Sketching & painting from sketches

This sketch was from a couple of weeks ago, in the Botanic Garden with a little light drizzle. However it was lovely and peaceful, and some gorgeous colours.  All Summer there has been an outdoor exhibition of sculptures.  All very different and interesting.  These were of two men in amour.  The oil painting was done from another watercolour sketch done on the same day.

sculptures in the rain. sketch.
 

Autumn colours.  oil on linen board.

Japanese Maples in the Leicester Botanic Garden

I have been painting this larger canvas from a painting I did a while ago en plein air in the Botanic Garden.  I haven't done this before and enjoyed doing it, but I did find it quite difficult to start with, trying to paint with freedom by not copying the original too closely!! I am sure practise will help! I was back in gardens sketching last Saturday and the colours were amazing.

Japanese Maples.  oil on canvas  40cm * 50cm

The Walled Garden, Kelmarsh

At long last I have finished this painting started several weeks ago at Kelmarsh in the lovely Walled Garden.  The large greenhouse was the thing that really attracted me to the painting. During the afternoon it became very cold and stormy after a lovely morning. Since that time I found many other paintings to do, but at last here it is finished!



The Walled Garden, Kelmarsh.  oil on board



Autumn Hydrangeas

Yesterday was a great day at a Network Arts workshop with tutor Penny German. We started with a very interesting demonstration in oils and then we did our own thing with our still life.  Lots of lovely work was produced all very different.  Here is my own effort!

Autumn Hydrangeas. oil on board

Back to the Botanic Gardens in Leicester for the Autumn Colours

The wonderful weather means you just have to get out there and paint! Back to the Botanic Gardens and the lovely colours.  They were quite hard to find actually, it would seem that the very dry weather has meant that many leaves have fallen before they have had a chance to give a colourful display.  Luckily it was back to the Limestone Garden and some beautiful colours. In fact the tree with the lovely colours of fire, was a magic shade of green in one of my other paintings!

Limestone Pond.  oil on board.