#221 'Chalk Path, The Trundle' 8x10"

The light was diffused when I arrived but got stronger as I started which was easier. 
I have been using a homemade viewfinder recently which helps compose the composition (previously I've used my phone & taken pics) The viewfinder helps with what subject areas to include, which format - square, landscape or portrait. Plus horizon line level. The horizon was very hazy, no sea or the Isle of Wight showing. Just an orange strip.

I was at the top of quite a steep long path, and it was busy! Cylist, runners, dog walkers. Everyone saying hello and I had to stop myself giving the runners encouragement 'nearly there don't stop....' :-)

#220 'Evening Sun, Bosham' 21x29cm

It's been gorgeous weather and I have made the most of it by doing an evening paint where the light gives me the subject.
Husband Nick and I went down to Bosham and this view grabbed me as the sun was dancing on the water and warm apricots in the sky. I knew it would be a hard one because it was changing so quickly. I painted some structure of the harbour side and building first and then whacked in the light. Keeping in mind less is more and not putting in too much detail letting the eye do the work.
In 40 minutes the water was this height and then see the pic below to what it drained to...

Spot Nick taking photo in the edge of the shot.

I finished at this point as it was very different to when I began, and refined it in the studio, tricky as you don't want to loose the fresh quality but it needs to be resolved as well.

#219 'Palms, Villa Joyosa' 9x11"

This was a tough painting! I started in the shade of the palms but as the sun rose I was exposed! Very hot and bright even my phone over heated and temporarily wouldn't work!

The composition was tricky as there were a lot of palms all in lines, I moved my body to try and make it work. But it was still very dominated with trees. I liked the sparkle on the sea and strip of beach activity.
Back at the house I scrubbed out two palms with some trepidation not knowing if it would leave a ghost behind but thankfully it looks better and with no ghost! 

I spent most of the day on this painting, I am pleased with the end result, some paintings are out of your comfort and a learning piece this was!

Last paintnig of Spain, back to sunny Surrey....

#218 'Finestrat, Spain' 8x10"

I did the same thing as the previous painting and looked for light and shade. Finestrat is inland from the coast and quite mountainous. I climbed to the top of the village to get the morning light hitting the buildings. I liked the downhill curved of this little street, plus the mountains behind were a bonus.

Very quite only one person walked down this street and I was busy looking at his cute dog rather than painting him! So I got my husband to walk down it so I could paint and have a figure to add to the composition.
I'm pleased with this one :-)

I have posted the 5 painting stages of how I put this painting together on Instagram. You don't need an account to look, click the link.
One more painting to post of Spain after this...

https://www.instagram.com/clarebowenartist/

#217 'Villa Josoya' 8x10"

Wonderful coloured houses in this Spanish town. I was in a shady square with friendly locals.
When I was scouting the town for a painting, I looked for light and shade patterns, not so much about the subject. The light and shade fell nicely on this building and I liked the strong blue.
I had to be quick as by the time I got to paint the shade had nearly all gone. I painted the bottom half of the house first to make sure I got it!

Usually I like subjects depicting more space than this, but this painting is more about light and colour :-)

A Spanish chap came out of his house and over to me, he was very pleased I was painting his house! He took photos of me and the painting for the residents Face Book page.

#216 'Bougainvillia, Spain' 18x21cm

This was in Finestrat it's the closest village to where we are staying with my Aunt. The doorway with this plant, was a real gem to find. Loved painting it, although I was unsure to begin with as the light wasn't on it, so it was quite flat. But as the sun rose higher it shone onto the scene and it got better, really pleasing when that happens!

There was a stray cat that kept climbing the bougainvillea trunk and making me laugh, swinging and balancing trying and get into the window.
The light was great to paint, a happy painting :-)

#215 'Altea, Spain' 8x10"

The first painting in Spain, it took me a few attempts to decide on the composition. As I was drawn to the light on the sea and the sky. But I got sucked in to a traditional a view putting the buildings in, I wiped it down and cut the building off. 
When painting outside you have to make quick decisions and take risks, you really don't know if the painting will work, there are so many elements to get right. It feels like painting by the seat of your pants! Which does make it exciting and also stressful at times :-)

3/4 through and someone asked if it was for sale! Which was a boost and helped my uncertainties.
The heat and light is so different and it's a bit of a shock painting in full sun, 30+ degrees! I'm not complaining though.
This is a family visit to see my Aunt Jo, so I will get some painting done but not as many as previous trips..... (I have two more after this to post so far).

#214 Setting Sail, Dell Quay 9x11"

What a great place to paint! So many options it was hard to choose until I saw this scene, when I couldn't take my eyes from it. It was a great sky day too, I wanted to do some cloud studies but this scene won! 

It was Sunday morning, and the sailing club was a hive of activity, lots of families and all different sail boats were casting off from this area. I pin pointed one boat I liked the shape of especially against the dark brick background. see pic no.3.

I painted at the end of a pontoon, a little hazadous because of the boarded gaps which my equipment could easily fall through.

This is my set up and the beginning stages.

I had to quickly get the yacht in before if moved, they had 5-10 mins of sorting themselves out before they set sail. 

Loved painting this, a great day, and a great subject!

I'm off to Spain with husband tomorrow for 9 days, and hope to paint and post on the blog out there...

#213 River Wey, Ripley 10x10"

I painted with the Surrey Hills Plein air painters on Friday, a nice spot, near the lock at Ripley. 
A tricky subject with lots of greens and the boat end obscured by the grasses. Sometimes paintings work from the beginning, others like this painting I was 3/4 through and I still wasn't sure whether it was going to work out. I'm not 100% sure about it, but pleased it's not a disaster! 
It does make a difference with the type of board it's painted on. This was the textured (like sandpaper) gessoed board which some subjects seam to really lend themselves to. 
I'm pleased I continued and didn't give up on it. Every painting is a learning and experience :-)

#212 'The Trundle, West Sussex 15x40cm

Beautiful morning today, with a warm light and fluffy clouds.  I planned what I wanted to paint before I got there, as this is the third painting of this view recently. I felt I hadn't really got to grips with this swoop of this hill but I'm pleased with this one. 

Using a panoramic board I could really accentuate the space and distance. I mixed a variety of greens before I started. A new colour I'm using is Naples yellow, it isn't very strong but great for nudging a colour to warm and lightening the tonal value as well. 
The grass area at the top was quite light in tone and I like the lines going around the hilside they help guide the into the painting.       I enojyed painting this!