Tree painting fears

Autumn Leaves, Grasmere

Watercolour

 Price £80.00 Including Ivory mount

Autumn Leaves, Grasmere was painted on location in warm sunshine with a

 limited palette of Gamboge, Permanent Rose, Ultramarine Blue and a little Lemon Yellow.

I wanted to create a soft misty effect on Loughrigg fell especially behind the trees.

This helps to bring  the trees forward into the painting and suggests distance in a painting.

 I sponged some stronger tones for foliage, used a little wax and painted

with a palette knife to help create a Tree!

Many people are frightened of tree painting! But a few easy techniques and the fears are overcome.

Why not sign up today and start my online watercolour course

Learn to paint misty atmospheric scenes, a seascape and a snowy Winter scene 

are all included in six projects for £45.00.

With lots of online advise and guidence along the way.

An Autumn feast of colour in the Lakes

A beautiful day in the Lakes, and what better thing to do than walk up a fell,  have a picnic lunch sitting at the top admiring the views. The trees are just stunning at the moment, but not for lonng I guess.

 Dodd is a perfect little hill near Keswick with stunning views all around. I feel I could paint three of these. This one above caught my eye, I particularly like the soft glow of the fells behind the trees on the right.

The river Derwent caught my eye meandering its way between Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater

Gazing the North towards the Solway, I feel this could make a lovely pastel painting with Creiff in the far distance.

Turning round on the way down, and what an Autumn feast of colour. I know it's a strange composition but I feel this would be a great Oil to have ago at, with complementary Blues and Oranges.

So I have three paintings to think about after a lovely walk up Dodd, lets see what happens!

Ski Samoens

Ski Samoens Oil on Canvas by Jane Ward

Price £350.00

The North of Englad  had it's first snow fall yesterday, not as heavy as Samoens above.

I've been painting this snowy scene for a while, It's sat over Summer not quite finished and not the right moment to paint it. But yesterday the Oils came out to play.

To purchase this painting or for more details email me at lakelandart@hotmail.co.uk

www.lakelandartcourses.co.uk

A place that needs painting?

For me been inspired in painting is all about a feeling, a place or seeing something that moves you so much, you just have to paint it! Here are a few paintings that did just that. 

Sharp Edge, Blencathra. 

I've had three attempts at crossing this ridge, mostly in bad weather and always resulting in the 'old disco leg' shake! To paint this with drama I needed to feel this!

Castlerigg Stone circle

Inspired by the first heavy snow, I walked up to the circle, it was in-passable by car. When I arrived the light and shadows were breathtaking and the sun just in the right place behind a cloud but giving a silver lining effect. 

Grange in Borrowdale

After a trip to Musee d' Orrsay and inspired by Degas, I couldn't wait to get the pastels out, and this Autumn scene caught my attention.

The lost Valley, Glencoe

I've walked in the Lost valley a few times, but on this cold winter day, armed with paints and sketchbook for Thirty minutes I watched and sketched the clouds moving around Bidean Nam Bien a true classic Scottish Mountain.

Rannoch Moor

Another cold day on Rannoch Moor, Ten minutes sketching was all I could endure and then it was straight into to the studio, keeping this magic moment still alive.

Poppyfield

A Yorkshire Summers day, just before the harvest was cut, with the Poppies blowing in a warm breeze.

Sensole

A painting of dreams, this magic location is pure joy to sit and relax in the warm Italian sun, gazing at a villa, that could one day be yours, when those magic lotto numbers come up.

I've put some more of my signed prints on my facebook, if you would like to purchase one just email me for more details at lakelandart@hotmail.co.uk

                                         See my facebook page for more prints

An Autumn stream

Here is a tiny watercolour demonstration, I was inspired to paint this after seeing this magical scene when painting in Samoens. I managed a few photo's and a quick sketch and thought it would make an enjoyable studio painting session. 

I'm having a change of paper at the moment Saunders Waterford 140lbs not

Just a few juicy shades of Daniel Smith watercolours included Quinacridone Rose and Ultramarine, Daler Rowney Transparent Yellow and Burnt Sienna

I used some masking fluid, which I know some people like, or hate! I found it useful for keeping some unpainted areas and used an old sponge and colour shaper to apply.

While it was raining most of the day, occasionally an arch of colour would appear.

