Derwent Water, Lake District National Park in oil

Inspired from a photograph on Panoramio by steandeb this is another oil painting of Derwent Water in Keswick.  I only painted it this afternoon.  It's so difficult to get a good photo when it's still wet.  I have to shine a bright lamp at it from the side and then hold the camera about 3 feet from the canvas and take the picture with the flash off.  It's then only with the benefit of a photo editor I can get it to look pretty much like the real thing.  I suppose I could wait for them to dry but I like to get them on eBay as quickly as possible (not that much ever comes from that).

Grasmere in the Lake District in oil

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I love the Lake District.  I painted this one from a photograph I found on Google Maps.  Rather than waste the excess paint on the palette I used it all in the foreground shore.  I'd never thought of doing that before.  I'm not sure if the blue bits look right though.

I'd like to fit in a tour around the Lakes sometime next year and build a library of my own photos rather than rely on Google all the time.

River at Drayton Manor Park

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We were lucky enough to get free tickets for Drayton Manor Park recently and so last Sunday off we set for a day of fun and frolics.  I used to love the white-knuckle rides but these days tend to steer well clear.

Late afternoon duly arrived and whilst crossing the small bridge to the car park I was greeted by this delightful view of the river that borders the park and zoo.  I took a photograph and then painted it in watercolour when I got home.

I used to think inspiration could only come from glorious vistas such as the Lake District and similar.  I'm slowly beginning to realise that potential painting subjects are all around us regardless of where we live.

Newcastle docklands, Australia in watercolour

Preoccupied with oils, I hadn't got my watercolours out for a couple of months and was beginning to miss them!  A fear of flying prevents me from getting anywhere near Australia so when I saw this picture in a book I felt I had to have a go at it.

 

Recently I've only painted tranquil landscapes so it was a nice change to paint something busy such as these docklands.  I'm getting into practice for an assault on my home town of Birmingham.  Having such an ugly reputation with the rest of the nation I'd never really thought of Brum as potential subject matter.

 

To be fair though, a lot of money has been spent on the city centre in the last couple of decades and Birmingham is slowly beginning to gain a better reputation as a tourist hotspot.

Derwent Water in the Lake District

I painted this same scene in watercolour from a photo I found on Panoramio taken by Jeff Coates.  I thought I'd try it again, this time in oil.

 

I'm quite pleased with the result.  I love the Lake District.  We stayed there a couple of years ago in Grange-over-Sands Haven and it was one of the best holidays I've ever had.

 

My favourite part was on the way to Ullswater and driving through Kirkstone Pass.  There's a pub on the right as you drive up in the middle of nowhere.  The remoteness is fantastic.  I can't wait to go back.

Blue Cross Craft Fair in Catshill

This is a picture of my stall at the Blue Cross craft fair and fun day.  Though I only sold one painting it was an enjoyable experience and I'm glad I did it.  I think next time I'll try for an art show or something similar.  I had lots of compliments but after a while it gets a little frustrating without any cash exchanging hands.

 

There was another man further along the marquee selling his watercolours.  Instead of using easels he displayed all of his paintings on a large screen.  I think I'll try that next time as he could display much more work than I was able to on my small table.

 

My dad had a little more success than me, selling a couple of his driftwood clocks along the way.  Overall I enjoyed the day, but left feeling a little flat at the lack of sales.  Never mind,  hopefully next time will prove more fruitful!