air pictures from earlier in the year ready for shows.  Some hardly require a touch, some a fair bit – normally getting rid of darks or lights in the wrong place, or awkward brush strokes.  Only about 1…

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I have been enjoying trying different brush marks – small marks for quiet evenings at dusk on the Fens – broad bold ones for blustery days in Northamptonshire. I hope you can see what I mean from the photos of recent sketches?  I have been tempted by more square brush strokes after having purchased some…

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Recently I have been guilty of using brushes that are well past their best and I think this has made my paint handling rather sloppy.  I decided to try some handmade brushes from  Rosemary and Co   which came highly recommended. Even so I was surprised.  I ordered some of their lowest price oil brushes (…

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