Rocks and waves

Rocks and waves at Mousehole
Framed size about 21" x 25"

Back in the southwest of Cornwall again with this one - and you can see the pretty village of Mousehole nestling in the background. Maisie loves to run around on these rocks and bark at the waves! For now I'm enjoying having it up on the wall in the studio, but if you'd like to purchase this painting you can contact me and we can discuss framing/delivery etc.

Exhibition news

Towards St Michael's mount from Mousehole
Oils 46 x 46 cms framed
£595

I had the happy news that two of my paintings have been selected for the Society of Women Artists (SWA) annual exhibition 2014. These are both plein air paintings, one painted in Mousehole in Cornwall and the other in Morocco.

The exhibition takes place at the Mall Galleries, London from the 26th June to the 5th July, with the private view on the 25th June. I have a few invitations to the private view so let me know if you can get to London on that day and would like one, or if you would like to know about owning one of these two paintings. You can email me at thedrawingroomgallery@gmail.com

Towards the fort, Essaouira
Oils 41 x 51 cms framed
£495

A little info about the society from their website... Founded as the Society of Female Artists, this unique group has held an annual exhibition in London of the work of women artists ever since 1857.  In the mid-nineteenth century, women were not considered to be serious contributors to the field of art and had great difficulty in obtaining a public showing. At the first exhibition, 149 women showed 358 works, some hiding their true identities for fear of social recrimination.  The art world was dominated by the Royal Academy which, at its foundation in 1768, had two women among the founders but had no other women academicians for over 150 years when, in 1922, Annie Swynnerton S.W.A (a member since 1889) was elected as an Associate.  The Society attracted some of the most noted artists of the time; when Lady Elizabeth Butler's The Roll Call was displayed at the Royal Academy in 1874, even Ruskin, with his peculiar views of femininity, revised his opinion that no woman could paint. The S.F.A was involved in education for women artists, effectively excluded by the mores of the time from professional training. Even for those who did gain a place at art school, the model in the women's class would be decorously draped on grounds of propriety.  The Society has had many famous artists among its members. Dame Laura Knight, the first woman Royal Academician for over 160 years, was elected President of the S.W.A in 1932. The world-famous illustrator Mabel Lucy Atwell was a member. Current members include Daphne Todd OBE, the first woman President of the Royal Portrait Society; well-known portraitist June Mendoza OBE; the late Suzanne Lucas, Past President of both the Society of Botanical Artists and the Royal Miniature Society, who in 1980 was elected as the first woman president of a Royal Society; and Philomena Davis, elected first woman President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1990. The current President is Sue Jelley.

Low tide in the harbour, Mousehole

Low tide in the harbour, Mousehole

While I fly to Morocco today I thought I would just leave you with another Mousehole painting with a different feel. Again this is the harbour but here you see it's low tide and there are still lots of boats. I painted this en plein air in October. I was looking across the glare of light on the wet sand, and had to work fast as the sky was rapidly changing. I like the directness of the marks on this piece.

This is one of three paintings now available for sale at the Little Picture Gallery in Mousehole, Cornwall.

Silver light at Mousehole

Silver light at Mousehole
8" x 10"

On the one day that it didn't rain for me in Mousehole this is the other painting I achieved, and I'm really pleased with it. You get such blinding sunlight on the water in Mousehole when the sun is shining. Although this looks a lot like a sunset it was actually painted in the morning. In the foreground of the painting you can see that it's high tide in the harbour. The other noticeable feature is the one boat. In winter the vast majority of boats are taken out of the harbour and onto dry land to decrease the risk of damage. A very good thing too when you consider the awful storms we've had this winter.

When I next visit Mousehole in April there will be a lot of boats back in the water, which is good for me for painting. Although, I do very much like this simple uncluttered scene too.

The colours in the dark area of the harbour wall have subtle differences of hue and value which are not apparent on the photo really.

All three of these paintings were delivered on Friday and available to buy now at the Harbour Gallery.

Today I am travelling to a hotel at Gatwick airport ready to fly to Marrakech in the early hours of tomorrow. I may not have any access to wifi while I'm over there so if you don't hear from me that's why. I'll show you all the paintings when I get back.

