On a cold wet Sunday it’s time to say in and paint something from the summer to warm me up. This is an acrylic on canvas painting 500mm x 600mm of the trail that leads from the wonderful Croyde Beach, in North Devon. The walk eventually leads to the famous local Thatch, a popular pub in the village of Croyde. Al
An acrylic on canvas painting 750mm x 500mm. If you travel to Hartland Abbey in North Devon you can park and then walk down to Blackpool Beach it’s a pebbly beach with some wonderful formations and waterfalls. Near to the beach is a wonderful cottage which used in the films, Sense and Sensibility, The Night Manager and The Shell Seekers. I particularly liked the midday sun, shadows and tidal pool. I quite think the distance looks a little sci fi. Al
Back to a little Pen & ink just to change the tempo for awhile. Midday at Bucks Mills a picturesque village on the North Devon coast in England. This leads down to a stoney beach where in bygone time there used to be a small harbour and limekilns. With a little licence i’ve added a few cow parsley plants to liven things up. The cabin in the middle of the picture is owned by the National Trust and used to be an artist’s retreat. Still used today although not as a residence.
I dedicate this picture to the memory of an old art teacher of mine, ‘James Paterson A.R.C.A. 1916 – 1986. Know to us as Jimmy’ who painted some wonderful watercolours of this village and the surrounding area
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A painting of the road to Cobbaton in North Devon. A dreary wet afternoon and saw this driving towards Cobbaton Combat, a military exhibition/collection which is well worth a visit if you’re in the area. Painted using Bideford Black on handmade paper 400mm x 500mm. I quite liked the wet reflections on the road leading into darkness and a blind corner. I must say I do so prefer the summer. 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
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.
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.
Al Brown Artist. 