Painting Landscapes workshop

Its was a glorious morning yesterday as I drove in sunshine across country to Napton where I was to tutor an acrylic workshop for the day. What a lovely group they were too!

There were 18 painters, a mixed group from beginners to advanced. One lovely lady had her arm in a sling, but nothing was going to stop her having a good day. Everyone was so keep to do well and the room was buzzing with expectation as we began.

We all had different acrylics, a mixture of brushes and all of us had various choices of subjects but the one thing we all had in common was the will to succeed.

I completed my painting in stages throughout the day, giving tips and ideas to everyone as the day progressed.

The techniques we used were all similar, in that we analysed our tonal values first before adding lots of colour and details. This was a new approach for the group which I have to say they embraced whole heartily with super results.

We were all thrilled with the results and a really lovely day was had by all. Thank you to everyone who attended the workshop and made the day such a success!

This is the way I paint, especially if I am outdoors and it is a technique which works well for me, I paint in a very logical way, I don't chop and change my mind through the painting process which I believe keeps my work fresh and lively. Of course we all work differently and I can only show what works for me.

Step 1

Step 2

My final painting

Planning my painting holiday

Going on a painting holiday is always exciting if not a little daunting. What will the other participants be like? Will they be better than you, will you make friends, all these questions go through your mind, especially if you are travelling alone.
There can also be a fear of what to expect, how you will manage and if you have never painted outdoors before, how on earth you will begin!
As a tutor I have heard some horror stories over the years of people being left on their own to just get on with it (great if that's what you want) and others who didn't like their tutor (always look at your tutors website so you know what to expect) Some tutors are happy to demonstrate whilst others prefer not to, so ask!

We all want different things from a painting holiday, but what all the participants have in common is that they are all on holiday - the tutor however is not. 

Every tutor is different. I like to find out what people hope to achieve during their holiday and how skilled or otherwise they may be, only then can I make sure they succeed.

I am tutoring a painting holiday in Portugal 14th - 21st March 2015, organised by Alpha Painting Holidays.
I went along as an observer on one of their UK painting holidays to see how they ran things, Matt and Gill are wonderful hosts, they take care of everything so that you can concentrate on enjoying yourself and painting.
This is the kind of watercolour technique I will be demonstrating, its at the venue in Portugal, so this will be the kind of thing I will begin with on the first day - just to get you into it.

I am so looking forward to meeting those of you who will be joining me. I have a few ideas to help you and some nice techniques to inspire you. I'm also going to help you with the drawing element of things... oh what fun you will have, sunshine, good food, fab painting locations and me to jolly you on!

Frosty morning walk

This morning was glorious, -2 and crisp underfoot.
I love these mornings especially if its sunny, we headed off to my favourite spot with little Maggie May. I was here with her yesterday evening as the sun was setting, and it was fabulous, so this morning Terry came along with me to experience the early sunshine. I know he is keen to paint this view in its various seasons, so I shall watch his painting with interest. (He is longing for a snow fall!)

This is the river Windrush, it meanders slowly through the countryside and is just a short walk from home. If I painted landscapes, this would surely be on the top of my list of choices for local scenes.

This is what Maggie May looks like if its wet... I call her a mud magnet! she likes to bring lots of it home!

Exhibiting in the Longitude Art Gallery

You are perhaps wondering if I am ever going to show you the finished painting that I abandoned when I wasn't well in the New Year.
Well, I once I began to feel better and the sun shone in my working area I finished it - and this is it. 

I rarely leave a painting half way through for more than a day or so but this one was so appealing as it sat on my easel, I just couldn't wait to finish it.

This is one of a group of paintings which are now exhibited in 

Longitude Art Gallery
Lee Carter House
off Castlegate
Clitheroe 
BB7 1AZ

This is a lovely Gallery, a really unusual space, full of inspirational pieces. I loved the sculptures that are on display, its really worth a visit if you are in that area.

