This Anemone plant was a present form a friend. I took it outside to do a painting in the sunlight. I acquired a photo slide projector stand with a plan to use it for still life compositions. It came from a charity shop and was put it to use the same day! I have found it has become very useful when working in the studio. It folds flat for storage which is brilliant.
It was quite stormy weather for Easter. I did manage to get outside in front of the studio to do some sketching of the waves coming into the shore. It was exhilarating to watch and great to be close to the waves. I had prepared a box of Unison Pastels which were from a new large 72 pastel landscape box. I needed to break them in half as they are much better to use this way. This gives me two smaller boxes, one for the studio and the other for working outside, with all of the 72 pastels in them. See above.
Thanks to everyone who made it along for the Open Studio event, especially those that had to dodge the waves!
For the Easter weekend (Friday March 30th to Monday April 2nd) some of the Pittenweem Artists and Galleries are opening their doors. Gina will be at her studio at 18 West Shore.
For the Winter event ENOS have decided to try something different and get the artists exhibiting together. This will be at the Dreel Halls in Anstruther on the last weekend in November (Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th).
I am enjoying being able to have much more time on the West Shore in Pittenweem. The views here are inspiring in all weathers, I got a nice day for this sketch.
I was in Crail recently and visited the Pottery Shop where I had a surprise. It was my best inspiration of the day! There was a cat curled up in one of their beautiful bowls, sound asleep. I just had to sketch him. Apparently he just started coming in to the shop and found a nice warm spot (it is above the kiln workshops) and keeps coming back every day to the same bowl.
The weather lately has been warm and sunny which attracted me to painting outside. The tulips in the garden were at their best. I knew they wouldn’t stay this way for long so this forced me to get on and do a painting in situ. My study was in pastel and I then went on to paint in oils for the final painting.
The weather at Pittenweem was beautiful. I took the opportunity to do an outdoor sketch then gouache painting. It was sheltered from the wind working in the corner at the cottage. The weather was also so mild that I didn’t need a coat, however everyone passing were all wrapped up. Great to be working outdoors and enjoying the lovely light.
I am excited to share the news that I now have a studio in Pittenweem. This is the Wash House that I have been exhibiting at for the last 14 years. I love the location, it has inspired so many paintings. Looking forward to spending more time in Pittenweem and painting outdoors.
During the Pittenweem Arts Festival my paintings are exhibited in the Wash House and out on the West Shore.
The cottage next to the Wash House gives me a base when working in Pittenweem.
Looking out from the Wash House there is always something interesting to see.
The Pittenweem Arts Festival 2016 starts on Saturday 6th August and runs until Sunday 14th August. My web site has a page showing some of the paintings I will be exhibiting. See my Pittenweem Arts Festival 2016 page.