Back to landscapes this time Saunton Sands in North Devon. After an hours work just to get rid of the acrylic green aerosol spray primer I completed this painting early in the morning after a sleepless night. I’ve attempted to capture that almost spotlight quality of an Autumn sun over the Bideford Bar from the lay-by at Saunton. Acrylic on 610 x 410mm gesso primed panel. It is quite difficult to capture the true colours with my iPhone but I quite like the finished image!
whilst cleaning my studio work station, it was once used as an anaesthetic trolley, I came across this old sketchbook which was used whilst I was a registered nurse. It shows theatre life a few years back at The North Devon District Hospital. I am now retired.
A very personal picture of which I’ve been thinking of for a while. It is of my late wife Donna’s hand as I held it during our last few days at The North Devon Hospice earlier this year. The kindness and love given to us there I will never forget.
Back to a little landscape of Hartland Quay walking along the coast path to Speke’s Mill on the North Devon Coast. Acrylic on 26×16” canvas.
A series of pen and ink drawings made during the pandemic in 2020. These are nurses and ODPs (operating department practitioners) who worked with me at The North Devon District Hospital.
I cycle the North Devon coast regularly and passing this wind blown tree at the top of Down Lane near Woolacombe recalled an old pen and ink drawing I did years ago. Not much has changed except the gate the overgrowth and instead of grazing sheep corn is now grown; I always liked the sheep’s wool hanging off the barbed wire in the ink drawing. The trees are still almost identical this is perhaps due to the strong coastal winds keeping their growth in check.
I’m returning to paint and narrative with this composition of the late Syd Barrett one of the founding members of the band Pink Floyd. I’ve wanted to paint him for sometime when this image appeared on the net it was just the thing I was looking for. I think this is an image from his later life when poor mental health had taken its toll. It must have been a terrible ordeal of regret to see his original band grow and become successful!
I am now going to leave this composition to let it settle in my mind before finishing it. I’ve added some text via photoshop to play with an idea but just to add, this is not a complete painting by no means! Al
Now there’s a look in your eyes
Like black holes in the sky,
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom
Blown on the steel breeze,
Come on you target for faraway laughter
Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr and shine.
After an enjoyable visit to the quiet Buck’s Mills in North Devon I have decided on this composition. This view is from the stony beach at half tide, I especially liked the exposed and reflective rock pools there. Al
Today I’ve spent time sketching at Buck’s Mills on the North Devon Coast. Such a peaceful place to make five minute pen sketches sitting in the warmth of the sun. I love this time of year when the flowers are in full colour and there’s a sprinkling of Cow Parsley everywhere. The sketches will hopefully be used in a forthcoming painting. Al
My first painting since August last year! This is of Greencliff near Abbotsham on the North Devon coast. It was a warm sunny day and whilst walking came across this view after squeezing through a gap in the bracken; it is here where I get my Bideford Black pigment. I can surely feel the gap in my painting fluency due to the lay off in painting but I’m confident this will return over the next few pictures. A little encouragement this painting has now found a new home! Al
Al Brown Artist. 