VIEW OVER THE LAVINGTONS, WILTSHIRE

View over the Lavingtons from Strawberry Hill. Capturing something of the unprescedented warm weather this April. A three week gap between starting and finishing this one. In the meantime all the foliage and rape seed had grown so had to update with a lot of colour. You  can see the two church towers of both villages

 Painting in progress. It was completed in two sessions.
Below the start of the painting two weeks earlier

ST SWITHUNS from HEDGEMEAD PARK -BATH

Painted this in two sessions, just as leafy buds were opening in April. I wanted to try catching something of the freshness of the Spring light. Painted over a couple of hours to start, from 2.00 till 4.00;  it is extraordinary how swiftly and radically the scene changes with  almost opposite light and shade effects on the buildings. The  final result indicates the day at about 3.30/4.0pm

My painting of Sherbourne Street, Bourton -on-the-water (Looking south towards the centre). Oil on Panel 10" x 14". 

Members of  the British Pochade Society, congregating on street corner of Rectory Lane, deciding where to set up for painting the town.  It was Easter Sunday so not many of us turned up but the sun shone and we set to work. Unfortunately I didn't  get any more suitable photos of people in action.

GARDEN WALL

Capturing  the splendour of sun in the garden. A riot of  blossoms,  new leaves, branches throwing shadows on the old garden wall. in April. 18.5" x 10" oil on panel

View down John St From Trim St., about 4.00pm. Someone parked a car on the RH  half way though, it's rear end  blocking part of the view which made life awkward! I decided not to to paint it in. (Oil on Panel 10" x 12")

Paint out in Oxford

For our third meeting the UK Plein Air Society met to start the day at a coffee shop in the High Street. Oxford. It was the day the clocks changed so getting there effectively an hour early was a challenge.
I chose to do this view of the High Street and afterwards thought I might have made a more interesting composition, this one being is so linear. Also all those bay windows did my head in for a while. The blossom tree was such an attraction.

The easel on site  in the High Street

 I had to leave early so didn't have chance to do another piece, but here is a shot of other industrious painters. Roy Connelly, Valérie Pirlot painting the same spire in Turl Steet.
Click to enlarge .....

and David Pilgrim ..............

Also one of Glynis Dray below, doing a fine watercolour in the High Street, obviously enjoying herself.

Early Spring Morning, Pigs Lane, Little Horton

For once the sun stayed out more or less all of the time although there was a strong haze in the air and still quite cold.  In front there was  herd of cattle, a lot of mixed colours; Black, red-brown to tan, and patches of white. The were very well behaved and hardly moved at all, but gradually got closer to the gate.  The pylons are typical of the area, marching all over the landscape to the north of Devizes; a nightmare for landscape photographers as they spoil the beautiful open views.  The farmer came by and asked if he could look. . I was anticipating paintng the huge straw bale below the pylon, but  suddenly a tractor came by and removed it, so I had to complete it by memory.
Technical note: I use driers in my painting medium and today the mix seemed a bit strong but they worked  very efficiently.

EXHIBITION - At the OLD MILL WORTON

Wiltshire Landscapes Plein Air Paintings in Oil By Andrew Taylor

5 Mar 2011  to  13 Mar 2011, 10:00 – 17:00

The gallery is open on:
Friday 4th March 12 noon - 5pm
Saturday 5th March 10am - 5pm
Sunday 6th March 10am - 5pm

Friday 11th March 12 noon - 5pm
Saturday 12th March 10am - 5pm (Andrew will be at the gallery 2.00 to 5.00)
Sunday 13th March 10am - 5pm
Oil Painting: 'Erlestoke Woods' by Andrew Taylor.

Evening view towards Penarth Headland over Cardiff Bay waters.

Another good day with the UK Pochade Society. After paintng in the town all day we went to see the water at Cardiff Bay and decided to have one last paint.  The beautiful golden pink under glow of the clouds quickly  faded as the sun sank away and as we started work - but pressing on painted this at hi-speed in about 15-20 mins, then any useful light faded and I then couldn't see the palette any more. I really do need to get a head lamp.

Cherhill, evening view towards Calne

.......driving back form Calne, the sky began to change from bland to very beautiful and the evening lights were coming on.  So somehow I found a convenient layby and managed a to paint sitting in the car, very uncomfortable, till the light faded too much for me to see the colours.
Oil on gessoed board.
8.5" x 7" approx.