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

 

"Pier and Proms" Painting Eastbourne seafront

Eastbourne pier

Summer's almost here! Hurrah! Time to get back to exploring and painting our wonderful Sussex seaside views!
My first sunshine visit was to Eastbourne. We headed down in "Alice", my husband's TVR to take part in the Magnificent Motors Show...

The weather was amazing and gave me the perfect opportunity to have a look along the seafront and pier.
 Last year my trip here wasn't very productive as  repairs were still underway after the awful fire that destroyed part of the pier.
 There are still signs of the destruction but it's looking rather grand!

Fire damage

Eastbourne pier

 I spotted a row of deck chairs. Standing at different heights that seemed to mimic the waves of the sea. The view beyond overlooks the Promenade and Bandstand where concert music fills the air.
A perfect seaside composition!
                                                   "Pier and Proms" 
                                   Acrylic on canvas 18" x  24"

Painting the deck chairs on Eastbourne pier

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Painting of the river Ouse, Sussex

The river Ouse in Sussex

Returning from my bluebell walk the other day I followed the path back along the edge of the river Ouse.
There has been hardly any rain for several weeks and the water level was so much lower than usual causing sunlit ripples around the rocks and plants.

        "Rippled reflections around rocks flow.
                When the rain didn't come
                               and the river ran low.
         Sun scorched lilies strive to grow.
               When the rain didn't come
                               and the river ran low "

                            "When the river ran low" 
                                            Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"

"When the river ran low" Acrylic painting of the river Ouse

  

Painting the bluebells

Bluebells in Sussex

Every year I tell myself that I'm not going to paint the bluebells and every year they look and smell so wonderful that I can't resist!
I don't want to paint the same old bluebell picture each year so my quest was to find a location that would give me a different composition to previous paintings.
This year I explored the woods that are situated just behind the Bluebell Railway (very apt) at Sheffield Park.
I set off  about 6.30 am so that I could catch the soft, early morning light. It was a lovely walk and I discovered 3 different woods each delightfully adorned with a scented carpet of blue!

Wapsbourne woods, Sussex

So....did I paint them?  Yes, in fact I painted two!

                                                  "Morning Blue" 
                                  24"x18" Acrylic on canvas

"Morning Blue" Painting the Bluebell woods in the early light

                                                        "Bluebell Days"
                                      12"x 10" Acrylic on canvas

Bluebell painting number 2 "Bluebell Days"

  

"Springtime Yellow"

Yellow rapeseed fields

For my latest painting I decided to stay with the beautiful yellow fields of the oil rapeseed crops. Due to crop rotation the opportunity doesn't arrive every year, in fact I've waited 2 years for some good local displays.
My walk took me to the western outskirts of Lewes in the early hours of the morning. The colours were stunning and the frequent slopes that my path took were ideal for capturing the curves and contours of the South Downs.

Views from my walk among the rapeseed crops on the South Downs

It's great to use such vibrant colours , Spring is a delightful season !

                                          "Springtime Yellow"
                        Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"

"Springtime Yellow" Painting the yellow rapeseed fields on the South Downs at Lewes, East Sussex 

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Painting the Sussex landscape in Spring

Bo peep on the South Downs

There is nothing brighter or more colourful than the yellow Rapeseed fields in full bloom!
My travels took me up on top of The South Downs at Bo Peep near Alciston in East Sussex.
As you can see the views were stunning.....

I've wanted to paint this view since we went to the Firle Hill Climb last September http://paula-paintmyworld.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Firle+hill+climb#.WPIRJKK1s1k
But now the views are even better and a perfect composition to paint. It was hard going at times but I persevered and got there in the end!

                                               "Springtime Sussex"
                                    Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"

Painting of the view over Sussex from the South Downs at Bo Peep

 

Painting of the Sussex Weald at Worbleton

The Black Duck at Warbleton

As Winter fades away I found myself in the depths of the Sussex Weald . My trip took me along the narrow lanes surrounded by fields and woodland slopes to the Hamlet of Warbleton. The area has just a few old houses, a pub and a church but all full of history and character.

