Friday 28 October 2011

Favourite tea room walk in the Lake District.


Walking to Watendlath from Rosthwaite for a cup of tea is a delightful experience. After dropping some leaflets at Scafell Hotel for the painting holiday next year, Bex's and I climbed up the sunny path on Rosthwaite fell.This is my favourite walk to a tea room and sharing it with someone who has never been before is a joy. Dare I say the leaves are just a wonderful colour, the Lakes at this time of the year are amazing. I suggested looking through the pine trees below reminded my of the colours in the south of France!

So up the fell we went and then down into the small picturesque hamlet for a pot of Earl Grey and flapjack, had a look in on some herdwicks.

More bronzed leaves waiting to be painted!

Then back up the fell and down once again into Rosthwaite all for a cup of tea!

Catbells painted in Oils Size 10x 8 inches
I've just mounted this ready for my exhibition next week at
Moot Hall Keswick starting Sun 6th November.

Monday 24 October 2011

A walk up Latrigg

A quick walk up Latrigg, with the weather sunny and warm I wondered how many more days we might have like this.I wanted to start a painting today but nothing quite caught my attention. Sketchbook and paints were even taken up Latrigg but brought home unused! My excuse was 'the wind at the top was pretty gusty' So today was a taking note of colours, I've noticed that some Autumn leaves are really Opaque especially in the foreground while the transparent ones seem to be in the distance. Might try out this theory!

Love the negative shapes the branches make.

Sparkling Derwentwater in the distance

Storm clouds looming over Derwentwater.

Sunday 23 October 2011

The most magical place in the Lake District

I'm  excited about a new location for 'Lakeland Art Courses' I had a recky yesterday and came back delighted with the hotel location, it's nestled between beautiful dramatic scenery with many painting ideas a few steps from Rosthwaite. That's the village where The Scafell Hotel is in Borrowdale.A tiny famous hamlet, with many white washed cobbled cottages, a perfect tea room and shop for emergency supplies, a bus stop hourly service to Keswick or for the very adventurous Honister Pass, plenty of classic walking for a non painting partner  and a old fashioned pub with roaring open fire.
Tempted! Monday 1st to Thursday 4th April is the first date in the diary for a watercolour painting course at the Scafell Hotel price per person £440 includes 3 nights en suite bed and breakfast, 5 course evening meals and all tuition. If you fancy joining me, get in touch asap with just 3 single ensuite rooms I think they will book up very quick. Here is a little taste of Borrowdale, but I can't promise that we will see a bride or an Otter, but you never know because Borrowdale is the most  magical place in the Lake District.
Email lakelandart@hotmail.co.uk



http://www.lakelandartcourses.co.uk/



Thursday 20 October 2011

A walk around Buttermere

Had a little inspiration walk round Buttermere today. Hopes of sunshine popping out to brighten the golden leaves didn't happen, but it's a lovely walk around this beautiful Lake. I'm about to start on a large Oil and enjoy getting a feel of the place before beginning. Thinking it will give me positive vibes and confidence to start on this empty big canvas. Love this lonesome tree it reminds me of a pastel I did of Rannoch Moor with a little tree like this in the foreground. I'll keep you posted on how it comes along.

Monday 17 October 2011

A Parisian scene

Autumn came to the Lakes at the weekend, we drove through wonderful colours alongside Thirlmere, everywhere you looked there was a painting! I cycled round the southern part of Windermere lake along the quieter Cunsey side which was beautiful. The roads got a touch more busy at Newby bridge, but looking at this famous bridge I feel it could nearly be a Parisian scene!


A well earned rest looking towards my favourite Langdales, you can see the rich Autumn trees above Windermere. This afternoon and tonight we are having strong gales and rain, I wonder how many beautiful coloured leaves will be left on the trees tomorrow.

Thursday 13 October 2011

My top ten Colours in Watercolours

I often get asked about my watercolour palette, here is a list of my top ten and also most of the Shades I use on  my Online Watercolour course I've selected them in Artist quality and also tubes as I find that more colour tone can be obtained rather than pan sets. If you fancy joining the watercolour course just send me an email and we can start straight away.

Italy in June a perfect painting holiday



I've had a few enquires and bookings for Italy this week, I think it's the thought of Winter looming ahead. What better way to get through those darker months for an artist, than to have an Italian  painting holiday to look forward to. With promises of warm sunny days sat capturing in watercolours. Gently lapping Turquoise water, Colourful old buidings with flower laden balconies and finishing the days on enticing foods to enrich the palette with a crisp white wine.
If you would like to get over those Winter Indigo Blues and look forward to Ventian Reds and Naples Yellows, I do still have some single and double rooms left at the beautiful Rivalago Hotel 
Saturday 22nd to 29th June 2013 why not email me for more details lakelandart@hotmail.co.uk

Saturday 8 October 2011

Inspired outdoor painting in all weather's

It's the first time I've started a course driving to Grasmere with full headlights through think mist. Driving down into Grasmere it did start to clear. So with my hardy bunch of very keen artists we set off to find  a location. I was delighted at seeing waterproof trousers put on, coats zipped up and winter woolly hats popped into place and painting and sketching begun. This nasty weather was not going to stop the artists in Grasmere.Day two brought clearer weather but a little more wind so we found a little sheltered spot with waterlilies jostling for attention with Autumn leaves.Again straight into action some painting two if not three paintings at a time. A warm up of hot chocolate and cakes and off they went again embracing the famous Rydal waterfall. It is such a joy to paint with others who love the outdoors and see the potential of what it can do for your creative work back in the studio.



Inside demonstrations on day three, even the intrepid artists could not paint in hail

The sun did come out briefly and how enjoyable to watch from the studio window

So with the mention of snow I demonstrated a few quick paintings, we studied about colour mixes, different shades explaining Opaque and Transparent and the importance of 'white.
With inspired artists the time just flies by, and all weather is good weather!


Sunday 2 October 2011

Chasing the sunshine


I was aware that I only had a limited amount of time, before the sunlight left Butteremere. But the Newlands pass is not one to race along. Dropping down into the Buttermere valley this view always takes my breath away. So I knew, with the light just right it was a perfect painting location. Quickly I nearly ran to the edge of the lake with approx 40 minutes of painting light, the brushes came out and danced along the canvas. I painted what I was drawn to ( apologies for the pun!) the famous Buttermere trees.


Buttermere Pines painted in Oils
10 x 8 inches
Pochade 3


Autumn Sunshine, Derwentwater painted in Oils
10x 8 inches