A selection of work

Here are a selection of the paintings I have done in 2016. I have a work experience student tomorrow so I guess I have to tidy the studio a bit. 

I have repaired at least temporarily the top of my tripod for my pochade box so I can go out painting on Sunday hopefully as the weather is promising.

Bad Winter

Well they say its going to be a bad winter, well who knows but here is an atmospheric painting of a Stannier crossing the Bascule Bridge at Carmarthen. The painting is sold. I am tempted to do another version but who knows. I am looking at doing a few nocturnes now.

We have been away for a couple of weeks walking, reading and I did do a painting. I have managed at least a couple of paintings outside from nature every month this year so far. I must admit January and February were a bit challenging but it is all too easy to sit in a warm studio working from "references" making excuses not to take the easel outside. I have really enjoyed the difference being outside and think it has benefited my technique. (On the other hand I do occasionally think when I am cold and the easel is being blown over, "Why am I doing this?").

Three Cliffs

The above is morning mist at Three Cliffs Bay, on the Gower. The painting is sold. It is a lovely spot but the tide can come in very quickly.

Alex and I have camped here and it is a lovely view from the cliff top.

Dinefwr White Park Cattle Painting.

Okay well I thought I may as well just get on with it. So there it is pretty well finished, a bit of tidying up to do particularly on the background when it has dried out a bit but essentially finished. My version of one of the Dinefwr White Park Cattle.

It is not quite the magnificent majestic paintings by David Cowdry, mine is only 12ins x 10ins but I think I have the character of this animal.

Today is our wedding anniversary 40 something and I thought I would surprise Alex with a request on Radio Wales unfortunately I requested "Moody Blues" for Alex without thinking.  Mal Pope did play a request but pointed out that requesting Moody Blues for my wife was perhaps not appropriate and asking for trouble.  Alex said she was only Moody when awoken at 5.15am to listen to a request!

Dinefwr White Cattle

Following yesterday's post and my recent visit to Dinefwr  I am now thinking maybe I will do a painting of the Dinefwr Longhorn cattle or  maybe one of them. I have drawn them before but not painted them but maybe I am due for a challenge?

Anyway may not be for a few weeks, (thats it don't commit yourself Mark).

Study of Cattle

The watercolour above is a study of cattle in a field. I was helped by the feeder, but cattle are great to draw as they are slow plodding beasts and are happy to pose for a few minutes allowing you to get the shapes down. They are also iconic in our country side, well they are at the moment although there are  swathes of fields under arable crops with no sign of sheep or cattle in some areas of UK.

Yesterday I went to watch the rugby at the Parc, Carmarthen Quinns v Llanelli. A good game with plenty of running rugby.

Apparently fate has decided I am not to cut my hedges again this year. I had two hedge cutters a small Bosch  hand hedge cutter and a long reach cutter. The Bosch hedge cutter packed up this week and then a family member borrowed the other and now it won't cut anything. Oh well there is an up side to most things.

Brecon and Monmouth Canal

I had a busy day yesterday. First I went to Cardiff to deliver a painting then I went blackberry picking with Jac. The Jam turned out fine.

I was then contacted by Natur Cymru magazine who wanted to use the above painting of Brecon and Monmouth Canal as a front cover for their autumn edition. (provided I can give them a good high resolution image). I tolled with my camera for an hour or so and think I have got what is needed.

I then made an apple pie from apples in the garden to go with Linguine Leek and blue cheese.

The other day Alex made spag. Bolognese. I finished all I could eat and then gave Jac a couple of mouthfulls off my fork. Our daughter then turned up to collect two wayward grandchildren. I went into the kitchen to see her tucking in to the spag. bol. Jac and I had left using the same fork.

I thought shall I tell her ? No best not.

Havard Chapel Brecon Cathedral

The above watercolour is of the Havard Chapel in Brecon Cathedral. I did it when we were exhibiting in the Cathedral a few years back.  It was a good place to exhibit and we saw a good many friends while we were there.

In some ways I regret we have virtually stopped exhibiting but as they say life is short and you have to prioritise, getting the life work balance right.

Alex has been doing the accounts the last few days and finally the tax returns are done.

I am going to grab my pochade box and go out to celebrate, finding a suitable view.

Supermarine Spitfire Painting

I decided to do something different. It was raining and no chance of getting out for a couple of days so I did a a Supermarine Spitfire. It is actually a MK 1X with a four blade prop. I wanted to capture the impression of speed as it came towards you with its Merlin engine pulling it along.

 I did draw this out before starting to paint and I had thougth about doing a second Spitfire in the middle distance but changed my mind feeling it was unnecessary.

When I was young I used to go passed the old Castle Bromwhich works that used to assemble Spitfires.  Years later when I first got married we bought much of our belongings from a WD surplus stores at Canon Pyon. The hangar had an old Spitfire outside (and a Hawker Hunter). We bought everything from old pans to an ironing board which served us well for many years. Now I am getting boring and its time to collect one of the grandchildren.

Solva

This is the painting of Solva I have been working on this week on and off. I finished it this morning.

Solva is a lovely inlet on the Pembrokeshire Coast which provides good shelter for boats in most conditions. We have sailed in and sheltered on a number of occasions in fact it is probably easier to get there by boat in the summer as the traffic on the roads and parking can be a problem.

Anyway the painting was a straightforward job done in the studio. This afternoon we are off to see the Scarlets play Munster and are likely to get a soaking.

Link a nice song with good meaningful lyrics Dignity

PS I took the photo with my handy little  camera as my Fuji had a flat battery so not best resolution.

Solva

This is the painting of Solva I have been working on this week on and off. I finished it this morning.

Solva is a lovely inlet on the Pembrokehsire Coast which provides good shelter for boats in most conditions. We have sailed in and sheltered on a number of occasions in fact it is probably easier to get there by boat in the summer as the traffic on the roads and parking can be a problem.

Anyway the painting was a straightforward job done in the studio. This afternoon we are off to see the Scarlets play Munster and are likely to get a soaking.

Link a nice song with good meaningful lyrics Dignity

PS I took the photo with my handy little  camera as my Fuji had a flat battery so not best resolution.

David Gepp

No its not a painting but it is me, well the one on the right. My short lived modelling career!! The photograph was taken by the photographer David Gepp for a magazine cover although I can't recall which one. This was I hasten to add a good few years ago.

We were friends of David at the time and he was even brave enough to babysit for us on occasions. He has since moved on and is a successful author as well as photographer now living in Donegal. Cheers David!

Talking of babysitting today it is four of the grandchildren (bless). Anyway who invented inset days? I'd like to have words with them.

Link  Kinks