My Watercolour Diary

Little Loch Broom from Dundonell 15" x 11" Watercolour Painting

2010-03-10T12:32:00.000Z

Here's a quick one of Little Loch Broom

'Falmouth Docks' 8 x 6 inch Oil on Canvas Board

2010-03-05T12:45:00.000Z

This is a loose impression of Falmouth docks I painted the other day. I'm going to St Ives next month and hope to do one or two in this style whilst down there.

I've pretty much decided I'm going to have a go at a book. Just trying to work out the formatting. For the title I'm thinking something like 'Travels through Cornwall in Oils'. Early days but I've got to have a go!

Painting sales at http://www.stevencronin.com

Babbs Mill Lake, Kingshurst 8 x 6 inch Oil on Canvas Board

2010-03-04T11:34:00.000Z

Another one of Babbs Mill Lake near where I live.

Before I forget, my sister and her husband have a new motoring directory website. For all your motoring needs visit http://www.st1ng.com

Back to the painting and Babbs Mill is currently my favourite painting subject. Once I've gained the courage I may even paint there plein air instead of using photos. One of the problems I have when I'm walking around with a camera on my own is that I feel like a pervert. I feel people looking at me thinking 'what's he doing?' It's the same when I'm sitting in the car alone with paints. I guess you just have to get used to it.

Sales at http://www.stevencronin.com

New Automata Model

2010-03-03T15:12:00.001Z

My dad has started work on his new automata model. If you haven't seen the last one you can view it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E48dFbpeFNk

He's guessing approx 4 months to complete. This time the entire mechanics will be on display at the bottom with the animation above.

South Cerney in the Cotswold Lakes 8 x 6 inches Oil on Canvas Board

2010-03-03T12:44:00.000Z

I've gone for an evening scene in the Cotswolds for todays effort. The last time I was in that neck of the woods we spent the day at the Cotswold Wildlife Park. It's a lovely place and well worth a visit for anyone in the area.

Thirlmere, Lake District 8 x 6 inches Oil on Canvas Board

2010-03-02T11:24:00.000Z

I used a limited palette for this impression of Thirlmere in the Lake District. Sales at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Winter Morning' 15 x 11 inches Watercolour Painting | Book publi shing?

2010-03-01T11:18:00.000Z

I painted this one in response to an email I had from Larry in Dublin. He wanted to know the colours used in a Ron Ranson painting he saw in a book. I felt the best way to work out the colours was to paint the picture myself. I love this kind of scene and was happy to paint it.

I've noticed recently one or two artist bloggers have produced their own books using online services that have now become affordable and user friendly. I've always envied travel writers. It must be wonderful to earn a living from your journeys.

I was looking through the photographs of a recent trip to Cornwall and had the thought of combining travel writing and paintings together in a book. It's just a thought but certainly something that intrigues me.

Falmouth Docks 15 x 11 inches Watercolour Painting

2010-02-26T11:07:00.000Z

Heavily influenced by a painting (unfortunately the artists name escapes me!) I saw on our recent trip to Cornwall, this is my watercolour version of Falmouth docks. We last visited Falmouth a couple of years ago. I remember standing at Pendennis Point in the glorious sunshine amongst the happy snappers trying to capture the panorama on camera. Sales at http://www.stevencronin.com

My shell clock from Looe beach in Cornwall

2010-02-25T12:31:00.000Z

Strolling along Looe beach in Cornwall last week I spotted this lovely shell washed up on the shore. I almost got a shoe full of sea water as I quickly grabbed it from the clutches of the ocean. Instantly I thought this would make a lovely clock. It's now hanging on the wall next to my easel until some kind soul purchases it from my eBay store!

River Cole, Kingshurst 8 x 6 inches Oil on Canvas Board

2010-02-23T22:50:00.001Z

He's another painting of the River Cole in Kingshurst, this time in oil. Sales at http://www.stevencronin.com

Banners Gate, Sutton Park 8 x 6 inches Oil on Canvas Board

2010-02-23T17:05:00.001Z

Another one of Banners Gate from by the car park during the recent snow showers but this time in oil. Sales at http://www.stevencronin.com

Loch Goil from the Shore Inn 15 x 11 inches Watercolour Painting

2010-02-10T12:44:00.000Z

As views from beer gardens go, this one's an absolute cracker. My favourite however, has to be the panoramic view of St Ives Bay from the Bluff Inn at Hayle in Cornwall.

Off to Bodmin and Newquay next week. Hope to capture some nice scenes with the pochade box. Still getting used to the smaller 8" x 6" format but I think I'll get the hang of it eventually. Rained all day last time we were in Newquay so hoping for some better weather, though I've heard the forecast isn't brilliant. Mind you, it never seems to put the surfers off, however cold it gets.