It stopped raining!

Towards St Michael's mount, from Mousehole

Work in progress

Hooray, it didn't rain today so I was able to get out and paint two pieces in Mousehole. This one was a really interesting view looking towards St Michael's mount, which was lit by the sun for a couple of hours. I also liked the little glints of light on the buildings in the distance. And of course I fell in love with the waves against the rocks here, all over again :-)

My 2013 year review - July to September

Going to the beach, Porthcurnick
SOLD

The summer of 2013 can be remembered in my mind as being a 'proper summer'! I painted this on the 'hottest day of the year' (according to the radio) not knowing that there were many more 'hottest days of the year' to follow! I think everyone in England at the time felt they should 'enjoy it while it lasts' not knowing that the heatwave would go on and on, to give us our best summer in recent memory.

July saw me heading down to Cornwall with my paints and a car full of easels and frames and lashings of ginger beer (possibly). My first stop was Mousehole and I stayed in the most wonderful studio you could imagine, just a short walk from the harbour and perfect in every way. My dream home!

St Clements Studio
SOLD

I fell in love with Mousehole harbour and didn't really want to leave and paint anywhere else, but I did sneak a look at beautiful Sennen Cove too. 

Evening light at Sennen Cove
SOLD

Painting at Mousehole harbour

Day before regatta, Mousehole

Party boat

High tide at Mousehole
SOLD

My next stop was pretty Portscatho on the Roseland peninsula, during a heatwave! I only had a couple of days here and a lot of inspiration and work to do.

Evening light in the harbour
SOLD

Still evening in Portscatho
30" x 30"

Dropping off wet paintings at the Harbour Gallery, Portscatho

Evening shadows, Portscatho
8" x 10"

At the end of July I was in London for a hectic few days at the SAA's event at the Business Design Centre, and I had another article published in The Artist magazine. This one was about painting alla prima in oils.

August was the time for painting and relaxing and yes, more sunshine! I spent the whole month on the island of Bréhat in France with my family and we had the pleasure of Lori Putnam's company so it was super to have a painting companion as I'm usually there painting on my own. 

Painting with Lori

Crowded beach, Bréhat

I've painted on Guerzido beach lots of times but this has to be one of the busiest! In August all the holiday houses on the island are full and day visitors come across in their thousands from the mainland.

Regatta day at Bréhat

Check out that blue sky!

Cottage with blue shutters, Bréhat

Hidden garden by the sea
SOLD

August was such a great month for painting on the island, and I gained much inspiration in Paimpol harbour on the mainland too with a series of watercolour and felt tip studies of my beloved red sails. In between the painting sessions there was plenty of time for relaxing, although I even painted at the neighbourhood party!

Deuxieme câle at Port Clos
SOLD

Outgoing tide at Port Clos

I was also sketching away, taking part in 'drawing August' on twitter. It was a fun event and lovely to have the time for it. Here are a few of my sketches from the month -

Sketches from August

After a brilliant long summer it was back home and back to school for the children, and back to workshops and writing for me. However I still had an exciting event to look forward to! In September I was invited up to the beautiful town of Staithes on the North Yorkshire coast. Staithes has a famous history as an artists colony here in the UK. The group of painters based here in the 19th century included Laura and Harold Knight. I have a real fondness for Laura Knight for her dedication to plein air painting, her passion and perseverance, and being able to make it in what truly was a man's world. Dame Laura Knight was the first woman to be honoured with a retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1965.  Here's an interesting snippet for you - Laura was a member of Nottingham Society of Artists as an art student in the 1890's before leaving for Staithes, as was I in the 1990's. 

Me painting in Staithes

I was staying with family and friends in Whitby and painting in Staithes in the daytime with members of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. It was a terrific few days with great company.

House by the beck

Morning light at Staithes
SOLD

Shadows in the beck, Staithes

Thanks for bearing with me this far on my trip down memory lane! In tomorrow's post I'll review the last three months of the year which will bring us right up to date, and then I'll start to think about what 2014 may hold... in the meantime I'd like to wish you all a very very happy new year!

