More - Sketch Book

Here are some more pics from my sketch book.

Chertsey Bridge, Surrey, UK

Corfe Castle, Dorset, UK

Albert Hall, London, UK

St.Peters Square, Rome, Italy

Carew Castle, Pembroke, Wales, UK

Carew Castle & Bridge, Pembroke, Wales, UK

Found Old Sketch Book

I found this old sketch book today of sketches that I drew in circa 2000. Obviously sketch means sketch but these are the best ones. I was very prolific with a certain style in those days. Here are some in Wales.



Views from Tything Barn - Wales


























A boat in the channel at Tything Barn











A view of an old sunken boat at Tything Barn












Two views of the swimming area Tything Barn

Another visit to Italy

Another great visit to Italy and the area of Lake Garda. Weather reached 30C+ in the week we were there and it was hot.
I did some painting en plein aire and here are the results:

This is the house that my daughter and her husband live in. The last pick was taken from a photograph, this one was painted in situ. I like the depth of colour and the shadow lines.
I had taken some time in drawing this as I had mis-counted the number of windows in the line 6 instead of 5. This is watercolour paper 16x12 300gm hp paper

This is a pencil drawing of Maria Callas home on Sirmione, Lake Garda - although it is now a block of expensive apartments.
I had a lot of fun with this drawing making sure that I got every little bit of detail. I wish I had time to paint it but that was not to be in the time limit I had. The next day I went it was too hot for me to sit in the sun. I will paint it at home and show you when it is completed. This is watercolour paper 16x12 300gm hp paper.

This painting was seen as I walked around a bend on a walk along the banks Lake Garda.
It is a scene of a pier owned by a hotel on Sirmioni, Lake Garda. As you can see it is partly hidden by grasses and trees but I will expand this picture into an oil painting. This is watercolour paper 16x12 300gm hp paper.

There was one other painting that I was doing at Salo, the home of my daughters pianist and coach. This was coming on quite well but the paint was not dry enough when I wanted to add the shadow colour to it. It was ruined by a big splodge of colour that completly ruined the painting. The moral of this story is make sure that the watercolour is dry first.

I enjoyed this week in Italy not least seeing my daughter and husband but for the painting that I have done. The worst bit was at the house of Maria Callas. There were so many people looking at my drawing, but no-one commented but someone asked if I minded taking a picture of me drawing it - that was praise indeed.

I am next in South Wales near Pembroke Dock and I hope to complete some oil paintings there, if this rain will ever stop!!

Front of House - Italy

Well just finished this one, the front of my daughters home in Italy.

This was completed from a photograph on Saunders Waterford 300gsm 16x12 paper. I am pleased with this renditioning except for the front door when I should have stopped , but ......

On my way to Plein Aire!

Well it has been several weeks with nothing to report, but now I have a Kent Box Easel to take with me on my paint outings to paint scenes in my area and abroad. I am gathering all the items I need.
I am travelling to the beautiful area of Lake Garda, Italy next week to see my daughter, but I will also to do some painting. I have done drawing and painting outside before but only in areas where my family and friends have been around but this time I will be exposed to the general public, but at least I wont know what they are saying - I cannot speak Italian!!
My painting of a Blue Iris I am touching up again. I put the painting on www.wetcanvas.com and I was given some advice to put mauve/maroon on the flower, I tried this and I didn't like it so I have gone back to the blue and done some blending and hopefully it will look even better. I will post it soon.
I have a couple of paintings to finish, a copy of a photograph of a town in Tuscany, a still life of table decorations with flowers, glass and china plates, on a green table cloth and a light coloured background. I changed the background to dark though as it looks better - I am leaving this one to get a fresh eye to see where I am with it though.
So lots to do over the next few weeks.