California Road Trip

We recently got back from a very inspiring vacation on the coast of California. A new type of vacation for us with a lot less lounging about than normal being that we have an 8 month old and this was a road trip! However, it's a trip which we've been wanting to make for years but various events have prevented until now and I am pleased to say the wait was worth it. Big Sur in particular surpassed all our expectations, it is just a staggeringly beautiful part of the world. Needless to say, I am full of inspiration, which is lucky as I'm still short of a few paintings for my show at the end of the month. Today I worked on this which is from a photo I took on the road between Big Sur and San Simeon.

"Driving Big Sur" acrylic on panel, 12x12"

"The Maroon Bells" 40x30" oil on canvas

I wanted to share this recently commissioned piece which is not my usual subject or style but something I nevertheless really enjoyed doing. The scene depicts what are supposedly the most photographed mountains in America - the Maroon Bells near Aspen in Colorado.

This particular painting is going to be hung in Bermuda which couldn't a be more contrasting setting to the scene in the painting but the customer wanted it to serve as a reminder of one of their favourite places. Having stared at this scene for a fair amount of time now, I really must try and get out to see it in person - just another place to add to my ever growing hit list!

Today I have been struggling on with this painting I started last week and I am still not happy with it. I was inspired by a photo that I saw in the paper last weekend of the island of Vaila, one of the Shetland Islands. The colours really inspired me and I thought it would make a nice change to paint a mixed land and seascape but my style keeps getting tighter and tighter and I wanted it to be very loose. I like aspects of it such as the stone wall in the foreground and some of the sea and sky but generally I seem to be going around in circles so I am going to leave it for a while and hopefully come back to it with fresh eyes.

Return to Normal

Well, last week was so busy helping out at the Active Space but the opening night was a great success so it all paid off! Click here to see some photos from Fridays event. There are lots more events coming up over the next few months so I'm looking forward to working with more great artists and learning as much as I can from them.


It's been nice to return to some of my own painting this week rather than painting the gallery walls! Here one painting I did today:

Thursday

I went back and reworked the bottom left section of this painting after posting it the other day as I decided I just didn't like pencil marks. I also brightened the green of the hill a little to make it pop next to the purple. Once it's dry I think it will look great against a white mat and frame. I plan to list it on Etsy as soon as it's ready.

The Green Hill - oil on canvas, 6.5x7.5"
Click here to purchase this painting

With my little oil paintings I have been experimenting with using layers of glazes. This one started life with a multitude of different colours through the sea section and in the end it all got too confused so I put the bright blue glaze over it and really like the effect. I still think it needs more layers built up to enhance it further but now at least I feel like i'm moving in the right direction.

oil on board, 6x4"

Feeling Green

I have been in a very Green mood recently, which is unusual for me as I normally think of myself as a blue person, especially as I love to paint the sea.  Anyway, today I thought I'd run with this new inspiration and started experimenting with some abstract landscapes and I'm really pleased with the results! These small sketches will be available to buy on my Etsy shop as soon as they are dry and I am hoping to eventually transform the ideas into much larger paintings.