Someone enquired about this old pen and ink drawing I did some time ago of Clovelly Village. After a rummage in the attic I discovered the last remaining prints. Had an enjoyable hour adding watercolour paint to them! 😊
OLD PEN & INKS
Category North Devon
TOWARDS BAGGY
Basic sketch down so now some base colour will be applied. Base colours are now loosely sketched in to begin and define the composition. Bringing up the entire canvas is so important for continuity.
DOWN TO SPEKE’S
Forcing myself to commit to another composition after a break. Once the initial marks are made there is a certain compulsion to continue, to see it through to completion. Perhaps this will rekindle the urge to continue. This painting is now complete acrylic on panel 610 x 400mm.
FOUR PAINTINGS
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
APPLEDORE AT SUNDOWN
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
PREPARING NEW PANELS
Some MDF panels lightly sanded with three layers of Gesso applied. Now what to paint?
BROADSANDS BEACH
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.
LEAVING HEANTON
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
TO SIGN OR NOT TO SIGN?
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
AUTUMN AT SAUNTON
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!
Al Brown Artist. 