Long Shadows

I sketched this view first and came back to paint it the next day. It is a large painting 24"X18", and I attracted quite alot of attention from passers by, which is always a little unnerving. It was the shadow of the large building that attracted me. It passed across the scene surprisingly quickly and created quite a drama. I added the figures in the studio from the original sketch. I want to do it again on a rainy day , I am standing under a large canopy so it will be interesting.

This months painting was done at Haddon Hall, last week, over a couple of hot afternoons. The cascade of roses wrapped around the door to the Hall and gave of a wonderful scent, (which I thought was my deodorant) My picture received much admiration from a gaggle of German tourists, well, I took their gesticulations and holding their noses as an act of appreciation. But I enjoyed painting the picture and being in the sun.

Blossoms in Sheffield

I was determined to get out and paint some of the abundant blossom in Sheffield. I set myself up on the road side and slaved away under the merciless sun. A taxi driver stopped to look, was clearly impressed and asked my to do a painting of an adjoining street for him. 'I will give you ten or twenty quid he said' I made a note of his address and if the recession gets any worse, I might just knock on his door.

I went out on Monday above the city to paint a view of Sheffield nestling in the valley. The temperature outside was 5 degrees so I painted form inside the car. I paint from this spot at different times of day and season, building up a collection of similar views but with completely different atmospheres. Some on asked my how long this picture took....'Forty years and 90 minutes my boy!'

Licoln Cathedral

I visited Lincoln Cathedral on New Years day, I contemplated becoming a monk but decided to stay as an artist. I came back a week later and painted a view down the nave that I had sketched previously. The light faded and it became quite gloomy. I had brought the wrong set of paints (silly me) and had to use a sepia instead of a brown. I find plan B often more interesting than plan A, and was moderately pleased with 4 hours work.

St Pauls Cathedral

I had a day painting in St Pauls Cathedral recently, on a gloomy day with little light. I stood by the tomb of a great artist ; Frederick Lord Leighton....heres looking at you Fred !

I have been painting this week in Haddon Hall, a very hot Monday and did most of the work on location, finishing off in the studio. (The dimensions of this watercolour are 22"X17"). Nice to have a chance to paint a picture again in the open air, we have had much rain recently