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.

Plein air painting 111 

Oxford Street, in the city of Southampton, Hampshire is home to a number of pubs, bars and restaurants, as well as small exclusive shops. Mainly pedestrianised and populated with buildings from the Victorian era. This painting was done on a paint out day with the Southampton Art Society, one sunny Thursday morning although most of the street is in shade.
Painted in oils on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5", on the 20th July 2023.

Plein air painting 122 13 april Houndwell place juct with St Mary's place

Plein air painting 122 

Painted on the 13th April 2024 this view shows a typically unremarkable view of a road junction between Houndwell place and St Mary's place, Southampton. Capella house (flats) is dominant with St Marys church spire in the background.
Done in oils on cardboard sized at 12 x 9.5".

 

Plein air painting 71

Holyrood church can be found in the city of Southampton at the junction between the High street and Bernard St. Built in 1320 it is one of the oldest structures in the city. Unfortunately during the November 1940 blitz the building sustained major damage. In 1957 the church ruins were restored and given the status of an ancient monument. An annual Merchant Navy Day memorial service is held here once a year and the church is dedicated to those who have worked and continue to, in the marine industry. In addition, one of a number of "Titanic" memorials held in the city can be found here in the form of a fountain.

My father created a plaque within the church commemorating the 1981 Falklands war. To the left of the church can be seen a very large anchor positioned on the pavement. This belonged to the earlier RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, and weights 13 tonnes.

The landscape painting is done on mounting board sized at 12"x 9.5" and painted in oils during mid September 2022.

Plein air painting 69

Terminus Terrace is a main road in Southampton that leads to the docks. This view is looking northwards with the South Western House ( a former hotel used in connection with the now closed terminus station) on the right hand side (off picture). A pedestrianised Oxford street is on the left and the London Hotel pub sits on the corner. This Victorian building is adorned with pretty ceramic tiling in green and light-brown, decorative windows and floral displays. Painted in late August on Monday morning. There was a lot of drilling on a construction site off left, so it was very noisy too that morning.
12" x 9.5" oil on mounting board, during late summer 2022.

Plein air painting 65

One of Southampton's streets has become home since 2019 to an old lighthouse ship, named along the side in big white letters as Calshot Spit. This name also refers to the location at which it worked, which is the entrance to Southampton water from the Solent. The bright red ship, which was known as Light Vessel 78 (LV78), was built in 1914 and is a rare surviving example of a riveted iron-plated ship. It is now along side the Solent Sky museum in Albert Rd South.

The painting was done on mounting board (sized at 12" x 9.5") in oils. It was painted in August 2022 in two sessions because of rain.

 Plein air painting 64

Onslow road, Southampton is shown in this plein air painting, done on a hot afternoon in August 2022. The terrace houses to the left are on Rockstone lane, the small road linked to the main one. The road itself is at a downward angle as it runs in to Bevois Valley. Dominating the view is the Sikh Temple, a Victorian building converted for such use in 1970.

Painted on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5", with oil paint.

 

Plein air painting 62

French street, Southampton is home to a number of interesting old buildings. The street leads from the city to the waterside and is found in the "old town" area of the city, mainly dating from the medieval era. In this landscape plein air painting the road is shown running down in the direction of the water side, to what is still used as part of the port. The ferry terminal is in the distance. On the right hand side can be seen the "Medieval merchants house", a structure dating from the 13th Century, and one that is very distinctive not only for its timber beam work but also for the hanging barrel situated on the front of the property. It was built for use by wine merchants and has a number of storage cellars, and a target for invasion by the French in 1337.In later years it stored wool and then became split into separate dwellings and eventually falling in to disrepair until saved for the nation.

The oil painting measures 12" x 9.5" and is done on mounting board.

Plein air painting 61

The civic centre in Southampton is featured in this plein air painting, done early one Sunday morning in late August. Shown is the south facing side of this grade II listed building, built between 1929- 39. It was designed by Ernest Berry Webber. The road in front is Civic Center Rd. 
Painted in oils on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5".

Plein air painting 57

Within the area of Northam, a suburb of Southampton UK are two old gas holders. One was built in 1935 and the other, shown here in this painting, was built in 1909. It has a pretty decorative lattice structure and holds the actual collapsible tank, build in three sections which varies in size depending on how much gas is stored in it. A full tank would mean the top of the tank would fill the volume of the structure. The gas holders are seen in many old photographs of the area mainly as they were amongst the largest buildings in the area.
They have not been in used for ten years and were listed as an important part of the area's industrial heritage. However, at the time this painting was done, demolition had begun so it seems that the gas holders had been removed from the registry and will be replaced by flats.

The main road running left to right is Northam road. Britannia road starts at the traffic light junction and runs in to the distance where the Itchen bridge can be seen right in the distance.

Painted in oils on mounting board, sized at 12" x 9.5" during one early Sunday morning during August 2022.

Plein air painting 54

Painted in very early September 2022 one Sunday morning, Mount Pleasant Junior School is the main subject in this street view, set in Northam, Southampton. The Victorian building is well maintained and has a pretty clock tower, recently refurbished. This painting is unusual for me in that it is painted in portrait format (still on board sized at 12" x 9.5") in oils. Painting this way is a little difficult using the equipment I have so I tend to stick to landscape format.

