Why is it that when it comes to portraits I have to be in the mood? A portrait is such a personal thing and as an artist that idea of what the sitter desires and what the artist portrays can be a gulf apart. I’ve not drawn likenesses for awhile but who knows I may get a second wind. Al
When having my portrait painted I don’t want justice, I want mercy.
Billy Hughes
Well this evening my son and I decided to go out for a walk and dig for some Pignuts. Finding them was quite easy amongst the buttercups. With the use of a sharp stick my son Archie dug around the stem to tease out the root ball and pignut. A very successful evening’s foraging. Pignuts taste rather like hazelnut crossed with a carrot with a slight hint of hotness. Better than watching the TV or the Laptop. AL
Quite a surprise today no rain, as promised, so a walk up to Manning’s Pit and Bradiford Water in the sunshine. Buttercups were flowering and was informed that in this valley there are three different kinds. White Pignut flowers were also out and with a sharp stick I dug up some pignuts and after a quick wash in the fresh water they tasted delicious. I was also informed that Shakespeare wrote in The Tempest “I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow; and I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts” .
Also in Treasure island. “Dig away, boys,” said Silver with the coolest insolence; “you’ll find some pig-nuts and I shouldn’t wonder.”
All in all another idyllic day Al.
The summer is coming but still it’s raining around North Devon. Grey, wet and I am still cold to the bones. We get sporadic sunshine and promised warmth but still nothing to call Summer. Why is it from our childhoods memories were always full of sunshine and happiness? Al
A wonderful cycle ride along the River Taw in Barnstaple. I used to play around here as a child and this visit brought back many memories. Drinking from the Dripping Well where ghosts of monks have been seen. The cycle path follows the old railway track onwards through Fremington Quay to Instow, Bideford and beyond. I think I will be using the Hawthorn trees for some paintings very soon. Al
A wonderful day of cycling around the Great Field and Braunton Marsh. I spent an hour watching sticklebacks playing in gin clear water. Once again enjoying the simple, natural things in life that we often overlook. Time urgency and working to live certainly clouds this sort of simple pleasure. Today I’ve seen herons, egrets, butterflies, fish, and at the end of the cycle ride the flash of a kingfisher at the Velator Weir. A day to remember. Al
Out for a walk along the North Devon coast and came across this wonderfully wind swept tree. Looking at this photograph of me snapping it the composition was probably better from that angle lol. (410mm x 320mm) acrylic. Al
An acrylic of a windswept tree on the banks of the River Taw, Barnstaple, North Devon. As a boy I used to play in the woods and this field. Just over the dyke at the back of this painting is the River Taw. Loved the reflections of this tree in the water of this low lying field. This field is used for sheep but during the last war was a firing range. Al
A wonderful walk from Saunton Beach to Croyde Bay and back. Weather clouds allowed us the sunshine of the morning and the rain fell on far off Westward Ho. From the top of Saunton Hill you could see for miles of beautiful North Devon Coastline and beaches. Then high tea at Saunton Sands Hotel over looking the wonderful stretch of beach. More inspiration for paintings….AL
Acrylic painting using glazing medium (540mm x 360mm). I quite like how the medium works with the paint and makes it easier and more manageable to work with. The finished composition has a lot more depth paint wise and the glaze deepens the colour. Al
Al Brown Artist. 