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Monday, May 18, 2015
Painting in Provence, France
Painting in Provence, France
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| Lavender Fields near Sault, with Mount Ventoux in the distance |
In addition to Julian's expert mentoring whilst painting this wonderful landscape, we were accommodated at La Madelene, and what an exceptional experience it was. It is a beautifully renovated 12th century priory near Malaucene.
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| La Madelene |
Monday, October 20, 2014
Plockton, Scotland
Always enjoy visiting Plockton when returning to Scotland.
It has been 16 years since I last visited and it is still as beautiful & picturesque as always. The village is located on the west coast just about 5 miles north of the Kyle of Lochalsh where the new Isle of Skye road bridge meets the mainland.
Due to the currents the seas are warm but it is quite a surprise to see palms trees (similar to the Pandamus trees we have in Australia) lining the shore front. If you were a fan of the TV series Hamish Macbeth starring Robert Carlyle, then it will look familiar as it was the setting for the fictional town of Lochdubh.
Stayed in the pub and we had a great view from our bedroom over Loch Carron. In the evening the loch is usually very quiet, but this evening we were lucky to see a regatta as a fleet of sailing boats in the distance - they emerged from "who knows where". One with blue sails joining them from the just in front of the village. We were able to get a few watercolour sketches done on the spot and afterwards an oil of the boat with blue sails
More information on the website for "Undiscovered Scotland"
Due to the currents the seas are warm but it is quite a surprise to see palms trees (similar to the Pandamus trees we have in Australia) lining the shore front. If you were a fan of the TV series Hamish Macbeth starring Robert Carlyle, then it will look familiar as it was the setting for the fictional town of Lochdubh.
Stayed in the pub and we had a great view from our bedroom over Loch Carron. In the evening the loch is usually very quiet, but this evening we were lucky to see a regatta as a fleet of sailing boats in the distance - they emerged from "who knows where". One with blue sails joining them from the just in front of the village. We were able to get a few watercolour sketches done on the spot and afterwards an oil of the boat with blue sails
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| Watercolour over 2 pages of a foldout watercolour sketch book |
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| Oil on Board 16 x 8 inches (40 x 20 cm) |
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| Watercolour over 2 pages of a Strathmore Watercolour Sketchbook |
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Santiago and Lima - Arriving in South America
After a 12 hour flight from Sydney to the other side of the Pacific Ocean, we land in Santiago, Chile. As we need to wait 5 hours at the airport for a connection to Lima in Peru, it is a good excuse to get the sketchbook out and test the small watercolour kit that I will be using for this trip. I have shrunk my usual kit down to basic essentials,which fits in a pencil case.(but a largish one)
It comprises of :-
- A Winsor and Newtown watercolour field box, but I replace the standard pans with tube colours of my choice. I also leave dried colours on the palette as it gives me nice greys. The top of this box acts as a water reservoir. I bought this box online from the UK at 40% of what they sell for in Australia.
- Two soft brushes for washes, which I wrap in the bamboo mat you see underneath. I have tried all sorts of expensive brush containers whilst travelling but they all end up bending the brush tips. Wrapping the brushes in the bamboo and securing with an elastic band is the best way I have found to safely carry soft brushes, and it cost all of $1.
- A soft pencil 4b and a mechanical pencil with a putty rubber.
- White gouache occasionally used for highlights and error fixing. Need to watch you don't use much as it can kill the freshness of a sketch.
- A grey pen, waterbrush and a few water soluble colour pencils round the kit out.
Sketching enhances my observation skills and gives me a vivid and a detailed image in my mind of the places that I have been to. I don't get this quality of observation when using a camera and at times need to resist seeing a trip through a camera lens which provides a very constrained view. Another advantage to sketching is that it is an "icebreaker" and you meet many people who come up and talk to you.
Due to a temperature inversion layer, Santiago is usually very misty and at times the hills at the airport just vanished. We flew on to Lima, the capital of Peru which lies about 12 degrees south of the equator. Like Santiago we unexpectedly arrived in a mist. Lima is surrounded by desert and it hardly rains during the year. In fact it is one of the driest capital cities in the world. Water is diverted down from the Andes and public parks are watered by trucks. Hydro is used for power.
