Plein air painting 150 

Members of the Southampton Arts society met up on a Sunday morning to paint together at a local location. This was Ashlett Creek in Ashlett, very near to the town of Fawley, Hampshire, and a little distance from Southampton. The creek is on the banks of Southampton water and is famous for the distinctive architecture of the Tidal Mill. My painting features the scene just next to the mill, and shows a great deal of small boats and larger shipping, with Warsash on the opposite side. The day was quite dull weather wise, despite it being a summers day and the tide was quickly coming in as the painting progressed, changing its look.
Painted on mounting board sized at 12 x 9.5", using oil paint. The day was Sunday 21st July 2024.

Plein air painting 149 riverside park

Plein air painting 149 

Riverside flats on the banks of the River Itchen are shown at this location, very close to Cobden bridge which can be seen on the far left. Some old boats/ House boats are shown moored along the bank one of which has partly sunk. The morning was very hot and sunny. 
Painted on the 19th July 2024 on mounting board sized at 12 x 9.5", using oil paint, with a number passers by having a look, as usual.
Below is a photo showing the easel set up at the location at Riverside park, Southampton.

Plein air painting 144 4th july park isaac watts

Plein air painting 144 

Dominating the scene is the statue of Isaac Watts as installed at Watts park in central Southampton. He was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician, born in the town in 1674. Painted during the morning of the 4th July 2024 on mounting board sized at 12 x 9.5", in oils, with a number of people dropping by to see what I was doing, including someone who had seen me in the past, but in a different location.

Plein air painting 142 27th june park wisteria pergola

Plein air painting 142 

East (Andrews) park in central Southampton as painted on 27th June 2024 during an early start one morning. Wisteria can be seen on the right hand side hanging from the pergola along Floral Walk. In the distance buildings along Brunswick Place are visible. 

The landscape painting is done on mounting board sized at 12 x 9.5", using oil paint. One of the council gardeners was often checking progress as the painting was worked on during the course of a few hours.

Below is a shot of the easel (pochade box) in place.

139 16th june old law courts

139 Plein air painting

Southampton's Old Law courts (grade II listed) are seen here on the left, along Castle Lane, a dead end. They date from the 1850's, and were in use until the 1970's.The red brick building on the right is Lansdowne House, with the foot of the steep road beside it known as Landsdowne Road. The lamp post has been hit at some recent point.
Painted one Saturday morning on mounting board, sized at 12 x 9.5", and done in oils, during the 16th June 2024.

Plein air painting 138 09 queensway

Plein air painting 138

One Sunday morning this 'wide' view of Queensway was produced, looking down to Bernard Street. The easel was positioned near to the turning for East Street. It often seems good to paint the cars in first as invariably they will move or have others parked in front.
Painted in oil paint on mounting board, cut to 14 x 7.5" during the 9th June 2024, a sunny summers morning.

studio interior findings 01

Studio interior findings 2024 

'Workmate'

I share an old dilapidated space with fellow artists as our studio. During 2024 I did a series of paintings of things/ interiors within the space, all painted from life, allaprima. 

This is a 'workmate' set up upon the first floor, with sawdust and a plastic bag on the floor.
9.5 x 12" oil on cardboard.

Plein air painting 134

 

Plein air painting 134 rose garden

A meetup of the Southampton Art society took place at the East (Andrews) park, in central Southampton, on the morning of 4th June 2024. The specific location was the rose garden, near the junction of New road and Above Bar Street. In the background can be seen some of the shops, some in scaffolding on the right hand side.
Painted on cardboard in oils, sized at 12 x 9.5".

Plein air painting 130

Plein air painting 130 Debenhams roof

As the Debenhams building, featured on a number of previous posts is so large, it offers other views to be captured. This 'wide' painting, the first done in this format, shows the roof of the single storey café area from a building over-looking it in East Street.
Painted in oils on a Monday morning (20/05/24). The mounting board its done on is sized at 14 x 7.5".

Alice and the nasty head tree - digital illustration

A young girl called Alice in a fantasy world of her creation, is meeting a 'nasty head tree' monster.

