Arthurstown Paint-Out

A group paint-out to a wet and windy Arthurstown yesterday. A combination of bravado and stubborness helped me to complete two paintings despite the very difficult conditions. The rain cleared for a couple of hours but the very strong wind persisted. I did the first one between about 9-30 am and 11-00 am, the second between about 12-00 pm and 1-30 pm. A much needed sandwich and pint of Guinness in a nearby pub dampened my enthusiasm somewhat when I discovered the rain had returned in the afternoon, so that was it for the day!

Wet and Windy, Arthurstown
(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

Cloudy Afternoon, Arthurstown
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

Here are photos of the two scenes:-

A Street Scene

I usually avoid street scenes, mainly because the distraction just gets to me and I lose concentration. I used to be very self-conscious about setting up in a public place too, but I've largely outgrown that! Anyway, I had some moral support from a few fellow painters when doing this one in Kilkenny recently. I still have a lot to learn about doing such scenes, but at least I feel I'm improving:-

Lunchtime, St Kieran's Street, Kilkenny
(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

Here is a photograph of the scene:-

A Week in West Cork

Just back from a week's break in West Cork. It was a "vacation", but I still managed to do some painting. The beautiful woodland surrounding our cottage provided ample material for me, so I ventured no further. I did all of them fairly early in the morning to take advantage of the early light, but also so as not to get into marital difficulties!

I did the first one just outside out front door. The woods were full of these beautiful wild foxglove flowers.

Foxgloves in Morning Light
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

I painted the next one the following morning about a five minute walk away. The light was very variable so I struggled with this one.

Across the Bay, Ardnagoshel Wood

(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

It was a beautiful sunny morning again a couple of days later, so I got totally consistent light for about an hour or so for this one.

"Sisters", Ardnagoshel Wood

(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

I did the final one the following morning. The light was a bit variable again with intermittent cloud and sunshine, but I'm reasonably happy with the painting.

Dappled Sunlight, Ardnagoshel Wood

(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

Here are a few photos of the scenes:-

Some Paintings from Enniscorthy and Bunclody

I painted the first of these a couple of weeks back with a few friends in Enniscorthy. The reflections in the water were my main focus, but I added historic Vinegar Hill in the background to make it unmistakeably Enniscorthy.

Summer Reflections, Enniscorthy
(12" x 16" Oil on Canvas)

The remaining paintings were painted at a group paint-out in Newtownbarry House a couple of days later. It was a perfect day for plein air painting with uninterrupted sunshine all day.

I couldn't resist the early morning light on the lake to the front of the house for my first painting:-

Morning Reflections, Newtownbarry House

(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

I was drawn to the contrast between the direct sunlight and reflected light in this little area behind the old kitchen for my second effort:-

Red Doors, Newtownbarry House

(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

Finally, I like the sunlight and shadow patterns on the open gate leading to the walled garden, but there also some interesting dappled light on the pathway and grass in the foreground:-

Towards the Garden, Newtownbarry House

(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

Here are some photos of the scenes:-

More Paintings from Brittany

These are some more of my paintings from my recent trip to Brittany with the Wapping Group.

This one was painted on the first morning on the beach at Dinard:-

Morning Glow, Dinard
(12" x 16" Oil on Canvas)

The next two were done on the banks of the River Rance in Dinan on the same day. It was overcast in the morning so the red boat really helped add life to the painting. When the sun came out in the afternoon, the warm/cool contrast and the value counter-change between the dark blue hull of the boat and the sunlit water caught my eye immediately. It was very windy all day too which made for interesting water and reflections:-

Red Reflections, Dinan
(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

Blue Reflections, Dinan

(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

I did the next one on a surprisingly cold, windy and overcast day. Strangely enough I found a scene downstream which looked peculiarly Irish! My main priority was to find a spot where I had some shelter from the cold Northerly wind.

Cloudy Morning, Near Dinan

(12" x 16" Oil on Canvas)

My UK colleagues left on Thursday morning, so after saying my goodbyes, I made my way East with the intention of painting Mont St Michel. However, I quickly realised that the best views can be had looking South from the Cherbourg penninsula, so I made my way North to an almost deserted beach near the small village of St Jean-Le-Thomas and painted this view looking South. I found it rather interesting that the small island of Tombelaine about half-way across the bay lined up perfectly, so that the monastery appeared perched on it. It was a pleasantly warm morning but with a fresh sea breeze and as a result I managed to drop the painting twice while packing up! Fortunately, it landed right side up on both occasions!

South Towards Mont St Michel

(14" x 18" Oil on Canvas)

Here a few photos of the scenes. I appear to have forgotten to take one of the overcast river scene - must have been too pre-occupied trying to stay warm!