Plein air painting 29 

The river Itchen is shown in this painting, done during July 2021 during a very hot afternoon. It is in the up direction and would lead you to Winchester, about 12 miles away. The park that it is seen from is known as Bitterne Manor park, on the outskirts of the city of Southampton and is the site of an original roman settlement. The blue horizontal line on the right hand side is the railway bridge that goes across the river, partly hidden by many boats moored in a small marina and links Bitterne station with St Denys station, on the other side of the river. Painted on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5".

Plein air painting 28

Plein air 28 

The river Itchen is shown in the suburb of Northam, in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. It is still quite large at this point and is tidal. The long bridge shown is the Northam Bridge, an early concreate structure built in 1957. The modern flat development (Meridian) behind contains 400 homes and was still being built at the time this plein air was done, in June 2021. It is named after the Meridian TV company that formerly occupied the site. Painted in oils early one morning on mounting board, sized at 12" x 9.5" from the Bitterne side of the river.

Painting faces exercise Zorn palette. Further characters from 'On the Buses'.

A further 3 portraits of cast members from the popular 1970's TV series 'On the Buses'. From left to right can be seen Michael Anthony Robbins as Arthur Rudge, Anna Karen as Olive Rudge and Doris Breamer Hare MBE, as Ethel "Mum" Butler.

Each painting is done on cardboard sized at 12”x 9 “ and painted in oils using the limited 'Zorn' colour palette, consisting of  ivory black, Cadmium red, titanium white and yellow ochre. 

The three main characters artwork can be seen on this link. 

Painting faces exercise 06 Zorn palette

A further selection of faces of unknown people plucked off the internet. Each painting is done on cardboard, primed, and four colours used as in the 'Zorn' limited palette, as discovered by Victorian artist  Anders Zorn. Each one is sized around 12” x 9.5”.

Plein air painting 27

Painted in July 2021 this view shows the Guildhall, a part of Southampton civic centre which acts as a venue for music and other public events. It was build in 1937, along with the police station, library, council offices and art gallery. It is situated in the Cultural Quarter of the City, and occupies one side of the square which was refurbished a few years before this painting.
The plein air painting measures 12" x 9.5" and is done on mounting board in oils. It was done in two stages as work had to be abandoned on the original sitting, so was continued a few days later making sure that the time and weather conditions were the same.

Plein air painting 26 

Northam road, within central Southampton is captured in this plein air painting, created one early Saturday morning in June 2021. The viewer is looking west toward the city centre and two notable landmarks are visible, with the flats known as Albion Towers in the centre of the horizon and one of two large Victorian gas holders, now empty on the left hand side of the composition. A set of traffic lights are on either side of a pedestrian crossing.