24t March 2010

Well had the day off work today. Was going to paint alone but had the pleasure to paint with my friend Rowan Crew, which was great. We ended up going to Hastings before heading back to Rye and had a very enjoyable day! Was realtively happy with a couple and should have left it there. I will post all 4 but the last was a very lacklustre effort at the end of the day where I just experimented with using much thicker paint than normal and got in a mess :-) Next trip Stow on Wold on Saturday!

Hastings Boats 12 x 16

Yacht Rock Channel 6 x 8 over old painting

6 x 8 towards Rye Harbour

Awful Mess:-)

23rd March

Well its been too long since I posted. So much for my painting a day! Not been very good and its proved impossible to do something everyday and run my life and business. I think when the nights draw out next week Ill have more of a chance to keep on track. I have been out a few times over te last few days and will post some of the results below. Not pleased with anything Ive done of late, but thats how it goes. Still enjoying painting but struggling with it at the moment.
On Sunday I joined some friends on Cheyne Walk in Chelsea and had access to the house boats to paint. A very kind lady that lived opposite also showed us her house which belonged to SIr Phillip Wilson Steer! She also opened a bottle of 1972 port for us and told us not to tell her husband:-) Got tomorrow of work and will paint all day somewhere ..cant wait!

House boats at Cheyne Walk Chelsea 12 x 16

Lots Road Power station  from Cheyne Walk 8 x 10

Pochade box study Camber 8 x 10

15min study at Carshalton pond whilst waiting for John Stillman!

Hopefully I will paint better tomorrow!

day 71

Well again a few days of no posting , but in fairness I havent been at home. Have had most of the week off painting in London with friends and went to the private view of RBA Show at Mall Galleries where myself and my friends Paul Rafferty and Roy Connelly all had work. I was suprised to win the Red Rag Award which is great news as the Red Rag Gallery in Stow on the Wold has now offered to show my work.

Didnt do a huge amount of painting and what I did was only average, but some really challenging subjects!

Wittersham Road Station 6 x 8

Hammersmith Bridge 8 x 10

Camber 10 x 20

Picadilly Gallery 8 x 10

Early Evening in the traffic Island outside Harrods

Day 66

Well its been a while. My painting a day plan has definately gone out of the window. Running a busy business and having a family have made it impossible for me to keep to my self imposed schedule. I did have every good intention and am frustrated to say te least that I havent managed to find time each day. Last week was crazy at work and although I took my box every day I got nothing done. This weekend was beautiful but I had visitors all weekend and only managed to get out for a couple of hours this afternoon. Had a great time and really enjoyed my much neede `fix` although painted quite badly. I joined Chris Daynes at my friend Steve Duffys House in Udimore.He has what must be some of the finest views in East Sussex from his elevated position.My god it was cold and windy though . Within 10 minutes of starting I couldnt feel my finger tips or toes. I should have joined Chris in the comfort of my van with a pochade box. This is one painting that I might touch up abit as the paint was just so sticky I couldnt do any more. Anyway Monday tomorrow and Im going to attempt to start doing something every day again!

Towards the sea from Watlands Farm, Udiimore  12 x 16 oil on board

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 :-)