Sussex prints, cards, bags and more!

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Painting the view from "Ditchling Beacon "

Ditchling Beacon, Sussex

I have been busy decorating the kitchen and Spring cleaning the house. I am on a mission to make everything shiny again after the bleak Winter months. It's lovely to get the house looking nice again but I was at a point where I needed a break from it, so last weekend we decided to make the most of the sunshine and headed off to Ditchling Beacon .
It was extremely windy but such a clear day that you could see for miles across the Sussex Weald.
At 248 meters above sea level it's the highest point in East Sussex and perfect views for a landscape painting!
My first day's painting concentrated on the background and marking in the main features...

 

Starting to paint Ditchling Beacon 

Today's session was to start work on the slopes of the South Downs and the fields. The trees and bushes have taken quite a while to paint in but it's now starting to come together.

Painting in the fields and slopes of the South Downs

I am now on the third day of painting and progress is now much slower while adding the detail to the gate and fencing

Making a start on the fencing

Just a few hours painting today, I don't do a lot on the weekends but I did make a start on the shadows. The Spring sunshine through the gate causes the shadows to curve and creep over the chalk track emulating the hills behind. It was this that was my initial inspiration to paint this view ...

Adding the shadows

Well the weekend came and went far too quickly! I have spent most of the day painting and have now finished. I hope you like it :)

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

Painting of the view from Ditchling Beacon, Sussex.

                                For sale
 

Spring still life painting and card making

Spring has finally arrived!
Easter has brought with it blue skies and sunshine turning the garden into a symphony of colour!
My favourite of the first arrivals are the miniature alpine daffodils.
I picked a few, put them into a little jug then placed them on the window sill. I didn't intend to paint them but when I saw them in the sunlight a picture immediately came to mind.
I wanted to capture the light and add a musical theme with a couple of small ornaments I had tucked away in a cupboard. I chose the paperweight because the colours fitted in with the composition, it was only after I had sketched it out that I realized that it was egg shaped, just perfect for an Easter painting!

                                         "A Springtime Arrangement"
                                            Acrylic on canvas  

A Springtime Arrangement, Still life painting on canvas

BUY

Today also saw the release of a card making CD featuring my artwork by Ooh La La Creations.
 It was advertised on the Create and Craft channel and it seemed very strange to see my paintings being used on the TV! Great fun though :)

The Paula Oakley Collection,  card making CD

If you would like to find out more then pop over and have a look ...http://www.ooh-la-la-creations.com/Pages/default.aspx   

"Cupcake Temptation" in Artist and Illustrators magazine

Today I received my copy of the May 2015 edition of the Artist and Illustrators magazine and was delighted to see that my still life painting "Cupcake Temptation" has been published in the Portfolio Plus section.
Such a lovely way to start the Spring season :) 
The cake was pretty good too!

"Cupcake Temptation" Acrylic still life painting

Artist and Illustrators magazine May2015 

For sale, please click here to visit my gallery page for more images

"Springtime over Fulking" (Sussex). Painting the view from Devil's Dyke, Brighton

Devil's Dyke and Fulking, Sussex

Spring has arrived bringing blue skies and sunshine!
The glorious weather took us off to explore Devil's Dyke just outside of Brighton.
  It's been about 4 years since my last visit and I wanted to take advantage of the good weather to capture the stunning views of the Sussex Weald.
I wasn't disappointed but the wind was so strong and bitterly cold ! We stayed just long enough for me to get some good reference photos (not easy in the wind) and then headed down to explore the villages of Fulking. and Edburton that are nestled at the base of the South Downs.
 The narrow winding lanes took us through the small but pretty villages.
These are the places that we had seen looking west from Devil's Dyke and the subject of my painting.
I wanted to paint this view as not only does it capture the communities that live in the area but also the hills with the South Downs Way heading off in the distance on it's route to Winchester.
A view that goes on forever......

                                           "Springtime over Fulking"
                                                     Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5"
Work in progress.....

Painting the view over Fulking village (Sussex)

The first few days were spent building up the colours and textures whilst making sure everything was in it's right place. Adding the village was quite straining on my eyes so it was good to hop back and forth between buildings and the earthy grass slopes of the South Downs.
Finally everything came together . I'm pleased with the result and it is a great reminder of our day out where it seemed like we were on the top of the world!
                                         

"Springtime over Fulking" (Sussex) Acrylic painting on box canvas

Wall and close up views

e mail paula@paulaoakley.co.uk

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"Summer over Southease" Painting the view over Southease in Sussex from Itford Hill

Itford Hill, Sussex

Itford Hill is situated just a couple of miles south of the town of Lewes .
 From the top the views are breathtaking!
 North takes you over the river Ouse towards Lewes.
East has wonderful views of Mount Caburn and the Sussex Weald.
Looking South you can see the sea at Newhaven and Seaford.
West overlooks the Ouse valley and the South Downs....this is the view that will be the subject of my painting.
On a hazy Summer day I headed to Southease, a tiny little rural village in the Ouse valley that has an interesting and unusual church with a round tower http://southeasevillage.info/

Southease, Sussex

The walk through the village to Itford Hill is part of the South Downs Way and takes you over the River Ouse via a swing bridge. The bridge was extensively restored in 2010 and seems to fit in so well with it's surroundings.