Possibility of snow today. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! All paintings for sale at http://www.stevencronin.com

Winter in Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 x 6 inches Oil Painting

2010-02-09T22:30:00.001Z

This is a loose impression of Phoenix Park in Dublin painted from a photograph kindly offered to me by Pete Rudden. It's been all watercolours since the turn of the year so it was nice to get back to oils. Anyone got any tips on photographing wet oil paintings? I'm still struggling with the light reflecting off the paint. I've seen other bloggers upload decent images of fresh oil paintings so it must be possible. All paintings are at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Gentle Waters' 15 x 11 inches Watercolour Painting

2010-02-08T20:37:00.002Z

There was a very brief scattering of snow earlier here in Brum. I suppose it's too much to ask for a downpour. I'd like to get some more snowscape pictures. Until then I'll continue with my current fixation on Scottish lochs. This one was from the imagination. All my paintings are at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Tranquil Waters' 15ins x 11ins Watercolour Painting

2010-01-29T09:07:00.000Z

Another one painted from imagination. It didn't quite go how I wanted though, especially the trees behind the hut. Also the foreground looks a bit messy. Actually I don't know why I bothered posting it! I think I could do with getting outside and painting from real life rather than making them up all the time. I've been meaning to paint plein air for a while now and for some reason never quite get around to it. All paintings can be seen at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Estuary Life' 15ins x 11ins Watercolour Painting

2010-01-26T20:19:00.001Z

I love estuaries and the coastal features of where the river meets the sea. We spend a fair amount of time each year around the Weston-Super-Mare area and the wide mouth of the Bristol Channel. I suppose I should have painted there really but I'll save that one 'til later. This painting was from my imagination. I'd love to be in one of those boats heading for the horizon. All my paintings can be seen at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Seaside Cottage' 15" x 11" Watercolour Painting

2010-01-25T14:14:00.001Z

I painted this one from imagination. It's somewhere I would like to live for a while, open to the elements, maybe a little boat anchored someplace nearby. All paintings can be seen at http://www.stevencronin.com

Morning in Sutton Park 7" x 5" Watercolour Painting

2010-01-20T14:20:00.001Z

I painted this from a photo I took one Sunday morning in Sutton Park a few months back. Experimenting at the moment with smaller paper and brushes. Does a larger painting make it more sellable? To be honest I haven't a clue. All paintings at http://www.stevencronin.com

Evening in New York, 7" x 5" Watercolour Painting

2010-01-18T22:52:00.001Z

I love the big city skylines, especially at night. Having painted pretty much exclusively countryside and mountains recently I felt it was time for a change. This is my impression of New York as the sun begins to set. I may experiment with a few more of these. All paintings can be seen at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Still Waters' Watercolour Painting 15" x 11"

2010-01-17T18:19:00.000Z

I was experimenting with just 2 colours for this painting. I only used Raw Sienna and Ultramarine Blue for this one. I think I should have cleaned the brush a little more often as most the land and trees are the same colour. Still, another lesson learnt! All paintings are at http://www.stevencronin.com

'A Quiet Corner' 15" x 11" Original Watercolour Painting

2010-01-17T12:53:00.001Z

This is another in a long series of imaginary paintings inspired by my travels through the English Lake District. I must try and get up there sometime this year. All paintings at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Cabin in Winter' 20" x 16" Oil Painting

2010-01-16T09:40:00.001Z

I'd love to claim the credit for this composition but I must admit I painted this one following one of Bob Ross's TV shows on DVD. He makes painting look that simple it's almost ridiculous! All my paintings are at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Sailing' 15" x 11" Watercolour Painting

2010-01-15T15:45:00.001Z

Here's one I painted the other day. I just made it up as I went along. It's probably my favourite type of scene - lakes and hills with a few distant yachts. All paintings at http://www.stevencronin.com

River Cole by Cooks Lane, Original Watercolour Painting

2010-01-12T12:36:00.000Z

Before the snow set in I photographed this stretch of the River Cole in Kingshurst. Walking towards Chelmsley Wood I discovered this little scene just before Cooks Lane. I keep meaning to go back before the snow melts.

New paintings at http://www.stevencronin.com

'Babbs Mill Winter' 15" x 11" Watercolour Painting

2010-01-11T12:09:00.000Z

This is a watercolour I painted of a local scene about 10 minutes from where I live of Babbs Mill lake. I'd done a few of this location in oil and wanted to try one in watercolour.

I managed to take some lovely pictures in the snow so hopefully I'll be posting some seasonal landscapes on here soon.

All my paintings are at http://www.stevencronin.com