Happy Christamas and Best Wishes for 2017!

It has been a great year for us and I hope you too have enjoyed the Year and also this blog.

Retired life is good and our now 4 Grandchildren and their parents are a continuous joy.

In this post I am revisiting some of my favourite watercolours of this year, which have originated in our travels around the World and visits around the UK. I have picked just seventeen, from around 50 paintings completed in the year.

Here is a reprise which I hope you will enjoy. For me this indulgent post is such a great reminder of the year.

I hope that you enjoy the Season and the New Year.

Many thanks for reading my blog, it is your responses and views that make it such fun.

All the best

Brian

January  — Crillon-Le-Brave in Provence

Although we travel a lot in Provence we have yet to visit Crillon, maybe in 2017. A bit of artistic licence in this painting!

February. The joy of some winter sun in Mauritius and the fun of painting while lying on a lounger at the beach at Le Touessrok Shangi La Hotel!

The Beach at Le Touessrok Watercolour 14 inches by 10.

March.  Painting at home a favourite view from our many visits to Northern Ireland. Fair Head on the Antrim coast seen from the beach at Ballycastle.

April.

Near us in Kent is Rochester and the River Medway. This painting is a “time travel” painting taking us back to 1937 (even before my time!) when the Sunderland Flying boats were being built at Rochester. So here is a Short’s Sunderland flying boat over Rochester.

May

With memories of a great weekend in Amsterdam with friends still fresh in my mind I finished these two paintings of  this fine and fascinating city.

June

With the arrival of our new granddaughter in May local-ish travel led us to Malden in Essex. This painting , a new size for me is 19 inches by 8, but suits the scene quite well.

July

Back in France and a chance to paint in the sun , from sketches and photos. The trip from St Maxime by boat to St Tropez is the best way to get there. Lunch at the Mazarin under the green awning and then a painting of this quiet back water of St Tropez. A delightful day out!

August

More paintings in Provence An evening scene and big J Class yachts in St Tropez harbour.

September

Two paintings for friends this month, one of Great Dixter in Sussex, and the second of J Class yachts sailing off the Isle of Wight. I am glad they liked them!

October

A visit to Rye inspired this painting of Camber castle, built in the time of Henry VIII but now just a ruin. Rye in the background. Also locally the beautiful Leeds Castle here in Kent

November

I like to read the excellent Bernard Cornwell historical fiction books, some of which feature Bebanburg Castle,now Bamburg Castle. Again in the wider format to highlight the vast beach and sky!

December

This month I have been painting some scenes of Venice from my photos and a painting from a photo taken by Mitch Zeissler ( thanks for the permission, Mitch) showing the Mission Mountains of Montana, which was the subject of my previous post.

It has been a busy year painting ( and these are only some!) so I do hope you have enjoyed looking at some of my 2016 efforts.

Seasons greetings and Best wishes for 2017

Brian