This encounter takes place in a wicked old forest full of twisted, dead trees. The tree in question is able to move about and hangs on its branches, heads of past victims. The tree has a face of sorts. Out of its mouth protrudes a long tongue, used to grab its victims. Alice has so far resisted the efforts of the tree during this terrifying encounter.
Digitally painted in early 2024.

The image can be seen in greater detail on this link.

Plein air painting 123 14 april

Plein air painting 123

On Sunday 14th April 2024 a classic car event was staged at the city wall, Southampton. It was named the 'Lord Mayors classic car display' and was for charitable causes. This view shows an Austin open road tourer from 1929. Behind is a Rolls Royce, ex- royal family.
The painting was done in oils on mounting board, sized at 12 x 9.5". It took longer than expected because of a high number of passers by taking an interest.

Plein air painting 120 

Another very cold day following on from the last post with the urban sketchers, this time at Shamrock Quay, Southampton, situated on the banks of the River Itchen. I did not pick a view of any water or boats but examined the architecture on the local business on the quay side with the carpark in front. In the latter stages freezing cold rain came in and I finished off the painting working under a boat on stilts.
Painted 2nd March 2024. Oil on mounting board 12 X 9.5".

Plein air painting 117 

One of the last landscape paintings done during 2023 was this one set in the New Forest, Hampshire. The low moorland is known as Pig Bush. It was a dark, gloomy day with rain threatened. However no pigs were seen. The landscape is mainly populated with heather.

The artwork is done on cardboard sized at 12" x 9.5" with oils, the date being 12th Oct.

Plein air painting 98a

Painted during 15th May 2023 at Warsash, on the outskirts of Southampton, Hampshire. The River Hamble is on the left side with Hamble village, and the marina, in the far background. In the center of the painting is the Harbour Masters Office, a distinctive round building painted in black and white.
The plein air landscape art was done in oils on mounting board, sized at 12" x 9.5".

Plein air painting 97

The old ruins of Netley Abbey have caught the attention of artists over the centuries. It is a late medieval monastery, near the town of Netley, Hampshire. Situated very close to Southampton Water the ruins are a protected ancient monument, overseen by English Heritage. 
This was painted during a paint out day with the Southampton Urban Sketchers on the 13th May 2023. Its sized at 12" x 9.5" and done in oils on mounting board.

Head painting exercise - 'Anderson' 01

Head painting exercise - 'Anderson' set 01

A collection of some puppet characters from the world of Gerry Anderson. The subjects are not the most famous character for each program, but still popular. The 'stars' are left for another time!

Each one painted in oils on cardboard sized at 12" x 9.5", during various points in 2023.

top left - Dr Venus (Fireball XL5), top right - Phones (Stingray), bottom left - Captain Black (Captain Scarlet), bottom right - Sam Loover (Joe 90).

Plein air painting 93

Southampton 'old' cemetery contains a number of buildings, all grade II built around the same time. This one, known as the Non-Conformist Chapel, though used as storage space, was painted on a Saturday morning in February 2023. I joined a group known as the 'Urban Sketchers' for this paint out, so I had plenty of company on that occasion.
The painting measures 12" x 9.5" and done in oils on cardboard.

Seated woman with camera - oil painting

Painted late 2022/early 2023 this artwork features a young woman sitting outside, surrounded by plants, holding a vintage Polaroid camera. The sitter is Khairah, and describing herself in her own words..."Above all else, I love creative expression. Whether it's directing actors on set, writing poems, performing covers, or getting into the nitty-gritty of an academic essay- I am happiest when exercising my imagination."
The painting measures 33” x 23” and is done in oils on mounting board.
I thank Khairah for the opportunity to paint her.

The artwork can be seen in greater detail here.

 Working on closeup 97

A small snippet of a painting featuring a young woman...

Plein air painting 81

Following on from the previous post is this second painting done in the Pepperbox Hill area during October 2022. It was an amazing view that went on for miles and miles. The city of Salisbury is in the view but swallowed by the enormous landscape surrounding it. Originally a herd of cows sat in the bottom left of the scene and sat calmly watching me set up. As soon as I dipped the brush into paint, the whole herd moved off scene!
Painted on mounting board cut to 12"x 9.5". Oil painted.