Day 58

Well since returning from Antibes Im dissapointed to say until today I havent painted. Thats at least 3 if not 4 days in  total. That said if you add all the paintings Ive done up in the last 59 days I think Ive still managed almost 1 a day :-) The weather has been awful since my return and also Ive just been so busy. Today I have spent a few hours sorting things out in my studio . Touching up paintings that have been damaged and I started a 20 x 30 studio painting of a parasol pine based on one of my studies from the past week. Have spent 2 hours on it so far but probably need one or two more hits another day. Im hoping this week to get back on schedule and start doing one painting a day. Perhaps I should have called my blog 1 painting every other day or so :-)

1st hit Parasol Pine Cap D Antibes 20 x 30

Larger painting wit study.I havent copied it exactly but just using it as reference. When its done Im going to attempt more ambitious one about 6ft x 4ft

My studio 1

My studio from above

Days 43 to 54

Well I havent posted anything for several days as I have been away. First I went to Suffolk for four dayswith my family.Had hoped to do a few paintings but poured hard the whole time. So just did 2 pictures outside and a couple of crappy still lifes. Then I went back to work for a day before heading out to South of France . Met up and painted with my friend Paul eah day. Had a wonderful time, but again the weather wasnt fantastic apart from on the Saturday. Have posted most of what Ive been up to but have a few more to photograph. Back to normal now will try again to do something most days, but for sure its going to prove difficult :-)

The Beach at Dunwich Suffolk 12 x 16

Still life of lemons 6 x 8

Still life of mushrooms 6 x 8

Woodbridge from Sutton Hoo, Suffolk  12 x 16

Parasol Pine Cap D'Antibes 12 x 16

Sunlit Rocks Juan Les Pins 11 x 16

Parasol Pines 2 Cap D'Antibes

The Rail Crossing Mougines 8 x 10

Beautiful Villa Mougines 12 x 16

still life of 'Dorades' Casa Rafferty, Mougines 12 x 16

Wet Afternoon St Paul de Vence 12 x16

On the Road to Grasse 8 x 10

Towards Monaco from St John Cap Ferrat

Away for 12 days

Im afraid I wont be posting anything for next 12 days as I will be away on holiday. When I get back I will hopefully have lots to add. Good news on Wapping Group front as today I found out that I have been accepted as a candidate. This means I can paint with them all season and apply for full membership in Feb 2010.. Just have to paint well :-)

day 42

Had a great day today. Had to go to London and couldnt have worked if Id wanted to as I woke up to 7 inches of snow. Treacherous drive for 1st half hour and then amazingly at Maidstone no sign of any snow.
Got to London at 1pm only to find  that Id left my tripod at home. Fortunately I had my little pochade box with me, so was able to do two little studys. Sat in Trafalgar square and painted with David Bachmann and Roy Connelly, and it was SO cold I couldnt feel my fingers. At 6pm had to hand my work in for viewing by selection committe of Wapping Group in the amazing rooms of the London Sketch Clubon Dilke Street. No idea how it went, probably wont find out for a few days. Whislt waiting the two hours for the committe to look, David kindly took me to the studio of his Lebanese painter friend in Tite Street called Romanos Moukarzel. ..a lovely guy and good painter.I felt a bit out of my depth as both he and David have done alot of portrait painting and Ive done absolutely none! The model was lovely but I felt awkward sitting on a little stool in the corner with my 6 x 8 pochade box. Would have felt much more comfortable standing at an easel. Anyhow I did my very first portrait..not a complete disater e=seeing as I only had a little over an hour on it, but lots to learn. I dont think Ill make a portrait painter though. The photo quality is awful as taken on my Blackberry again!

Into the sun through Marble Arch 6 x 8

Trafalgar square 6 x8

My first ever oil portrait 8 x 10

Day 41

Well had busy morning at work although interrupted by several phone calls :-)
Snowed a little bit tis afternoon but didnt settle . Drove down to The River Rother at about 3.30 and did little pochade study with Chris. When we finished it started snowing very heavily. Tomorrow if weather is not to bad Im going to London all day to paint and then handing my paintings into the selection  committe of the Wapping Group for which I am applying for canditure.I doubt very much that I will post anything tomorrow as it will be a very late night. Ive got some reasonable pictures to hand in but not holding by breath :-)

The Rother from Iden Lock 6 x 8

PD 40

No painting during the day, but came home to find my wife Jo had set up a still life of pomegranates and Denby plate for me! How nice of her. By god pomegranates are hard to paint though..give me a fish anyday. All good experience I guess. I think the pomegrantaes could do with another hit when the paints a bit dry..abit splodgy at the moment.I was quite pleased with my knife though :-)

Pomegranates and Denby plate 12 x 12 oil on board

Day 39

Well had a busy morning at work and then the weather turned bad. Had hoped to find some snow on the North Downs and ended up painting small pochade study in van at Bredgar ducik ponds with Chris. Really enjoyable and something I wouldnt have painted, but Chris fancied it. Very dark and close tond and my oor photo with blackberry doesnt help:-)

Bredgar Duckpond, winter  6 x 8