"Draught and Dray" Painting the horse drawn dray of Harvey's Brewery

Harveys brewery, Lewes, Sussex

My favourite subjects to paint are the ones  that mix nostalgia with  modern day scenes .
I'm also very partial to a good ale! So imagine my delight when I discovered that my local brewery Harveys had reintroduced the brewery dray cart.
It was originally brought in for the Queen's visit last October but was so popular that they decided to keep using it for deliveries and special occasions.

Photo courtesy of Maple Leaf Carriages

The dray has not been used by the brewery for over a hundred years and well suits the historic streets of Lewes.
                                      The brewery...
Harveys is a family run brewery that has been around since 1790 . Situated in the center of the town the building is a very impressive landmark situated on the banks of the river Ouse. For more details please visit their website http://www.harveys.org.uk/the-brewery

                                       The horses...
The horses are supplied by Maple Leaf Carriage Company. A lovely pair of Shire horses called
 Monty and Winston. They  look splendid and of course enjoy the odd tipple now and again !

Monty and Winston enjoying a well earned pint...gallon!

 

http://www.mapleleafcarriages.com/shire-experience-days/ 

The dray...

The dray  is beautifully built and painted, laden with the barrels of beer it is a wonderful sight to see on the streets.

These are all topped off with a large comfortable cushion where you will find Barney enjoying the scenery ... I'm sure he gets a lot of attention too!

Harveys dray

Of course being "top dog" means proudly wearing your best Harveys coat !

Barney helping with the beer delivery. Photo courtesy of Jon Tooley

                                           The painting...
                                     "Draught and Dray"
Work in progress...Acrylic on box canvas 18"x 24"x 1.5"
 It's rather a complicated painting with lots of detail so it's going to take quite a while to complete.
I'm on my third day of painting, gradually building up the layers of colour so that I can work on the detail. 
 

Work in progress "Draught and Dray"

 I made good progress today. The painting is starting to come together now. Tomorrow I should be able to start on the finer details where I'm happy with the depth of colour. I shall also make a start on the remaining areas.

The painting is now starting to come togeher

It's felt like slow progress today as I've been adding some of the finer detail. The harness is almost completed and I've started work on the other horse...

Starting to paint in some detail and the second horse

Well, after many hours of painting I have finally completed the picture. It's been a delightful subject to paint !
                                                  "Draught and Dray"
                                Acrylic on box canvas 18"x 24"x 1.5"

The Harveys dray with Monty and Winston

"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/

"Short Circuit" Still life fun with an Aston Martin !

Once again the bleak weather has held me captive in the house! Not to be beaten or down hearted I decided to have a little fun with a still life composition.
I have a very small model of a 1922 Aston Martin that I wanted to put into a painting

1922 Aston Martin model

 I don't know why.
 I just liked it and thought it's smooth, simply shape  would look good against a more geometric background.
I was looking for something equally as small and came upon an old lap top that had just what I needed. Lots of small circuits and components that I could "build" a race track and town to complete the scene.
It took quite a while to paint as the acrylic green is quite transparent.  I had to apply about 5-6 layers of paint to get the opaqueness that I wanted...

"Short Circuit" Work in progress

I was then able to build up the depth with washes of lighter and darker shades.
 When dry the details were added .
 Finally the shading and highlights brought it all to life.
                                                      "Short Circuit"
                                              Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5"

Fun still life with Aston Martin

"Short Circuit" Wall view

Painting the "Sussex Sea" . Birling Gap, East Sussex

Birling Gap, East Sussex

I've been watching how our stormy Winter weather has been having such a dramatic effect on our coastline. So many landmarks have been destroyed or damaged by the severe wind and rain.
The constant onslaught of the sea and it's relentless waves have been changing the shape of our beaches.
Cornwall and Devon have had the worst but here too in East Sussex we have not escaped the storms and there have been several landslides on the cliffs where in just a few seconds they crumble away into the sea.
One such place is Birling Gap on the South Downs. Since Christmas there have been two 9ft landslides, the first bringing the old cottages on the top of the cliff even closer to the edge!

The cottages at Birling Gap

I remembered when we went there on New Years Day last year. It was a beautiful day with bright sunshine that made the chalk white cliffs of the Seven Sisters almost glow! Several people were there indulging in their New Year swim , a tradition I hasten to add that you won't find me taking part in! Brrrrrrr!
Anyway, with the recent events and my memories I thought I would paint a picture of a more colourful and less destructive time. I have chosen the view from the beach looking towards the cliffs of Seaford Head.
                                                               "Sussex Sea"
                                                     Acrylic on box canvas 18"x 24" x1.5"

The view of Seaford Head from Birling Gap

 

"Summer Green" Summer painting of the South Downs

To beat the Winter blues I've decided to go back to Summer!
Days of wonderful sunshine, blue skies and lush greens, blanketing the South Downs .
  A beautiful patchwork of fields, meadows and pastures all edged off with the gentle lace flowers of wild cow parsley.....
I know several artists that avoid green, it can be an awkward colour to paint with and can often end up looking dull and lifeless. I think acrylics lend themselves well to this, as layering with various shades of yellow and green keeps the results bright and vibrant.
I started with the South Downs in the distance where the shrubs and trees add to the softness of the slopes...

