Cows in Herefordshire

It has been a month since my last post and since I've picked up a painting brush. Sometimes life gets a little bit in the way... I was almost scared to paint again, as if I would have forgotten everything! No chance to go out and paint outside as the weather has been (and still is) terrible here in England, so I decided to look in my photographs references "treasure box" hoping to find something inspiring to paint in the studio and slowly get me back into "painting mode". 

I found a lovely photograph of cows in a field I took during a trip in Herefordshire last year and decided to do a small study of it:

Cows in Herefordshire   10"x8"   oil on board

As usual, I kept it simple and wanted to capture the essence of the scene.

Detail

As you can see below, I didn't copy exactly the picture and decided to take it as a starting point
to play with colours and shapes.

The reference photograph

Click here to view a painting made a few months ago inspired by the same trip in Herefordshire.

I really enjoyed painting this little study and cannot wait to get back to the easel for more. Hopefully the rain will stop at some point and I will be able to paint some cows for real...

Landscape in Herefordshire, October morning

Here is a studio piece I just finished based on some pictures during my trip with my mother in Herefordshire last autumn. I managed to do a quick study not far from there during my stay (see previous post here) but also took a lot of pictures to work with in the studio.

Landscape in Herefordshire, October morning   12"x10"   oil on board

When people are asked what is their mental "happy place", some might answer an amazing sunset on the beach, the snow on the mountains, or a luxury spa retreat. Well mine just involves some trees, a view and peaceful sheep wondering around. I'm pretty low maintenance I think :-)

Detail

Here is one of the reference photograph:

There are a few other paintings I'd like to work on from my Herefordshire photographs so watch this space...

Landscape in Herefordshire, October sunset

A couple of weeks ago my mum came from Belgium to visit me and we spent a few days together in Herefordshire to visit gardens and enjoy the cider festival (she is a garden and tourism journalist for various belgian magazines). I took my painting kit and managed to squeeze a little study one evening before we headed back to the hotel.

Landscape in Herefordshire, October sunset   10"x7"  oil on board

I was amazed by the beauty of the countryside there, which is very different to the landscapes around Bath.

detail

What caught my eye was the highlights and gradients of blue in the distant hills, and the touches of light in the foreground.

No, this is not my third hand taking the picture but my mum
who couldn't help covering this exclusive painting event like the good reporter she is!

That's me in the middle of the action

I took tons of photographs there which will make great painting material so that'll probably keep me busy in winter days...