Brighton Palace Pier

Brighton Palace Pier with it's new sign

Well what can I say....Brighton Palace Pier epitomizes the Sussex seaside !
It's noisy, fun and colourful!
 Amusements, ice creams, fish 'n' chips, fun fair, deck chairs, sticks of rock, candy floss and so very much more! 

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The Pier holds so many happy memories for so many people.
It was always called " Palace Pier" but new owners changed it about 18 years ago to "Brighton Pier", which upset many of the locals. Now it has once again been changed .
I couldn't wait to go and see the new sign in all it's glory....looks wonderful! :)
 I felt that a painting was needed to celebrate the event :)

                                              "Brighton Palace Pier"
                                   Acrylic on canvas 24" x 18" 

Painting of Brighton Palace Pier

 

Paintings of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

The weather's been so wonderful that I ventured out to make the most of the glorious sunshine !
This time my quest was to explore the nature reserve at Rye harbour.
A long concrete track led me down past the old red and black hut that stands alone at the mouth of Rye harbour .

The tide was out and I was greeted by a vast expanse of sand, shingle and sea . Old weathered groynes stood like sculptures along the shore and birds scoured the shallow lagoons for a tasty morsel or two.

Low tide at Rye Harbour nature reserve

My intention was to walk out to the sea but it was so very far away that I thought it would take me forever!
Instead I sat and admired the view. It was a very hot day and the sunshine made the wet beach glisten and shine as if it was adorned with jewels ....fabulous!
 The next day I was eager to get painting !
                                         "Forever to the sea"
                              Acrylic on canvas 24"x 12"

"Forever to the sea" Painting the beach at Rye Harbour

                                                  "Old Harbour Hut"
                                    Acrylic on canvas 12" x 10"

"Old Harbour Hut" Acrylic painting

 

"Flying Time" Painting of Worthing pier

Worthing pier, Sussex

Well, the last 10 days have passed in a haze of sleepless nights and constant coughing ! I can cope with the cough but not getting much sleep just brings everything to a halt .
The most frustrating thing is that we've had some wonderful sunny weather and I've not been well enough to venture out.
I am feeling  better today and have decided to head back to last Summer when we visited Worthing .
I keep finding myself drawn to different and interesting types of architecture. Brighton pier is dominated by the Victorian curls and twirls . In contrast Worthing pier is full of curves and Art Deco influences.
 The Southern Pavilion at the end of the pier has recently been refurbished and looks rather splendid!

The Southern Pavilion on Worthing Pier

In the middle of the pier is the amusement arcade where a large Art Deco clock dominates the front of the building. I love the striking combination of the sharp lines against the curves of the structure, all topped of by the bright red sign on the top.

The Art Deco clock on Worthing Pier

This is the part of the pier that will be the main subject of my painting.
 It's here in the sunshine where you can sit and watch the seagulls swoop and fly by as they eagerly watch and wait for the fishermen to bring in their catch.

Work in progress              "Flying Time"  Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18" 

 I've been busy sketching out the composition . It's all very rough at the moment but at this stage all I need to do is mark in where everything will go and get the sky painted...

Sketching in the composition

  I sold a painting today so that was good news. Luckily I live just a short distance away from the post office so I didn't have to be out for long as I'm itching to get on with some more painting.
Alas not much progress today though. I have put in the first layer of the sea and started a few bits here and there....

Waiting for the sea to dry!

Lots of progress  building up the layers of paint and making a start on other areas of the composition. I've even added some of the finer detail...

Starting to build up the composition

It's now 3 days later and painting is going well!
 I had a break from it over the weekend to catch up with the boring things like housework. I can't paint if there are things to be done so a good blitz around the house leaves the coming week clear to crack on.
The composition will gradually start to come to life from now on as the finer detail is added .

Adding more depth to the colours and starting to define the smaller parts

The left hand side of the background is now complete , although using such small brushes means it is rather slow....but it's also addictive! Another 2-3 days should see it completed.
In the mean time I have sold another painting. The man in the Post Office is now greeting me with
"You again?" :)  Life is good.

