Tuesday 31 January 2017

Thirty Paintings

30 Paintings in 30 Days



Well in spite of a few set backs in my health and care for my Father - I did it!!
These paintings plus another 200+ paintings and illustrations will be published in my forthcoming book Paintings Skies in Oils published by Crowood Press later on this year.
I will let you know more details when I have them.
Thank you to those that have followed and commented throughout this month. Your encouragement and support means a lot.

Thank you to Leslie Saeta for throwing out the challenge again. Over 1000 artists took part and you can see all their paintings at https://www.saetastudio.com/30-in-30-blog

Back to the computer now, I still have more to write for the book.

Monday 30 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 30

                                       Sunset at West Beckham 14" x 18" oil on canvas


My final painting for the 30 in 30 challenge. I think I have learned a lot about colour mixing for skies which is as well because - I have been asked by Crowood Press to write a book on painting skies in oils. I wasn't sure at first but having spoken to a few artists that have been published I decided to go for it.
Most of the last 30 paintings will be  featured in the book along with step by step demonstrations. In all there will be over 200 illustrations and I am delighted to say that some of my favourite artists have contributed to book and I will be featuring work by Roos Shuring, David Simons, Mary Gilkerson, Mari French, Louise Balaam, Peter Barker, Brian Ryder and John Stillman.
I still have a few thousand words to write but I am getting there and hope to send the draft off to the publishers next month.
No doubt I will let you know when it goes to print

Sunday 29 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 29


Ludham Sunset 8" x 10" oil on cotton covered card

This was painted from a photograph taken by my friend Kate in Norfolk. It is another example of a graduated sky. The colour changes were so subtle yet there was so much colour in the sky. You could hardly tell where the colour changes occurred. Unfortunately I decided to put in the tree thinking it would give more depth but I ended up loosing one of the best parts of the painting.

Saturday 28 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 28

Cloud Study 10" x 12" oil on canvas board

Sometimes its useful and time well spent doing a few cloud studies. This enables you to experiment with colours and techniques without the worry of spoiling a painting.
In this study I used Cobalt Blue, Mussini Bluish Greys 1 & 2, Cadmium Red, Titanium White and Cadmium Yellow.
The Blue area was painted first using Cobalt and a touch of Blue Grey 1. The background cloud was a mixture of Cobalt, Blue Grey 2 and a touch of red. It was lightened at the edges with Blue Grey 1. The lightest area is a mix of white with Yellow and red added to warm it up and finally the darkest cloud was scumbled over with Blue Grey 2 and Cobalt Blue and Cad Red

Friday 27 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 27

Cloud perspective, Pin Mill 8' x 10' oil on cotton covered card

Phew, got back into the studio today, again, didn't have much time as I had visitors, went into town to choose a carpet and shopping and then a couple of visits to Dad.
This is only a small painting but it was painted with a small brush which is why it probably looks a bit busy. I was fascinated by the way the clouds receded into the picture giving strong lines of perspective.

30 in 30 Day 26

Clouds at Happisburgh 16" x 20" oil on canvas



Another from the archives. Couldn't even get at my brushes yesterday. Frank was painting my studio, bad timing but it had to be done. Just had a new window put in (double glazed 😄) At least I was able to get into the office which is where I spent the day in between walking dog, appointment, shopping and visiting Dad .
16" x 20" oil on canvas
East Runton

Wednesday 25 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 25

Cumulus at Burnham Overy Staithe 14" x 18" oil on canvas board

Well, we've had thick fog all day, plus I have been rather busy with my project. (to be revealed at the end of the month)
So, I have dipped into the archives for this one which will be part of the project.
I love these big fluffy clouds, so sculptural.

Tuesday 24 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 24

Sun Rise & Frost 8" x 12" oil on canvas board

The sun was an intense red this morning. I painted it as I saw it but then modified it as it looked so wrong. The reflected light in the greenhouse was a lovely bonus.
There were loads of vapour trails from passing aircraft. I reduced the number of those by over half as it would have looked too busy.
I had been hoping for fog again this morning but on reflection, this was better.

Monday 23 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 23

Frost & Fog 8" x 10" oil on cotton covered board

I loved the colours this morning as the fog rolled in across the field.
I've not tried painting fog before. I have to say it was a bit of a challenge. I hope it is foggy again tomorrow as I would like to try this again, don't think I quite got it.

