A Painting of Llansteffan Castle from The Green 15th December 2016

It has been a while since I have been outside to paint Mid November in fact. With commissions and other work it has been busy. Anyway I posted a painting Wednesday have one more commission to be collected and that's it.

So yesterday I checked the weather it was dry but cloudy with rain coming in after lunch. I had wanted to get to the Brecon Beacons but I wouldn't have time. I would have to go somewhere nearer. I therefore grabbed my large pochade box, tripod, glasses, coat and jumped in the car. When I arrived at Llansteffan I had a view in mind. However the Gods of old age had got to me again! I had picked up a tripod but it was for my other pochade box with a different fitting. I knew I didn't have time to go back for it so looked for a resting place for the box. The box has a large fitting on the base so is pretty wobbly when used like this. Anyway found a picnic bench with a view.

I always stand to paint but on this occasion I had to sit and make do. I had taped a small board onto my easel. I then started with burnt sienna and turps.

I then came in with muted colours with medium keeping a watch on the sky for evidence of rain. 

I managed to complete the work before the rain so a fairly successful day if not what I had originally intended..

Field of Longhorn Cattle Cotswolds - Friday 11th November 2016

It has been a mixed November and I have had commissions to work on however we got away to the Cotswolds for a week or so. I was taken by a field of Longhorn cattle in a field overseen by a large pine tree. It was wet at the time but I promised myself I would return early the following morning if the weather was alright.
Come the morning there had been a heavy overnight frost and the temperature was down to -3 but as heavy rain was forecast later I grabbed my large pochade box and paints, wrapped up and walked down to the field.

The sun came out and I set up with an idea of the composition and got a start then suddenly the cattle had gone! The field has a dip on the far side and they decided to go for a wander rather than let me paint them.

Anyway I continued and half an hour later they returned to the brow sufficient to let me finish. Although the sun was out my hands were literally freezing (fingerless gloves next time).

Ludlow Castle - Dinham Bridge and the River Teme - 8th October 2016

Last week Alex and I went to Ludlow. I wanted to get a good view of the Castle with the River Teme. The walk was about 2.5 miles from our camper so I took the small pochade box, which was a shame as a larger painting would have been ideal. Never mind I could carry this there and back (with a stop for a drink of warm beer). 

I found a good spot with the Dinham Bridge in the foreground and set up deciding to tie Jac to a bench as there were a lot of people and dogs about. 

I started with a few brush strokes deciding to put the top of the bridge between one third and a half up the composition. This allowed for the bridge, river and all the castle above it with room for the sky.

Everything went pretty well. A lot of people stopped to chat and I eventually realised I was going to be late meeting up with Alex if I were to finish it. I had a couple of details left to do and sign it, but 99% done. However I decided it was more sensible not to be late meeting Alex than finishing completely. When I got back to the camper I finished it off and signed it.

Saundersfoot Beach - 2nd October 2016

Yesterday Alex and I took my sister and Jac to Saundersfoot for her birthday lunch. After fish and chips I spent an hour on the beach with my small pochade box. The ladies took Jac for a walk. 

I found a suitable subject and got on with it. 

Trees in mid morning light - 21st September 2016

For this painting I chose a view I liked but had to compromise with the light. I really wanted to paint contra jour, "against the daylight" but that was behind me so I painted the view and swapped the light source. This would give me a softer feel to the painting.The board I wanted to use was smaller than the slots in the pochade box so I taped it onto a piece of 3mm light ply cut to size.

You can see how I started with no pencil drawing on the board just some loose brush strokes.

I then worked down and had no problems except the head of my tripod has become loose which makes the pochade box and board sway like a ships mast in a gale so thats the next job!

Newton House Dinefwr Park 8th Sept 2016

Not the best of conditions to paint yesterday. I did however take the opportunity to take my small pochade box to Dinefwr Park. We were visiting my sister in Llandeilo and while the ladies went shopping I sat on a bench and fought with a strong breeze.

I confess I prefer to paint in a larger size but it is not always possible. The tripod would have blown down so I had the small box on my knee. I had a couple of interested viewers but the most enthusiastic was a springer spaniel who rushed up and leapt on the bench, which was a bit of a distraction but no harm done.

Anyway enough excuses I did the painting before some spots of rain hastened my finishing. The Hall in the distance is Newton House and there are white long horn cattle under the trees in the distance.

Towy Valley and Paxton's Tower from Dryslwyn Castle - 7th September 2016

It was a perfect afternoon yesterday so Jac, Alex and I went to Dryslwyn Castle. I had intended to do a painting of the valley looking East towards Llandeilo, however I changed my mind when I saw cattle drinking from the Towy and did a scene looking West towards Llanarthne.

There was a bit of a breeze but I was fairly sheltered but still had to hold the easel occasionally.

Everything was pretty straightforward. I painted in a few guidelines and got to it, putting in the sky and moving downwards then adding detail. 

It is tempting when you get back to the studio to work on plein air paintings. I know people have different views on this. I have so far resisted the temptation to change anything other than remove the odd fly or sand. 

