Oil painting collection 01

Oil painting collection 01-pictures of Christchurch UK

swans at christchurch harbour
river avon christchurch
christchurch priory

These are the first oil paintings placed here on this site. They were all painted during summer 2010, and based on photographs. The locations are all in the historic and pretty town of Christchurch, Dorset in the UK. The painting of the swans at Christchurch Quay was based on a photograph originally taken during a winter, a few years ago.
Christchurch priory is 12" x16", river avon is 16"x20" and swans at christchurch harbour is 12"x16" in size, on canvas.

from website...
swans at christchurch harbour
This is based on a photograph I took in 2003 during the winter months. The painting pictures a scene at Christchurch Quay, UK, where ducks and swans are quite happy to stroll about with the holiday tourists. The golden winter sun is quite low down as can be seen and shows up well the feathers and construction of the birds from the side. Hengistbury Head can be seen in the distance, past the ongoing mooring of yachts in the area. The photo was heavily altered in photoshop to give me a composition that I was happy to work from.
It is painted in oils on a canvas board measuring 12" x 16". 

river avon christchurch
This oil painting depicts the river Avon at the town of Christchurch, Dorset,UK. It is based on a photograph taken from one of the bridges in Bridge Street. The multi coloured canoes and canoeists add a lot of interest and work well with the strong blue colour of the water. The water reflections were difficult to paint but are probably the center point of interest and worth the time taken to do them well. The artwork is based on a number of photographs, particularly of the canoes, as I wanted to get a good composition using them. The photos were cut up and rearranged to create a final 'master' composition to create the painting with.
The painting is done in oils on a canvas board measuring 20" x 16".  

christchurch priory
The town of Christchurch, Dorset, UK boasts a wonderful priory, painted and photographed many times over the centuries. Construction first started in 1094 AD as a norman church. It took several centuries to construct and is a landmark for several miles in all directions. This painting depicts a view from the well kept high street, looking at the main gates to the entrance of the priory. The painting is in oils on a canvas board measuring 12" x 16". The original photograph was taken in the summer of 2010 but then heavily cropped to give the 'straight on' composition that is seen. I wanted to get the gates archway lined up with the main door way. The late afternoon sun helps to pick out the details of the churches architecture, and does describe a later part of the priory with the stone appearing to be more golden and less weather worn ( bottom of the tower).