My Painting Year 2018

My favourite paintings of the year

I wanted to write a summary of this years happenings....I have completed a whopping 160 paintings (not including the duffers and wipe offs!) quite a few more than last year - mainly because of the Venice trip. And it's not all about quantity I have been aiming for more quality pieces and a bit bigger in size too. 

This is the Instagram top 9 where an app counts the most likes for each painting, and then puts them in the top 9 order.....

Instagram Top 9 2018

I entered The Artist Magazine competition which exhibits the finalists at the Patchings Art festival in July. I won the Royal Talens award and received £250 worth of linen canvases! Plus The Artist Collection award - exhibiting with the top 10 finalist.

'Gateway to Bramshott Common' 10x10"
Wining painting exhibited the Patchings

One of my highlights this year was being accepted into the New English Art Club (NEAC) A prestigious exhibition held at The London Mall Galleries. They call themselves the contemporary impressionists which is how I see my work as well! This was the painting accepted.

'Silver Birch in Snow'  8x10"

In October I was part of the Chelsea Art Society annual open exhibition which has had many famous artists who have exhibited here including: Turner in the mid 19th Century, followed by Whistler, Sickert, Augustus John and John Singer Sargent, it's wonderful to be included in!

The Artist Magazine I have been reading this on off since the 80's! and have always wanted to write an article for them. This year I did that! Plus I'm now writing another for next summers edition.

My Article in Januarys The Artist Magazine :-)

Venice in September I was lucky enough to spend 30 days in this dream painting place! I felt truly inspired and even though it was exhausting to keep painting intensively the whole time, it was worth it and couldn't really get enough of the place! I producing 45 paintings. Plus some bigger pieces since I've got home.
I have already booked to go back next September for 21 days!

My Venice painting haul!

'Venetian Cafe' 30x30cm
Completed back home in the studio 

This small plein air I thought could go bigger and have more content so I tried an enlarged  version in the studio and I'm pleased with the outcome!

40x50cm Oil on Canvas Studio piece                                              9x12" Plein Air Sketch

I have decided to continue to blog for another year. It's been quite a challenge to keep on top of the posts, especially when I am producing a lot like when I was in Venice doing up to 4 a day! But I think it's still a beneficial process for me and hopefully those of you who read it.

News for next year
I am very excited to be doing my first solo exhibition in Chelsea, London next May. 
The Title is: London, Venice Coast & Country
Date: 14th-18th May 2019
Place: "The Studio” 73 Glebe Place, London, SW3 5JB 
If you would like an invitation to the Private View on the 14th please contact me. clare@clarebowen.co.uk
I will do a post about the show nearer the time.

Thank you for reading my blog posts and supporting me though this year. I hope to have you along for this coming year too!
With best wishes
Clare

#428 'Christmas Clemintines' 6x12" & 6x6"

Out Christmas shopping I spotted these in a garden centre. They don't usually have the greenery on in a supermarket. I haven't painted this sort of subject in a long time so I thought I'd have a go!
I remember having a clementine and walnut at the bottom of my stocking. We asked Mum to keep doing us a stocking into our 20's! :-)

I enjoyed it so much I painted another one straight after!

My studio set up

#427 'First Snow' 30x40cm Happy Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and A Happy & Creative New Year!

 I painted this intending it to be my Christmas card this year but after proofing it twice at the printers to get the colours correct I ran out of time! 
It's from a photograph of last years snow near the Devils Punch Bowl in Surrey. On a coloured linen canvas. Painting from a photo I try to paint the same way as though I am outside. In other words trying not to fiddle or spend to long on it. 

Looking through all my pics of snow there were so little of snow in sunshine! I'm really hankering for painting this subject lets hope we get some! I've even brought some winter tires for my car so I can go further afield when it comes!

Sending good wishes over this festive time.

I will post a 2018 summary post on the 30th December.
Clare

#426 'Winter Skies, Bramshott Common' 8x10, 10x12"

A plein air sky not far from my house on land owned by MOD. I like seeing the distance and feeling the space. Winter sun means its sets over the distant hills - quite perfect!
I used a textured linen coloured board to give it more atmosphere. 

This second painting was done in my studio the next day using the above piece as a starting point. I wanted another go at the sky. As i would have done two outside but the sun disappeared within 40 minutes of setting up!

p.s I will be doing a seasonal post on Christmas Eve.....

#425 'Venetian Cafe' 30x30cm

This week I have been looking after the family Shih Tzu dog, while my Mum is away. He is 12 and has lost his hearing from old age, plus he has gone blind from bad breeding, poor sausage, so it makes painting a little tricky! But I did manage this one in the studio with snatches of 10 minutes of time in between checking on him in the house!

Matte

This scene I couldn't resist with the yellow wall so bright and glowing in the sunshine, it was my last day in Venice so I snapped a pic and did a quick drawing and here is the result! The Square is Campo Santo Stefano and its the 'Art Blu Cafe'.

#424 'Early Winter Light, Camber Docks, Portsmouth' 30x40cm

First layer of burnt sienna and the all over thin layer of colour/tonal shapes was done on location and the next day I did a fat layer of lush paint! So fun to do. 
The big blue/black boat difficult shape as it was strong blocky, so I used thick and thin paint and a greener reflection.
I suggested the silhouetted shapes of the buildings not too much detail.
Made sure the yellow struts of the fishing boat stood out against the darker background.
The water in the foreground gradually got darker. Little pinkie flecks of colour from the sky I put in before the green blue water and blended the edges a little.

#423 'First Light, Langstone Harbour' 30x40cm

A wintery day, and lucky to have a break in the weather as it didn't look hopeful when I arrived - solid cloud and raining! I'm pleased I didn't drive home, waited in the car and some beautiful light and cloud formations appeared, just my sort of subject!

Decided to include the cars on Hayling Island bridge to help the composition and I used quite thin paint in place to let the linen coloured canvas show through.

#422 'Christmas Lights, Irving St, London' 30x30cm

On Saturday I took part in The Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) Paint Live day. 60 artists met up in the Mall Galleries to have a paint off in London - 1/2 mile radius of the galleries in central London. 
It was raining and grey but I decided to embrace this! I took 2 umbrellas incase it was gusty and one broke one!
Not easy as it was a Saturday and run up to Christmas shopping, so busy could barely see my subject! Loved the reflections and lights, it makes up for the grey day! 
It was my first time taking part and I found it quite nerve wracking as the paintings were judged at the end of that day in the Mall Galleries. I am pleased I did a painting I'm happy with and didn't mind showing to others!
I will do it again next year :-)

#421 'Summer Hay Bales' 30x40cm

Painted from a sketch I made in July, spotted from the car as we drove into Patchings Art Centre, near Nottingham. Hay bales, tree lined and shadows/light what a fab combo! I didn't have my painting gear with me so thought I get the warmth of summer back in the studio after all this rain!

I can recommend Patchings Art Festival if your a keep painter in the UK, with loads of art equipment to buy, and demos and workshops....