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.