En Plein-air

Having become a member (one of 2000-or so) of Facebook's UK en-plein air society, it has given me further encouragement and inspiration to get out there and paint rather than being stuck in the studio (with constant interruptions and vying for space with my framer - and wife - who's working practice involves watching Desperate Housewives on her iPad). So an agreement has been made whereby I get out and do more in the open air. Although this year has been fantastic for the weather, dry hot, sunny blue skies almost daily, a constantly blue sky can be a bit boring after a while, and one yearns for a change - well I certainly received the change yesterday when I went out to paint at Malham Tarn; the light changed every 15 seconds sometimes for the worse but often for the better where I found myself going over what I had already painted, darkening the sky and highlighting the hills, pretty much constantly through the 2 hours I allotted myself for this painting.

Malham Tarn 10" x 12" Linen Canvas - Unfinished!

The constantly changing weather is reflected in the clothing of the two protagonists, one wearing shorts and a vest top, the other wearing full rain gear. I thought I was being clever - more than likely I'll just upset someone. The painting is certainly not finished and as it was painted on my own (wife-made) linen stretched-canvas will require a certain amount of further work to make it one which I am happy with. However for a first pass I am happy with it, but I am rather looking forward to fettling with it.

Pen-y-Gent 8" x 6" MDF panel

This one of Pen-y-Ghent and Upper Ribblesdale was painted during one of them 'Scorchio' days on my little pochade box (8" x 6"). I love this little box, although I have tried mounting it to a tripod twice with both times ending in disaster... still I can work with it on my lap and knacker my back for the effort - being constantly hunched over.

Field Laithe - Stainforth 8" x 6" MDF

Halton Gill 8" x 6" MDF

It is educational and it is a completely different discipline, most of which is preparation! I must be the most unprepared plein-air painter I know, normally packing everything I don't need and forgetting fairly critical things like brushes, white spirit, certain paints etc. etc. The other main difference for me is being completely absorbed by the subject, in the studio I find I do a lot of procrastinating during a painting, dithering between drinking coffee and washing brushes, cleaning my pallet, googling stuff, staring at old paintings and so on ad-infinitum; however outside it's just observation and painting, with the occasional chat to inquisitive passers' by and of course the obligatory coffee while stepping back to judge the scene, although I do find I step further back than is necessary to make the painting look half decent!

In Littondale

A nice quick piece, developed from a watercolour sketch painted on location of one of the many ruined barns in Littondale. The sunlight backlit the barn tremendously and at the time ticked the composition boxes, although in retrospect I am thinking that yet again there is too much colour saturation and regardless I am happy with it. The little figure was thrown in to provide a focal point, a touch of life and develop a little story around the piece.

In Littondale: Oil on Board 7" x 7" Framed

Littondale

I have had a 20" x 8" box canvas kicking around the attic for some time, so last week I decided to make some use out of it. The view is along the road from Stainforth to Halton Gill, and after some to-ing and fro-ing in the car like a fat lady getting comfortable on a chair I pointed the boot of the car in the right direction.
What grabbed me about the view is the feeling of distance in this little-visited part of the dales. Most visitors tend to end their trip up Littondale at Arncliffe and then head off to Malham, which is a shame, as one of the best pubs in the county is found at Litton, the Queens Arms is a great place for sunday lunch following a walk around the river, it also offers B&B accomodation. This is the view from the top road looking southeast down the valley.

Initially the scene was painted in some rather old acrylics I have kicking around the studio, and rather wish I hadn't, although the skies look leaden the day was rather warm and the paints dried instantly on the canvas which made blending nigh-on impossible. Also you can probably guess I painted the sky first (when the day was a bit duller) and the hills later on, as the sky cleared somewhat, still the result is rather pleasing.