The love of sketching

I often lose site of the joy I get from being out in the landscape and putting pencil to paper or brush to canvas , the shear pleasure of trying to capture that moment in time , the fleeting inspiration of the passing kingfisher or Red Kite ,

This week another artist David Cowdry and myself spent the day on the banks of the river Towy in the upper Towy valley , and I must confess that it was a real shot in the arm that I needed, the fresh damp air rolling clouds with flashes of warm sunlight that illuminates the green mossy banks like someone turning on a massive halogen lamp,

I love these wooded banks with interesting overhanging trees draped in blankets of ivy and moss, twisted and knarled branches making ideal perches for the jewel of the river the Kingfisher, 

'One of the few'

Well finally completed my latest commission and delivered it to the client , and to my relief they absolutely loved it , The moment when you unvail the painting is without doubt the scariest feeling in the world and I know many of my artist friends go through the same, that momentary protracted silence when they first see what you have been working on over the past month, 

To be honest I really enjoyed painting this piece not just because of the elements that went into making the composition but the story behind it , makes it all the more pleasing , I have now left it with them and hope that they get many years enjoyment out of it 

Spitfire under Llandeilo Bridge

Making good progress on my next commission drawing, the final painting will be a 3ft x 2ft oil of a Spitfire flying under Llandeilo Bridge, it's s pretty tight squeeze but apparently it was witnessed by a few locals, 

I am currently researching the story , the Spitfire apparently put down on Love Lodge fields which are some way down stream from the bridge , with mechanical problems , after being repaired the pilot took off and did a pass under the bridge ,

When I was approached to do this commission , the story intriuged me and decided to take it on,

There is a very interesting video on YouTube of a similar stunt performed by Ray Hanna in his Spitfire flying under Windton Bridge in Co Durham whilst filming for the 1988 tv series 'Piece of Cake'

It has an uncanny resemblance to the river Towy and the Llandeilo Bridge although Winston is made of brick rather than stone,

I  going to use photographic reference from Spitfires stationed at Pembrey during the war. indeed this could well be the squadron that the aircraft was attached to, 

Anyway back to the composition , I am toying with an idea of placing a framer and cows in the foreground will leave positioning the aircraft once the background is painted and finished. 

Sketching in the studio

Working on my concept drawing for the client

Winter Woodcock

Snow paintings are always a favorite to do, the limited palette that I work with testing me to achieve different lighting conditions and the sense of cold, I was blessed whilst exhibiting in Pawlet Vermont in 2001,I met husband and wife artists John C Pitcher and Sue Westin, who's large snow scenes were so inspirational to me and I would like to thank Sue for telling me what colours she used for snow

Big brush day

Busy day working on decorating a cottage for a friend lovely to have a blank pink walls to paint , chose a neutral colour scheme of white ceiling and English Muffin Matt emulsion for the walls ,all the woodwork is going to be painted in wheatgrass Satin wood, hoping to get it done in the next week or so, 

Next commission

I have secured a very interesting commission which I can't wait to get my teeth into,

I am currently researching the event In local folklore, it is quite an amazing story which will make a great composition, the client is also looking forward to seeing the finished piece,

I shall keep you posted with development drawings and painting updates as the piece progresses.