Still winter.

Downstream   Oils on board   8 x 13 inches   £ 200   $ 250

The last day in February...

Spring is on the horizon but winter still has a hold.

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Studio Musings...

This week I have been looking through some of my studio paintings.

This scene was painted a year ago and looked quite different.

I decided to crop the top part by 4 inches to lower the sky and lift the land.

The difference in composition is more dynamic now giving the picture width.

Here is the previous work...

The expanse of sky dominated the scene.

Although the cloud formation initially attracted me 

I prefer the focus on the river and snow topped banks.

Just in time...

Turning   Oils on canvas board  5 x 7 inches   £ 70   £ 90

Before the tide turns there is a chance to see the pools and sandbanks.

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Studio Musings...

It wasn't long before I returned to the coast.

Ebb tide is of great interest to me as a mark maker.

There is something luscious about pushing oils about to create an image.

The secret is loading the broad flat brush and whizzing it lightly over the surface.

Being daring is essential.

No place here for a timid approach.

Softly night.

Waiting   Oils on canvas board   5 x 7 inches   £ 60   $ 80

Nearly night at the lake...waiting for the glow to fade.

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Studio Musings...

A colour change with this study. 

 I wanted to focus on the warm glow as the sun drops beneath the horizon.

The water catches the light. 

 Worked over an orange underpainting.

Parts of this are visible in the finished piece.

Subtle.

Estuary Light   Oils on board  4 x 5 inches   £ 60   $ 80

A pale glow of light falls on the Estuary.

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Studio Musings...

A second small study to capture the atmospheric light over the land.

Again..I chose to keep the work loose and refrain from detail.

Too much detail can become fussy. 

 I wanted to use colour and tone to convey my feelings about the place.

Here are framing suggestions for these tiny studies...

I used a wide frame for showing these...

It allows the paintings breathing space.

Memories.

Peak View  Oils on board  4 x 5 inches   £ 60   $ 80

Looking across the Derbyshire fields.

Memories of a walking holiday.

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Studio Musings...

A tiny painting which holds a fond memory of 

September views across the Derbyshire hills and fields.

A useful reminder that landscape paintings do not have to be large...

small can still have enough to say.

I abstracted the work, concentrating on making marks rather than details.

Patterns.

Vision   Oils on board   17 x 24 cm.   £ 80   $ 100

Light over the shore sparkles like diamonds.

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Studio Musings...

Continuing my journey in light-filled studies.

This was painted at the same time as yesterday's posting

It was a useful exercise to see the varying sizes together.

'Vision' and 'Light'  drying on the easel.

The same colour palette but showing how

 the small study on the right can have a bold impact.

In a large frame the tiny painting has personality.

Framing suggestion.

Prime source.

Light   Oils on board   10 x 14 cm.  £ 65   $ 80

A small abstracted study about light on the landscape.

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Studio Musings...

This week is all about abstracted studies...painted fast and loose.

I like imaginative, fast working.

There is a spontaneous, untroubled feel to the piece.

The painting has a purple under-wash of oils which led the colour ideas.

Clear view.

Fresh   Oils on board  17 x 24 cm   £ 80  $100

Bright and breezy. 

  A fresh view of the coast.

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Studio Musings...

The second study using a purple underpainting.

I like trying different colours for this.

The creamy yellow sandbank 'pops' against the purples.

All calm.

Settled   Oils on board  17 x 24 cm  £ 80   $ 100

A calm day across the shore.

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Studio Musings...

This small study was completed by blocking in colour and marks over a

gestural underpainting.  For a change I used deep purple hues.

I left parts of the underneath to glow through adding interest and texture.

Here is a photo of underpainted boards drying and 'Settled' on the easel.

Shape of landscape.

Blue Horizons   Oils on box canvas   12 x 12 inches   £ 200  $ 250

Abstracted shapes to form a landscape.

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Studio Musings...

An abstract for a change...in the form of a fictional landscape.

Shapes to give a feeling of hills, streams, sky and sunlight on grass.

An underpainting of transparent colours scrubbed onto the canvas

was left to dry whilst I pondered where to go with the image.

Using opaque colour I blocked in parts of the gestural underpainting,

 cutting in carefully between the marks and leaving some untouched.

