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 »
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 »
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 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: 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
Top: Painting blackthorn. Working on a 36×36 inch canvas on a windy spring morning. The guy rope is to stop the canvas from blowing over. The next stage was to paint the white blossom.
Middle: Towards the end of the first stage of this scene near Stoke by Nayland. It’s the hottest day of the year so far and the light has an Italian feel to light.
Bottom: Apple blossom in the orchard behind our cottage.
Saturday Morning in Hammersmith.
8×10 inches, oil on board.
The warm summer mornings seem to draw everyone down to the river. This view towards Hammersmith Bridge and The Rutland Arms was painted from Furnival Gardens. One of the challenges of painting on location is capturing moving figures. Fortunately, fine days on the embankments of the River Thames provide the artist with a countless stream of figures to paint.
Flights of Angels is, as you have probably realised, by my wife, Victoria Connelly. It was originally published in Germany where it was a bestseller and it was later was adapted into a film for SAT1 television.
A scene from Himmlischer Besuch für Lisa.
Although written in English it has only been available in German until now. You can download the English version from Amazon – Flights of Angels
Flights of Angels – Cover Art Read More »
If you ever paint on location this scene will probably be familiar to you.
Update: The host of this video (Xtranormal) has now closed. I hope to replace this film as soon as possible.
Are you an artist? Read More »
