RETURN TO EARLIER MARINE SUBJECTS

A visit to Le Havre in September during a stormy period of weather instigated a couple of paintings featuring the looming, threatening skies and the still remarkable colour of the sea. These two small paintings are based on the entrance to the port. 

NOVEMBER IN THE ATELIER

After the wonderful weather in October Thursday afternoons were spent in the atelier and we were painting still lifes. It's always a interesting trying to find subjects for Tim and these are some of my attempts alongside him.

An unseasonal rose.

The inevitable bowl of fruit

And then cocktail time

PAINTING WITH TIM ON THURSDAYS

During the autumn on Thursday afternoons I have been painting with Tim one of  my most accomplished élevès. He is a keen watercolourist and I have joined in with him. In the fine weather at the beginning of October we were outside and these are some of the watercolour sketches I made during those afternoons.

The light on the beach is more golden with the low sun

and the foot of the cliffs more sombre.

In the countryside the trees just have a hint of the colours to come.

In the cavées decay and autumn takes over.

Towards the end of October and in November we have to resort to the atelier for some comfort.

Clark Collection at Giverny English video

The Clark Collection at Giverny

SEASON OF MISTS

Late October saw the real beginning of Autumn with colder nights and soft misty mornings. Some really memorable images with pockets of mist hanging in the bottoms of valleys in an almost monochrome landscape punctuated by sharp rays of light illuminating patches of autumnal colour.

OUR SECOND AUTUMN ON THE COAST

The low sun after the equinox made some dramatic light in the early mornings of the wonderful weather we had at the beginning of August. We had unseasonal temperatures in the mid 20's during the first week of October.
This is the first large painting I made in October 100 x 100 cm.

The dramatic diagonal light was a feature of the early morning dog walks on the beach.
I continued to work for a couple of weeks on the same theme and the work formed the key to the latest show in atelier2.

The onset of autumn

Autumn began very softly towards the end of September. There were very subtle signs of the change in colour of the foliage which I found in the small hidden valleys of the Pays de Caux.
These are four paintings I made from watercolour sketches during the finer days of September.

The Clarke collection Giverny

Paintings from the Clarke collection 
Having resisted Giverny throughout the summer months, because it is undoubtably one of the most visited tourist places in France, we went to see this exhibition before it ended.
The museum which is quite small and used to be known as the American Museum has had a temporary exhibition from the Clarke collection. 
We were impressed by both the museum and the show. There was a predominance of Renoir portraits but many of which have not shown in Europe since their purchase direct from the artist.
There was a notable portrait by Berthe Morrissot which was the star of the show for me.

There was also a beautiful still life by Manet which is often illustrated  but was wonderful to see in the flesh.

An unusual Renoir was this one of Couchant de soleil. Almost certainly executed "plein air" and shows a real freshness after all this time.

Exploring watercolour with kahdi paper & Daniel Smith watercolours

Over the latter part of summer I have been exploring some new materials. I am being asked to run watercolour course more and more. Also there is some practical use in that the materials are more easily transported and useable outside. 

I really love the hand made paper an the watercolours have an intensity I haven't found before.

New Expo "une célébration d'été"

The new expo started last Friday. Amazingly the painting featured on this poster was sold on the first afternoon. I often find the poster subject sells but never before on the first day.

une célébration d'été

The latest series of paintings were a response to the incredibly warm weather we had in May and June. The beach was crowded wlth sun seekers in temperatures which occasionally reached 30 degrees. These days are but a fond memory now. These paintings have now formed the basis of a new expo which started on 22nd July.

lire à la plage

le bikini rouge

Alice pêche à pied

p'tits loups et baigneurs

allons à St Val

sieste

serviette de plage rayée

SUNSET IN THE GARDEN COMPLETED

I finished the large garden painting 90 x 90cm. I used some transparent glazes in prussian blue to emphasise the contrast in light.

I also completed two smaller abstractions from the original painting 30 x 30 cm. The first painting I made sold early on in the 'Printemps' expo.

Visions romantiques des côtes de la Manche

A new exhibition has recently opened in Dieppe showing the link between great English watercolorists and French landscape painters of the early 19th century. On the english side the works of J. M. W. Turner, R. P. Bonington, J. S.Cotman, D. Roberts, W. Callow, C. W.Stanfield and E. W. Cooke  are represented. These are being shown alongside french artists such as E. Isabey, P. Huet, E. Le Poittevin, E. Delacroix and V. Danvin.
Follow this link for more information.
Visions romantiques des côtes de la Manche


J.S. Cotman

JOHN SINGER SARGENT

I have been giving a number of watercolour workshops this summer as well as my weekly class. During these we have revisited the work of John Singer Sargent as well as that of W M Turner & Cotman. Tuner is quite well known here in France and some paintings are currently on show at the Château Musée at Dieppe. We came across this archive of Sargent's watercolours at the Metropolitan Museum, New York. It is well worth a browse.
John Singer Sargent
His work is really fresh and vibrant. He devoted his last years to the medium, a complete change from his society portraits.