Reflections on the river, Bath

A couple of weeks ago I went painting alongside the river just a short walk from my flat. I have just finished the painting at the studio.

Reflections on the river, Bath    oil on board   12"x10"

I found a good spot at the Bridge, well hidden behind a wall, so I didn't have to face too many curious passers by. Don't get me wrong, I love chatting to people and talk about the painting in progress but there is always a moment in the process when I feel like giving up and throwing the canvas to the water so it's in everybody's interest not to be around when it happens!

Grapes on a table

Grapes on a table     oil on canvas  12"x10"

Last year, a good friend of mine got married and asked me if I could paint a still life for her as a wedding present which of course I accepted. Almost a year since the wedding and quite embarrassingly I still hadn't done her painting. As I was seeing her today, I decided on an impulse to paint it yesterday night - better late than ever! I suppose it might not be the usual occupation for a 28 years old on a Friday night but I had a great time painting it! (and the grapes were delicious too so no food wasted here!)

The grapes setting and the painting after a few minutes

The finished painting around midnight

The Bath Artists Studio on a Saturday afternoon

Once a month the Bath Painting group which I belong to meets at the Bath Artists Studio for a still life or a model session. Here is what I painted on last Saturday's session:

The Bath Artists Studio on a Saturday afternoon    oil on board   12"x10"

I'm usually as close as possible to the still life set up but this time I decided to go right to the back of the room and paint people painting. What got my attention was the bright light pouring through the windows (does make you wonder what on earth you are doing inside a dark room on such a beautiful day!) and the bright orange sheet. I must admit this is my very first painting of an inside scene - ever! So far I've only sticked to landscapes, cityscapes, portraits and still life. I'm looking forward to painting more of these.

Here is the view I had from my chair

That's me in the corner looking cold and a bit antisocial!

For those who wonder what is the blue weird looking object at the centre of the table in the middle of my painting, well it is indeed a weird looking thing:

You understand now why I had to take some distance to such a beautiful doll and decided to paint from the other side of the room!

The "Dancing Glory" floating on calm waters, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

The "Dancing Glory" floating on calm waters, Ocho Rios, Jamaica   oil on board  12"x10"

A couple of years ago I went on holiday in Jamaica and I fell in love with the country and the people. This painting is from a couple of photographs I took on a calm warm evening on the beach of Ocho Rios. Two guys just left their boat called the "Dancing Glory" for the night.

Here is one of the photographs:

Cardiff with the Plein Air Society

Last Sunday I went painting in Cardiff with the Plein Air Society group and I had a wonderful time. I did 3 paintings on the day but finished them all at home.

In the morning we went painting the beautiful City Hall. It was quite a challenge as the light kept changing. I tried to catch the light reflections on the building during the rare minutes the sun showed up. Here is my first painting:

Cardiff city Hall, winter morning     oil on board 12"x10"

The inspiring building

My unfinished painting after an hour

Antony Bridge went for the biggest canvas, finished first, and achieved
a beautiful result - what's his secret??

No rain would stop Glynis Dray in the making of her masterpiece!

An that's me all wrapped up - always keeping my natural sense
of fashion and elegance.... (cough)....

In the afternoon we headed to the gardens behind Cardiff Castle where I did my second painting:

Bute Park, winter afternoon, Cardiff     oil on board  12"x10"

Again the light was changing all the time and it rained half the time but I decided to go for the sunny version.

As we were painting, it seems that a "paparazzi" caught snapshots of Antony and I from all angles!

Finally, after a comforting cup of tea some of us headed for a last quick painting at the Bay before heading home. There was the most beautiful sunset but we literally only had minutes to capture it.
Here is my last painting of the day:

Cardiff Bay, winter sunset    oil on board   10"x8"

The picture doesn't tell the whole story...

Andrew Taylor was facing the other direction
and did a lovely marine sunset piece

That's me starting the painting 

Mont-St-Michel on a cloudy summer day

Here is a small painting I just finished of the Mont-St-Michel in France. I fancied a bit of drama so this was the perfect subject to paint. There is something quite impressive and almost spooky about this place...

Mont-St-Michel on a cloudy summer day    oil on board  10"x8'

It all comes from a trip in France last summer. We were on our way back home and didn't have the time to stop so all I could do is take a picture. One day I'll go back, visit it and paint it from life.

