Painting the River Adur

The river Adur in West Sussex 

 It's early September and after just a few days of rain I'm amazed at how quickly everything is turning green again . 

The heatwaves already feel like a long time ago  instead of the few short weeks that it actually is .  Autumn is creeping in , the days are rapidly shortening and the air is cooler . 

This time last month I was sweltering in the heat whilst busy studying maps , trying to find interesting places for short walks .  Walks without steep hills and with plenty areas of shade . Searching for new views to paint, new inspiration . 

I spotted a path at Wineham in West Sussex . A mixture of bridleway, fields and river . I don't know the area which made me all the more curious . 

The countryside all around was parched and scorched , I held no expectations of the river actually having much water in it let alone any living plant life .

The extreme heat had left the ground scorched and cracked 

 Imagine how delighted  I was to discover that I was so  wrong  !  It was beautiful 😍

The Summer blue sky reflected on the lazy water whist the riverbank was a mass of wild plants and flowers . It was an oasis among a world of burnt beige . My photos really don't do it justice , it was one of those days where you had to be there and absorb the sights, sounds and aromas .

Wild flowers and plants along the riverbank 

 

                                  Bold patches of Purple Loosestrife buzzing with wildlife 
 

A quintessential English Summer day by the river  and a total joy to paint . 

                                                       "Riverside Summer " 

"Riverside Summer" Painting of the river Adur in West Sussex 

 

                                

 

Scorching Summer on the South Downs

Summer on the South Downs near Blackcap 

Summer's arrived and what a scorcher it's turned in to !!!  

It seems to be one heatwave after another which has meant that it's far too hot for many walks . Yes, I know I'm wimping it (if that's an actual word) but above 25 degrees and my brain starts to cease functioning .  

There are a few places that I like to walk each Summer , usually in late July or early August  .This year though I decided to do them a couple of weeks earlier and I'm so very glad I did , I saw them at their best before they became so sun scorched . 

 Mount Caburn is always a favourite for the wild flowers and the Exmoor ponies. It varies every year . This July the petrol blue colours of the Viper's Bugloss not only looked amazing but were buzzing with Bees and Hummingbird Hawk Moths , it was quite magical . 

Viper's Bugloss on the path to Mount Caburn 

 

Exmoor ponies on Mount Caburn 

                             More pictures from my walk here Mt Caburn

Another walk took me over the South Downs from Firle to Southease. It's only a short walk but it's so very pretty and has such stunning views!  It was a lovely sunny day although a bit hazy for good photos and the gusts of wind nearly blew me off my feet at times . I didn't expect that . 

It was well worth it as the wild flowers at the top of Beddingham hill were amazing. Especially the Round -Headed Rampion  / The Pride of Sussex . I've only ever seen a few together before but here they were in their hundreds . Sussex at it's best ! 

Round-Headed Rampion 

The Pride Of Sussex on Beddingham hill looking towards Mt Caburn 

 

 Photos from my walk Beddingham

 The green fields were rapidly fading and the harvest fields were golden. This time my walk took me from Ditchling beacon to Blackcap via Falmer . I was surrounded by glorious countryside full of wildflowers, butterflies ,Skylarks and fresh bales of hay .  It was perfect timing and it really doesn't get any better than that . I could have happily stayed there all day just breathing in the scent of Summer.  It was a scene that I just had to paint ..........

                                          "Bales to Blackcap"  24" x 18"   

 Painting the harvest fields on the South Downs near Blackcap 

                                                      Click here for PRINTS

 

As Summer continued it just got  hotter and hotter and my walks got less and less .  I love the sunshine but not the heat. I resorted to short visits to places rather than long walks . 

It was just one heatwave after another and far too hot to go out during the day . Painting became almost impossible with the acrylic paint drying on my brushes before I could even use it ! 

  With windows shut and curtains drawn it felt like home had become a prison . Breaking out at cooler times was a necessity ! 

 One August evening we decided to visit Windover hill ( near Alfriston )  to watch the sun go down.  The land all around was scorched and parched so I was surprised to see so many wild flowers still blooming.  There was a warm breeze and everything around us seemed to glow in the low evening light .  It looked stunning ! 

                                         A Summer evening on Windover hill, Alfriston 

                                   Wild flowers on Windover hill, Alfriston 

As I walked  up the chalk  track I was captivated by the arrival of hundreds of birds. They  flew by me and gathered on the steep escarpment.  I think that they were Rooks but I'm not certain ,they were getting ready to head off to roost for the night.  
                                       

Hundreds of birds gathered on this steep escarpment . 

                             It was quite a sight to see and made the Summer evening even better . 

Watching the sun set from Windover hill 

                                                               

                                                  It had been a lovely evening and a joy to capture on canvas 

                                                          "The Gathering and the Gold "

                                                              "Warm breeze, Summer sun ,

                                                                  gathering Rooks, day is done.

                                                               Downland slopes, all ablaze ,

                                                                  golden fields, harvest days " 

                                              

Painting of the birds gathering at sunset on Windover hill, Alfriston . 

 

 

 

Painting the South Downs in the Summer

Phacelia fields at Storrington 

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Oh my ! What a lovely Summer we're having ! So much glorious sunshine  ! 