Plein air painting 47

Painted late summer 2021 a view along Bernard Street, Southampton is shown. On the left is St Michael's Church, a Tudor rebuild of an earlier medieval building with its impressive spire. The church (ruins) on the right is Holyrood, built in 1320 and destroyed in 1940, and dedicated as a memorial to sailors. Painted on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5", using oils.

Plein air painting 46

A row of Georgian shops in Oxford Street, Southampton on the Southern coast of the UK features in this painting. It is painted (plein air) in oils on mounting board sized at 12" x 9.5". and painted one afternoon much to the interest of passers-by. The current shops are leased by more 'upmarket' traders.

Plein air painting 31

Painted in August 2021 this plein air landscape artwork shows a view of Town Quay road, Southampton, Hampshire. The view, west of the street, is occupied by a number of bars and restaurants down the bottom of the road is the Southampton Royal Pier Pavilion, a large white building. The dominant building in the painting is Gods House Tower, a Tudor building now used as an arts centre, but was once part of the defences of the walled city 500 years ago. Only a part of the building is shown, the actual tower would be seen off to the far right. It is painted in oils on mounting board, sized at 12" x 9.5". Because of changing lighting conditions the painting was started one morning and then, when the lighting (and time) was the same, continued 10 days later.

St Paul's Cathedral London in early Autumn - oil painting

St Paul's Cathedral London in early Autumn - oil painting

Completed oil painting of St Pauls cathedral, London.

The world famous landmark of St Paul's cathedral, London, is the subject of this oil painting, created in late December 2019 and finished off a few days in to the New Year. The building is shown in early autumn light from a south easterly aspect. The main road populated by mainly buses, including one of the famous new Routemaster buses ( Boris Bus) is Cannon Street. The building itself has hosted various important public events and is a big landmark in the city. It was the tallest building until 1967. Its designer was Sir Christopher Wren, who also built a number of London's famous churches surrounding the area. Work was started not long after the fist St Paul's was destroyed in the great fire of London in 1666, and was opened for use in 1711.

The artwork is painted in oils on acid free mounting board, as is sized at 33” x 23”. It can be seen in greater detail on this link.

London Cockspur St bus stop - oil painting

London Cockspur St bus stop - oil painting

Finished oil painting of a bus stop at Cockspur st, central London.

Two buses are shown parked at a bus stop in Cockspur Street, central London during a wet summers afternoon. Both buses have terminated at the stop and a number of tourists are planning their next move, which may well be a visit to Trafalgar Square. This famous Square is very close by and Nelsons column, situated within it, can be seen in the painting. Two passing police with bright safety jackets make a distinctive pair within the crowd. There are a number of big buildings in the street and behind the buses can be seen parts of Canada House. The street is also quite old, going as far back as the 16^th century. The damp conditions of the day add interest with the scene being reflected ion the wet paving surfaces.

This landscape painting was done during July 2019. It measures 33” x 23” approximately, and oil paint was used on acid free mounting board. It can be seen in greater detail by following this link.

Brick Lane London - oil painting

Brick Lane London - oil painting

Large oil painting of Brick Lane in London

This large oil painting, which measures 60” x 40” was produced during May 2019. The subject is Brick Lane, on a sunny day in the east end of London, an unglamorous street but very popular in recent times. The lane itself is shown running left to right across the painting, with Hanbury street cutting through the centre. Originally a site for making bricks and tiles in the 15^th century, it is very close to Spitalfields, known for the Jack the Ripper killings and later criminal nativities of the Kray Brothers. The area was largely avoided and forgotten, but during the latter part of the 20^th century it became a large Bengali community, and is famous for the amount of curry houses in fierce competition with each other. The area is also host to an art community, with most notably artists Gilbert & George, and Tracey Emin living in the area, and the ex Truman brewery now given over to art exhibitions. Nowadays the area is quite a tourist destination and has large crowds in the area during the weekends. This painting was exhibited in the area, in a small gallery along the lane.

The painting can be seen in greater detail by following this link.

Working on closeup 62

Working on closeup 62

A small snippet of a London based landscape painting...

Bishopsgate London - WIP stages

Bishopsgate London - WIP stages

WIP stages of Bishopsgate/ Liverpool street oil painting

This landscape oil painting is of a central/ east London view. The area is known as Bishopsgate on the edge of the busy financial district of the city. Painted on mounting board, the artwork measures 33” x 24” approx, and the image above shows progressive work on the painting.

In the first panel can be seen the drawing, done in dark brown acrylic paint on a yellow ochre 'ground' wash, also done in acrylics. I use such paint for this part of the process as it is quick drying, rather than oil paint. Next the oil paintings are opened and a basic colour wash is applied with the paints being diluted with thinner as seen in the 2^nd panel. The colours and tones are 'blocked in' to give a rough indication of the direction of the artwork. Once this level is dry then thicker paint levels are applied with careful views to getting the correct colours and tones. Also details are added at this stage, as can be viewed in the 3^rd panel. Finally the 4^th panel shows the finished oil painting of this urban landscape.

The artwork can be seen in detail on this link.

Working on closeup 59

Working on closeup 59

A small snipped of a street scene at London's Bishopsgate...