#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

#365 'The Swan Inn, Haslemere' 8x10"

This weekend I painted with Haslemere Art Society on the high street on Haslemere. It's to promote the annual exhibition at the Museum 8-15th September. 
A fun morning with the members and a few passers by taking an interest and a subject I wouldn't have usually tackled! Enjoyed it though.

I also tired recording it on my sports action camera - I wore it on my chest with a harness - see pic above.
I recorded the whole duration of the painting and then it took me longer to make it into a video than to do the painting! 
I didn't realise how much I move when I paint back and forth, I couldn't watch the end result it made me feel sick! So I'm trying another method... as I thought it would be good to show my painting process, once I have made it work I will post it on here.

#325 'Daffodils & Narcissi' 8x14"

On Thursday this week I was part of a demo evening with Haslemere Art Society. There were 3 artists including me showing how we work, our process from start to finish.

I decided to paint something from life as I find it more inspiring than a photo. I was a bit worried the daffodils would be over but my husband had thankfully planted 500 bulbs so there was a range in our garden to choose from. (I had also spotted a lovely orange centred narcissi in the neighbours garden, I hope he didn't miss the one I nabbed - all in the name of art of course!)

Before everyone turned up I played around with the background colour, I wanted blue as it looked like the sky, I opted for this deeper blue so it made the light flowers stand out. I also lit the flowers from the side as the same height. 

I was quite nervous before it began unsure as to whether I could 'perform' in front of a crowd. I also wanted to be able to talk while I was painting, which I managed to do and even did a bit of teaching too! People were really kind and interested, I enjoyed it and was relieved my painting came out nicely. To have had a flop in front of others would have been tough!
I premixed the main colours as I do in plein air and built up the painting with a series of patchwork brush strokes, not spending too long in one area. 

One of my previous students Dawn kindly took some pics of me here are a couple:

#224 'The Georgian Hotel, Haslemere' 18x24cm

Saturday I was out with Haslemere Art Society painting on the High Street promoting our exhibition starting next Saturday at the Haslemere Museum. 
This is not a usual subject for me, but I looked for light and shade which looked great on this hotel front. Luckily we had a sunny day. 
Enjoyable, speaking to lots of locals and arts people. Friendly shop owners too, bringing me cups of tea and chatting.

I have framed it up and its already in the display...

This painting and 11 others of mine will be in the show. It runs 9-16th September, Tues-Sat 10-5pm.