Monthly Archives: June 2020
Coffee and Lunch in Lucca in Tuscany
“Coffee in the Piazza”. The Piazza dell’Anfiteatro in Lucca Watercolour 14 inches by 10 on Arches 300gsm Paper.
Hi Everybody
Tuscany abounds with wonderful sights and scenery and especially some amazing Cities and Towns.
Right up there is the fabulous town of Lucca.
Its narrow streets, and the marvellous Piazza dell’Anfiteatro where cafes and restaurants abound is only one of the many interesting sites of this very old Town.
To whet your appetite here are two recent watercolours of the places in Lucca,somehwere for coffee and then a stop for lunch
I hope you will enjoy this brief visit to the lovely place.
Enjoy your future travels
Brian
“Time for Lunch”. Watercolour of a street in Lucca 10 by 14 inches on Arches paper
The Guinigi Tour in Lucca. Yes, they are Holm Oaks growing on the top of the Tower!. The Tower was built in the 14th Century and is 45 metres high. Watercolour 9 by 13 inches
Lockdown Watercolours Slideshow
Hi Everybody
I thought for a change I would collect all the watercolours that I have done during the Lockdown and put them in a video slide show.
It only lasts a few minutes so if you can squeeze it in to you busy schedules have a look and relax!
Soon we may all be able to travel again and visit some of our favourite places, some of mine are in the short slideshow.
Stay well and look forward to future travel.
Brian
Out and about – A visit to the Marshes at Oare in Kent
It is very nice to once again be able to get out and about and even spend time sketching in the June sunshine in Kent.
This week I was able to do some sketching at Oare, near Faversham in Kent.
The marshes at Oare are a great wildlife and bird sanctuary and there is a pathway called the Saxon Shore Way that goes all around the coastline.
Where the Oare Creek meets the Faversham Creek is for me a nice place to sit and paint the boats, building and long distance view across Kent towards Faversham and beyond. I wasn’t going to be there long so the sketchbook, brushes and paints and three legged stool were enough equipment to paint a couple of scenes which could then be used to do some larger studio watercolours.
So here are the two sketches, each about 10 by 9 inches , one a closer detail of the boast and boatyard at the junction of the two Creeks. It was low tide so rather a lot of mud and not much creek!
The Boatyard from Oare Marshes. Sketchbook pen and wash. 10 inches by 9
Low tide at the Boatyard and the scene from Oare Marshes. Sketchbook watercolour, pen and wash. 10 Ickes by 9.
Back home I had started some larger paintings in watercolour of this scene from older photos but my sketches have now helped finish these paintings off for you to see.
The first is from across the creek toward the boatyard with the buildings and the pub there in the background. The second is the same view as the sketches with a glimpse of St Mary’s Church in the centre of Faversham able to be seen even though it must be about 2 miles away across the flat marshy land.
Barges and boats in Oare Creek. Watercolour 15 inches by 10 on Arches NOT 300gsm paper.
The Boatyard at Oare Creek. Watercolour 15 inches by 10 on Arches NOT 300gsm paper.
And this view you have seen before. A rather impressionistic view from Oare of the creek with some barges moored.
Barges at Oare. Watercolour 15 inches by 10 on Arches NOT 300gsm paper.
Out of interest the two sketches take about 20 minutes each to do so it is fast and furious, but the larger watercolours take me about 2 to 3 hours to complete , albeit with some drying time for the washes.
I hope you enjoy them all.
Where next I wonder?
Stay safe and well
Brian
Back in Kent ,Lockdown easing and able to travel around!
Hi Everybody
After our whirlwind virtual visits to a load of places around the world here we are back in Kent and enjoying truly wonderful weather and some easing of lockdown.
We are back to golf and can travel about, but staying apart and being careful too!
So this past week I have been painting watercolours of Kent and one of Pinmill too.
It is nice to be painting locally again and enjoying our own lovely scenery and towns.
As readers will know I am very keen on Thames Barges and so here are four watercolours with Barges as their theme. Two of these are at Faversham and the third is near Oare in Kent.
Early evening in Faversham
Boats near Oare in Kent
Barges at Standard Quay in Faversham
Another favourite place to go and paint is of course Pin Mill in Suffolk where the barges and boats near to the Butt and Oyster Pub are a key part of the scene.
Boats and Barges at the Butt and Oyster in Pinmill.
At this time of year, even a little earlier, if possible, a day at Scotney Castle in Kent with its wonderfull old ruined castle and stunning Azaleas and Rhododendrons is always enjoyable. We didn’t make it there this year so the watercolour is a reminder to us to visit there again when we can.
Cloudy spring day at Scotney Castle
And lastly for now, two very quick sketches of our home town of West Malling. It will be nice to see the shops, cafes,pubs and restaurants reopen soon!
Enjoy any travel you can do!
Brian
Buildings in West Malling High Street. Sketch book pen and wash.
Buildings and The Parish Church in West Malling. Sketch book pen and wash.