Sunday 22 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 22

Mare's Tails, Happisburgh. 8" x 10" oil on linen covered card

This beach on the North Norfolk coast is actually pronounced 'Hazeboro' . yes, I know - go figure.
Anyway, it makes a good subject. The wispy 'mare's tails' were blowing towards me and reflecting in the sand.
I dipped into my cache of paints and pulled out an old favourite Unbleached Titanium. This I used for mixing the sand colours and found it to be a good mixer with Kings Blue Deep for the sky colour. It was also with white for the clouds, especially with Permanent Rose for the cloud shadows.

Saturday 21 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 21

Sun Setting on Moulton Mill 12" x 10" oil on cotton covered board

Yes, it really was that dramatic!!
We have the tallest windmill in the UK by our house. The chestnut to the left is in our garden. From my kitchen window I can see the mill which acts as my own personal weather vein. At the moment the top of the mill doesn't turn as the tail fin has had to be removed for repairs. We had just had a terrific storm and the sun came out illuminating the mill and emphasising the dark of the passing clouds. I liked the reflection of the mill in the wet ground.

Friday 20 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 20

Warm Sky, Cley 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

On this particularly cold day the aeroplane vapor trails were very prominent in the sky. In spite of the cold, the sky gave off a warm glow as the sun sank down behind Cley Windmill on the North Norfolk coast. The strength of the light from the sun, threw the mill into a dark silhouette which adds to the drama of the painting.

Thursday 19 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 19

Late Summer, Pin Mill 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

 


This was painted over an older painting that had been sanded down.
The cloud shapes were painted first using Bluish Grey and Old Holland Blue Grey. The blue of the sky was painted with the Old Holland Blue Grey with a small amount of Brown Grey mixed in with it Titanium White was added towards the horizon.
Take care to leave a space between the blue of the sky and the dark of the clouds as you do not want to pick up any of the dark paint , it would mix in with the blue of the sky and muddy it, you want to keep the blue clean. The gap that was left is now painted using warm light yellow brown grey to tint Titanium white this is applied quite thickly. Using a small number to flat brush now blend the two colours together. Taking the white into the grey and vice versa you will probably need to use your finger for the softer blending
The foreground was painted with bluish grey and the walkway, Yellow Ochre was added to make the darker green.
Blue Gray was used for the highlights, the lightest area being at the back of the barge to give good counterchange.  
The lighter green was Blue Grey and Yellow Ochre
The dark of the barge is Ultramarine and Cadmium Red with the smallest amount of Yellow Ochre to stop it looking purple.
The mast was painted in with the use of a piece of card. Run the card through the dark mix make sure there isn't too much paint or it will smudge and carefully apply the card to the painting and give a small downward movement and then lift off. The same method is used for the rigging; make sure the card is the right length.  It is useful to have several pieces of card of different lengths available to you.
There was on the day a lot of reflection on the mud but I kept the light areas and a few flicks of light to the center of the picture and the foreground remains dark to focus attention around the barge.

Wednesday 18 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 18

Barge at Pin Mill 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

This painting took about an hour. I wanted to work quickly to avoid the temptation of blending too much. The photo reference showed the strong outlines and structure of the clouds and I wanted to capture this with my brush strokes. I used a flat no.6 brush from the Rosemary & Co Ivory range for most of the painting, this again inhibits the temptation to fiddle. The limited pallet creates a harmony within the picture.

Tuesday 17 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 17

Sunset at Moulton 12" x 12" oil on canvas board £190

The sunsets in Lincolnshire have been amazing the last few days. I was lucky to catch this one.
The water standing in the fields perfectly pick up the sky colour helping to tie the painting together.
I don't often put in telegraph poles but felt that in this instance, they were essential to the painting and do help to give a sense of perspective.

Monday 16 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 16

Late Afternoon, Moulton 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

Another tricky one today. I am enjoying the challenge to capture these sunsets. The light behind the clouds certainly has been a challenge as has been, finding the right colours for the glow in the sky. My new favourite colour is Cadmium orange. The has been used in all the mixes for this picture.

