Seaside and Heatwave

Heading out to the beach

For the past few weeks I have been planning a trip to Worthing in West Sussex.
 I have spent many hours researching the coastal resorts for the best places to visit to take some reference photos for painting. I wanted a typical British seaside with blue skies and sunshine ....not such an easy task to achieve in this country!
Worthing appeared to have all that I required....pier....boats....sea....sand....deckchairs....etc.
I just needed the weather....and then.....wow! A heatwave! Blue skies and sunshine!
It has coincided with Graham having a week off from work which meant my explorations would be much better with him there.
I'm happy exploring on my own but there are times that it would be so much nicer to have some company...to share a moment....to make memories .
Mmmm company.....now there lies a dilemma....
Yes, it would be good to have the company and I have to admit there are times when I get bored of my own, but it's not that easy as I don't really know many people and they would have to fit in with my criteria .....
1: No speeding ahead....the scenery changes with every step and I need to keep stopping and checking out the view in every direction....you never know when the perfect view/ composition will suddenly appear.
2: No mobile phones.....you may as well stay at home!
3: No constant talking....It's a distraction! Look around....take in the scenery....embrace...enjoy!
Other than that all are welcome....ha ha!
Anyway....back to Worthing. As it happens yesterday gave us the most perfect weather. There was not one single cloud in the sky and the sea was beautiful!

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 I was delighted to find so many different subjects to paint and easily managed to stock up with reference photos . A wonderful mixture of specific scenes of the location and an assortment that will contribute to a selection of more generic subjects that I can combine and use to play with ideas.

Worthing , West Sussex

As it was such a glorious day we headed on to South Lancing to check out the beach huts, they wern't at their best but it gave them a bit more charm in a strange sort of way....weathered....used...and loved...

Beach huts at Lancing beach

After a brief visit we moved on to Shoreham harbour, it's an area that combines industry with history and a rather pretty beach where clumps of wild flowers grow among the pebbles...

Shoreham beach and harbour

So....there's a peek of my day out....my explorations....my inspirations.....!
 There will be several paintings on the horizon as a result from our wonderful visit.
 Firstly I wanted to capture the general feel and ambiance of the day....so...here we go...
Work in progress...." High tide and Heatwave"
                                      My first day has been spent painting in the composition and filling in the larger areas. I have also started work on the pebbles as it can be quite time consuming.

Work in progress, "High tide and heatwave" Acrylic on canvas

Today I have concentrated on the deck chairs, lots of wonderful Summer colours! It will take a couple of days to complete them as the wooden frames are all different shades and require several coats of paint to achieve the desired result....

Painting in the deck chairs

I was up this morning with the sun rise! Far too early, but it's a habit I can't get out of . Once I'm awake I find it impossible to just lie in bed . The result was a 6am early painting session !
It did however turn out to my advantage as it turned into another very hot day, so much so that the paint was drying on my brush before I could paint with it! By noon I had to admit defeat but I'm happy with the day's progress......

Seagull and shadows now add to the painting

Another early painting session this morning means the painting is now all finished...

                                    High tide and Heatwave"
                              Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"

"High tide and Heatwave" Acrylic painting of deck chairs on the beach

"Lancing downland" painting the landscape around the Adur district of Sussex

Views from above North Lancing, Sussex

The other day my sister and I were discussing where to go for our next walk. The weather forecast for the following day was for bright sunshine, a rare opportunity not to be missed!
By pure coincidence , whilst we were talking, I received an e mail with a request to paint a downland landscape from the area around Lancing in West Sussex.
 Perfect timing!
I don't know the area other than a couple of visits to Shoreham so I was delighted to have a reason to explore somewhere new along the South downs.
After a good scout around on the internet I found a promising circular walk from the Argus
http://www.theargus.co.uk/magazine/sussex_walks/west_sussex_walks/4539217.Lancing_Ring_Nature_Reserve_Circular/
It started from the lancing ring nature reserve and took us up over the downs where we enjoyed some wonderful and expansive views of the Sussex Weald and the coast. My sister has details of the walk on her blog ( See link below)
As forecast it was a beautiful Spring day so we set off  with camera, map and a packet of Jaffa cakes !
The brief was to try and incorporate views of the sea but unfortunately the direction of the sun meant that the photos were not clear and usable.
However, after 4.5 miles of walking some very steep slopes (and an empty Jaffa cake packet) we returned home with plenty of photos of our explorations.

Views from our walk at lancing

 It was decided to go with a delightful view that captured the curvacious landscape of the chalk land  hills,with distant views towards Beeding Hill and the Sussex Weald.

Firstly the composition was sketched out and the hazy views of Upper Beeding and the South downs were painted in as they disappear into distance.

Sketched out and painting in the Sussex Weald view

Next I concentrated on the variety of greens that create the fields and slopes of "Winding Bottom" with it's white chalk pathways .

Painting in the green fields and pastures

Then with a very small brush the earthy colours of the ploughed field were built up in many layers and work began on  the foliage

The ploughed field is added to the painting

I have now started to add the chalk and grass field on the right hand side. I need to leave this area to dry before I can progress with it so I moved on to the finer details of the trees and placed in where the fence posts will go.

Painting in the first layers of the grass and chalk field

Finally,  after 5 hours painting with a brush with just 2 hairs on it , I have added the grass and finished the painting....
                                            "Lancing Downland"
                                        Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5"

lancing Downland

 

The walk took us around the edge of a valley where right in the middle stands a barn. Due to the contours of the landscape it would disappear as if by magic then reappear further along the way.
I loved the way it was situated among the wonderful sloping patterns of the fields.
It just had to be painted!
                                                 "Valley Barn"
                                       Acrylic on box canvas 18"x 14"x 1.5"

"Valley Barn" Lancing

You can find out more about our walk and the photos taken on my sister's blog
http://woolwhiskerswalks.blogspot.co.uk/