Long time no write…I have been painting a lot in my studio and garden and selling on instagram through the #artistsupportpledge – “Due to the COVID 19 pandemic many artists have found themselves without work, exhibitions being cancelled and sales disappeared”  In an attempt to alleviate some of this stress artist Mathew Burrows has instigated this pledge. So it’s been an amazing scheme for me as I didn’t know where I would get an income from this year due to lots of cancellations and it’s allowed me to connect with many other artists and new collectors. It’s given me a purpose and have p ..read more

Felt so inspired had to go back to this lovely spot. The sun has moved the shadows are longer and the light is warmer. Tried it on a larger landscape canvas 12×16″ I’m pleased with the outcome. See previous post to compare the two paintings. Very cool photo taken by my husband photographer – Nick Oakley ..read more

I probably wouldn’t have painted this subject if the lockdown wasn’t happening! Thinking the grass is greener elsewhere and driven out to find a subject. This is a short walk from our house, in the sticks and very quiet. I have painted it a few years ago in the snow. There are lot of aspects which work – the lead in path, the gate for interest, the big trees framing, the hills behind giving a sense of space. Contra jour at around 3-4pm bright afternoon light that creates wonderful shadows. I used a 12×12″board. Keep well, best wishes, Clare ..read more

One week into our lockdown in the Uk and I have been painting like billio. It’s helping me feel ‘normal’ and posting my work on here and social media helps me feel more connected and less alone. I hope you are ok out there. This is an unassuming scene in Portsmouth. My favourite time is early morning as the scene gets better by the minute as the sun rises and the water takes on the colours and light. The little houses make a great skyline shape. I painted this previously but this time the tide was very low which changed the composition. I’ve been told the white boat at the end of the harbour ..read more

It was one of those beautiful perfectly still mornings. The sun rose behind me and I aimed to capture the colours as it did. It’s always tricky to decide when to commit to the colours of the moment. I did it before the sun came up too much so it has a purple-pink theme. Painted on a smooth canvas tinted with Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine mixed in with white acrylic gesso. Painting finished off in the studio. 12×16″  Picture shows early stages and an early start – 5.45am started in the dark, not a soul around. I feel blessed to have painting as my anchor in these uncertain & fearful times ..read more

The spring cheery yellows enticed me to paint them, I thought they looked good in the stripy blue jug! A mixture of daffodil varieties, I especially like the orange centres. Light source manly behind to lift the top daffodil head so it looks transparent.   I had a short window left to paint Snowdrops. Picked from under a large tree saved from the heavy rains. Experimenting with a mid grey background instead of the dark almost black I usually have. More thought then on tonal contrast to make the flowers stand out. – the dark side of the petals blending with the background. I wanted to have a ..read more

A follow on to the 4pm painting on my previous post. I wanted some thing dramatic and confident. An enjoyable paint with lots of subtleties in the darks – warmer pinky/orange and cooler greens/blues ..read more

Having finished my big studio paintings I was able to get back out into the plein air and painting outdoors. It was a shock to the system, bitterly cold wind in my face, I needed to weigh down my easel down with my bag and managed to knock the turps all over me! I also only notice when packing up that my easel feet were missing. So I spent the next 20 minutes on my knees fishing around the mud, I found one and dug it out! Part of painting is about confidence and self belief. It’s surprising, with how much I have painted outside I still get the wobbles. I was feeling rusty doing this one, with ..read more

Last big painting for the Affordable Art Fair. It felt a big task and a pressure to get 3 paintings done and framed in 6 weeks! All the same size of 80x100cm. I am so relieved to have managed it and I’m pleased with the outcome! I have only painted one this size previously so it was out of my comfort and I learnt quite a bit. I thought you might like to read some points I learnt from doing it: Be patient. I am used to painting plein air which by nature is quick and immediate, you see the results and reap the rewards quite often on the same day. Big works are a process and it takes me between ..read more

Sometimes a painting doesn’t go to plan. I started a large one before this and I worked for 2 days on it and then scrapped it. Drawn out, the composition seemed to work but with paint on it was ‘thin’ and lacking. On a big canvas there is nowhere to hide, you can’t fudge an area as it has to all work together. I used a plein air as inspiration for the new works, I spent a whole day planning the composition and when I came to draw it out it was quite quick. I experimented with the height of the struts of Albert and where they should be – I moved them to the right as there was to big a gap top ..read more