Sunday 15 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 15

Suns Rays, Moulton 12" x 12" oil on canvas board


This was one of those skies that you couldn’t stop looking at. It changed all the time and with my camera I was able to catch it at its best.
To make this painting work a really dark sky was needed. Old Holland Blue was chosen for it’s deep rich colour. The cloud cast shadows making the suns rays radiated out in to the sky in a fan like pattern

Saturday 14 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 14

After the Spring Tide, Blakeney 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

The sky was an incredibly deep blue at Blakeney on this day. Usually when I use Ultramarine, I tend to knock it back a bit with either Yellow Ochre or a touch of red. In this instance I just used Michael Harding's Warm Light Yellow to lighten the blue.
 The same yellow was also used for the clouds as pure white would have been too cold. The pattern of the deep puddles left by the high tide were the perfect shapes for this composition. It definitely a scene waiting to be painted.

Friday 13 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 13

Hidden Sun 12" x12" oil on canvas board

Another little back lane, only 1/2 mile from our house. The sun had just slipped behind the low clouds. The puddle in the lane just picked up the reflection of the clouds which were turning a wonderful golden orange.

Thursday 12 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 12

Puddles on the Back Lane 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

There are a lot of little lanes around our village. This one is a favourite with dog walkers as it is little used. Maintenance is not great hence the grass down the middle and the deep potholes. The dykes along side can get pretty full after a heavy rain (very popular with water loving dogs!)
It does make a good subject, especially if you are after painting skies.

Wednesday 11 January 2017

30 in 30 , Day 11

Cloud Reflections, Cromer 10" x 12" oil on board

I painted this from a photo reference taken last year. Memories of summer and things to come.
I loved the strong light on the distant sandy beach which gave a strong contrast to the dark shadowed cliffs

Tuesday 10 January 2017

30 in 30, Day 10

Evening Sail, Blakeney, 10" x 12" oil on canvas board

Following on from yesterday where I blended the colours, I decided to go for a more colourful subject. Still blending , I used a lot more colours. I liked the colours I was able to mix using Michael Harding's Brilliant Pink

Monday 9 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 9

Moulton Sunrise 10" x 12" oil on board

Up with the sparrows this morning to get this one done. I enjoyed the challenge of mixing the colours and blending them. Not a technique I normally use, I learnt a lot from this one and will have another go at a similar subject soon.

Sunday 8 January 2017

30 in 30 day 8

Broken Sunset Vapor Trails 8" x 10" oil on board £90

There is still some work to be done in the foreground of this painting. I loved the colour of the vapour trails left by the passing aircraft, the purpley blue looked magnificent against the orange of the setting sun 

Saturday 7 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 7

Blakeney Sunset 8" x 10" oil on board £90

 I kept the foreground down to simple dark washes for this picture. Not really finished but it is as far as I can go on this, a rather busy day.

Friday 6 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 6

Sunset Over the Fens 10" x 12" oil on board

PHEW! Struggled with this one!! I do like a challenge   😝

Thursday 5 January 2017

Day 5 of 30 in 30

Orange Sunset 8" x 10" oil on linen panel


Been playing with colour today and also trying to capture the feeling of intense light as the sun sank quickly through the sky

Wednesday 4 January 2017

Day 4 30 in 30

Pink Sky and dark Clouds 8" x 10" oil on board

I was in the studio at 7am this morning and did this from an old photo. Wasn't entirely pleased with it and intended having another go but events of the day rather took over so here it is - no. 4

Tuesday 3 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 3



Back Lit Clouds, Pin Mill 8" x 10" oil on cotton covered board

From a photo reference taken last year. The clouds were perfect for painting and I did several studies while I was there but needed more time to capture their form properly so worked this on up in the studio today. It may well become a larger painting at some point as I enjoyed the challenge of capturing the feel of the day. This picture took about 1 1/2 hours to complete.

Monday 2 January 2017

30 in 30 Day 2

Lincolnshire Sunset  8" x 10" Oil on linen covered board

This one was a bit of a challenge! I love the skies we have in Lincolnshire, the sunsets really can be very dramatic. What makes them so good is that we can actually see them as the landscape is so flat.
The wet road leads us nicely into the picture. I feel this may make a good large studio painting sometime.

30 in 30 Day 1


Hazy Sun & Snow 8" x 10" Oil on muslin covered board

It's that time of year, 'Thirty paintings in Thirty Days'
What better way to kick start a new year of painting?
For my challenge this year year I intend painting a sky a day.
This one is from a photo reference from two years ago. I am hoping we will get snow this year so I can get out there and paint from life.

Each year artist Leslie Seata throws out 30 in 30 challenge for artists to join in. Participating artists then share their blog or web site with their daily painting to Leslie's own blog. This year over 1000 artists have signed up.
To see the paintings go to Leslie's blog