Cheddar with the Plein Air Society

Yesterday I went painting in the Cheddar Gorge with the Plein Air Society group. Well, I say "group" but since Andrew and I couldn't find anybody, it was actually just the two of us (so a group of two then). The heat didn't stop us from walking right to the top of the Cliff - I was putting on a brave face (a bright red face that is) but wasn't that far from fainting!

Here is the first painting I did:

Views from the Cliff Top, Cheddar    10"x8"  oil on board

This spot was slightly off the path and offering a wonderful view across Cheddar and beyond. For some reason, I couldn't get the Jurassic park tune out of my head while painting this (probably because of the real sense of drama in the place). I actually had to stop myself from painting dinosaurs in there.

Andrew feeling inspired

I was so glad I took my umbrella  - I would have burnt like a toast otherwise

That's me working hard as always

The second painting was a small one I made on the way down in a lovely place we spotted on the way up but saved it for the end. I had a great time painting it apart from the fact that my umbrella fixing broke so I was holding it in one hand and painting with the other (no spare hand to get rid of the mosquitos unfortunately)

On the way down from the Cliff Top, Cheddar   6"x8" oil on board

What caught my eye was the lovely curvy path with patches of light disappearing into the dark woods. A theme and composition I have done many times now and always gives me great satisfaction.

Pulteney Bridge, sunshine between the clouds

I've just finished a little painting of Pulteney Bridge in Bath for a commission. I gave it to the lady a couple of days ago and she was very happy with it which is always a relief;)

Pulteney Bridge, sunshine between the clouds    oil on board  10"x8" 

I got the frame from the Meltone Gallery in Bath which is for me the best place for frames.

Still in the Bath topic, I'm very glad to announce that I got a painting selected for the Bath Society of Artists 106th Annual Exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery.  As a non member you never know if you will get in or not so it was a nice surprise to see my application form with the so exciting "selected" stamp on it. Also, it kind of makes up for the parking ticket I got as I was queuing to drop my painting!

The painting that got accepted is the one below which was painted on location just a short walk from where I live alongside the river Avon. (see my post on the 4th of April)

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

They have some great work there so I would recommend it for anybody visiting Bath.

The show on the preview night on Friday - it was packed!

Me below my painting (middle top) -
it was hard to get both on the same shot as it is placed pretty high!
- not complaining though;)

Cornwall trip - Part 3

Here are my last three paintings from the Cornwall trip. The one below is a nice spot we discovered near Botallack. What caught our attention was the arch in the rock, the type of scene many impressionists like Monet and Sisley painted before.

Natural Arch near Botallack Head    10"x8"  oil on board

That's me setting up and putting some suncream on - you can never be too careful

My painting at the end of the session

David Pilgrim was painting the same scene just above me
(surely it has to be so he can steal a trick or two from my painting;) )

The one below was my very first painting of the trip. I just arrived from the train station and did that little painting on Sennen beach close to our accommodation. The reflection of the light on the sand was really blinding and I was struggling to see anything (the thought of putting my sunglasses on even crossed my mind but then I knew that you be the most outrageous thing a painter could do - so I refrained myself)

Sennen Beach, early aftertoon   10"x14"  oil on board

A lady that walked pass me told me that from the distance, she thought I was setting up a barbecue! - I was sorry to tell her that I didn't have any burgers for her;)

My stool gradually went deeper and deeper in the sand!

The last painting below was done close to the accommodation on the way down to Sennen beach. It was a beautiful sunset and was a real race against time to catch it before it disappeared. What caught my eye was the swirling road leading to the shiny beautiful water.

On the way down to Sennen beach, sunset   10"x8"  oil on board