Tuesday 29 July 2008

The Swallows were dipping


Morning showers cleared a trip on a open topped bus and a perfect Lakeland landscape awaits. There was no breeze so pure and calm reflections of Loughrigg and the islands on Rydal water were waiting to be captured, the swallows were dipping around the beautiful waterlilies and the ducks were keeping a watch to check that no sandwiches were been eaten. I decided on a palette of Cobalt Blue, Burnt and Raw Sienna, Transluscent Yellow and a touch of Permenant Rose and the wet in wet technique hoping to apply a one wash approach, my Ken Bromley stretcher and Arches paper worked a treat.

Monday 28 July 2008

Sunny Days


Nothing beats painting 'en plein' on warm sunny days with plenty of sunlight. Today I was painting with my group of artists at Easedale Valley, Grasmere beside the beck listening to the sounds of Summer while capturing in watercolour distant craggy fell tops, an old farmhouse and wild flowers of foxgloves, purple orchids and sun kissed yellow buttercups catching the light. Making the scene complete was an old green tractor making perfect bales Monet would have loved!