On the way up to the Cliff Top, Cheddar

As I'm wrapped up in blankets with the heating on maximum, here is a reminder of the hot and sunny summer days that seem so far away. This is a painting of a path to the cliff top in Cheddar. I went painting there last summer with the Plein Air Society (click here to view my previous post) and took a few photographs of the views I didn't have the time to paint on the day - I just finished this one in the studio. 

On the way up to the Cliff Top, Cheddar    oil on board   10"x8"

This is slightly different to my usual style, probably because this sunny day view offered very strong contrasts which I don't always I have the chance to experiment with on the usual misty - grey english weather...

Detail

Here is below the reference photograph. I love compositions that invite to viewer to wander in the painting so I hope I managed to achieve this. I love the variety of greens in here and I remember the heat and the scorching sunshine just by looking at this.

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.