Plain air garden paintings
Poppy and Geranium; Nigella and Hydrangea
Penrhynside sketch and painting
Sketching usually begins a recording and exploration of what interests me. I use markers that give quick results in line and tone block. Graphic developments push the composition around, photos give some factual resource. Paintings then progress through complete levels towards a stage where I can let it go.
Nant Ffrancon is really the first of the spectacular Snowdonia passes from Bethesda to Capel Curig along the old coaching route of the A5. Llyn Ogwen lies about halfway along Nant Ffancon, and from the west end the Afon Ogwen runs down to the Menai Strait. It cascades in some places and flows broadly in others through the wooded valley where I sketched. The snow-capped mountains of the Carneddau are on the left and the Glyderau are on the right.
Paintings 1, 2 and 3 are about my visiting “The World Goes Pop” at Tate Modern. I liked the idea that a striking show of popular trainers was attending the galleries of great art, grouping – on the move – and stopping again. A show attracting another show.
Sketch developed to a painting of Bodnant oak; Sketch developed to a painting of Bodnant beech
Bethesda sketches to paintings