An exercise in not over working and titavating with a painting. This is about two hours work and the speed of paint application certainly concentrates the mind and eye. This is Crow Point on a typical mixed weather day with the evening primrose sprinkling the beachside. There are always some great cloud formations here over Appledore in the distance!
A few old sketchs from my past. Above is a pencil sketch of a Tibetan prayer wheel drawn whilst living in Kathmandu Nepal, this I obtained and now resides in a cabinet in my studio.
Below, the first is a pen and ink drawing of where we lived in Bradiford North Devon and on the distant hill you can see the Upcott Folly. The next pen and ink is of Barnstaple Parish Church where my wife and I were married over 37 years ago. The third is of Tarr Steps a medievel clapper bridge in the Exmoor National Park a particular favourite walk of ours. The walk from Withypool to the pub at Tarr Steps is wonderful during the summer and offers opportunities for wild swimming.
This is a painting from a while ago of my twins, wife and friends on Westward Ho Beach. I was taken by the glassy reflections on the wet beach from a recent tide and in the distance, across the estuary, is the famous Saunton Sands Hotel. This image has been created using watercolour, pastels and acrylic paint now in a new frame and double mount!
Saunton Sands painted on Bockingford paper using natural pigments found at Fremington Quay in North Devon. Amongst the rocks and strata at Fremington are various pigments including the usual Bideford Black, which I usually get from Greencliff at Abbotsham, a blackish colour called Poor Man’s Coal, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, White Clay and Grey. I collect these pigments for further preparation where I finely ground them and use them for my paintings!
A return to an old view, that of Lee Abbey as seen from the cliffs above Heddon’s Mouth. You can just see the white speck in the distance reflecting the Abbey’s walls. On warm summer days it’s wonderful to sit here with a picnic looking at the sea and coastal views! Al
My wife and I were staying at the Watersmeet Hotel in North Devon and early in the morning walked along the coast path; this is a painting of that view!
A quick look through a forgotten folder found behind some canvasses in my studio. If there’s anything you like please let me know as all are for sale! The music is a little noodling I did on my guitar a few years ago and I entitled it Costalotcoffee!
A painting using the local Bideford Black pigment. This painting is of the old boardwalk which lead to Crow Point in North Devon.
The start of a sunflower composition! I’ve recyled this 36 x 36″ canvas from a previous composition; I’ve merely turned the canvas around, restretched and primed it for this painting! I think every painter should attempt sunflowers at least once! Al
A few more pen & ink drawings from the past including various North Devon scenes. All drawn on Fisk draughting film and using Staedler mapping pens although now I prefer to use traditional nib or Unibal pens. Please click on an image to see it in full resolution! Al
Al Brown Artist. 