Ludlow Castle - 26th August 2016

 Alex (my wife)  and I managed to get away for a few days and stayed in a camp site just outside Ludlow. The weather could have been more helpful but we did have a couple of decent days and on one of them I took my small pochade box and did the above painting.

I chose the small pochade box as it was a 4.5 mile walk there and back so weight was everything. I chose the view as it had strong shadows and a natural composition. I put down a ground of burnt sienna and then got on painting in in the blocks of tone with stronger or weaker mixes of burnt sienna and turps. I then over painted with oil and medium.

We really enjoyed our stay on the Welsh English border. My mother and father lived in Knighton just on the Welsh side of the border and so it brought back a lot of memories travelling through the little villages both sides of Offas Dyke. From our camp site we could see Clee Hill. My mother used to teach there for a time but always had a problem if the road was blocked by traffic as she couldn't do a hill start. (She had never passed her driving test having been given a licence to drive an ambulance during the war). I also remember stopping on Clee Hill on a school trip to see Henry or Richard the something at Ludlow Castle. Several of us found an Inn that would serve us local cider and you can guess the rest!

Llansteffan Castle from Ferryside Beach - 18th August 2016

Yesterday I had company when I went out to paint from Ferryside beach. Tiana was with me. She was on work experience and it was her first time using oil paints. So it can't have been easy for her working en plein air in an unfamiliar medium. We also had a number of interested on lookers. Anyway she did well and we both finished within 2 hours.

Here's my finished painting.

Dinefwr Castle - from the Deer Park 13th July 2016

Today promised to be dry and sunny so I packed the car put Jac in the back and made my way to Llandeilo. There is a nice view of Dinefwr Castle I wanted to do from the Deer Park. When we got there it was predictably colder and windier than would have been perfect but can't complain. The conditions were pretty good. I started by washing over a partial ground of yellow ochre and turps then drew in the boundaries of the castle skyline and trees with burnt umber and turps et voila away we go. 

Jac in the meantime had gone for a good walk with my sister around the estate. So a pleasant tiime was had by all.

July 6th 2016 - Druidstone Beach

We had to go down to Pembrokeshire today so I took the opportunity to get a painting done on the beach at Druidstone. I have done a couple of Druidstone before. It is a place we like and have camped here a few times. Things went okay other than I forgot my glasses! Still it turned out okay and Jac had a good run/swim.

Afterwards we went and had lunch at Druidstone Hotel on the cliff. So a nice day all round.

Cirencester Camp Site 9th June 2016

We have been away for a couple of weeks the weather was hit and miss but the first couple of days were good and alex asked me to do a painting of our motorhome. It is getting on and will soon be a classic. Nevertheless we love it and it can carry everything we need and take us around the country. So I guess it warranted a picture and it was something different. So I found a shady spot and set about it spending a couple of pleasant hours capturing "Myfanwy". The following day I added Alex and Jac to it and a couple of pigeons oh and a baby rabbit. 

Saturday 4th June 2016 - Nantgarredig Bridge over the Towy

I hadn't expected to go out and paint today but I found myself with a few hours to spare and it was warm and dry so!

I wasn't quite sure where to go but I had a couple of ideas. It just depended if I could find somewhere to park. The first stop was Nantgarredig a village down the road from Carmarthen and the pull-in by the river bridge was free so happy days.

I set up and started out with wet turps and blocked in the bridge adding more medium as I built it up. I then did the trees and sky finishing with the river last.

A pleasant couple of hours with no issues.

Cirencester and River Churn Thursday 19th May 2016

On a gorgeous day I found a lovely view of Cirencester from across the river Churn. i had to carry my pochade box 3 miles there and back to the camp site and it wasn't a real issue. I would not have wanted to carry my Jullian Easel that far.

I quickly set out the rough composition in turps wet paint adn went from there. 

I left the foreground to last and it all came together well --- except I forgot my glasses....so I did a fair bit of squinting!

Painting of Bathurst Estate, Cirencester - Thursday 12th May 2016

I managed to get a couple of days painting in Cirencester. The first day I found a nice spot looking at the park gates in Bathurst Estate. The drive is lined by trees mainly horsechestnut but other  varieties as well. I had a number of interested bystanders who either just watched or chatted.

The tower of John the Baptist Church made a good feature in the background. I started with a few rough lines of paitn and turps to mark the boundaries.

I then quickly put in the sky and worked in the middle distance.

here I am just finishing off adding a couple of details with a small 0 brush. The painting is 18 inches by 12 inches and the equipment functioned perfectly.

Carmarthen 5th May 2016

This morning I was determined to make good use of the nice weather so I got my jobs done early and was parking up in Carmarthen before 9am. I had a walk along the river and found a good view of the Town. This wasn't easy as the trees and bushes have grown over the last couple of years hiding the view and it meant hopping over the fence down boat steps to place my pochade box.

Anyway you can see I started with a few outlines and a determination to simplify a complicated town scene. I had put 3 hours on the carpark machine so I had to get on. Including walking to and from the position this meant I had 2.5 hours. 

You can see things went well no drama with the weather or materials a perfect morning painting.

When Igot home I brushed off a few little midges and that was it.