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:
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| Morning hot air balloon ride - the back of Marlborough Buildings 10"x6" oil on board |
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| Detail |
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| Morning hot air balloon ride - The Royal Crescent 10"x8" oil on board |
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| Detail |
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| Morning hot air balloon ride - The Circus 10"x8" oil on board |
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| Detail |
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| Morning hot air balloon ride - overlooking Bath 10"x8" oil on board |
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| Detail |
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| Morning hot air balloon ride - countryside between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon 10"x8" oil on board |
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| Detail |
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| Morning hot air balloon ride - fields near Bradford-on-Avon 10"x8" oil on board |
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| 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.
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| The happy crew - I'm at the back on the left with my partner Jon |