The swing bridge at Southease

Shortly after you come upon the railway station which always seems to be in a rather odd place as it's in the middle of nowhere! I think it gets used mostly by walkers as there's a youth hostel next to it . As I crossed over the footbridge I stopped to watch a train go by. As you can see by my photo it's a very rural location ...

Distant view of Mount Caburn from Southease station

 I followed the track that would take me to the top of Itford Hill, looking forward to the views that awaited me.

Heading up Itford Hill

It turned out to be a lot steeper than it looked! On my way up a group of young lads passed me, they had stayed at the hostel for the night and were in the process of walking the South Downs Way from one end to the other  (160 km from Winchester to Eastbourne) . They were on a quest to complete their task and were soon ahead of me and out of sight . I admired their determination but was a little saddened that  their rush meant they were missing the chance to absorb so many splendid views.
At least I wasn't the only one taking my time.....;)

Finally I reached the top , it was a bit hazy but the scenery was wonderful!
Looking back I could see the path that I had taken and the reason for my walk.
 To paint the landscape over Southease.
 As a very young child I lived on two different farms in this area , alas too young to appreciate it !
But what I do appreciate is that pudding bowl  haircuts are a thing of the long distant past!!!!!!

So back to the painting... the composition will be of  Southease nestled in the South Downs in the Ouse Valley. Just the church and swing bridge can be seen surrounded by the harvest fields of Summer..
Work in progress...."Summer over Southease"  (Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5")

Work in progress. Painting the view over the Ouse valley and Southease (Sussex)

Started work on the buildings , bridge and trees ...

Whilst letting the other areas dry I have added the first layers of paint to the fields, these will eventually have several hay bales in them . It's a dark and dreary day so unfortunately it hasn't photographed very well .....roll on Summer!
Finally  I have completed the  painting. Days of Summer, rolling hills, hay bales, red berried Hawthorn and sunshine!

                                           "Summer over Southease"

"Summer over Southease" landscape painting of the South Downs at Southease in Sussex

                                            BUY

Fun on the beach ......

I've decided I've had enough of the bleak Winter weather and thought I would have a bit of Sussex seaside fun.
Eastbourne is a well known retirement resort and seemed like the perfect setting for my composition. Working from several reference photos and changing the clothing I have created somerthing that I hope you will find amusing and perhaps a little typical of our British seasides .
As we get older, rounder and slower , perhaps we all still hold a childhood desire to be a Super Hero !

                            "Seaside Super Heroes" 
                              Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18" x 1.5" 

Fun seaside painting set in Eastbourne, Sussex

Then of course I couldn't leave the seaside theme without a pretty girl sunbathing on the beach ,waves crashing on the shore ensure a cooling spray to make a perfect day....

                                               "Hot Pink and Heatwave"
                                                      Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5"

Hot Pink and Heatwave , beach painting

"Winter Walk" Painting inspired by the early morning frost

Early morning frosty views on the outskirts of Newick, Sussex

Christmas was wonderful but after several days in the house I was glad to get out and about again. We've had a few frosty mornings lately so I decided to venture out for a walk to catch the sun rise and enjoy the tranquility of the countryside on the outskirts of my village.
The low Winter sun and widespread frost revealed a new range of colours to use for a painting.
I love how the landscape changes so much with the seasons and weather and each walk becomes a new inspiration on an old path...
I have chosen to paint a view of the track I followed on the edge of Newick Park Estate. The sun had just started to rise, lighting up my path ahead like a giant candle glowing fiercely  through the trees.

Work in progress... "Winter Walk" Acrylic on box canvas, 18"x 24" x 1.5"

Work in progress..."Winter Walk"

I started by giving the canvas a wash of pink and yellow for the background then painted in the trees in the middle. Once dry 2-3 thin washes of white and yellow were painted over them to knock them back into the distance. Next I repeated this procedure for the tree at the back left.
 Bit by bit I am working towards the foreground adding in the shadows and sunlight as I go.

