Canal Bridge, Marple

It's been raining a lot lately so I've had a lot of spare time, in doors. Here's another painting from a photo taken a few years a go.

Canal Bridge, Marple. (8x5)

Cloud study

A few people that I follow have been painting clouds, lately. I love clouds but often overlook them when painting. Here is quite a quick study that I did. 4 colours, as usual, with the addition of some Cerulean Blue for the sky...

Clouds, (8x6)

Barrel Inn, Bretton

One of my favourite places in the Peak District at the moment. I often cycle up the steep hill to take in the views from Bretton. The Barrel Inn is said to be the highest pub in the Peaks and dates back to 1597.

I painted this one at home from as series of photos taken on a recent trip. Again four colour, Artisan oils on gesso'd card.

Barrel Inn, Bretton. (8x6)

It's good to be back...

It's scary how fast time goes by. I doesn't seem like two years since I posted anything to my blog. I certainly never meant to leave it that long.

It's difficult to fit more than one hobby into a limited amount of free time and as I started to cycle more my painting took a back seat. What started as a lunchtime escape grew into me entering and riding organised Audax events, ranging from 100km up to 600km and eventually completing a Super Randonneur series - something I wouldn't have thought possible a couple of years a go.

I've met some great people in this time and seen a lot more of the countryside than before but above all, never lost the desire to paint. With all my immediate cycling goals met I'm now hoping to turn my attention back to painting. To blow away the cobwebs I've been doing a few small studies, at home, from photos. I've also switched from using Griffin Alkyd oils to Artisan - still four colours, though :)



Rusty Barn, Grindleford. (8x4)
 



Ashford in the Water. (8x6)

 

Foolow. (8x6)

 

Castleton. (8x6)

 

 

House at the edge of a field

A quick afternoon painting, done while out cycling. I didn't have long, Today and the weather looked like it would let me down at any minute - luckily it stayed dry. I'm quite pleased with the result but am still struggling a bit with stone colours using my limited palette...



4 colour oil on gesso'd card, 7x5.

Owler Bar

Owler Bar, looking towards North-East Derbyshire. I spotted the field where I painted this last week, while out cycling. At the time there were large bales of freshly cut hay, which I thought would be great to paint. When I arrived there today they had gone, so I sat at the edge of the field and painted the view, instead.



4 colour Oil on gesso'd card, 7x5.

Stanage Edge

Stanage Edge is a popular climbing spot in the Peak District and a very familiar landmark for me when out cycling, in the hills. I was out on such a ride when I spotted a well placed bench at the edge of the road. Part way through the painting I looked round to find myself surrounded by inquisitive sheep. They have an uncanny knack of creeping closer while you're not concentrating on them and freezing as soon as you look up!



Oil on Gesso'd card, 7x5

A Gap Between Showers

A quick painting by my standards. It had been threatening to rain all afternoon but I had to get out and paint something...



Oil on Gesso'd card, 7x5

More Cycle Painting

I painted this one while out cycling in the Peak District. I recently bought a brilliant little tool container that fits into the second water bottle cage on my bike. It is just large enough to fit my four tubes of paint, two short handled brushes and a single dipper - it means I can travel lighter than before and always have my paints with me.



Oil on Gesso'd card, 7x5

Buttercup Field

I painted this study slightly smaller than usual to fit a cut little frame that I found at a car boot sale...



Oil on Gesso'd board, 5x3