 The church stands proud on top of the hill and close to where Richard Woodman, a wealthy farmer lived. He was one of the Sussex Martyrs that were sadly burnt at the stake at Lewes for his religious beliefs http://www.sussexmartyrs.co.uk/warbleton/

 The views from the church look out over the Sussex Weald , to the west I spotted a couple of old houses nestled between the trees and freshly ploughed iron rich fields. The woodland has yet to come into leaf but Spring is arriving with blossom on the trees and freshly washed laundry hung out in the warm breeze. 

"Home on the Weald"
Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18" 
  

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Painting "On the slopes of Cissbury Ring" Steyning, West Sussex

Cissbury Ring

Spring has almost arrived! Yay! Blue skies and sunshine days are on their way!
My recent explorations took me over the border into West Sussex , to the picturesque village of Steyning. A place full of interesting  architecture topped off with the old Horsham stone rooftops.

Steyning , West Sussex 

My sister and I had a quick wander around the shops before heading off to the heights of the South Downs at Steyning Bowl, where the South Downs Way runs along the roadside.
 The weather made it a perfect Spring day and the views went on forever!

Views from Steyning Bowl

To the west lies the iron age fort of Cissbury Ring . Woodland slopes merge into a patchwork of patterned fields and grazing cattle and sheep.
I was fascinated  just watching the farmer plough the earth whilst being besieged by flocks of seagulls in search of an easy meal !

Seagulls flock around the plough

The view was captivating, it was so very typical of the Sussex downland . A perfect picture to paint! ...
                                              "On the slopes of Cissbury Ring"
                                     Acrylic painting on canvas 24"x 18" 

"On the slopes of Cissbury Ring" Acrylic on canvas  

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"Tracks to Blackcap"

"Blackcap" on the South Downs near Lewes, Sussex

The recent bleak weather meant that I hadn't been out walking for a while and although I don't mind staying in I finially reached a point where I just needed to escape outside.
Setting off from the outskirts of Lewes I headed west over the South Downs towards Blackcap.
It was a damp and foggy morning where the cloud covered slopes disappeared from view...

My path took me past the beacon at Mount Harry and on to the clump of trees at the top of Blackcap that were replanted to commemorate the coronation of queen Elizabeth in 1953.

Blackcap

At this point the sun started to break through so I decided to head on a little further onto
The South Downs Way . I had 2 choices, South towards Falmer or West towards Ditchling. I couldn't make up my mind so I walked a part way in each direction ....

The South Downs Way at Blackcap

The path ahead  towards Ditchling was very wet and didn't make for easy walking. I made slow progress, but looking back towards Blackcap I loved the way that the solid chalk track was patterned with a mixture of milky white puddles and cycle tracks . This I thought would be a good composition to paint :)
                                          "Tracks to Blackcap"

"Tracks to Blackcap" Acrylic painting 24"x18"

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"Winter trees" on the South Downs

In previous years because of the weather and light I have painted Still Life subjects during the Winter months. This year though I have decided to stay with landscapes.
The views look so very different at this time of year but just as impressive !
I love the sloping curves of the South Downs and the way that the fields interweave with each other.
I found the perfect composition at Falmer, the slopes and patterned  fields all set off by the lines of the Winter trees.
 A colouful mixture incorporating a selection of purples, greens and browns ....perfect!

                                                          "Winter Trees" 
                                                         Acrylic on canvas 24" x 18" 

"Winter Trees" Landscape painting of Falmer, Sussex

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"Fading Boundaries" Painting the morning mist

Finally January draws to a close.
 It's seemed like long month full of fog and mist and not very good conditions to get out and about with my camera .
One day last week I couldn't even see the house over the road as the mist was so thick, so I decided it would have to be a cleaning day instead. However , just after 9am the sun started to shine through and I found myself spending more time looking out of the window than being productive.
It was no good trying to fight the desire to get out so I grabbed my camera, put on my boots and headed off.
I didn't want to walk far as my ankle is still rather painful after spraining it. With this in mind I decided to take a stroll along one of my favourite paths which is part of the Ouse Valley Way.
The path takes me north of the village through Rotherfield woods. These are lovely woods and have an almost magical atmosphere to them, they are the sort of woods that would make you believe in fairy tales !