Completing the left hand side of the background

So finally it's taken another 2 days of working on the detail and finishing off the remaining areas . It feels like it's been a long journey but I have thoroughly enjoyed spending my days thinking of nothing but the sunshine and seaside of Worthing beach :) ...
                                            "Flying Time" (Sold)
                            Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18" 

"Flying Time" Painting of Worthing pier, Sussex

Painting the Summer in Winter

Back to the seaside

The dark bleak days have arrived.
This is the time of the year that I dislike the most and struggle to keep upbeat and enthusiastic.
 This year however I have decided that my best plan of action will be to stay with the memories of the Summer , the bright colourful seaside days !
 I made sure to make as many trips to the coast that I could in preparation of the dark Winter months, I hope my plan works!
My first painting takes me back to the glorious sunshine of Worthing beach in West Sussex.
 Blue skies, fishing boats and views of the pier..

                            "Port side to Pier" Worthing, Sussex (Sold)
                                         Acrylic on canvas  

"Port side to Pier" Painting of Worthing beach, Sussex

My next seaside memory is of the people relaxing on the beach. Hot sunny days, the sound of the sea and a good bottle of wine! ;)

                                                          "Sun Soaked"
                                    

"Sun Soaked" Acrylic beach painting

"Bed, Breakfast and Boats" Painting the scene at East Worthing beach

East Worthing, West Sussex

Part of the reason for my recent trip to Worthing (West Sussex) was to explore the area east of the pier.
 Here you will find  typical seaside bed and breakfast houses all wonderfully painted in different candy colours, like chunks of seaside rock.
They overlook the beach, scattered with fishing boats  and where the fishermen  sell their daily catch.
The whole scene really captures the feel of  the British coast and a wonderful subject to paint.
It won't be the easiest picture that I have ever painted as there is so much detail , the more I look the more I see ! But I think it will be one of my favourites and probably the most complex composition of the Summer.
So...I had better get painting!
Work in progress  ....
" Bed, Breakfast and Boats", Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"x 0.5"
I have so far spent about 5 days painting, each part needs 3-4 layers of paint before I can start overlaying with different tones, shading and highlights...it's a long process so I tend to flit around the canvas on different bits to allow other areas to dry.

Painting the beach at Worthing, West Sussex

 Once the paint has thoroughly dried I can start to add some of the finer detail...

Work in progress "Bed, Breakfast and Boats"

Good progress and the painting is starting to come to life :) ...

Finally, after an awful lot of painting I have completed the picture. It's been a bit of a labour of love at times but I've enjoyed every moment ...

                                           "Bed, Breakfast and Boats" (Worthing)

"Bed, Breakfast and Boats" acrylic painting of the beach at Worthing, West sussex

 

Painting "Brighton Pavilion" and deckchairs on the beach

Brighton Pavilion

After a lot of thought and a moment of madness,  I have decided that my Sussex by the Sea series would not be complete without a painting of  Brighton Pavilion.

In 1815, George, the Prince Regent,  commissioned John Nash to transform his modest seaside villa into a wonderful oriental palace.
It has survived fires, storms and wartime damage but it's magnificent architecture remains just as wonderful today as when it was built.

It's going to be a challenge, but I think it deserves to be captured on canvas and because there is so much detail  it will be bigger than my previous paintings ....
                                               "Brighton Pavilion"
                              Acrylic on box canvas 32"x 16"x 1.5"
Everything was sketched out using a grid to make sure the perspective was correct, with so many different angles it would be easy to get confused ! I then painted in the sky and first layer of grass, this made the composition much clearer to work on.

Starting to paint Brighton pavilion

Starting from the center I have painted in some of the first layers of colour, as they dry I can then begin to build up the tones with thin washes of blues and purples.

Starting to paint in the sides of the building

Gradually I start to add the detail. Today it seemed like slow progress but it helps to photograph it step by step as I can clearly see how it's developing.

About a third of the way through painting Brighton Pavilion

I have been using very tiny brushes today and very thin washes which means that it doesn't really look like I have achieved much. but I'm happy with it so far and I havn't gone mad yet!