As you can see, I decided to replace the road with grass as I thought it gave me power to the subject.

Views from Lansdown golfcourse, Bath

Here is an other study of the golfcourse at Lansdown (see the other painting I posted a few weeks ago called "Summer evening at the Lansdown golfcourse, Bath").
I painted this yesterday afternoon and decided to do it in no longer than 30 minutes, use a small canvas and as much paint as possible in order to keep it spontaneous and full of brushstrokes. It was great fun.

Views from Lansdown golfcourse, Bath     oil on board, 10"x8"

The Avon, Bath on a sunny winter day

Last Saturday I went painting just a short walk from my flat alongside the Avon. It was a beautiful sunny day and the opportunity to try for the first time my new pochade box which I ordered specially from the USA (I'm such a nerd aren't I).

The Avon, Bath on a  sunny winter day    oil on board   14"x10"

As I was painting, a kid passing by told me (with a strong local accent) "you shouldn't paint the bridge, it's a horrible bridge." I'm afraid I didn't follow his advice and did find it rather interesting to paint and was pleased to include it in the painting!

Everlasting Roses

I painted those roses a few weeks ago but just got around to photograph the painting. I've called them Everlasting Roses as they lasted for more than a month and stayed beautiful until their very last day...

Everlasting Roses   oil on board   12"x10"

I specially enjoyed painting the reflections in the vase and the patches of light on the petals. I didn't paint the flowers as bright pink as they were and went for something more subtle instead.

Wedding sunset, Bath

Here is an other study that goes with my current "Gone With The Wind"-type-of-skies-obsession...

Wedding sunset, Bath      oil on board   10"x8"

Last year I went to a friend's wedding and the reception was in the beautiful countryside just outside of Bath and I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunset. I didn't do any sketches though (a bit antisocial to do that in a wedding reception maybe?) and the only pictures I took of the landscape somehow always ended up with my friends in the foreground (how inconvenient, really...) so this is more a memory/imagination type of painting again. When I paint peaceful places like that, I just want to jump in the painting like in Mary Poppins and have a walk in the hills!

In the middle of Nowhere...

Here is small study I just finished...

In the middle of Nowhere     oil on board  12"x10"

It is called that way because this place doesn't really exist. Here is what happened: I saw a beautiful sky picture on a Facebook's friend album (thanks Vicky!) and decided - with permission- to use it as a starting point for a sky study. I could have painted the buildings shown on the picture but I decided to make up a landscape instead - (either because I'm a bit lazy - or for real artistic purposes - I'll let you choose!)

Here is the picture I used as a starting point

Since it was a bit of an impulsive one, I didn't get the chance to print the image so I ended up painting with my computer as a reference! Why not? Let's embrace the technology!

Green apples and a glass of water

Here is a quick post about the still life I did with the Bath Painting group at the Bath Artist Studio last Saturday.

Green apples and a glass of water      oil on board, 12"x10"

Here is the setting on the day:

Whatever I'm painting, I like to be surrounded by pictures of my favourite paintings but since I wasn't in my own studio, I decided to bring along my favourite Cézanne's still life - it's a photograph I took of the original painting last time I went to Orsay Museum in Paris which is probably strictly forbidden but I promise I didn't use a flash! I must admit I shamefully stole a few tricks from it while painting the apples :-)

Here is the group, very focused!

Bristol with the Plein Air Society

Last Sunday I went painting with the Plein Air Society in Bristol. It was the first time I painted with the group and was a great experience and the occasion to meet very talented painters such as Antony Bridge, Roy Connelly, Andrew Taylor and Gynis Dray. I made two paintings on the day.

Victoria Rooms, Bristol    oil on board  14"x10"   

Here is the first one I made. I was sitting just in front of the Royal West of England Academy facing the Victoria Rooms. It was pretty cold but the sun kept me warm. Below is the picture I took after I finished the painting. You can see in the distance Antony Bridge painting the Royal Academy which was behind me.

And in a funny way here is below Antony's picture taking a reference of his painting where you can see me painting accross the road if you have good eyes.

In the afternoon we headed for the harbour where I did my second painting.

Antony Bridge, Andrew Taylor, Glynis Dray and me

Bristol harbour, Winter afternoon   oil on board  14"x10"

I used a table easel which I put on my lap

that's me half frozen

Antony Bridge painting - really liked what he did!