Chocolate anyone?

I am not a natural blogger so I constantly have to remind myself to update here.  I sometimes feel it is a waste of time because I have only three followers, but I hope others do occasionally come across it.  In reality it is more for a permanent record of my progress, or lack of it, currently in the plein air field, but more generally of my artistic journey.

We have lived in Thornton le Dale for four years now, almost next door to the most painted cottage in all of North Yorkshire.
The path where you need to stand to get a good view is swarming with people, admiring the view and enjoying the delightful quintessential cottage garden in front of the cottage, but it makes it a hard task to concentrate on making a painting.

I got the initial drawing badly wrong; never a good start, but the light soon disappeared behind the wall so I had to retreat, armed with a photograph.  As soon as I got home I could see the error of my ways and was able to correct, and finish the painting quite quickly, but it is much harder in a studio situation to be generous with the brush strokes.
The limitations of time are removed and everything becomes much more considered.  I prefer being surrounded by lots of fresh air and little time to consider, even if one does have to take on board the onlookers and the facile comments (although I am sure most are well intentioned, I don't think people realise how much you need to concentrate)

Beck Cottage, Thornton le Dale

oil on board

10x8"

Plein air here we come

I finally sorted myself out with the where-withall to paint outdoor in oils. In October last when I went to Tuscany to paint with Maddine Insalaco of Etruscan Places, I had a blast with a great group of American painters, but more importantly it gave me the confidence to try the great outdoors myself. Sorting out the ideal kit isn't always straightforward and can be expensive but I managed to buy a second hand pochade box through painters-online.co.uk, so now I had no more excuses. My first sortie was about 500 metres from home, an alternative view of a much painted cottage in our village of Thornton le Dale,  North Yorkshire.
This tidy, representational style is a leftover from my days as a graphic designer, and is my fall back position when I am out of my comfort zone, in this case working outside in a relatively new medium.  As I do more I will work to be looser, but I know a lot of people who buy my work like this style.  Quandry..... but I must move on to progress.

Thornton Beck
oils on canvas
24 x 18.5 cms

All my paintings are for sale.  If you are interested please email me.