Thursday 6 November 2014

Morning hot air balloon ride over Bath

I recently got the chance to go on a hot air balloon ride. What an amazing experience! And what better place to do this than flying over the gorgeous city of Bath. It was a beautiful sunny morning in August. We took off from Victoria Park and flew over the city, then Bradford-on-Avon, and finally landed in a farmer's field in Trowbridge. Now, before you get the wrong idea, no - I didn't take my easel and brushes on board. I might paint quickly, but I'm not speedy Gonzales. However, I took several photographs during the flight and did many little studies back in my studio. I just love it when I get inspired by a series/concept and paint various paintings with a theme in mind. Here is below the result, the paintings are shown in the chronological order from the flight:


Morning hot air balloon ride - the back of Marlborough Buildings  10"x6"  oil on board



Detail




Morning hot air balloon ride - The Royal Crescent  10"x8"  oil on board

Detail



Morning hot air balloon ride - The Circus  10"x8" oil on board


Detail



Morning hot air balloon ride - overlooking Bath  10"x8"  oil on board


Detail




Morning hot air balloon ride - countryside between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon  10"x8"  oil on board


Detail





Morning hot air balloon ride - fields near Bradford-on-Avon  10"x8"  oil on board


Detail


I have done these paintings gradually during the last three months and I might do more in the future, or maybe scale up some of them as this is a subject that really inspires me.

Below here are a few photographs taken at take off and during the flight.

















The happy crew - I'm at the back on the left with my partner Jon








8 comments:

  1. Superb, I did saw one on FB and thought what on Earth is that?!
    I thought it was some sort of dam, but all covered in grass, ...

    Super and for real REAL plein air!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you René! Glad you like them. I'm not sure you can call them real plein air as I did them from photographs but they were definitely taken up in the air!

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    2. great blog :-) I saw the title and thought .. well that beats my scaffold height paintings lol .. lovely series you have produced.

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    3. Thank you John! Not pure plein air though but nobody would paint quick enough to do it! :-)

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