 I've been busy making the most of it with lots of walks, except on the days that got a bit too hot! Phew!  

Here are just three of my favourites .....

Storrington .... 

This year we've been treated with the pretty purple fields of the Phacelia crops.  It's a green manure crop and the insects love it ! 

A visit to the South Downs at Storrington turned out to be a perfect day. Blue skies ,  fabulous flufy fair weather clouds , Phacelia and so very many wild flowers ...heaven 

The South Downs at Storrington 

 Most of the views that I paint tend to be in various shades of green so a touch of purple made a nice change 

                                                    "Phacelia to the Sea" 

"Phacelia to the Sea" Acrylic painting on canvas 

Hastings....
The weather rapidly grew hotter and a trip to the seaside was needed.  Hastings gave me another opportunity  to have some fun with different colours . I love  painting a bit  of seaside fun but it's really hard to get good reference photos. You just can't creep up on people on a pebble beach ..Crunch...Crunch....Crunch ..ha ha!  

These three  really caught my attention and was such a joy to paint 

                                       "A Nice Cup of Tea by the Sea" 

"A Nice Cup of Tea by the Sea" Acrylic seaside painting on canvas 

  Woodingdean....

My most recent walk too me around the harvest fields on the South Downs near Woodingdean. The paths take you around the old lost village of Balsdean and it's a wonderful peaceful place to walk.   

I headed down through Castle Hill nature reserve which was a delight of wild flowers and butterflies 

Heading down Castle Hill nature reserve 

On reaching the bottom I was greeted with the earthy colours of the Flax fields , now gone to seed and dotted with red Poppies . I don't know why but for some reason it made me think of a fabric design .  I rather liked it . 

Flax fields and Poppies 

 I have many more photos from this walk which can be found here Balsdean walk
 

                 The sky was full of Seagulls, I guess there had to have been about 700 ,  I've never seen so many ! 

I loved the views and would happily have spent all day there .  Painting it means I've kept the memory of that day to revisit whenever I wish  ...perfect .

                                                "The Harvest Path"  

"The Harvest Path" Painting the South Downs at Woodingdean 

 

 

 

 

The long hot Summer

Sadly Summer has come to an end. But what a wonderful Summer it has been!
I have covered many miles walking over The South Downs and travelling to the coast.
I can now reap the rewards and concentrate on painting some of my favourite views and capturing memories.
One hot sunny day took me to the Downs at Lewes where I headed up to the Southerham nature reserve . It's a fabulous place filled with wildflowers that constantly change throughout the Summer.

Souterham nature reserve to Mount Caburn

 On the day of my walk the air was filled with butterflies and the red and black of the Burnet moth...amazing!
A very inspiring area resulting in two paintings "Wild to the sky " and "Wild to the brow"  (Sold)

Acrylic paintings on canvas of the Lewes Downs in Smmer 

The arrival of the heatwave meant that some days were just far too hot for walking, especially up the steep slopes of the South Downs ! On these days my trips were to the coast. I've been watching the tide times this year so that I could catch low tide.
 My quest has been to capture the reflections on the sea and wet sand....I wasn't dissapointed !

Summer days on Cooden Beach in East Sussex

With temperatures soaring I headed off to Cooden Beach...wow....I mean WOW!
The sea water was so hot and the sand glistened in the bright sunlight.
A mixture of sand and soft clay "rocks" where small shellfish dig in and make their home.
I couldn't have wished for a more perfect day....time to get painting...
                           

"Those Blue Sky Days" (Cooden Beach) Acrylic on canvas 

So many Summertime memories ! Now, where're my brushes .....see you soon ! :)

"Summer Days and Water Ways" The Wey and Arun Canal

The Wey and Arun Canal, Loxwood, Sussex

It's been a busy month as Summer rolls out and commissions roll in.  I don't often take on commissions but sometimes the subject is so suited to me that I can't resist!

In between, my daydreams have happily taken me back to  sunshine days and lazy river walks .
 Earlier in the year we visited the Wey and Arun canal at Loxwood in West Sussex.
https://weyarun.org.uk/
It is I believe the only canal in Sussex and is now a restoration project offering boat trips .
 We took a lovely afternoon stroll from The Onslow Arms along the water's edge  .
On the way we stopped to watch one of the barges being navigated through the lock , a sight not often seen around this part of the country !
All in all it was a perfect Summer scene , bright sun and cool greens....and of course...just wonderful to paint!

                                   "Summer Days and Water ways" 
                                                      Acrylic on canvas 18 x 24"  

"Summer Days and Water Ways" Painting of the Wey and arun canal

"By the water's edge" Painting the wildflowers along the river bank

It just wouldn't be Summer without a leisurely walk along the river.
There are some lovely footpaths on the outskirts of my village that allow me to indulge in some lazy daydreams and riverside delights.
A vast array of wildflowers where dragon flies dart and swoop among the spikes of  Purple-loosestrife and the fluffy scented clouds of Meadowsweet.
Summer at it's best!
I wanted to capture the wildness and colours. The dragonflies are highlighted with metallic blue so that they catch the light, just as they do by the river.

