Monday, August 16, 2010

A Beautiful Day

Some of our plein air group decided to go for a paint-out to the picturesque little village of Screen yesterday. And we got really lucky with the weather, warm and sunny all day! We've had few enough of those here for a couple of months now. I managed to complete three paintings.

I liked the shadow patterns on the road in the morning sunlight:-

Morning Shadows, Screen
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)



By midday it had become quite warm so I sought refuge under a tree near my car and found myself drawn to the strong "contre jour" light on the headstones in the old cemetery across the road. Hardly likely to sell though, but at least it proves I don't always "play to tthe gallery"!


The Old Cemetery, Screen
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)




After a quick lunch I returned and did this one in the late afternoon in a field just outside the village:-

Hay Bales, Near Screen
(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)


 



Here are some photos of the scenes:-






4 comments:

Unknown said...

Real glow to these. The first gives a wonderful feeling of the warmth in the sun. The second has those delightful highlights on the tops of the gravestones. The last is my favourite, glorious recession along with striking composition and great colour and strong values.

Celeste Bergin said...

A scan through your entire blog is a visual treat..you have so much nice scenery to chose from and you do it justice! It makes me wish that my g-g- grandparents had stayed in Ireland. No wait. Then my Mom wouldn't have met my Dad. lol. My favorite of this trio is the cemetery.

Michael McGuire said...

Thanks Mick,

I think the last one is my favourite too. I think I came close to capturing the heat of the late afternoon in this one.

Michael McGuire said...

Good to hear from you, Celeste, and thanks for the kind words. I think you're the first to pick the cemetery as a favourite!