The finished acrylic 600 x 300mm on gesso panel. A little laboured and glad it’s done I think I’ll return to canvas as the surface suits my painting style. This image is of a scene on Dartmoor although it’s actually two different locations photoshopped together to create and essence! A little like those Roger Dean album covers he did for the band Yes! Very difficult to photo the actual colours as, again, the titanium white overpowers the image.
An acrylic on 1000 x 700mm canvas. Inspired by an isolated walk over Dartmoor during the early part of the Corona Virus Pandemic. My son and I visited the moor with hand sanitiser and kept well away from the few people that where there. This is of Littaford Tors near Wistman’s Woods. I have added the devil blowing an ill wind from the inspiration of that day! Al
Back to using my Bideford Black pigment on Bockingford paper 700 x 340mm. This time is a picture inspired from a circular walk from Watersmeet to the Blue Ball Inn at the top of Countisbury Hill. Then onto Lynmouth and back up to where we started our walk.
The Blue Ball Inn was so called because in the late 18th century it was used as a coaching stop. A blue ball used to be raised on a pole to notify the coachmen that someone was in need of passage. It has a history of haunting and highwaymen!
I have just completed four highly enjoyable days at this year’s Hatherleigh Festival and parted with a few paintings. More importantly I’ve met new people, artists and musicians. I’m hoping that the contacts I’ve made here will help further my artistic endeavours in the future. There are so many creative and enthusiastic people here you can see why the town is known as a hub of creativity. I’ve received such positive feedback about my work my confidence can only grow, so if you’ve never visited this wonderful town then do so you’re in for a great surprise. I’d just like to say thanks to Josie, Mick and Alan for your generosity. Al
Bucks Mills on the North Devon coast, England. A wonderful little village nestled in the trees overlooking the sea. Once a small harbour with evidence of old lime kilns on the stoney beach. I particularly liked the small artists retreat house owned by the National Trust. Next harbour along the coast is a very picturesque cobbled stoned village called Clovelly. Al
A picture taken last year on the small roads in North Devon. Loved this tree and the water highlighting the road ahead. I think perhaps the use of some more Bideford Black will be in order. Al
A quick preparatory sketch exploring the tones and contrasts. It took about 45 mins using charcoal, Bideford Black, pastel & titanium white. Also a little scraping with a surgical scalpel.
A quick study of the Tarka Trail near Chivenor in North Devon England. Painted using my own sourced and prepared Bideford Black pigment. Loved the dark shadow and highlighted cow parsley on the left of the trail. Still trying to free up my paintwork. Al
Acrylic on canvas 20″ x 16″. View of Croyde Beach. Titanium White always looks a little stark in photograph but in the original the white certainly isn’t this vivid. Although gives quite a nice effect. Al
Pastel picture of Bideford/Barnstaple Bay (470mm x 300mm). Now and again you rush and produce something like this. Not very happy with the finished picture but there and again art is a moving and linear leaning process. The particular lesson learnt here, don’t rush when you’ve only got limited time and observe, observe, observe! Time spent 45mins. Al
Original picture from a photograph from Facebook. Not too sure who’s it was.
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
Al Brown Artist. 