Working on the foreground 

 This morning I have started to make good progress on the foreground . This area is mostly made up of frost and ice, it's also in the shade so there will be a lot of blue tones to paint in.
The track is created by merging  many small dots of colour, once this is dry I will be able to add the highlights and shading.
Well another day's painting means I have now completed the painting....I hope you like it !
                                    "Winter Walk"
                               Acrylic on box canvas 18"x 24"x 1.5"  

"Winter Walk" Acrylic painting on box canvas

                

Painting inspired from a Winter walk on the outskirts of my village of Newick in Sussex

"Cupcake Temptation" Colourful still life painting featuring cupcakes

 It's nearly Christmas  so I've been busy baking.
I  don't enjoy cooking but on special occasions I will brave it into the kitchen and attempt to create  something yummy. Cupcakes are easy and fun which means they are a good option for me.
I am pleased to say that they turned out rather scrummy,
the only problem being was not to eat them all !
So much temptation on a plate!
I decided the best way to resist was to use the last one in a still life composition. I found a nice selection of items that I thought would look good together and so the painting was started ....

"Cupcake Temptation" work in progress

I slightly altered the colours to avoid too much white in the background as I wanted a stronger contrast. I'm happy with the result and I now have a cupcake that's non fattening and calorie free! ;)

                                 "Cupcake Temptation"
                                                     Acrylic on standard canvas 18"x 24"

"Cupcake Temptation" Acrylic still life painting with cake

BUY

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...."

November has been such a busy month ! Besides completing a few more paintings I have had other things going on   in my world ....
Firstly, my painting "The Ploughing Match " was very kindly included in the November edition of the Sussex Living magazine . This was great as it's distributed in my village and surrounding area.

 Then in between painting I've been making a few things ready for Christmas. I enjoy the challenge of making things out of bits and bobs and it always makes me think of my childhood days, eagerly watching the children's program "Blue Peter" and rushing off to find an empty toilet roll and some sticky back plastic !
My first task was to make a paper mache train. Instead of Christmas crackers this year I thought a bright sparkly train would be more fun as we have 2 young children visiting .  Each truck will hold a bag of  surprise goodies for each person :)

Paper mache Christmas train

I then decided to make something festive to go in the garden. Out came the hammer, nails and tin snips . It didn't take long to find some old pieces of wood and with a bit of paint and added decorations ( made from an old biscuit tin)  this was the result.  I'm going to "plant" them in a large container with some sprigs of holly by our front door... :)

wood scrap snowmen and tree

After all the hammering and sawing I thought I would head off to make something a bit more genteel. A good rummage through my material box resulted in enough oddments to make some Christmas table mats. Our old ones were looking a bit faded and not very festive so I went for a simple tree design that seemed to work rather well :)

Christmas tree table mats

Finally (unless inspiration hits in again) I made a tree topper. I like the old fashioned Father Christmas figures and wanted to make something similar. It's only about 7 inches high so it was a bit fiddly in parts!  I could have used polymer clay for his face but I thought paper mache would be a more traditional material and more challenging (I enjoy a challenge) . I attached his head onto a cardboard cone then added the clothes etc.
He didn't turn out too bad and I learned a lot . It was a fun and interesting project from the initial design to working out the best ways of getting the results I wanted...

Father Christmas tree topper

Soon I celebrate my Birthday and then it will be Christmas...I'm wondering what will be more exciting...the presents or the packaging they come in! Ho ho ho!
   
                                                                            *****

Complete guide to painting in acrylics

On another note I am pleased to announce that my painting "He loves me, he loves me not" has been published in the "Complete guide to painting in acrylics" by Lorena Kloosterboer .... exciting days!

"He loves Me, he loves Me Not..."

The book contains work from 97 artists and is available from Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Painting-Acrylics-Lorena-Kloosterboer/dp/178221187X/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0MGXEQWCFYBG8J14612V

"Winter Warmer" Winter/Christmas still life painting

As we approach December and the weather turns colder my thoughts are of Christmas and the dark Winter months ahead. I'm hoping that this year we shall see some snow and not have to endure the storms of last year.
There is something wonderful about wrapping up warm and walking through the freshly fallen snow. Perhaps it's the way that it reflects the light making everything seem brighter, or maybe the way that it absorbs sound, giving a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
It all makes a Winter's walk quite magical, then, as the sun starts to sink in the sky and the cold chill wind sets in, it's good to return home and indulge in a little "Winter Warmer" ;)
                                 
                                   "Winter Warmer"
                                                 Acrylic on box canvas 18"x 14"x 1.5"

Winter still life painting. Acrylic on canvas 

                                                 https://www.artgallery.co.uk/artist/paula_oakley_2

"Winter Warmer" Bags, pillows, cards and prints

Cards, tote bags, prints and throw pillows available http://www.redbubble.com/people/poak/works/13099776-winter-warmer