Wet sand at Mousehole

Wet sand at Mousehole
Oils 24 x 30cms

Another plein air piece from my October trip to Cornwall. The addition of a couple of figures really helps to inform us about the scale of the subject. Again a complicated scene that needed simplifying down to the bare essentials. With the benefit of a couple of photos I could tackle this again as a slightly more refined studio piece but unfortunately I haven't worked out how to successfully take photos looking towards the light yet. Yes that's right, had new posh camera more than four months now and still haven't learnt anything outside of the 'auto' setting!

Here's some news that may be of interest to any of you living in the south of England. I'm going to be teaching a day workshop on 'painting seascapes in acrylics' at the Old Bank Studios in Harwich Essex on Saturday 26th April 2014. I would love to see you there if you can make it :-)
Click here for the website and booking information.

Razzle dazzle

Razzle dazzle at Mousehole harbour
Oils 24 x 30 cms
SOLD

They say no news is good news and the reason I haven't been in touch for a few days is that I've been so busy planning great events for 2014 which I will look forward very much to sharing with you. I've also been painting away in the studio and although I haven't got anything finished to show you yet I will be able to share step by step photos when I do. Plus I'm working on two articles currently for The Artist magazine and reading a couple of my latest Amazon purchases - one is a David Curtis book from 1994 and the other is 'Catching the light, the art and life of Henry Scott Tuke'. I've finally got around to watching the film 'Summer in February' about Alfred Munnings' time in Cornwall with Laura and Harold Knight, and I've eaten through most of my large supply of birthday chocolate. I have no more day workshops in 2013 but I'm looking forward to visiting Horncastle art club and York art society for demos this side of Christmas.

This is a painting from last month's trip to Cornwall. It was quite a challenge to simplify all that but so thrilling to try. This subject would definitely be worth revisiting in the studio. I have pushed the sky completely out of the composition to focus on that intense area of light on the water and the lead-in lines of the ropes in the foreground.

Mini Mousehole exhibition!

Mini Mousehole exhibition

Well I spent yesterday evening and this morning painting frames and framing up my Mousehole work here in the artist's studio I am staying at. It looks not a bad little show for three days work. There are several other paintings that didn't really cut the mustard but I'm happy with this lot and have lots of ideas to take back for future studio works. It's a bit of a shame neither of the cameras I brought with me are working though! I have missed taking a load of great photos.
Anyway I am now packing and heading off to beautiful Portscatho to see what treasures await me there...

(Strange thing happened last night, two badgers ran right past me! Literally, right past my legs and boy were they fast! I've never seen badgers up close and personal before, and they pant like dogs when they run!)

The day before regatta!

Fluorescent man in boat!

All I can say is... so much to do here, so little time! And now, I'm going to Sennen Cove...

Colours of the regatta

Painting at the harbour in Mousehole

Of course I couldn't resist this subject, with those brightly coloured flags having appeared, and the turquoise sea. After a rainy morning the sun came out and stayed out for a brilliant afternoon. I ended the day watching the sun set at Sennen Cove. This whole place is magical. It is no wonder at all that so many artists have lived and painted here.

It's complicated!

It's complicated!

I had my first full day here in Cornwall and I produced three and a half paintings in beautiful Mousehole.
This one took the longest and had the most head scratching!
There were many times in the first hour when I thought I would give up and pack it away. The excuses went like this - 'it's getting too windy now' and 'it's a complicated subject. I've got the drawing sketched in. I should come back and finish it another day'.
Then my determination set in. I turned down my internal voices, turned up my podcast (Artists helping Artists) and carried on.
Three hours after starting, I was really glad I did it. The sense of achievement is even better when you have doubts to start with, when you get over hurdles. :-)

A lot of rain

Between the showers, Mousehole harbour

Actually not just a lot of rain but a lot of driving too! I've finally arrived in Mousehole and it's such a magical place, even in the rain!
After settling in the rain stopped for an hour and a half this evening so I managed this one down by the harbour . I planned to stop after an hour and a half anyway, and the rain recommenced bang on cue as I was packing up. I wonder what the weather will hold tomorrow... I think I might stay in Mousehole all day...