A trip to the coast

Today's theme for Artweeks is 'A trip to the coast' - click here to view the themed video trail: https://youtu.be/7IdfiJA7QDM

'Island life' 8 X 8" oil on canvas panel, available

In keeping with today’s theme I’m sharing an image inspired by our trip to Croatia in 2019. It was an amazing trip and worth the 3 hour taxi ride from the airport and boat trip to get to this island.

Croatia is a country that is predominantly coastal, bordering the Adriatic Sea and with over a thousand islands of various sizes. The sea is a gorgeous shade of blue and mountain ranges edge the mainland leaving a thin strip of habitable land. Boy it was hot though! It is probably the most beautiful country I have visited, although New Zealand has to be a close second. I hope to visit there again one day.

Where is your favourite coast?

Celebrating Colour

Today's theme of Artweeks is 'Celebrating Colour' and as you know that's one of my passions! You'll see one of my paintings features in today's daily theme video, https://youtu.be/iNfQeR0oLFA

'Random Leaf' 10 x 8" oil on canvas panel £95 available

This painting was done during a weekly art class at Sunningwell School of Art. I changed the colour of the table cloth because I preferred a vibrant red, and added the leaf later because that corner looked a bit lonely! It was one of very few painted during lockdown outside of my studio, in the brief break from stay at home measures last summer. I’m so glad we could restart classes last week as I love to paint with other artists. It is always so interesting to see how others interpret the same subject!

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Artweeks preparation

It's the first day of May today and that marks the start of Oxfordshire Artweeks, an open studio event that takes place in my local county each year during May. This week studios in the North and West of the County are opening their doors, followed by Oxford next week, and then South Oxfordshire (and me) from May 15th. I've been busy varnishing and cataloguing paintings, choosing frames and considering how I can best display them, as well as trying to get my house and garden looking presentable as well! The image shows some still-life paintings recently varnished and waiting to be framed.

Each day during May Oxfordshire Artweeks is sharing a different daily art trail - today's theme is 'Oxfordshire Landscapes' and you can view it here: https://youtu.be/wAc4RP9OMvM

'Acer sunshine' 8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

Not quite an Oxfordshire landscape, but this painting was Inspired by a visit to Claydon House in nearby Bucks. This is a stately home occupied by the Verney family for over 500 years, but is open (when Covid restrictions allow!) to the public via the National Trust. The gardens are beautiful and well worth a visit!

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claydon