Four paintings from my past, when I began to believe!
Boys at Crow Point playing in the driftwood!
My family on an Autumn day, a wet Westward Ho beach with mum, twins, Harry & Colin.
Manning’s Pit in Pilton.
A Linhay on the Braunton Marsh which became a breakthrough in my painting! Al
On Thursday evenings it’s cold water swimming so this week due to the high tides we swam at Instow. The water was surprisingly warmish so we spent an enjoyable 25 minutes chatting and enjoying a memorable sunset from the water. This is an impression of what we saw that evening! Acrylic on 16 x 24” gesso panel. Al
Some MDF panels lightly sanded with three layers of Gesso applied. Now what to paint?
An acrylic on 32 x 24” canvas of a spectacular cove near Combe Martin in North Devon. It has been referred to by many as, ‘The Happiest View In Britain.’ Sadly the very steep cliff path down to the beach has subsided so access at the moment is by water only.
A painting of the road leading from Heanton to Ashford in North Devon. Through the summer I’ve cycled this route many times and loved how the tree’s shadows dance on the tarmac. Sadly this painting is very difficult to photograph to show the depth of layers and softness! Acrylic on 800 x 600mm canvas. Al
I’ve spent an hour this evening matt varnishing and signing a few finished paintings. A question; should you sign finished work? People have mentioned to me that the contemporary idea is work should be unsigned unless you perhaps sign the back. Thoughts anyone? Al
Back to landscapes this time Saunton Sands in North Devon. After an hours work just to get rid of the acrylic green aerosol spray primer I completed this painting early in the morning after a sleepless night. I’ve attempted to capture that almost spotlight quality of an Autumn sun over the Bideford Bar from the lay-by at Saunton. Acrylic on 610 x 410mm gesso primed panel. It is quite difficult to capture the true colours with my iPhone but I quite like the finished image!
whilst cleaning my studio work station, it was once used as an anaesthetic trolley, I came across this old sketchbook which was used whilst I was a registered nurse. It shows theatre life a few years back at The North Devon District Hospital. I am now retired.
A very personal picture of which I’ve been thinking of for a while. It is of my late wife Donna’s hand as I held it during our last few days at The North Devon Hospice earlier this year. The kindness and love given to us there I will never forget.
The Haunted House at Westward Ho
M5 Westbound Towards Taunton
Al Brown Artist. 