The mist was quite unexpected considering the location of both cities. It is quite humid and the unusual weather is due to the locations on the Pacific Ocean near the foothills of the Andes. The cool Humboldt current runs along the coast and reduces the effect of the tropical sun and producing the high humidity causing the clouds and mist. The Andes Mountains prevents the west coast of Peru from receiving tropical storms and rains from the Amazon basin .
We flew onto Lima and spent a couple of days there. Landing right in peak hour and the traffic was bedlam, it took over an hour to get to our hotel in Miraflores which was much quieter and had a lovely park named after J.F. Kennedy. The church below was beside the park with a square of restaurants adjoining. The park was full of dumped cats with signs asking people to adopt them. Lima is very clean with lots of street sweepers endlessly cleaning. Police were very visible which initially made me a little concerned, but they include "tourist police" who are there to help and watch over visitors. In fact we felt very safe where we were and the people very friendly, although tourists do get constantly approached to buy all sorts of things. I developed the impression that Peru is really trying to build its tourist business and is employing lots of people to make it a safe and clean destination.
We flew onto Lima and spent a couple of days there. Landing right in peak hour and the traffic was bedlam, it took over an hour to get to our hotel in Miraflores which was much quieter and had a lovely park named after J.F. Kennedy. The church below was beside the park with a square of restaurants adjoining. The park was full of dumped cats with signs asking people to adopt them. Lima is very clean with lots of street sweepers endlessly cleaning. Police were very visible which initially made me a little concerned, but they include "tourist police" who are there to help and watch over visitors. In fact we felt very safe where we were and the people very friendly, although tourists do get constantly approached to buy all sorts of things. I developed the impression that Peru is really trying to build its tourist business and is employing lots of people to make it a safe and clean destination.
Church of Virgin Milagrosa, Miraflores, Lima, Peru
8 x 5.5 inches (20 x 14 cms)
8 x 5.5 inches (20 x 14 cms)
Watercolour, pen and pencil on Stillman and Birn beta paper
The "old" centre of Lima with its yellow buildings and ornate balconies
The Love Park is located on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The walls are clad with mosaic tiles embedded with romantic quotes and this monumental statue of two lovers engaged in a passionate kiss. The sculpture celebrates the lovers who gather to watch the sunset, and evidently compete for the longest kiss under the statue.
Next it is off to the highlands of Peru and the discovery of pisco sours.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Circular Quay from The Harbour Bridge, Sydney
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| Circular Quay from The Harbour Bridge, Sydney Watercolour, pen and goauche on watercolour paper 8.5 x 5.5 inches (21.6 x 14cm) This painting will be available from my next newsletter, click here to subscribe. |
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| The Sea Princess had just come under the Harbour Bridge and is leaving towards the Pacific, where the Radiance of the Seas awaits her. |
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| The Sydney Opera House watches over the traffic entering Circular Quay. |
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Congwong Beach, near La Perouse in Sydney
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| Congwong Beach, Sydney Watercolour and gouache on watercolour paper 40 x 15 cm
Painted this one a few weeks ago before the weeks of rain set in. Another new discovery in Sydney. Been to La Perouse many times but never noticed this beautiful sheltered beach before, which is located south of Sydney on the northern entrance to Botany Bay.
My weekly sketching trips are revealing so many new places that I have never been to before in Sydney. I have become a tourist in my own town.
I also find that having sketched a place, the image cements itself in ones head. Sketching is much better at engraining a view in ones head than taking photos. |
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Central Australia - East MacDonnell Ranges Part 2 : Trephina Gorge
One of the highlights of our trip to the MacDonnell Ranges was the day spent painting and sketching at Trephina Gorge, about 85 kms east of Alice Springs. The landscape consists of sheer red rock quartzite cliffs with a shallow sandy creek running through, fringed by river gums.
I can be contacted at the following link click here to contact me
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| Trephina Gorge Acrylic on Paper
on 300gsm watercolour paper
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I unintentionally, but consistently painted a face in nearly all the rock faces that I drew or painted.
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| Trephina Gorge 2 Acrylic on Paper
16 x 6 inches (40 x 15 cms) on 300gsm watercolour
paper
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It was quite a hot day and the acrylic paint needed to be consistently sprayed to keep it workable. I
used a "stay wet palette" & did enjoy using acrylic on this trip. I was able to get a less finished look than I normally get with my usual oils, The rougher paper texture helped, as well as the need to paint quickly before the painting dried.
I can be contacted at the following link click here to contact me
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