Autumn Pond, Forth Mountain

I'd been thinking about painting this pond for a while but wanted to get one of those really clear bright mornings - usually when we get such a morning it clouds over by mid-day, but you can expect a couple of hours of fairly consistent light. I got such a morning last Friday, and true to form it clouded over after a couple of hours but I managed to get the painting finished before the light changed completely.

Autumn Pond, Forth Mountain
(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

Here is a photo of the scene:-

A Blustery Day at the Seaside

It was a typical autumnal day here yesterday, cool, windy and with a constant threat of showers. Perfect plein air weather then! Especially if you're crazy enough to go to an exposed seaside location! Fortunately, there was only one shower all day, but it was very windy, particularly down at Hook Head where I started. It was bordering on being impossible to paint, but I stuck with it, because I liked this dramatic frontlit scene, even if the light kept changing every few minutes.

Showery Autumn Morning, Hook Head
(10" x 12" Oil On Canvas)

I moved up the coast a few miles where it was less windy and was really struck by the dramatic backlight on these cliffs overlooking Carnivan Bay.

Autumn Afternoon, Carnivan Bay
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

Finally, I walked to the far end of Carnivan Beach and did this "contre jour" one looking South West towards Hook Head.

Autumn Evening, Carnivan Beach
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

Here are some photos of the scenes:-

Group Paint-Out in Clohamon

One of our colleagues was kind enough yesterday to let us loose around her home and farm near Clohamon, Co Wexford. Some beautiful panaromic views around the farm and interesting plants and an ornamental pond made for some great variety of subjects. Unfortunately, the bright morning sunlight gave way to more cloudy conditions slightly after mid-day, but at least it stayed dry until evening. I managed to get three completed.

I couldn't resist the combination of reflections and shadows in the pond for my first one.

Autumn Pond
(12" x 10 Oil on Canvas)

By the time I started my second one it had become increasingly cloudy and clouded over completely after about 45 minutes, so I had to wing it a bit.

Before the Rain, Near Clohamon
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

It was totally overcast while painting my third one, so as I usually do, I looked for some colour. Not a lot left at this time of year, but these roses provided a bit of interest.

Maria's Garden
(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

Here are some photos of the scenes:-

A Testing Day

A group paint-out yesterday to Cahore Harbour. A wet, windy day with a few brief breaks, just allowing enough time to get something done. It eventually came down really heavy at around 4-00 pm, just before I had finished my second one, so I had to wing it a little in the studio this morning.

Rough Seas, Cahore Point
(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

High Tide, Cahore Point
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

Here are photos of  both scenes:-

Making Hay (or Waves perhaps!) While the Sun Shone!

We got some beautiful weather here this week. So I made the best of it and did a good few marine plein air paintings. These are my favourites from the week.

Evening Glow, Carnivan Bay
(10" x 12" Oil On Canvas)

Sun and Surf, Hook Head

(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

Hazy Morning, Hook Head
(10" x 12" Oil On Canvas)

Cliff Shadows, Hook Head
(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

Here are some photos of the scenes:-