August brings with it another heatwave, it's just far too hot for me to go walking .

  The land is so scorched and dry ! I feel I should be stocking up on shades of brown paint :(  

Thankfully I'm well stocked up with reference photos to keep me going. I've been busy painting a scene from my walk over the South Downs near Alfriston. It was such a lovely day , the views over the Sussex weald and the downs were amazing!  

                                            "Summer Days and Pathways" 

Painting of the view from my walk near Alfriston.

 

 

Another of my wonderful walks was around Pycombe. I took a circular walk from the Jack and Jill pub at Clayton which took me past Wolstonbury Hill to Pycombe where I joined the South Downs Way. It was yet another hot day and I have to admit that it felt like a long trudge to get to the top of  West Hill !

 I was glad to take a break at the top  where I was greeted by the stunning views that seemed to go on forever!  To the south was the distant sea .....

View towards the sea from West Hill at Pycombe, Sussex 

...and to the West I found myself looking towards Devil's Dyke and beyond ! It really did take your breath away! Such a  perfect view to paint ......

                                                        "Westward Bound" 

                                                          Acrylic on canvas 24" x 18" 

 

"Springtime over Fulking" (Sussex). Painting the view from Devil's Dyke, Brighton

Devil's Dyke and Fulking, Sussex

Spring has arrived bringing blue skies and sunshine!
The glorious weather took us off to explore Devil's Dyke just outside of Brighton.
  It's been about 4 years since my last visit and I wanted to take advantage of the good weather to capture the stunning views of the Sussex Weald.
I wasn't disappointed but the wind was so strong and bitterly cold ! We stayed just long enough for me to get some good reference photos (not easy in the wind) and then headed down to explore the villages of Fulking. and Edburton that are nestled at the base of the South Downs.
 The narrow winding lanes took us through the small but pretty villages.
These are the places that we had seen looking west from Devil's Dyke and the subject of my painting.
I wanted to paint this view as not only does it capture the communities that live in the area but also the hills with the South Downs Way heading off in the distance on it's route to Winchester.
A view that goes on forever......

                                           "Springtime over Fulking"
                                                     Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5"
Work in progress.....

Painting the view over Fulking village (Sussex)

The first few days were spent building up the colours and textures whilst making sure everything was in it's right place. Adding the village was quite straining on my eyes so it was good to hop back and forth between buildings and the earthy grass slopes of the South Downs.
Finally everything came together . I'm pleased with the result and it is a great reminder of our day out where it seemed like we were on the top of the world!
                                         

"Springtime over Fulking" (Sussex) Acrylic painting on box canvas

Wall and close up views

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