As I approach Advent and Christmas, I begin to reflect on my year's work. I have started a series which is a visual study of the rich archeology surrounding Oxfordshire and there is no better place to begin, than The White Horse. White Horse in the mist The first time we visited the White Horse of Uffington was on our wedding anniversary when we stole a day from the week and wandered around this ancient, haunting artwork. The horse is an exquisite graphic design, in a league with … [Read more...]

Happy New Year to all of you. This year, as with last year we need to draw deeply on our personal stamina and resources to keep going and stay creative. I found myself drawing again – for the first time in many years. I think it was because of all the walks in the countryside… I saw little details that I wanted to reference, so I photographed them and did a drawing the minute I got home. This led me into drawing in a number of ways and I found I was encouraging my oil painting students … [Read more...]

Day 10 – the final day of the #tendaychallenge, exploring my theme Colour in landscape. And now with four Ridgeway paintings complete, it is time to paint the iconic Wittenham Clumps that I see every day when I stand at the top of the hill leaving our village. Many artists have been here before me, particularly Paul Nash; but nevertheless it is my view from my village and I just have to honour that view, now that I am finding a way of painting the landscape in colour. Photos are not … [Read more...]

This an Instagram ten-day challenge! I am nearly there now with just one day to go! I hope you are enjoying my journey through colour (in the landscape) Day 9: Of the #tendaychallenge, exploring my theme Colour in landscape. Having done the basics of a) thinking, b) drawing and I went one step further and actually planned some palettes in advance. As with any cooking experiment you start with an idea, then eliminate and then add in. So here is the outline of the ideas and playing with … [Read more...]

This an Instagram ten-day challenge! I am writing these posts to ‘flesh out’ my theme called: The Colour of Landscape Day 8 of #TheTenDayChallenge: Back to the drawing board to meditate and simplify my ideas. I walked in the fields, took photos, drew with a pencil... and one day sat in a field surrounded by sheep and drew in ink on board. Working from a tonal drawing, I can use a colour palette from my visual memory.   My inner brief was to portray this particular view … [Read more...]