 Today I  have concentrated on the left hand side. There will eventually be shaded trees there so I needed to get the background in before I can start adding them. I have also nearly finished the rooftops, once they are dry I can start adding the highlights....
.....well it's now 3 days later and today I managed to complete the painting. It's not been as difficult as I had imagined and I'm happy with the blue and purple shading as it gives it a wonderful regal look :)
                                                    "Brighton Pavilion"
                                Acrylic on box canvas 32"x 16"x 1.5"

Painting of Brighton pavilion

 

Close up and wall views of "Brighton Pavilion"

                                                                             *****
Of course a trip the seaside just wouldn't be complete without colourful deckchairs, their canvas seats billowing in the warm sea breeze like the sails of seaward ships.....
                                                        "Summer Sea Breeze"
                                 Acrylic on stretched canvas 24"x 18"x 0.5"

Deckchair in the breeze at Seaford

 

                    Paintings for sale at https://www.artgallery.co.uk/artist/paula_oakley_2

"Fresh Fish and Seagulls" Fourth painting of the boats on The Stade, Hastings, East Sussex

Fishing boats on The Stade at Hastings, East Sussex

I decided to visit  Hastings again. I've already painted 3 pictures of the boats but couldn't resist another as it's definitely one of my favourite places along the Sussex coast.
The fishing fleet of 25 boats is the largest beach fleet in the country and they are  wonderful subjects for  painting! Colour, detail, history, character....Hastings beach has it all!
It was a lovely sunny day so I caught the train from Lewes and set off with camera in hand.
I spent 2 hours just wandering around the Stade ,soaking up the atmosphere and taking loads of photos of the boats. I also found a friendly fisherman selling the morning's catch from his hut.

Selling fresh fish at Hastings

I had a delightful day and I returned home full of eagerness to get painting.
"Bethan Louise" is the boat I have chosen . I watched it's fishermen for ages,whilst busy working they were throwing scraps of fresh fish onto the beach. This resulted in a frenzied and very noisy attack from masses of seagulls, all desperately trying to get the best bits. The whole scene was so typical of the area that I thought it would make a good composition for my painting...
                              "Fresh Fish and Seagulls"
                                                 Acrylic on box canvas 18"x 24"x 1.5"

Painting of a fishing boat at the Stade, Hastings

"Fresh Fish and Seagulls" Close up and wall views

More paintings of Hastings...
 "Days on the Stade"
"Pots and Dans"

"Days on The Stade" Painting the fishing boats on Hastings beach

Fresh fish for sale on The Stade, Hastings

At last the storms and gales seem to have gone! We've had some awful weather which caused so much damage , especially along the coast. The local news showed a video of part of the rock face at Hastings crumbling away into the sea.
 It reminded of the lovely day we spent there last year among the historic buildings and watching the mischievous seagulls gathering around the colourful fishing boats on  The Stade
I thought I would paint them again , this time on a bigger canvas,  something to brighten up the dull Winter days....

                               "Days on The Stade"

Painting the colourful boats on The Stade at Hastings

"Days on The Stade"

                                               Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5"

More fishing boats of Hastings here

Painting the fishing boats of The Stade, Hastings

A couple of weeks ago I was a lucky winner of some free travel tickets with Southern Rail which meant I could travel any where I wanted in the South Downs area .My sister and I eventually decided on a trip to Hastings (East Sussex).
The town is steeped in history including the battle of 1066 and smugglers tales from days of old.
My favourite part is The Stade with it's fishing boats and tall, dark, net shops.
( It is the largest beach fishing fleet in Europe)
 The area is so full of colour and character, a real painter's paradise!
I've painted one of the smaller boats before, this time I thought I would try something a bit more challenging and paint them with their fishing nets and tackle. The skies were quite overcast and dark which added to the whole atmosphere of the scene.
Work in progress, acrylic 24"x 12" .
The dark skies have been painted and work begun on the 2 fishing boats ...

Day 2 and progress is slow. There's so much small detail that It gets very tiring on the eyes. I've managed to add a bit more colour though and hopefully tomorrows session will see it start to come together more .

Day 3. A good painting day today! I've almost completed all of the detail on the boats. It will all seem a lot easier now that they're done. There's still a fair bit to do and a lot of seagulls to be added ...

Day 4 and another good and final painting day. The nets and pots took a while to paint but I eventually finished them. The only thing I didn't have was a title,  the Hastings Fishermens Museum have suggested "Pots and Dans". I had to ask what a "dan" was as my knowledge of sea fishing is pretty much non existent . I have now learnt that it is the flag that marks where the nets are.
 Such an apt and inspired title !
So here is the finished painting, not a great photo of it as the light is not very good today. You can get a better view by clicking on the picture....
   
                                                     "Pots and Dans"(Sold)
                                                  Acrylic on stretched canvas 24"x 12"

"Pots and Dans", The Stade, Hastings, Sussex

More paintings of the Sussex coast

The Hastings Fishermens Museum

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hastings-Stade-Walks/157167324395190?fref=ts