Sledging at Belmont tower

Sledgers at Belmont tower, Grantham
Oil on canvas 14" x 18"

Here's the studio version of 'Sledgers', starring my own son in the foreground! I hope you like it, it really pleased me to do it. I loved painting the original at the time, but I feel this is a better painting. I hope I have managed to keep the freshness of the plein air piece, I think I have. I was careful to keep the sketchy treatment of the figures. The nice thing about painting this version in the studio is that I could better consider where to place the figures.

The original version painted en plein air
Oil on panel 10" x 12" 

In case you missed it back then, this is the fun video of the painting day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GH5vzEqp8I

Wheeeee !!

Detail from 'Sledgers at Belmont tower'

Just time for a very quick post! If you're worrying about my big list... I'm plodding through it gradually (but you know how lists go.. things keep getting added on to the end!) but/and more importantly I'm putting in the time for painting and I'm very pleased about that. I'm still very excited painting in the studio - what's going on? Maybe I'm just having a good week or have I turned a corner?

Thanks SO much to everyone who has commented and emailed, it really is great to get a fresh perspective.

This is my son Oscar on the sledge... remember when I painted all the people sledging back in January? I've been working on a version in the studio - 'en studio air', I'll be able to show you tomorrow if I can take a good enough photo...

By the way somebody at my workshop yesterday left a lilac gilet behind, if you think it may be you I have it so let me know!

Sledgers in the snow

Sledgers at Belmont Tower, Grantham

I was really smitten with this subject yesterday. I wanted to go back today to see fresh snow but unfortunately we've had no further snowfall today or during the night. I did achieve a snow painting though, in the gardens of Belton House.

Here's a short video filmed yesterday (on an iPhone!) of me painting this at Belmont tower. It's lovely to feel the ambience of being there. I warn you though - you may feel the need for a hot chocolate after watching this!

Belmont tower

Painting at Belmont tower today

Towards Grantham from Belmont tower

I've not been deliberately ignoring you honestly! I've been busy since Sunday with... portrait commission, framing, wrapping and posting paintings, getting mdf panels cut and prepping them for paintings, preparing for workshops and doing a demo yesterday at Bingham art group. 

Today was my first day out painting. There are fantastic views from Belmont tower on the National Trust Belton House estate. It was a gorgeous bright morning but very windy up there! I had a couple of intrepid companions join me which was lovely, and even a blog subscriber I'd never met before came by to say hello which was really nice!

Here's a picture of the tower itself, which was right behind me (you can see my easel looking tiny on the ground!).

Belmont tower

Also received the November issue of The Artist magazine, which has my article on Williamsburg oil paints in it, so that was nice to see!

Quick reminder to those in my area - I'll be at Brant Broughton art event this Saturday and Sunday, 10.30 am until 4.30 pm. Hope to see some of you there!