                                               "By the water's edge"
                                        Acrylic on canvas

"By the water's edge" Painting the wildflowers along the river bank

 Close up and wall views....

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"Lollipops and lace" Summer ice cream painting and Firle Vintage air

The Vintage Fair at Firle Place, Sussex

I have been hoping for another good seaside trip but the best sunshine days seem to only fall at the weekends. I don't like crowded places so the weekends are no good to me.
We did however spend a lovely day at the Vintage Fair that is held at Firle Place in East Sussex.
Firle place is a splendid house, nestled at the foot of the South Downs with stunning views over the Sussex Weald.

Firle Place, East Sussex

It was a glorious Summer's day and the grounds were filled with traditional fair ground rides, vintage cars and a large selection of stalls selling various retro themed items. The cider tent also seemed to be very popular !
It was a very English  "strawberries and cream" sort of day.
For several months now I have wanted to find a colourful ice cream van to paint and add to my Summertime collection, but the only one that I really liked was a van called Vintage Scoops
 that I had seen in Lewes town a few times. Unfortunately it was parked in the shade  which wasn't ideal as the colours didn't look their best.  Imagine my delight when I spotted it at the fair!
I love the creative and fun thinking that they have put together and I'm going to love painting it even more.....
Work in progress.....
                                           " Lollipops and Lace"
                                                 Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"
 It's taken a couple of days to get the composition sketched out as there will be quite a bit of detail involved. I need to build up areas of opaque colour first to give me a base to work on...

Starting to paint the ice cream van

I've spent several hours today on the inside of the van. There's quite a lot of flags and bits and pieces that need painting then putting into the shade before I can progress onto the outside. A large area of the windows have writing on so I need to make sure the paint has dried right out before I can continue.

Starting to paint the inside of the van

I have been working on some of the detail which puts more colour into the composition. The embroidered table cloth now needs the shading added ...

Adding a bit more detail to the composition

I have spent today painting bits and pieces all over the place! I made a couple of small alterations, there wasn't really anything wrong but there was a few things that were niggling me.
The van is beginning to shape up a bit more now and adding some of the shadows has given it more depth. I'm happy with it so far.
I have a busy Bank Holiday weekend ahead so I shall continue painting on Monday.  :)

Adding the shading to the painting starts to give it more depth

I'm back after spending a lovely weekend with my children and grandchildren, luckily the weather stayed dry and we even saw a bit of sunshine! Today I'm back home and it's raining once again!  Oh well, a good excuse to get on with the painting.  It's been another day of painting a bit here and a bit there but I'm happy with the progress and expect to have it finished in a couple of days...

Good progress being made on the painting

It's been an interesting and fun composition to paint and the ladies from Vintage Scoops love it :) ...

                                               "Lollipops and Lace"
                                                      Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"

Painting of the Vintage Scoops ice cream van

 

"Tide out and Fish tales" painting the fishing boats of Hastings, Sussex

Fishing boats on The Stade in Hastings, Sussex

I just couldn't leave the Summer behind without revisiting the wonderful fishing boats at Hastings on the East Sussex coast. They really are one of my favourite subjects to paint.
This is the second time I have painted this particular boat, the red paint work looks so colourful against the Summer sky !
I loved the way that the composition represents the end of the working day. The gloves sitting on the poles to dry, the ladder leading the way home, the nets all tidy and ready for the next day and finally the departing seagulls.
I like to think that the weary fishermen have now headed off for a good meal, a good pint and recount the stories and tales of the day .
                                             "Tide out and Fish tales"
                                     Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"

Painting the boats at Hastings, Sussex

"Sea Spray and Sun Cream" and "Seaside Shadows" Painting the girls on Brighton beach

As the Summer comes to an end I couldn't leave it without capturing the pretty girls sunbathing on the beach at Brighton.
I loved the way they just seemed to abandon everything and succumb to the last rays of the Summer sunshine.
 The waves crashing on the beach seemed to add to the over powering moment of indulgence.

                                             "Sea Spray and Sun Cream"
                                      Acrylic on canvas 24"x 16"

Painting the girls on Brighton beach

                                                 

Well as I've painted the girls with the emphasis on the sun I thought I would go the other way and concentrate on the shadows.
I was busy people watching on Brighton pier and loved the way that the shadows were cast and their silhouettes on the deck chairs.
I am working from 3 different photos so the first thing I had to do was to get the continuity of the railings right and the wooden planks of the pier, I was then able to start work on the deck chairs.

Getting the railings and woodwork in the right place .

The stripes on the chairs needed about 5 layers of paint to get opacity that I required.
 This can get a bit monotonous so to help me keep my concentration I started on the wooden chair frames.

Building up the layers on the chairs

Once the basic blocks of colour were dry I was able to flit about adding thin washes of paint. I also made a start on the shadows, these will transform the painting making it look really different

Starting to add the shadows and build up washes of colour

 .Finally the shadows are ....I hope you like it! :)
                                    "Seaside Shadows"

Seaside Shadows, painting of the girls relaxing on Brighton Pier, Sussex

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"Seaside Shadows" Tote bags and throw pillows