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
Tag North Devon
Cobbaton nr Codden Hill.
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.
Tarka Trail near Chivenor.
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
Pilton fields.
Just a couple of pastel sketches. Middle sketch of Manning’s Pit including pig nuts & buttercups. The other is a copy off Pinterest of an artist whose signature I can’t read. Just playing for a few hours to loosen up my usual way of working. Al
ps The artist is John Singer Sargent.
Broken Fence On Croyde Beach.
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
Sunlight Through Low Cloud.
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.
Road Rage?
I very rarely drive a car: that’s my wife’s domain. When I do I notice how, once behind the wheel people become more aggressive and unpleasant. Once in a car no one is in the wrong, it’s always the other driver’s mistake. Once behind the wheel the only important person in the world is them. What has happened to courtesy? Mutual politeness? If we walked we would behave differently toward each other. Therefore it’s the anonymity and protection of being in a car that separates us from others. Similar to being on the net where you make remarks, positive or negative, from the comfort of your own sofa. It’s amusing how people want to over take you, they want to get in front, be first, get one up on you. They don’t know me and I don’t know them what’s the point then? Time urgency, late for work, just feeling angry then think about others and perhaps extend some courtesy to others. Smile and the world will be a better place for you and that bloke you’ve just cut up at the traffic lights! Al
Picture taken as my wife drove home from a rather nice weekend in Bristol. This is on the M5 motorway somewhere near Taunton.
Mortehoe to Bull Point Lighthouse.
A wonderful walk with friends and another’s Birthday. A walk along the North Devon coastal path from Morthoe to Bully Point and back into the village for some beer n food. Finally on the way home a stop at the top of Woolacombe Hill to watch the hang gliders. The view breath taking as usual. Al
Westward Ho!
A quick pastel sketch from a photograph of Westward Ho from a magnificent picture off Facebook. One thing about the North Devon Beaches is that you get magnificent reflections in the wet sand. They’re full of wonderfully subtle colours and shapes an artists dream. (Pastel 470mm x 300mm). Al
ps Original photograph by Rob Elson.
Diggin’ For Pignuts.
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
Al Brown Artist. 