Pin Mill, oil on board, 8×10 inches
Molo Nocturne, Venice
These are a couple of my paintings on show at The Aldeburgh Gallery until 5th June 2013
Aldeburgh Exhibition
With Josephine Harpur
The Aldeburgh Gallery
143 High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5AN
30 May -5 June 2013
Aldeburgh Exhibition Read More »
Last week I painted at Pin Mill for the first time. Pin Mill is small village on the south shore of the River Orwell estuary in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Above:Pin Mill. 8 x 10 inches, 20 x 25 cm. Oil on board. Below: Pin Mill detail
People often ask about the best equipment for plein air painting so here is a look at my kit and some links to suppliers.
I have two kinds of easel that I use outside: a French Easel and a panel/palette holder on a tripod.
The French easel (affliate link below) is the one that looks most like a traditional easel. It’s made of wood, has a tray on the back to rest my brushes, brush washer/turps can etc. There is a drawer at the front to store tubes of paint and the palette sits on top of this. It’s a very versatile piece of kit that can support anything from a tiny board a few inches high to large canvas four feet across.
I also have a more lightwight kit in the form of a Palette/Panel Holder from Open Box M. This sits on a tripod with a quick release plate and has a small shelf for brushes, dipper etc. A spring clamp system holds panels up to 20 inches across.
The tripod I use with my pochades and Open Box M panel holder is a Velbon Ultra Rexi L. It’s light weight, packs up small and is very sturdy. The legs are able to open out wide which is great for setting up in windy locations and when set up normally it takes up very little room – ideal for street scenes. I recommend using a tripod head with a quick release plate as that allows you to set up and dismantle your kit quickly. I have found a small Manfrotto ball head is ideal, it’s compact in size and rock solid.
The tripod I use isn’t made anymore but here are some links to similar items that may be useful to you:
Velbon Ultra 655 – updated replacement for the Ultra Rexi L.
Calumet Carbon Fibre Tripod – I haven’t tried this but it looks good!
K&F Concept Aluminium Tripod – Again, I haven’t used this personally but looks good for those on a budget.
Painting at Lands End.
Pochade: Open Box M. Tripod: Velbon Ultra Rexi L.
Please note: Affliate links- some of these links may go to amazon.co.uk. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This does not affect the price you pay.
Which easel or pochade and tripod for Plein Air Painting? Read More »
Last November on my annual trip to paint in Venice I was joined by quite a few friends from the UK, Spain and even the US.
There were 13 of us in all and this is a short film I made between paintings. We are all in it somewhere although I didn’t catch everyone painting.
It is intended to be a reminder of the trip for those that were there but I though I would also share it with everyone else.
It’s in 720HD so watch it full screen and turn up the sound. I hope you enjoy it.
Paintings by myself and several others on the trip are on show at the Mine Gallery in Carshalton. Impressions of Venice runs until 30 March 2013.
Artists on the film that are in the show are:
David Bachmann
Roy Connelly
Tony Dakin
Tim King
Valérie Perlot
Michael Richardson
Haidee-Jo Summers
Karl Terry
Painting outside is a great way to capture a scene. You experience the changing light first hand and also get to meet people who are interested in your work – people like the guy in this short animation I created. The video is just a bit of fun but the questions are genuine, if you paint outside I’m sure you’ll recognise them…
Are you an artist? Read More »
This is one of three paintings of Venice that I have on show in Impressions of Venice at the Mine Gallery.
Below is a shot of me working on one of several nocturnes painted on my latest trip. This was taken near the Grand Canal looking towards the Gritti Palace.
Photo by Carol Duke. Visit her website.
Mine Gallery
30-34 High Street, Carshalton
Sutton, Surrey, SM5 3AG
+44 (0)20 8647 1800
EXHIBITION DATES
Opening night: 6-9pm Friday 1 March 2013
Open to public: 10am Saturday 2 March 2013
Closes: 4pm on Saturday 30 March 2013
Exhibition catalogue: Available to download during show
OPENING TIMES
10am until 5pm: Monday, Tuesday and Friday
Late night from 10am until 8pm: Thursday
10am until 4pm: Saturday and Sunday
Closed: Wednesday
Car park: Directly opposite gallery on high street
Impressions of Venice Read More »
We have been lucky to have had snow on the ground for about 10 days now. This is one I painted a couple of days ago not far from Arger Fen in Suffolk.
The light changed constantly while I was painting. When the sun was in I worked on the sky and corrected the drawing, when the sun was out I worked on the snow with it’s enticing blue shadows. In the middle distance you can see the sun-lit trunks of the silver birches in Cowlin’s Wood.
It is in oil on stretched linen canvas and measures 12 x 24 inches, 30.5 x 61cm.
Click to view a larger image.
This week saw the launch in London of Ken Howard’s latest book – Ken Howard’s Switzerland. It was also the opening of his latest show – a fine exhibition of eighty paintings celebrating his 80th birthday. The exhibition at Richard Green Gallery, 147 New Bond Street, runs until 2nd February 2013 and is well worth seeing.
Ken Howard’s Switzerland is an account of his journeys, over the last few years, through Switzerland in the footsteps of JMW Turner RA.
Jürg Gabathuler, Ken’s friend, co-author and ‘fixer’ for the Swiss expeditions was also present and he has written an excellent account of the trips at gabathuler.co.uk
The day was a perfect excuse to get together with some of my plein air painting friends, look at some great paintings and enjoy a very fine hot chocolate on Piccadilly…
Ken Howard’s Switzerland Read More »
I have just returned from my annual painting trip to Venice. I haven’t photographed my paintings yet but here is a shot of one on the easel. Below, paintings on the floor in my palazzino – ready to pack.
Sunset Above the Stour. Oil on board, SOLD
I am very pleased to, once again,have had work selected for the annual exhibition of the New English Art Club (NEAC). I painted this picture on location above the Stour Valley in Suffolk back in February 2012. The painting sold at one of the private events before the show opened but there are many great works by many of my favourite artists on show so do try to get along and see them.
The exhibition is on at the Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, SW1 from the 30th of November until the 9th of December 2012.
Another of my snow paintings from earlier this year has also been selected for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters annual exhibition later this month. Come back soon for details…
