Mid day

A pretty low key morning really. The light was right overhead and the colour and shadow had mostly gone but it forced me to use more subdued colours. I found using Buff Titaniam instead of white as a mixture ideal and I really felt I was learning about mixing colour live. What a thrill. I feel like a new avenue has opened out . There was nothing exciting happening in the water and just one fleeting glance of a figure on the beach.

Sandy Cove again.

Well. I`ve thought about finding another subject matter but I am running low on canvas and am waiting for some canvas to arrive from Bird and Davies in London. I want to do a studio painting of the Plein air paintings of Sandy Cove Newlyn so I am still gathering information and just letting a future painting formulate in my mind of `Sandy cove` as I explore it`s delights. Here is this mornings work .Can you see I1ve started to work on the path a bit more.

oil

I went back again to the same spot and painted an acrylic on canvas,not shown. I was disappointed with the dryness of the picture when I got it home and did an oil in different colours and from memory. Here it is . Its 16x16inches or 42x42cms.

ideas

One of the things that seems to happen with Plein air work is that new ideas grow from just being out there in life. I`m showing you this as a new idea. not a finished painting but it could be when developed more. This is Newlyn again.The very same spot I have been painting for a while now. Painted from memory of a days work . I`m still trying to understand a small piece of scrub with all it`s bits of flora in relation to the distant sea with boats coming in to Newlyn.It`s amazing how much life is in a small piece of ground and i`ts also amazing how many ways it can be painted.Or How to paint it? Its only a small painting sketch but will be bigger with more embellishment.

porthcurno

Today I wasn`t` able to find what I wanted so as time was slipping by before I had to pick my daughter up from school I thought I should just relax and look instead of paint.What an interesting concept. I was on reconnaissance and look what I found. The most perfect spot. I am going to prepare a canvas and go back and be there at 9am so the sun will be in the right place and I won`t` burn up in the heat. It is a little difficult to get to as you know I have MS and walking is tireing. But I may only get one chance so I am going to give it a bash.

Barcelonetta

As today was cool I was able to get into the studio and finish off my Barcelonetta painting. I have done this subject many times all different and all very enjoyable to paint. Acrylic on canvas 70x75cms . This will go on sale in Exeter at the Paragon Gallery in August.

and here it is. Is`nt it a smasher

And here is my ouside studio

Newlyn

I like going back here because it is secluded and I can get on with learning a new craft. It also chages fast all the time from hour to hour and day to day + there is a constant flow of boats big and small pleasure and working passing.

Raining

One o clock and its just started raining here in Penzance which is good because it means I can get in my studio and work on another Barcelonetta for my next show,Its been to hot in there recently . This morning though I went to Newlyn again and did a mornings Plein air work. I`m glad I did.

This morning I went to Hayle Estuary.The light was brilliant and changed as the morning went on so this painting became two paintings as I adjusted the colours for the change. Its ok as a first draft to get familiar with the colours so I intend to go back tomorrow with the knowledge of today under my belt and try again. I met a lovely couple from New Zealand who wanted to see what I was up to. She give me a Christian booklet which I accepted with gratitude. So what do you think? Should I go back to studio painting where I can control the light and invent things or should I stay put and paint what I see in front of my eyes in the open air.I think the styles are different so after the Summer is over hopefully I will be able to incorporate the Plein air work into my studio work.

Hayle Towens to St Ives

Today was a challenge. It was hazy and windy here in Penzance so I went to the north coast where it was sunny and windy. I found a great spot but the sun was behind me so I was painting on a bright white canvas and it was windy with sand blowing about so I had to hold on for dear life. An easel would have blown away. This is a very difficult subject as simple but complex with lots of white buffy pale colours, and here it is .

towards Penzance

Today again i`ve been trying to get away from this frozen state i`m in. All in a mix about oil and acrylic. So I took my acrylics out Plein air painting and seem to be through my stuckness. I am much more familiar and confident with this medium .The only draw back for me is that it is or can be very dry. However. I have to know my limitations so I am pleased with what I have done and intend to go out again. This is a 16x16 inch canvas that I hold in my left hand while I paint with my right. Plein air painting is like the wild west you never know what problems will occur and the light it totally uncontrollable unlike the studio.

messy messy

I wanted to post this as it shows just how bad it gets. I was completely frozen today between going out Plein air painting and staying in Studio painting. I even got so far as to load my stuff into the car. Oh! and I drove off. But the studio was calling me to work on my figures in oil. What a mess.