Country Lane

This scene is right on the edge of the Peak District National Park. It's one of my favorite spots, with beautiful farmland views on all sides, except just to the right of where I painted, you can see the city of Sheffield in the distance. There is a bench at top of the lane where I often sit when I need to do some thinking. Today, I just painted.



Oil on gesso'd card, 8x6

Midday Shade

Just a quick one, today. I sat in the shade of some trees, surrounded by several clumps of nettles, to paint this. I had to work quickly as I was out cycling in my lunch hour, hence the smaller size. I'm thinking I'll probably stick to doing smaller studies for a while, concentrating on getting my values and colours right, without getting carried away with a full painting. I'll be able to paint more frequently, too!



Oil on gesso'd Jaffa Cakes box, 5.5x3.5

View from Foxhall Lane

As my confidence in painting out of doors increases, I find myself sitting in less and less secluded spots. Today I sat on the grass at the side of a country lane, pochade in hand and painted this scene. It was a lovely day and I really enjoyed talking to the walkers and cyclists that came past.



Oil on Gesso board, 8x6.

Old Cricket Pavilion

It's been much too wet to paint outdoors, this week. Not wanting to the lose the momentum I'm building, I painted this one from a photograph. It's an old disused cricket pavilion, at the same location as my lost post. When I was a small boy, many years a go, it was used regularly but now it is fenced off; to protect it from the youth element and the youth from the asbestos in its roof.

The subject of the picture is quite different from what I'm used to and some months a go I probably wouldn't have attempted it. It was a great learning experience, although I'm not sure I've got the colours of the buildings quite right.



oil on gesso board, 8x6

Carterknowle fields

This is a school sports field not far from where I live. A lot of local people use it to walk their dogs on, outside of lesson times. The trees in the picture are on a banking that separates two football pitches. There were goal posts in front of them but I thought the picture would be better without them.



oil on gesso board, 8x6.