Using Collage ideas

The February issue of Leisure Painter magazine arrived this morning and in it is my article on using collage. There is a really nice simple little idea for you to try if you haven't used collage before, as well as some nice little still life ideas, well... cute tea cups. January can seem gloomy at times so having something bright and cheerful to paint, that doesn't need sunlight is so important to keep up our creativity levels.
I've also included an example of a more complex painting which I recently did wet into wet. I enjoyed doing this so much that I am planning to do more.

We had to sit on a railway station in France for a couple of hours this summer (I won't go into that one) and I began watching the people come and go, the shapes became quite fascinating, especially the contrasts of the sunlight through the station glass roof and the movement of colours. I made a note of a few ideas, did a couple of rough sketches and peacefully whiled away some delay time, which turned out to be the start of the holiday I want to forget. At least SOMETHING came out of it!

A speechless new year!

Happy New Year to all of you who read my blog from time to time. We had a lovely Christmas with family as I hope you did too.

As you know I have been off painting outdoors quite a bit over the last couple of weeks and I think the damp air has got to me... last night I had a bit of a cough and a sore throat and this morning.... no voice. Not a peep!  Maggie May just can't understand why I am not chatting to her, calling her and giving her treats. Terry on the other hand is enjoying the quiet!  He seems to ask me a lot of questions!

Maggie May on Christmas Day

I am half way through a painting I began outside, I decided to add some snow, but today I just haven't the energy to stand at my easel and finish it, so I think today will be a 'planning day' or perhaps a napping day.

This is how far I have got with it. Its looking good so its something to look forward to doing soon. I'll show you how it turns out when its finished. 

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WINTER AT THE ALLOTMENTS

I love this time of year, especially when we get lovely bright, crisp mornings, and since getting our little schnauzer, Maggie May I have found some lovely new painting locations, I'm now just waiting for some snow!
I find I return to my favourite subject in all weathers, the allotments, although I have recently found another two in the village so there will be more subjects to inspire coming up soon!

I decided to share with you this final painting of 2014.

I like to begin with a coloured canvas, sometimes its multi coloured, perhaps swirls and blocks of colour using up paint already on my palette, then I get down to blocking in what is actually there using a dark colour. The advantage of this, is that I can block in the colours I actually see, rather than just an overall colour.

In this case however, as I was taking my canvas outdoors, I pre-painted it all over in an ochre colour. You can usually spot these pre-prepared canvases as the ground is always the same colour all over rather than multi coloured. 

Once I have established the overall shapes and values I begin to add blocks of bolder colour. I usually only use about 6 - 8 colours in any given painting, sometimes fewer.

It is my intention to paint the 'feel' of the subject and gradually 'bring it into focus' as I go along. 
I can never understand how other artists paint a tiny detailed area leaving the rest of the canvas untouched, then slowly extend the detailed area until the entire canvas is filled. 

I need to see the 'whole' so that I can tell if my composition is going to work, the total balance and finally the colours. I tend to work from the back to the front as I build up the details, so for example, once I am satisfied with the background I then add more tree branches and twigs. Then I find the need to plunge in with the bright colours, I just block them in. I love it when they 'zing' against the background, the blue water pots almost pop out of the canvas! and the little blue cart is in the perfect spot.

As it happens, this little cart was not here at all, it was more to the right, out of view, but in order to make the composition better, I moved it into the picture. That's the joy of painting, being able to change things!

Of course, you can't just move something and paint it exactly as you see it unless it is fairly close to where you want it, otherwise the lighting is different. If I had to turn around to see it, the lighting would be totally wrong, but just mentally moving something a few metres is what I like to think of as... 'tweaking'

I suppose that is the difference between painting exactly what you see and using artistic licence, at the end of the day, who cares? The only person that knows is me... and now of course, you!

I am looking forward to painting more in 2015.

If you have enjoyed reading  my blog, do let me know. Tell me what you like to read about and I shall try and do a a little more next year. Meanwhile, I wish you the very best for 2015... happy painting!