Another visit.

Tarn on the Fell   Acrylic on board  16 x 8 inches  NFS

Abstraction and atmosphere.  10 years ago.

Studio Musings...

I keep a few paintings in my studio as easel memories.

 This painting is posted to show some work from 2007.

It was an experiment with abstraction and colour.

I now prefer to use oils for my work.  

Although acrylics dry quickly I like the luscious feel of oils 

and am very comfortable using them on paper, board and canvas.

Approaching.

Storm   Oils on gessoed 140lb paper  6 x 10 inches   £ 80   $ 100

Gathering storm clouds over the horizon.

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Studio Musings...

This study is really about the sky.

I love the colours as they are soft and moody.

The paper has a slight dimpled surface which holds on to the oils when brushed over.

It gives a texture without being too thickened.

A delight to paint, it was one of those 'successful' days.

Higher ground.

Moor   Oils on gessoed 140lb paper   6 x 10 inches  £ 75   $ 100

A 'moorscape'.

Light and shade; a colourful tapestry 

spread like a blanket over the land.

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Studio Musings...

I imagine by now, viewers will have realised that my paintings

are about atmosphere and mood rather than exact images of a place.

There is excitement in trying to portray this 'abstract' quality of the landscape.

I say try as there is no point in wishing to be perfect. 

 What I 'see' in my head never comes from my hand onto the canvas.

Many hours of frustration have taught me to set this ambition aside.

It really doesn't matter...I take each painting journey as it comes.

Night comes.

Wetlands   Oils on board  4 x 12 inches   £ 70  $ 90

A long look over the wetlands as night approaches.

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Studio Musings...

After prolonged rain the fields around our home are very wet.

There is a sheen on the surface as the moon shines.

Soon the crops will begin to grow but for now they are halted by the cold.

Looking out.

Shore   Oils on board  4 x 12 inches   £ 70  $ 90

Sun streaks across the shore at ebb tide.

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Studio Musings...

A day later and another view of the shore.

There is a higher shoreline here and just a narrow piece of sky.

The focus is on the textured beach and standing water.

A loaded brush streaked across the surface 

gives an impression of sunlight sparkling on the shallows.

To the fore.

Shoreline   Oils on board   4 x 12 inches  £ 70  $ 90

A long view across the shore at ebb tide.

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Studio Musings...

I am loving these thin, wide boards.

They are easy to paint on with a large brush and a scrubbing movement.

Starting with a mix of dark transparent colour the foreground is set.

Sometimes I have a clear idea of the journey the piece will take and this was

destined to be a seascape.  Ebb tide gives me the chance to make marks about standing pools of water and raised sandbanks.  A single flourish with loaded brush completes.

September.

Lincolnshire River   Oils on gessoed 140lb paper  8 x 6 inches  £ 70  $ 90

A jumble of colour and texture in this study.

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Studio Musings...

Heavy watercolour paper is a useful surface for oil painting.

It was primed with three coats of acrylic gesso.

This helps to preserve the paper from damage by the oils. 

I like the dimpled surface which holds on to the paint giving a textural look.

The finished work is varnished which makes it suitable for framing

without glass.  A piece of hardboard is cut to size for support behind the paper.

Another Lincolnshire view...

Headland Sentries  Oils on canvas board  5 x 7 inches  £ 50

Beech trees stand proudly on the ridge.

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Imminent.

Darkening   Oils on board  11 x 8 inches   £ 80   $ 100

Rain clouds above the land.

Waiting for the storm.

Studio Musings...

I used a rub out technique on this board and

 two coats of gesso formed an underpainting.

The sky was a combination of loose brush strokes and rubbing with a rag.

This method is a great way to add atmosphere.

Going to blazes.

Out West   Oils on board  8.5 x 16 inches  £ 160   $ 200

A blaze of colour at sunset.

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Studio Musings...

 This was posted some time ago but not available then as I retained it for a show.

Bold and daring, it is a lively scene to give 

an impression of sunset over winter fields.

Here are two more sunsets...abstracted and gestural.

Lighting up time  Oils on canvas board  6 x 6 inches  £ 40

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Shallows   Oils on canvas board   7 x 5 inches  £ 40

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