Magnolia blossom

Magnolia blossom Oil on canvas 76x 61cm

This is my initial sketched in oil painting , now I can see how to progress to the finished painting. I am happy with the light and shade values at this stage.

Vision 2

Vision 2  Oil on canvas 31 x 61 cm 2015 

This painting was painted as an abstract but I can see a landscape in some form. The deep
blues are made using Cobalt blue, Ultramarine, Cobalt Violet (Sennelier) and Violet Windsor (a strong purple).

Sketch of girl

Sketch of girl for portrait commission

An initial sketch for a portrait.

Bath Abbey late summer evening

Bath Abbey late summer evening No 24

This is number 24 of my series of 31 canvases which I have just completed. I didn't think I would get this far and now the end is in sight. I have only got 7 left to  paint.
I envisage four of these will be larger canvas (100 x 80 cm) dimensions and showing a particular series of the sun rising towards the top of the abbey and virtually disappearing in a 5 hour time span towards dusk.
If any one wants to commission these for their company or lobby that would be cool.

Bath skyline from Alexander Park

Bath skyline view  from Alexander Park, Bath

Sketch from Alexander Park in Bath . I was careful to put in the various churches details ready for my next painting in my Bath skyline painting series. The railings were useful to rest the A3 sketchpad on.

Bat skyline from near Sham castle

Bath skyline sketch from near Sham Castle

Bath skyline charcoal sketch I

A plein air sketch in charcoal from  the Bath skyline path from which I will be doing a small oil. Hopefully it will be part of a skyline series. A view which covers the important buildings, Bath Abbey, Empire Hotel and Bath Rugby ground.

Bath skyline thoughts

Bath skyline

Thoughts on using oil paints on location

Mostly I sketch outdoors with charcoal, graphite  and watercolour pencils. 
Painting Bath skyline outside using oils 'en plein air' was a reminder as to why I do this -
the difficulties of taking oil painting equipment ,easel, oil paint (I buy the large 200ml tubes when possible which are heavy as it is more economical), white spirit, rags, paint brushes, pallet, drinking water) to a location and then setting it up. 
Also waiting for the correct weather conditions before setting out in a climate such as ours, rain, grey cloud, cold winds, and short summers.
But I can easily do charcoal sketches outside and then use the reference in my studio where everything is already set up and I can paint on larger canvases if I choose. Also I find careful thought can be used in making marks and I can stand back and think about the picture with no time pressures. 
British artists that also came to the same conclusion include Anne Redpath and John Piper.