Roy Connelly

The plan was to paint in Trafalgar Square at night after the rain.

The rain stopped for just long enough for me to set up and start painting.  But, 25 minutes into the picture the rain became so heavy I had to pack up.  You can see how far I got in the picture above.

Above: Rain water on my palette.

Today I delivered 5 paintings to Llewellyn Alexander (Fine Paintings) Ltd in London.  I travelled in on the tube with my trusty box easel and paint bag as well as the framed paintings.  I had wondered how I would get everything there and in the end I put the pictures in a large portfolio for extra protection.

I met up with fellow artist Richard Price and we each painted a couple of small pictures in Trafalgar Square. The light was good despite the sun going in and out all day and the wind that did its best to blow debris on the wet paint.

Landscape painter Karl Terry spotted us on his way home from the Chelsea Flower Show and his wife found herself painted into our pictures. Thanks Jo for being so patient!

Thanks also to Lucy for the squeeze of cadmium red

Painting the evening light in Trafalgar Square. Photograph by Magdalena Rakita ©2009

One thing you become accustomed to when painting outside is having your photo taken. This great black and white photograph was kindly emailed to me by talented photographer Magdalena Rakita. If you would like to see more of her work have a look at Magdalena’s flickr pages.

Trafalgar Square - Spring Light by Roy Connelly

 London By Six at Advocate Galleries

39 Church Road, Wimbledon Village, London SW19 5DQ
17 – 27 April 2009

A group show of London paintings by Rodney Billington, Roy Connelly, Alec Macdonald, The Pope Twins, Malcolm Surridge and Charlotte Wallis.