We spent an enjoyable day walking around Exeter, having a meal at The Old Firehouse and watching my son Archie’s Video display in the shopping precinct Princesshay. My son is in his second year at Exeter College studying film, camera and moving image. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum has put on an external display showing off their wide range of displays and artefacts, this has been a commission for an artist and students of Exeter College. I’m quite impressed.
The Thistle Walk an acrylic 900 x 600mm inspired by a walk along the path which tops the inner Bank leading to Crow Point. On this particular occasion the path was flanked with wild looking thistles. The outer bank which used to protect a piece of land called Horsey Island has now breached and the once green space now looks like the Somme! It is too late for the wildlife there and now the salt water is beginning to change the ecosystem on the inner marsh. Some argue Horsey Island was reclaimed from the Estuary for farming and now has been reclaimed by the natural elements!
Wandering around Crow Point on Sunday I chanced upon this near the lighthouse. I loved the colours and weathering so decided to take it home. Now what to create? I’ve seen all manner of things on Pinterest as ideas so when I’ve the time perhaps a whale or suchlike.
Acrylic on 48 x 20″ panel.
This painting is of Broadsands Beach in North Devon as you would see it, out across the water from Watermouth Cove, 900 x 600mm acrylic on canvas. There is a marvellous view out over Broadsands from the top of the hill on the right of this painting which is called, as previously posted and mentioned, The Happiest View In Britain.
Below is a view of my present workspace with an old discarded, yet rather useful anaesthetic drug rack which is used as a base for painting, thanks to my colleagues at work. There you will also see the progression to the competed composition.
This will be the very last detailed acrylic of this kind as I’m moving forward with experimentation, and a fresher more immediate approach. I quite like the initial tonal shades of this painting and the temptation for me is just to leave it as it is, but I decided to ruin the freshness with some detailed brush work. Al
This painting is inspired by a walk around the Lizard Peninsula from Church Cove around the Lizard to Kynance. It was quite an overcast day and when I arrived at Kynance Cove I walked along the quiet beach admiring the wonderful view. Immediately a massive rainstorm approached and I took cover from the rain in one of the caves there. When the storm had passed over out came the sunshine and the beach was illuminated with an earie neon light. Looking out along the coast this storm had already engulfed The Lizard in it’s dark focused cloud. Oddly it looked somewhat like an atomic bomb explosion, I was taken by how the white of the water’s edge looked against the dark foreboding background. This image was originally taken on my mobile phone, and now an acrylic on 900 x 600mm canvas.
Attempting a timed piece to regain some spontaneity. Well here is the completed sketch although it’s quite difficult to get the right colours with the camera in real life I’m very pleased with the overall image. At least I’m regaining some freshness and honesty with my brushstrokes. This is of Upcott Vale near Bradiford Barnstaple, North Devon. From this high point behind the Upcott Folly you can see out over Barnstaple and down the Vale towards the Taw Estuary and beyond to Saunton. There is always the sounds of sheep and sometimes foxes can be seen. Sunsets are always magical here on summer evenings. This is acrylic on primed panel 670 x 410mm.
Following on from the previous posts here is a little photoshoppery of the happiest view in Britain!
Not many more of these warm evenings left this year as the cool Autumn air begins top sweep up the River Taw. Wonderful to be sat under a large oak tree watching the slowly unfolding sunset, even the foxes were out dodging between the grazing sheep. This is the ancient folly overlooking Upcott Vale near Pilton, Barnstaple, North Devon.
I spent an enjoyable afternoon walking from Hele Bay to Broadsands Beach along a magnificent stretch of the South West Coast Path. This is probably the last of the warm Summer days to be had before the Autumn chill hits the coast. I had a chat with a lady and she mentioned that the above view was voted the happiest view in Britain. Sadly this used to be a quiet, secret beach, now it is annoyingly buzzed with swarms of noisy jet skis and coastal sea safaris. Surely this must have an impact of the wildlife here, it certainly has an impact on people who want a peaceful experience!
Al Brown Artist. 