#486 'Red Sails'

I have decided this is my last post on 'blogspot' but I am continuing as normal with posting on my website blog:

www.clarebowen.co.uk/blog

'Red Sails' was painted in our cottage in Staithes (North Yorkshire). A dream view of the sea and lots of nautical pieces in the house. The boat has a lovely shape silhouetted in the window and I enjoyed painting the light around it and through the sails. 
Worked on the tonal values as the outside is so bright compared to the room, and I had to lighten the wall of the house outside so it reads better. And make sure the wall on the inside on the left was dark enough. 

Just found out I have been preselected for the Royal Institute of Oil painters at the Mall Galleries. Next round and I'm in their annual exhibition - fingers crossed!!

I am off to Venice tomorrow for a 3 week painting trip! Very excited for all the paintings that will come and (ice-cream to eat!) and hope you might join me on my website blog :-)

With best wishes
Clare

#485 'Brezetta'

Painting in Haslemere High Street, on the green with the busy traffic slowing down to see what we were doing! It was to publicise our yearly exhibition. I painted a model for the first time and really enjoyed it! Especially being outside with the sunshine lighting the side of her body like a halo.
I was quite slow painting it especially in the beginning as I have not painted a figure before and wasn't sure how to go about it, so I tackled as I do a landscape!
Having the unprimed linen canvas helped it seemed to lend itself to the style of her and the painting. I let large areas show through.

Painting on the high Street 14x18" oil on canvas