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:-

Morning Shadows, Carnivan Beach

I got out early this morning to catch the brilliant clear sunlight, suspecting that it was one of those days that would cloud over as the day progressed. As expected, it clouded over completely after about an hour and a half, but I was almost finished by then.

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

I took this photo of the scene before I started:-

Low Tide, Ballyhack

Painted at a group paint-out last Sunday, once again we were blessed with a beautiful day despite ominous weather forecasts. I was immediately drawn to the combination of shadows and reflections in the mud, but I also wanted to draw the eye up the hill behind the castle.

Low Tide, Ballyhack
(12" x 10" Oil on Canvas)

I took this photo of the scene before I started:-

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:-

More from Art in the Open 2010

I finally got around to photographing the rest of the stuff from our annual plein air festival, Art in the Open. The first two were both done at a paint-out in historic Tintern Abbey. A great spot for painting if sunny, but unfortunately it remained overcast all day. It was, however, quite a bright and relatively warm day.

Reflections, Tintern Abbey
(12" x 10" Oil on Board)

Low Tide, Tintern Abbey

(10" x 12" Oil on Board)

Off to Johnstown Castle gardens the following day for another paint-out. Due to other commitments, I could only stay for the morning, but managed to finish this one of the glasshouse in the walled garden. Another overcast but fairly bright day.

The Glasshouse, Johnstown Castle

(10" x 12" Oil on Canvas)

The last one here was done around midday on the Sunday of the competition proper. I don't usually do street scenes, so decided to push myself right out of my comfort zone by finding the most public place possible!

Cloudy Morning, South Main Street, Wexford
(12" x 10 Oil on Canvas)

Here are some photos of the scenes:-

 

Kilmore Quay Paint-Out

Our "Art in the Open" plein air festival kicked off with a paint-out to the fishing harbour of Kilmore Quay. A busy, bustling place with trawlers and smaller fishing vessels coming and going (a good idea to make sure that the boat you're going to paint isn't going anywhere soon!). We had a great turn out and the weather obliged too with a beautiful sunny afternoon.

I did the first one in the overcast morning conditions. Despite the clouds there were great reflections in the water.

Reflections, Kilmore Quay
(12" x 10" Oil on Board)

I painted the second one in the afternoon, opting for this close up view, with just enough information to suggest bright afternoon sunlight.

Afternoon Sunlight, Kilmore Quay

(10" x 12" Oil on Board)

Lunch was great fun, with the best fish n' chips in Ireland (the fish only has to travel about 100 yards!)

Here are photos of both scenes:-