Grand Prix circuit

It's been a roller coaster ride along the Cote D'Azur, on the last blog we were heading to Frejus, but we did'nt stop, a quick wander around St Raheal a busy bright Port, what has come across most in this trip is the fantasic light! Leaving the busy port we headed round the cliff hugging red rock coastline to Agay. What a beautiful tiny port, with pretty boats bobbing gently, not those big luxury cruises which don't sit well in a painting! A crescent of Golden sands and our camping site on the edge of the beach, what more can you ask for, oh yes and shapely jagged mountains with Palm trees softening the picture. The Lavender season is over but walking in the Estereal Massif the liliac heather has taken its place sitting pretty underneath the pine and eucaliptus trees.I've been suprised when doing some colour sketches that I've used Ultramarine, usually Winsor  is the chosen blue in warmer places.Leaving Agay and heading towards Cannes, I was thinking lets stay! But Cannes is a great people watching place, and then onto Nice which was quite nice! But again too busy. Before we knew it we had entered Monaco and it felt like we were taking part in the Grand Prix circuit in our precious van, but catching glimses again of extreme luxury cruising, now this is where the money is! So you might wonder where we are and did we find another peaceful haven? 'Menton' the town of Lemons, beautiful church spires and a campsite perched high above the town with a stunning view, as I look up from the keyboard, the sea disapearing into a soft light, but a beautiful blue that complements the roof tops of terracotta, the sunlight is catching the side of the church tower and cypress trees elegantly jostle for space amongst the pines.Sorry for no Photo's but the wifi is not allowing it!

In the footsteps of the masters

Having a bus man's holiday in the South of France, I'm on the trail of Maitisse, Renoir and Picasso. Cycled into St Tropez I've never been to this part of France before so was excited and wondered what the jet set lifestyle would be like. We are travelling in the campervan so no luxury yaught for this artist! Was pretty impressed with the tiny port of St Trop, loved the pastel coloured buildings and the light is just fantastic, but not as keen on the pristine models and poodles. This small town was made famous by artists coming to visit in the early 19th century and you can understand why with the lovely weather, pretty squares with quite fantasic shadows under pines and old men watching games of bouilles it had all the qualites for an oil painting.
So making our way up the coastal road to Freyus and onto Cannes, and Nice to find Renoir's home and the church where Maitisse worked his powers of colour.

Perfect painting weather

Well the weather for the last two days in the Lakes as been lovely, what I call 'perfect painting weather' warm, sunny intervals, no wind and barely any rain showers. We sat this morning on the banks of Rydal water basking in sunshine( well not quite, the sun did come out and we un zipped our coats) Perfect reflections of the boathouse, and the colours are just starting to change, I even thought that they were changing in front of our eyes. After lunch we made our way to the waterfall, quite full after a weeks rain, and with the 'Dippers and Robins' for company and the sound of the gushing water we enjoyed the afternoon splashing some watercolours about, and everyone had a fabulous painting to remember a lovely day.

Rydal Waterfall

Near perfect reflections, fingers crossed for more tomorrow.

Threatening clouds but Sunshine prevailed in Easedale Valley

Packing my bag

Spent the day getting ready for this weeks course in Grasmere, with rain most of today not good en plein weather! But watching the weather tonight on 'Countryfile' my hopes of an Indian Summer from Monday until Thursday looks quite possible!! Usually I pack my bag on the morning of the course, but couldn't wait to see how my new 'Matthew' bag from http://www.millican.com/ would look. Has you can see, I've got a decent size pad of Arches, a pocket either side for Brushes and on the other side camera tripod and  paint palette ( in a plastic bag, I don't want any leaking paint!) Sketch book in front and loads of room for an extra jumper,sandwiches and small stool. Having a zip at the front makes easy access. I can't tell you how lovely and soft it feels.

 Two pockets on the front, one is idea for the Coffee Cup.Two more on either side perfect for the secret Chocolate stash, the secret to a great outdoor painting is keeping the sugar level high.

Here's what I'm hoping for over the next few days for my troupe of artists. Sunshine, shadows and Blue skies.

Grasmere Shore with Helm Crag in the distance also know locally as 'Lion and Lamb'

Quinacridone Gold

Did you know that 'Autumn' officially begins in Britain this year on 22nd September! I think it's a week early here in Keswick, strong winds, leaves turning to hints of gold, brambles ripe for picking and wonderful light. Much better for painting, I was reading somewhere that only the months containing the letter 'R' make a good landscape painting in the UK ! and I must admit I do find it a tiny bit difficult searching for subjects here in the Lakes in August. A bit too much Green. So I ordered some paints the other day and included a few warmer Autumn shades. Today I used just Quinacridone Gold with Permanent Rose, Cobalt and Winsor Blues and was very pleased with it's mixing ability. STOP PRESS 'sales of Quinacridone Gold sell out! But too all my students/artists that are coming up to Grasmere next week for 4 days of lovely painting there's going to be an Indian Summer taking place in Cumbria Starting Monday 12 noon and finishing Thursday 23rd Sept, I'm sure Quinacridone is going to find a place in my palette.
A few reasons why
1. Transparent, a big plus in a watercolour
2. Is a good mixer, dark Greens with Winsor Blue, Oranges with Permanent Rose, bright light Green with just a hint of Winsor Blue and it's lovely by itself.
3. Didn't go muddy
4.Layered well and gave good depth, good for tonal work.

Leisure Painter

Just a quick email from wet and rainy Keswick today, it still looks beautiful just!! Only joking the hills are popping out of swirling mist perfect watercolour. Not had the best of painting weeks 1, Buttermere watercolour too much green and also used some Gum Arabic which did'nt work to my benefit, will have to have another go! Big Acrylic of Scafell it's sitting in the shall I scap or carry on and become a masterpiece, corner.
But was chuffed to bits at getting the Leisure Painter yesterday and seeing my painting made front cover.Yipee.

http://www.painters-online.co.uk/magazines/issue.asp?issue=156

New Look Web Site

Beautiful weather in the Lakes today but I've had my nose to the keyboard for nearly a week, rebuilding and re decorating the web site http://www.lakelandartcourses.co.uk/ we have some lovely new photo's hanging on the walls, New Dates for courses and a new venue, so why not take a look, I hope you like the new colour scheme. I can now leave the keyboard and with an order from Ken Bromley coming my way some new Autumn colours to play with. I've also got the New very exciting art bag ordered from http://www.millican.com/ it was a case of should I should'nt I? The old one might do! Is it extravagant! But then I thought oh bug...... 'I need it'
I'm pretty positive I'm not the 1st woman to say this about a bag!! But it's not gold and glittery, well it is actually it's 'Antique Gold' and it's 'The Matthew bag"

Italian Ladies deciding over which bag, I wonder who if not all of them bought one!!