Rotherfield woods, Newick (Sussex) 

On the far side  the path leads you to where the River Ouse meanders between the fields and the outskirts of  the Sheffield Park estate (Sheffield Park Gardens) . It's a lovely part of the river , I have spent many Summer days just watching the Dragonflies and Beautiful Demoiselles dance and swoop over the water.  But the Winter brings a different kind of light and it all looks very different.

Winter along the river Ouse

I usually end my walk when I reach the Bluebell Railway but the mist added such a magical atmosphere to the morning that I ventured a little further to explore the other side of the river .
Now my walk took me around the perimeters of  Sheffield Park , best known for it's beautiful gardens  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden
This area is a much more natural landscape than the gardens and a delight to explore...

Sheffield Park, Sussex 

I could have spent all day there but the Winter light fades so quickly and I still had the walk back.
As I was about to leave I met the archaeologist  David Brown, who is working with the National Trust tracing the boundaries of an ancient deer park.
 I didn't realize at the time but this brief meeting would play a big part in my next painting !
On returning home I browsed through my photos and was delighted to discover that I had managed to capture some of amazing misty views that I had seen.
Now it was time to paint! I loved the way that the scenery just seemed to suddenly disappear and I chose a gate and fence to be the subject of my composition....a fence....a boundary....
it was then that I recalled my brief meeting with David Brown and how fitting the idea of the deer park boundaries disappearing just just like my own.....
                                           
                                          " Fading Boundaries"
                                 Acrylic on canvas 24"x 12" 

"Fading Boundaries" Acrylic landscape of a misty morning in Sheffield Park, Sussex

"In the grounds of Sheffield Park estate (Sussex, UK) Morning mist lays heavy over the long forgotten landscape of an ancient deer park. Now new boundaries disappear into a magical and atmospheric view bringing back images of the past.
This painting contains gentle iridescent highlights that catch the light enhancing the "glow" of the early morning mist." https://www.artfinder.com/product/fading-boundaries/

 

"Winter Reflections "

Well it's been a bit of a slow start to the year. I unfortunately sprained my ankle which meant I havn't been able to get out much . It's been so very frustrating!
Stubborn determination couldn't keep me in for long though and my recent walks have been close to home ( just to be on the safe side).
I'm lucky to live in a village where there are plenty of rural paths to follow and in  the recent frosty weather they were a delight to walk.
My path took me around the south side of Newick through woods, over fields and by the frozen waters of Winter.....perfect....just right for a painting!
                                            "Winter Reflections"
                                  Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"

"Winter Reflection" Acrylic painting

 "A cold Winter's day in the Sussex countryside when the sunlight barely manages to break through the trees upon the icy waters of the lake .
The muted colours mingle with the mist and soft rays of sunshine as the wild geese fly in almost unnoticed . "
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The South Downs and "Lunch along the way"

The South Downs at Firle, East Sussex

Happy New Year!
I thought I would start 2017 off with a South Downs painting.
The blue skies and sunshine were too good to miss over the holidays, so we took  a trip down to Firle beacon for a break out in the fresh air.
 We obviously weren't the only ones with that thought , I couldn't believe how busy it was!
 My explorations are usually during the week so I'm used to hardly seeing anyone else but with such wonderful views along The South Downs Way I wasn't surprised .
I spotted some walkers taking a lunch break on the bench whilst looking out over  the  Sussex Weald as it faded off into the horizon.
 So many times I have done the exact same thing myself.
 Couldn't be more perfect for a painting!

                                 "Lunch along the way"
                           Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18" 
                   

"Lunch along the way" Painting of the view from The South Downs Way at Firle, East Sussex

 

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