Next came the patchwork fields, each different in shade and texture...

Finally the foreground is brought to life by the wild, lace- like flowers of the cow parsley...

                                    "Summer Green"
                                  

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

Summertime in East Chiltington

                                                                  BUY 

Features, foul weather and Valentine's...

January is coming to an end and still the weather is grim! It's really frustrating as I would love to paint some more landscapes but the rain and wind do not make a good mixture for photography.
I've been out and about around the village outskirts but it's just so wet and muddy...

I discovered an old abandoned farm that's full of charm and character. Unfortunately I can't explore it as it's on private land, but maybe I will return to it in the Summertime and see it in a better light.
The storms have brought so many trees down that parts of the wood look like some sort of Jurassic landscape, it's such a shame but I'm sure new growth will soon arrive and the next generation will be able to enjoy the woodland that I have got to know over the past 5 years here in Newick.
Sometimes on my walks I discover the most unlikely things, twice last week I found myself having to look twice. Firstly I spotted 7 goldfish in a small, fast flowing country stream, they looked liked they were having a wonderful time! I guess that the recent downpours have caused someone's pond to flood and overflow resulting in the liberation of their fish.

My next surprise was during a frosty morning walk along the old disused railway line. As I turned the corner I came upon a very large and very hairy camel! I certainly wasn't expecting to see that ! Apparently his origins were from Mongolia so he didn't mind our cold wet weather. I have to say he was rather handsome in his own way.....

But not quite my ideal painting subject !
Going back to the subject of painting I have had a good January, starting off with the Artist and Illustrator magazine choosing  "Swanning around" as part of their January online exhibition .

"Swanning Around" Painting the swans on Piltdown pond

Secondly the Printers Inc ran a feature on me for their blog Behind the easel which was fun to take part in . I have several artworks available from them as canvas or photo prints http://pa4438.wix.com/paulaoakleyart#!buy-prints-and-posters

Then finally and most excitingly was Daler Rowney inviting me to be a featured artist on their website. I am really pleased to have been asked and to discover how much they like my paintings.
All my work is created with their System 3 acrylics so it's a very apt place for me to be seen :)
Daler Rowney featured artist

In the mean time I have been having a little fun , with Valentine's day fast approaching I thought I would be a little romantic, 8"x 8" to be precise ....
                                                        "Love Buttons"
                                                       Acrylic on canvas board

Still life made with love and buttons

 
I have also just started a similar painting but on a slightly bigger canvas so watch this space :)
.....and here it is..
                                                     "Button Love"
                                           Acrylic on box canvas 16"x 12"x 1.5"

"Button Love" fun still life

  

"Any Port in a Storm" Fun still life painting

When Winter brings the rain, hail, gales, flooding and power cuts, the only thing to do is pour yourself a drink, relax and wait for the storms to pass. As the weather has been so awful recently I thought I would have a bit of fun with this still life painting....

                              "Any Port in a Storm"
                                              Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5"

"Any Port in a Storm" Acrylic still life

                                      

                                                                           

"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

"No-Ale, No-Ale" Painting with a little festive fun!

Newick village in the snow !

Well it's that time of year again when the weather forecasters start trying to predict what the Winter will bring. Some are saying it will be severe. This made me think about the consequences of such weather on our rural little village of Newick and I thought I would have a little bit of artistic fun.
 So wrap up warm and join me in a little festive Christmas carol ....

"No-Ale No-Ale No-Ale No-Ale,
We've drunk all the beer and we now have No- Ale!"

"There is no ale" the barman did say.
On a cold winter's night the snow's caused a delay.
The road's are all closed, "Oh no!" We did cry.
The bottles are empty, the barrels are dry!" 

                                          "No-Ale, No-Ale"
                                      Acrylic on stretched canvas 12"x 15"

Painting with a little Christmas cheer!

                   Cards available at Redbubble

Painting the boats on the river Ouse at Lewes, Sussex

The River Ouse at Lewes, Sussex

Back in the Summer I visited my local town of Lewes. It's a town steeped in history that has some wonderful architecture. The river Ouse runs through the center of the town and was once a vital means of transport for the Lewes businesses. In the 19th century the waterway was full of barges and boats laden with goods and the river banks were overrun with wharfs, warehouses, granaries, ironworks, breweries, a gasworks, a papermill and soap factory.

The cement works in 1900 and how the buildings look today

Today the river is used mainly for leisure and many small  boats can be seen moored just a short distance from Cliffe bridge.
The river is tidal which causes the reflections to change through out the day, the small colourful boats and their reflections were a perfect subject for a painting...

                                  "River Reflections"
                                                  Acrylic on stretched canvas 24"x 12"

Painting the boats on the river Ouse at Lewes, Sussex

                                                                          BUY

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