Housel Cove on The Lizard off to a new home. I’ve visited this cove many times and it’s amazing how it changes from low and high tide and through the seasons. At times it’s just a rocky gap which opens to the sea for cold water swimmers and at other times it’s a sand covered secret beach! The sand moves with time and the seasons and erases all of the footprints of the year! Al
Discovered in the loft recently was a roll of screen prints completed at The Cornwall College of Art in the mid 70s. Part of this was in view of possible work with the band Arc who recorded at Roche Recording Studios.
These images were taken by medium format camera of South Crofty Mine in Pool, Cornwall and of the East Pool Mine Pump House with it’s impressive beam engine. When at college I lived in a cottage on Carn Brea and got to see these impressive structures every day. During this time a large graphic image of mine, similar to these, was used in the offices of the South Crofty Mine.
A composition of the famous fisherman’s hut in Mullion Harbour, Cornwall. Whilst walking on the cliffs here I often see Choughs flying amongst the grass so I’ve decided to add some to the stormy sky. Through out I’ve struggled with the surface of this panel as I’d applied a smooth coat of gesso which surface seems to produce a more graphic look to my brushstrokes. In comparison, I find fine canvas to be a more subtle surface for colour blending and shading, with that said I find the final picture is somewhat appealing to my eye! Acrylic on gesso panel 380 x 380mm.
Just a little look back at some of my recent paintings of Cornwall. Above is Mullion Cove a favourite place of my wife and I. Below are paintings of Kynance Cove, Lands End, Morwenstow, Bedruthen Steps and my recent painting of the Logan Rock. There is just something about the light here and many more visits are planned.
Quick half an hour to commit to another painting, acrylic wash on canvas panel 515 x 330mm. The next day I completed it after about an hour of finalising the composition. I visited Treen in Cornwall quite recently to paint and sketch the wonderful rock formations but sadly there was a heavy mist! I will revisit it when the weather is right and will not only sketch the Logan Rock but also Pedn Vounder and Porthcurno Beaches.
Well from a long lay off my wife Donna and I have spent a rather enjoyable weekend back in Mullion. We walked parts of the South West Coast Path and visited some of the hidden coves. Hopefully some inspiration will come of this trip. Above a photomontage of the fisherman’s hut at Mullion Cove.
Below are more images paying around with more ideas perhaps for future paintings. Al
The start of 2023. The completed acrylic painting 820 x 400mm above is of Kynance Cove from a sketch made in November 2022. My wife and I were staying in Mullion Cove for my Birthday weekend and made our way here. There were no tourists as the weather was very changeable but once we go down to the beach we were surprised to see that the tearooms were open. We sat on the benches and this is the view we enjoyed for an hour or so with it’s incredible light illuminating the sea.
I’ve tried to keep this painting looser than normal as it was just an exercise in removing the white of the canvas gesso and promoting some sense of light to dark contrasts. From the beginning I reference the original sketch and start to make sense of the correct sky tones and highlights on the sea. I must say there is a certain honesty to my original sketches perhaps my plain air sketch books should be shown.
Now finished I leave it on an easel for a week or so and make final adjustments. As usual the Titanium White appears bolder that it actually is when photographed. Al
A selection of some of the paintings I’ve completed in 2022, the year started out with a Bideford Black and ended with a large composition called Secluded Stream. I’ve had the great pleasure of twice visiting the Lizard in Cornwall this year and searched for sea glass with my wife along the North Devon Coast. During the year I was invited by a friend of mine, Adrian Beasley, to join again with the Black Arts for a residential course and worked with clients using the Bideford Black pigment at the Northam Visitors Centre. Having not exhibited for quite a while I ended year at the Burton Gallery, I’m now taking a slight break to plan my 2023 campaign. Al
A return to Mullion Cove for my birthday. A great four days sketching and taking photographs for future compositions. My wife and I visited Kynance Cove and the light at this time of year was quite stunning. Cadgewith Cove was also visited and my wife searched for sea glass whilst I sketched a few of the boats. This was continued with Seafood Chowder at the Cadgewith Inn.
Other sites to see were Coverack Harbour where sea glass was found, when the rain did finally make an appearance we continued on to the Lizard Point where the sun made an appearance again. Overall we were very lucky with the weather as you can see from some of my photographs. Al
Bedruthan Steps, mixed media on 40 x 30″ deep edge canvas. I was struck by the white parallel lines of the incoming waves on this day as I sat on top of the cliffs. The name Bedruthan Steps is said to be taken from a mythological giant called Bedruthan, who used the tall rock formations on the beach as stepping stones, and seems to be a late-19th-century invention for Victorian tourists. It is now part owned by the National Trust, the beach is now closed due to cliff instability and fear of visitors becoming cut off by rapid incoming tides.
Al Brown Artist. 