I’m very proud to feature in the summer edition of Artists and Illustrators magazine. For the summer they have a 10 page special on painting outside, following four plein air painters painting in Bath and Pin Mill.
On the cover (clockwise from top left): Antony Bridge, Valérie Pirlot, Paul Banning, Roy Connelly.
Artists and Illustrators Read More »
A painting trip. To Scotland. In May. It was always going to rain wasn’t it?
This is a short film I made to show a typical wet plein air painting day on my recent trip.
Like the day itself, there’s a lot of weather and a little bit of painting.
Painting in the rain in Scotland Read More »
The last day of June was a stunner. If only the other 29 days had been as good. I went to Chelsworth in Suffolk for the wonderful Open Gardens day. This was painted on a little island in the River Brett while I listen to a band playing in the grounds of the nearby pub, The Peacock Inn. There is a short video clip below where you can hear the band and listen to water.
Oil on board. 12 x 10 inches.
Chelsworth Open Gardens Read More »
I’m very pleased to say I’ll be teaching my Craft of the Landscape Painter course at Assington Mill in Suffolk again this September.
Working in the grounds of the mill and the surrounding private nature reserve we will focus on producing a series of completed landscapes by direct observation. For those nervous of working out in the open the secluded location is ideal, at the end of a long track down into one of Suffolk’s beautiful ‘hidden valleys’ between Constable’s Stour Valley and Gainsborough’s home town.
September 2013, 10am – 5pm with the option of staying on in the evening
Where: Assington Mill, Assington, Suffolk, CO10 5LZ
What: Take a look at the pdf brochure
Below: Click to read the brochure (pdf)
Plein Air Course 2013 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
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.
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.
This 36 inch canvas of the Stour Valley at Wiston near Nayland in Suffolk was painted in late May 2012. I worked on it for 3 days with the majority of the painting completed on the first day. After that, I only made minor changes and all work was completed on location.
I had thought I was on a quiet road but at one point four cars stopped, completely blocking the road, and everyone had got out to look. It was like a bizzare street party in the middle of nowhere but they all soon left and peace returned to this quiet country lane in a peaceful corner of Suffolk.
Above: Blocking in the big shapes over the ghost of an abandoned painting.
Below: The finished painting – click for a closer look.
Plein Air paintings don’t have to be small paintings Read More »
