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!

Lyme Regis coastline

Some paintings just come naturally, effortlessly, as if the hand had a life of its own. Well, this is NOT one of those! I really struggled with this one and kept retouching it days after days but I've decided it's finished now, although I can't tell if it's any good as I probably need to take more distance to it now...

Lyme Regis coastline    oil on board, 12"x10

It's based on some sketches and photographs taken at the same time as the picture for my other Lyme Regis painting posted a few days ago. Here is below the main photograph I used although I changed the whole colour balance of the scene:

Summer evening at the Lansdown golfcourse, Bath

Here is a quick study I just finished based on some sketches and photographs I took last summer as I was accompanying my boyfriend during his golf practice. He probably was a bit annoyed I would rather sketch and photograph the landscape than check out his great swing!

Summer evening at the Lansdown golfcourse, Bath   oil on board 10"x8"  

Landscape in the Mendips

I just finished a painting of a view in the Mendips. I had great fun with the treatment of the sky and the fields in the distance. I used big brushes and a small canvas in order to keep it spontaneous and exciting.

Landscape in the Mendips    oil on board, 10"x12"

It all came from a quick snapshot I took from the passenger seat window of the car as we were driving through the countryside in the Mendips last Autumn.  This beautiful scenery took me by surprise and I'm grateful my mobile phone's camera managed to take a decent picture although the car was moving rather fast (see below). This was a great starting point for a painting and kept me busy in the studio during those last rainy days.

Seascape

I've been working yesterday on a seascape from a photograph I took last year during a week-end in Lyme Regis. I wish I had done it on the spot but you can't always have your material on you.
Here is below the finished painting:

Boats entering the port, Lyme Regis    10"x14"

And below is the original photograph I worked from. As you can see, I've changed a few things. I took some liberty with the clouds and water reflections and I also decided to remove the left part of the port and amend the position and numbers of the boats to make the composition work better (I think?).

A painting for Christmas

Just a quick post about a painting I recently got commissioned for. A very nice chap contacted me a few weeks ago to do a painting of his lovely house in Essex so he could give it as a present to his fiancee in time for Christmas. I was very excited by the project and managed to finish it on time (just! - my last brush strokes were done at 2am before the delivery day!), and although it has been done from photographs, I hope I have managed to convey the feel of the place. I'm happy with it and the owners are happy too so it was a great way to finish the year on a high!