CAN YOU SEE THE TOWER?

Not at all clear in the drawing, but in the painting the white stone tower stands out clearly against the trees behind it. It is just to the left of the tree in the foreground. The tower is an 18th century observatory financed by a local doctor to provide employment for out of work farm workers. There is a road that runs along side it but this is not the best view for a painting. My photo was taken from a high hill about a mile from the tower where you could see the woods and hills rising behind it. Wasn’t keen on the square format for the painting but it was the only board I had left. Seems to have worked out ok.

The doctors tower. Day 1

SHOCKING COLOUR

I am still trying to adjust to this artistic revolution that has occurred in the last month. Revolution because this it was a conscious leap into something that is quite unfamiliar. My landscape paintings followed the traditional landscape palette even though my outlook to painting has never been traditional. I think the colour now, and my philosophy are now properly matched. This painting is finished.

The old tree

A CLEARER VIEW

This is quite a chaotic scene and I am trying to make more sense of it so the tree and its environment are clear. Good progress today, the base is there and more clarity will arrive. On a studio note, a good upgrade, its own dedicated router which means streaming music through my hifi, I am not roughing it.

The old tree. Day 3

ANOTHER WRESTLING MATCH

This is a slightly different subject and composition and I wasn’t sure how this would all turn out. I think I am winning the fight and there is potential in this painting but there is a lot of sorting out to do.

The old tree. Day 2

LOOK HARDER

How many times have I driven and cycled past this scene without realising what an extraordinary site it is. Its late autumn which means there are areas of golds and reds which outnumber the greens. Helped by a clear autumn sky, sunshine and a Leica M8 for any aficionados out there. The colour journey will intensify, I hope all of this comes through in the painting.

The old tree. Day 1

DONT NEED AUTUMN COLOURS

It seems like the previous painting ‘Pike House Hill’ was the springboard for this painting. I liked the autumn colours so much in the previous painting that I decided I was going to keep those colours without a need for an autumn theme. This painting is finished.

Approaching storm

THE LEAP TO COLOUR

That’s what it feels like, I think when I came back from Mexico in March I wanted to retain the much stronger purer colours of that climate. I think not only have I done this but I have applied it to the landscape of Northumberland and pushed it on again. I was concerned at first that I wouldn’t be able to make it work, as it relies on a lot more invention. It seems that I shouldn’t be concerned. This painting is almost finished.

Approaching storm. Day 9

DRAMATIC WEATHER

Has become a growing interest for me this year. I am going out an hour before darkness with my camera and am getting some very useable photos in terms of painting. Hoping to continue this theme with the next painting.

Approaching storm. Day 8

NORTHUMBERLAND

Is the best place to see a tropical summer storm, at least as far as this painting is concerned. I think the sky is finished. Its pushing the pastel palette about as far as I want to go and is a million miles away from the grey scene of my photo, although the photo is quite spectacular. The land is taking shape nicely, I am wondering if I can increase the big tonal contrasts in it to emphasize the strong and dramatic shafts of light.

An approaching storm. Day 7

FREESTYLING

The act of improvisation without pre planned material, so not entirely true but its not that far off re the colour, and I think its working. My assumption is if I can make it work now then I should be confident about pursuing this much more bold colour palette going forward, and I like the overall effect. I think it goes hand in hand with my preoccupation with finding shapes and rhythms in the landscape and making the whole scene more artificial or conceptual, if you like.

An approaching storm. Day 6

ANGRY AND MAGNIFICENT

As any storm should be. This sky definitely has the menace of a storm, it has that barely contained energy within the forms and colour that suggest something big is about to happen. This is what I wanted, something charged with colour rather than the conventional heavy greys and blacks usually associated with bad weather. I think the sky is almost there though I may do a bit more with it. There are some strong darks and strong greens within the foreground trees, this is starting to appear.

An approaching storm. Day 5

IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER

I am painting a summer landscape, just because I like the photo rather than a form of escapism. I don’t have any good winter landscape photos yet so I am safe from the harsh realities of life. Started to put in the trees, its going to be high contrast and saturated, tonally accurate but much liberty taken with the colour.

An approaching storm. Day 4

A COLOURFUL JAMBOREE

Only a couple of hours done today due to a social engagement and wasn’t going to post anything. However, I am liking the way this scene is appearing. I am beginning to think that these images do need to be pushed, not just from a drawing, compositional point of view but also in terms of colour which means a journey into the unknown.

An approaching storm. Day 3

ITS NOT A SUNSET

Thats what I kept telling myself and at the same time using intense colours to try and depict a storm. I have gone off on a tangent re the colour. In the photo it is shades of grey but I am consciously trying to develop a more vibrant, and possibly more emotive and non naturalistic approach to colour. I think I have captured the more menacing aspect of a coming storm rather than a serene sunset. Its a good start and this will need carrying through to the landscape which is flooded in this light.

An approaching storm. Day 2

THE LANDSCAPE IS ALIVE

There is a bright luminosity to the whole sky which is very unusual. With such big compact clouds you would expect them to be quite dark but the opposite is true. Then you look at the landscape below and every part of it is flooded with this light. Its quite a dramatic scene. Hopefully this will come through in the painting.

An approaching storm. Day 1

NO NEED FOR DRUGS

There was a brief period around here for a couple of weeks when the landscape was a riot of oranges, reds, yellows and greens. It was almost like a hallucination. Now sadly it is over, all I have are the photos which I thought would supply me with enough material until next year. However, this is now finished and the next painting is quite different. Ive never liked repeating myself. This painting has turned out really well and may well be the only autumn scene of the year.

Pike House Hill

THE LAST PUSH

Left myself with just a few more pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. I think I am going to follow the seasons in terms of landscape painting. I think this is something I do anyway. This means a few more dazzling autumnal views, I think I have the photos for this. Then a brief period of the bleak midwinter before I flee to Mexico at the beginning of January to continue my second year of Mexican landscape painting. Liking the conclusion of this painting, must finish this tomorrow.

Pike House Hill. Day 10

BOLD, GRAPHIC, WACKY

I’ve always kept an open mind as to where my painting takes me. Yes, I feel that it is the paintings leading me rather than the other way around. And thats the way I want it, it takes you into unknown territory and you need to have a certain boldness and confidence to follow its lead. I am very curious as to how the next few paintings will turn out. Its that curiosity and unpredictable nature of my painting that keeps me interested. This is going well and it seems like it will reach a good conclusion.

Pike House Hill. Day 9

I LIKE IT

After deliberating for several days the conclusion is that I like this slightly wacky take on landscape painting. To me its like the previous painting but just dialled up a little bit more. I like the more radical compositional solution of really pushing up the central hill and pulling the clouds below the hill top. Also the ramped up colour although this is greatly helped that it was an autumnal photo with the trees in yellows and orange. Onwards and upwards.

Pike House Hill. Day 8

A CURIOSITY

Still don’t know what to make of this painting, maybe there is too much going on, I don’t know. I do like it, but its a little bit different to anything I have done before. I always believe you just work through your doubts, eventually things will come right. I think I have got the steepness of the left hill correct, and the way that the trees are just stacked one on top of the other.

Pike House Hill. Day 7