Summer Squall

14 x 10 inches Oil on Canvas Framed £200

I painted this from the safety of a customers balcony, during a summer painting course. The weather was supposed to be settled , sunny and warm. After setting up on the beach to paint, we cast our eyes to the South-West to see this big, dark purple, ominous cloud gathering steam and size.
A quick break down of the painting kit, and a hasty retreat beat back to the safety of the balcony, we continued the day's painting, whilst the elements unleashed. if you would like to book on a painting course, the dates for this year are on the right of this post.
Thank you!

Across the Valley

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14 x 10 oil on canvas board

Painted on an early Autumn day when the sea mist just rolled in and blanketed everything.

New Swell

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14 x 10 oil on canvas board

Painted on a cracking day back in the Summer. One of those days when the light was pin sharp, and to top it off a new swell rolled in.

Christmas Oil Painting Course Gift

Why not book a friend, relative or loved one on an outdoor oil painting course, in beautiful Devon?

Christmas gift vouchers are now available for use anytime in 2011.

Click here for more info.

Beach Hut painting demo Part 2

Next came the fleshing out of the grass mid tones and highlights, and the simple block in of the mid values of the hut and sand.
The sea and distant headland came in after that as a mid tone/ mid value.
Then came the re-adjusting of colours and values all over the canvas until I was satisfied that everything was on.
The final stage was left for tightening up edges and final adjusting of values and colours, some blending in the sky, and adding interesting colour notes to the shadows in the sand.

Croyde Bay Beach Hut underpainting demo Part 1

After toning the canvas, I rubbed parts of the mid tone layer out to create lighter parts of the scene. Then by adding blue to the tone mix I painted in mid values and darks.
Once the values had been put in , I started adding the lights,beginning with the sky.

After filling in the sky I tweeked the clouds and then put in some of the mid shadow tones, and greens on the Maram grass in the dunes.

Beach Hut Underpainting demo

I decided to paint the same scene today using two different toned underpainting starts.

The top painting was started using a purple mix from Alazarin Crimson and Ultramarine Blue.

The bottom painting was started using a mix of Burnt Sienna and Van Dyke Brown.

Check back later for the step by step results and finished studies.

Monkey Island

Last weekend was a real treat. Classic october surf, Indian Summer temperatures, and a fun painting day down on Barricane Beach with Ken.

Ken had previously only painted in watercolours and really enjoyed the versatility and texture of the quick drying Alkyd oils we used.

Morte Point

The quick one hour oil sketch from Wednesday's paint course, with David. Up on Morte Point looking out to Lundy in the haze.

A tricky day with midday overhead light flattening out the levels and leaving very little shadows.

Quick drying paint

Wednesday.

Took a painting course out on Morte Point with David Steele. A grey and cloudy morning soon gave way to a baking hot sunny day.

David made quick progress throughout the day. We covered various aspects of composition. I got him to paint on a smaller format canvas than his last course, and he enjoyed the challenge of what to leave out, and how to compose the elements he needed to make a satisfying picture.

The afternoon session was down on Combesgate beach, and we painted at light speed as the sun was beating down on us, and produced quite strong bleached out colours on the rocks and sand.

David was great company and the hot and sunny conditions tested both of us, the end results were two thirsty painters with a few satisfying oil studies.

Quality B&B's and Coastal Painting Courses

Four views from four quality Bed and Breakfast Guesthouses in Woolacombe,Devon. Each one is offering 1 0r 2 two day Coastal Painting Courses with me.

Why not treat yourself or a loved one to an indulgent break, painting outdoors on one of these secluded terraces with outstanding views over the Devon coast. Combine that with a great breakfast ,comfortable quiet rooms and lashings of sea air, and you may never want to leave!

Details are here.

Sea Mist

Despite the sea mist creeping in and out , I had a cracking day with Jack and Susan, they had booked a two day painting course. It turned out to be a good study in tonal values with the mist helping to emphasize atmospheric perspective.

Alison's Painting Day

Alison is a design lecturer, and enjoyed a blustery day with the painting school today.

She wanted to learn to paint outdoor with oils, so we went down to the beach to capture the rapidly changing light .

It certainly changed often, providing a great challenge to us.

Alison completed her first canvas before lunch with a good eye for colour and composition.

Her second canvas after lunch , was approached from a more closeup portrait view of the rocks in front of her.

Using a bigger brush , than she used on her first canvas, really seemed to work for Alison, and she proceeded to lay on thick oil colour in strong bold shapes. All the while experimenting with different brushstrokes and applications.

Ending up with a really good strong painting.

Click for more information on my paintcourses .