June opened with an exciting evening painting at the ROSA Magazine Summer edition launch party at the wonderful Moncrieff-Bray Gallery.
I was invited to paint alongside a number of other artists and sculptors. It gave me a great opportunity to catch the evening light over the Sussex landscape. It was a rare dry and sunny evening in which I produced two en plein air works.
A trip to Richmond Park on another truly lovely day gave a real taste of Summer.
This time, I chose to paint a larger watercolour en plein air.The day was made by close encounters with the deer herd. It is such a natural setting, so close to the City where you can lose yourself in your work.
As I said last month, I have had to put in many hours back in the studio to start on some larger work.
I have some works at 120cm x 120cm and also over 2m in progress. It is not a quick process to build up the layers needed to create the work that I really want to show you in my Exhibition.
To reflect Times of the Day, I have been mixing my landscapes with some urbanscapes.
Not only is this a very different subject, but also, the city environment holds light and shade in such a unique way. I want to use my own observation to contrast the light on the static and muted colours of the buildings that form the frame of the painting, with the array of colour brought by the movement of people and vehicles within the scene.
As ever, I start with a plein air work, and that leads on to larger studio works.
Initial painting en plein air
Work in progress
Close to the finished work
All of this would not be possible without the right materials and support from the makers of those materials, many remaining true artisan businesses.
Thank you to Rosemary Brushes along with your personal note, and the team at Michael Harding who made such a generous donation of both oils and watercolours.
Please click here for a short video of me out and about in June.
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Location: Royal Watercolour Society Gallery, 3-5 Whitcomb Street, London
Show dates: 7th to 15th September 2024