Autumn Stream painted in watercolours by Jane Ward

Size 12.5 x 12.5 inches 

Price framed and mounted £250.00

for more details about purchasing this original painting  email lakelandart@hotmail.co.uk

or if you fancy having a go at watercolour painting

and not sure where to begin

www.watercolourcourse.co.uk

A painting holiday in Italy

I  thought I'd share a few sunny scenes from Lake Iseo. Sitting painting beside the clear blue water, under an Olive tree, with a couple of rowing boats gently bobbing is a lovely experience. Especially at Sensole on Monte Isola. This inspiring Island in Lake Iseo is supposed to be the size of Gibralta and with no cars allowed it's a perfect place to wander around. 

 Peschiera Maraglio is the main town and this has a regular ferry service  from Sulzano, where we are based at the stunning Rivalago hotel. 

Start the day by Stepping out onto your balcony, or just look out of the window, and gaze at the view.

After a wonderful day capturing Italian scenes, watch the sunset over a glass of Prosecco or Aperol, the choice is yours

So here why not spend a week painting by the shores of Lake Iseo, sampling Italian delights and enjoying Sunny days. Be you a beginner or Improver.

For more details on a painting holiday in Italy

from Saturday 14th to 21st September 2013

www.lakelandartcourses.co.uk

Painting the Rydal Boathouse

A morning spent beside Rydal Water, capturing the still reflections of the boathouse.

While watching an Heron fish, a sheep strut along the top of a high wall, and then looking up and noticing we were surrounded by cows and a few keen sheep. But all the while enjoying painting tranquilly the light on Autumn leaves.

Rydal water with a hint of mist

Jostling for space

Rydal boathouse painted in watercolour

by Jane Ward

Price unframed £85 

To purchase this original watercolour Email me

www.lakelandartcourses.co.uk

Loughrigg Fell, Grasmere

Another super duper day in painting at Grasmere. 

Sunlight dappled on  Autumn leaves, reflections that were just mirror perfect, 

it really was picture postcard material.

Sunlight and long shadows on Loughrigg Fell, rich shades of Bracken and Autumn trees 

l with afternoon sunshine. The pastels came out and for an hour 

I tried to capture what inspired me

Loughrigg Fell, Grasmere in pastels

Helm Crag , Grasmere

A single Poppy bathing in sunshine

Fancy a painting holiday in the sunshine

www.lakelandartcourses.co.uk

Autumn Light, Grasmere

Painting beside Grasmere Lake in warm sunshine was a pure joy today. With not a hint of a breeze, perfect reflections stayed in place, while we happily mixed warm Autumnal shades. With Hot chocolate served in the tea garden, it really could not get much better. 

With the smell of a bonfire and a more subdued atmospheric scene, even the Ducks were chilled and enjoying the afternoon sunshine

Autumn Light, Grasmere

painted today in Watercolours 

by Jane Ward

Price unframed £65.00

To purchase this original watercolour or for more information email me

www.lakelandartcourses.co.uk

Autumn in the Lakes

Today  the Lake District was a truly beautiful day. Autumn colours are out and glowing in many shades from Warm Yellows to Burnt Reds,and with bright Blue skies and barely any wind, it is a painters paradise. I had a little ride round today finding some special places to paint this week. The Met office is  promising good weather so I think my intrepid artists are in store for some fabulous scenes to paint.

Looking towards Easedale Valley and Grasmere

A little Glimpse of still reflections on Grasmere

 The Langdale Pikes, I love this photo shame the painting didn't work today! But it was just a warm up for the next four days

It started so so, even a dunking in the sink didn't help when I got home. But fantastic to sit in front of these classic peaks and just try and figure out what colours to use.

www.watercolourcourse.co.uk

Pic de Tenneverge

Early Snow, Pic de Tenneverge

A watercolour painting of Pic de Tenneverge by Jane Ward

Size 17.5 x 12.5 inches 

Price £125.00 unframed to purchase this painting or for more details email me

I really enjoyed painting this magnificent Peak viewed from  the village of Sixt.

With early snow falling  on the high tops Pic de Tenneverge at 2989 metres looked wonderful rising from a sea of soft mist. 

This Mountain peak was first climbed by the English mountaineer Sir Alfred Willis in the late 18th century. He was one of the original members of the Alpine Club, and had a chalet built near to Sixt in 1860.

If you fancy painting scenery as breathtaking as this

why not join me in Samoens from Saturday 31st August to 7th September 2013   

for more details

www.lakelandartcourses.co.uk