River Usk Brecon

Here is another painting from Brecon it shows the road bridge over the river Usk at Brynich with the Beacons in the background. This one is currently on my wall.


Well more rain but a few degrees cooler I am hopeful the weather forecast is right and Friday might spell a day out with my easel well maybe?

Lift up Bridge

This is the lifting Bridge on the canal at Talybont on Usk. Although I have never been on this particular canal Alex has. She had a very eventful weekend with colleagues on a couple of barges when whe worked for Carmarthenshire Council. I say no more.

As a young boy I did travel most of the canal system as my father had converted an old ships lifeboat adding an Austin 8 engine. We had many adventures as at the time the canal system was in complete disrepair. There were even horse drawn barges still at work (for Birmingham Refuse Disposal). As I may have mentioned before I had a very lucky escape falling into a lock sluice which was open and was only pulled out by my father using a boat hook.

Anyway the canal makes for a good subject and I have done a few paintings and will probably do a few more.

Stream and waterfall Welsh Hook

This little watercolour was done whilst I was perched with my easel on a plank bridge over a stream near Welsh Hook in Pembrokeshire a good few years ago. No real problems just having to remember not to step backwards to check progress. I never quite finished it. I suppose having an impatient cocker spaniel runing backwards and forwards and a hungry wife waiting to go for lunch had something to do with it. The painting is gone now but I enjoyed the time it took to produce it and finding the image reminded me of it.

Merthry Vale

About 30 years ago I went down to paint the Pit Head at Merthry Vale (painting above).  I got a few funny looks from people wondering what the hell I was doing painting the pit head but anyway there it is, a bit rough and ready (or to use an artistic euphamism "loose") but part of South Wales history now.
Yesterday we went to Cefn Sidan the scene was wonderful with wind and waves crashing on the shore. Jac had a great time but it was impossible to put up the easel. I would have needed two hands to hold it upright.

Ferry Point a morning at the beach

Yes I finally got a clear couple of hours despite the fog and mist in Carmarthen, Llansteffan was beautiful (although I would have settled for just dry!).

The subject I chose was Ferry Point and stuck pretty much to the local colours of the subject. There was no real need to choose any  other palette of colours.

Anyway set up my Jullian easel and all went very nicely with no problems other than the odd dab of colour  added to my long suffering coat. Its great to get out. Although I am happy painting in my studio there is no substitute for painting from nature and I intend to do a lot more this year.

Oh no its raining again

Okay well out of sheer frustration I did get out to paint yesterday. It rained in the morning then at just after 12 it stopped. I grabbed my pochade box, wellies,coat and headed for the river. I got to the underpass and found 3 feet of water blocking my way. Looking at the sky I could see time was short so I found the nearest subject and got to work. After about 20 minutes along came our old friend the rain.

Today I lay in bed listening to a promise of a dry morning from radio Wales. Well Jac and I got wet walking through the woods but maybe it will clear up later?

Finished and link

Valley Road

Well I was all ready car packed coat re-proofed and the weather forecast had given a couple of hours dry weather. Got down the road and the heavens opened. Ah well lets hope for better tomorrow.

Alex has started putting the Christmas decorations away. My mother had the right idea she just left them up all year around, said it made her feel like every day was Christmas.

The painting above is one that sold several years ago of the Towy Valley showing the road and river, (the weather was pretty much the same as now).

link Bruce Hornsby