#198 'Setting Sun, Sky Study' & Sketches

This was the fourth painting of the day, so I was warmed up and flowing! Although when I did it at 10pm it was dusk and could hardly see what I was painting :-) There isn't much tonal contrast just colour contrast. I enjoyed getting the paint down quickly.
I painted one more before we left the next morning but not sure about it. So this is the last of the French paintings for now. 
I also have some drawings which I'm going to work up into paintings...here are a few of the sketches to give you an idea:

#197 'Flags & Fishing Buoys' 24x30cm

This was near our hotel and all of us artists past this scene and went ooooh! So brightly coloured and great shapes.

I drew it the night before so I could work out the shapes and composition.

It was still a challenge though! I haven't been mapping out before I paint on my board for a while but needed to with this one, complex shapes and fitting it together. Plus working out the parameters of the composition. I liked the top ends of the flags but it made the buoys too small, so I chopped the tops off.

I built up around the buoys first blocking in the background as it was the larger area. 
The hardest bit was getting the intensity of buoy colours but still keeping it light in tone - too light and it goes chalky.

It feels a risk this painting as its not what I'd usually do, but I enjoyed it and had two fellow artist paint the same subject with me.

#196 'Low Tide, Port en Bessin' 8x10"

For some reason the flies loved this painting. I was working with another artist near by and her painting wasn't attractive to them! Look at my palette pic to see how many were in there. First I tried to save them by the end they were being mixed and and applied to my painting! I must have had over 30 flies stuck to my painting but thankfully most of them have now fallen off :-)

I repainted the mud/water area back in the hotel as I hadn't taken command of the paint and it looked unsure. I did it again with a bigger brush and it looks better - it helps to really attack it.

#195 'Port en Bessin, France' 18x21cm

I simplified what was there and emphasised the bits I liked. Building up a patchwork of colour, shapes and tones. 
A tricky subject but enjoyed piecing it all together.
A young French couple watched me paint for a while and then using google translate asked if it was for sale!

#194 Morning Light, Port en Bessin 18x24cm

There was a window of lovely light which I wanted to capture. To be bold in the mark making, blocking in and simplifying the shapes and keeping the colours fresh to help show the light.

I am now back home from the French trip. It's been hard keeping up with blogging the paintings. I got up every morning to paint at 5-6am. And painting solidly everyday, cleaning my brushes and falling in to bed at midnight! I will post the paintings I've done on this trip over the next few days. It's been so inspiring and wonderful being immersed in a painting world with fellow artists for 9 days. I did 15 paintings & 6 sketches...

#193 'Pholos, Ile de Re' 10x10"

I heard from the other painters about a lovely old boat on blocks out of the water. 

There were 6 people painting around the area. I joined them with uncertainty as it was a big subject to tackle. 

The drawing & structure is important to get the angles & perspective. I marked off a couple of points but didnt draw it all out as I as I wanted to keep it blocky ( and not linear) especially in such a heavy weighted round bottom boat!

So much of the boat was white but peeling & old. I used my brush stokes to describe the direction of the carvel wood planks. 

I didn't try and put too much details. I wanted the emphasis on the shape and character of the boat. Also the size of it hence why I filled the board to make it feel big. 

A Dutch couple came past and really liked my painting and want to buy it. Such a boost and pleasing when this happens. 

#192 'Morning Reflections, Ile de Re' 18x21cm

I wanted to get a quickie in before we left for our next location. An early start where I was rewarded with beautiful light, really calm water and perfect reflections. 

I worked on a small board and time limited seamed to help being decisive and strong with my mark making.
I really observed the tones of the subjects and then their reflections. Darker or lighter? Warmer or cooler?  

I am unsure as to whether to work on it anymore? But thought I'd post it for now as it was the order I did it in...

#191 'Mist Clearing, Ile de Re' 10x10"

I had completed a painting of this misty scene the previous day. It was a landscape board and smaller scale. I wasn't 100% happy with it. Luckily the mist came back so I was able to have another go...

When I started the tide was up and the mist thick. 

Mist simplifies a subject and brings the tones close together. 

I had to restrain the whites of the boat and not make them too poppy & contrasted. 

I didnt put too much detail in the background as the mist edges and shapes.

By the time I was finishing the tide was low and the mist cleared! 

I'm pleased with the water, blocking it in and not fussing back into it.