A Week at Dedham Hall

It is always a pleasure to teach at Dedham Hall in Suffolk. I often get people coming back and over the years many of the students have become friends. This year I had 10 lovely students. Two had never been to Dedham before but very soon fitted in the routine.
We start on Saturday afternoon with a cup of tea and some of Wendy's delicious cake at 4pm when we all introduce ourselves and I have a quick chat about the week to come.
On the first evening I always give a talk and demo in the studio.

Clouds at Blakeney, demo. 14" x 16"

Sunday is always busy in town so we stay in the grounds of the hall, there is so much to paint there one really needn't venture further afield. I started everyone off with a quick demo of the glasshouse

Glasshouse at Dedham Hall  8" x 8"

Monday we took advantage of the good weather and went to Woodbridge. It's been a few years since I took a group there. I'd forgotten how good it was. I did a painting while I was waiting for the group to look around and decide what they wanted to paint. The tide was out but coming in fast, by the time I'd finished 1/2 hour later there was no mud to be seen.

Woodbridge 14" x 16"

I planned to go to Pin Mill so that evening I gave a demo on painting the barges which I hoped we would see there.

Barges at Pin Mill 14" x 10"

Demo at Pin Mill

I don't get much chance to do my own painting at Dedham so I often will go into the studio before breakfast. here are two of the paintings that I got up early to paint.

Cherries and Imari bowl 8" x 8"

Quimper jug and Asters with Satsumas 8" x 8"

The weather turned on us a bit on Tuesday so we went to the river to paint before rain set in. Most managed to get at least some sketching done. I got a quick demo of the cows before they disappeared

and then they were gone!!

Study in White 12" x 12"

Another evening I gave the above as a demo to illustrate light against dark in a still life. I thoroughly enjoyed painting this in spite of all those ellipses I had to deal with.

The week seemed to pass very quickly and all too soon it was time to clear the studio and set up the final exhibition. I like to take time and care over this , to display the students work at it's best. There certainly was some good work done. At 6.30 Jim & Wendy come over with drinks for out little PV and after dinner we all head back into the studio where I go round each persons work and give a constructive appraisal. This for me is the hardest bit as I try to be encouraging yet honest without upsetting anyone - so far I think I have got away with it . We'll see if they come back again next year!!

Plums, Hellebores and Muscari

Plums, Hellebores and Muscari 8" x 8" oil

This is about the last of the Hellebores and Muscari so I thought I'd better get another one in quickly. I must remember to start painting them earlier next year. They are so delightful to paint in fact I think I will plan ahead and plant more.

Helebores & Lime

Helebores and Lime 8" x 8" oil on canvas card

Helebores are amongst my favorite flowers and I have been meaning to paint these beauties for ages.
I missed the white ones again this year, must make more of an effort in future.
I also love painting (and eating) figs so snuck one in for fun.

Blue Bowl & Fruit

Blue Bowl & Fruit 8" x 8" oil on canvas card

 Another painting that I started at the Norfolk Creative Arts. I didn't get as far as putting a pattern on the bowl so found a bowl a similar size in the studio, set up to create the same light effect and finished it off. I have to say that the pattern has made all the difference as you can see from the original below.

Unfinished - Fruit and bowl

30 in 30 Day 17

Sunset at Moulton 12" x 12" oil on canvas board £190

The sunsets in Lincolnshire have been amazing the last few days. I was lucky to catch this one.
The water standing in the fields perfectly pick up the sky colour helping to tie the painting together.
I don't often put in telegraph poles but felt that in this instance, they were essential to the painting and do help to give a sense of perspective.

30 in 30 Day 16

Late Afternoon, Moulton 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

Another tricky one today. I am enjoying the challenge to capture these sunsets. The light behind the clouds certainly has been a challenge as has been, finding the right colours for the glow in the sky. My new favourite colour is Cadmium orange. The has been used in all the mixes for this picture.

30 in 30 Day 15

Suns Rays, Moulton 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

This was one of those skies that you couldn’t stop looking at. It changed all the time and with my camera I was able to catch it at its best.

To make this painting work a really dark sky was needed. Old Holland Blue was chosen for it’s deep rich colour. The cloud cast shadows making the suns rays radiated out in to the sky in a fan like pattern

30 in 30 Day 14

After the Spring Tide, Blakeney 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

The sky was an incredibly deep blue at Blakeney on this day. Usually when I use Ultramarine, I tend to knock it back a bit with either Yellow Ochre or a touch of red. In this instance I just used Michael Harding's Warm Light Yellow to lighten the blue.
 The same yellow was also used for the clouds as pure white would have been too cold. The pattern of the deep puddles left by the high tide were the perfect shapes for this composition. It definitely a scene waiting to be painted.

30 in 30 Day 12

Puddles on the Back Lane 12" x 12" oil on canvas board

There are a lot of little lanes around our village. This one is a favourite with dog walkers as it is little used. Maintenance is not great hence the grass down the middle and the deep potholes. The dykes along side can get pretty full after a heavy rain (very popular with water loving dogs!)
It does make a good subject, especially if you are after painting skies.

Stamford Brush Off

Today I took part in the first of what I think will the first of many "Stamford Brush Off"s
Only 15 artists, members of the Welland Valley Art Soc, partook. We arrived in Stamford to our chosen location from 9am and handed in our offerings to the Art  Centre at 3pm.
 Needless to say I was late because of the railway crossing at Tallington and only started painting at 10am. I had intended painting on the water meadows but as I'd procured a parking space right outside the art centre, decided to stay in Stamford town. Hmmm? parking space, two hour limit? Its Sunday all parking is free - wrong!! £50 fine!!
Managed to paint two 8"x 8" little oils by 1.30 intending to go down to the meadows but having had no lunch or water, spent entire time standing (broken ankle still giving a bit of bother) and discovering the parking fine, I kind of lost heart so framed up and dropped them off at the Art Centre.

Towards High St, Stamford, 8" x 8" oil £75

High St Stamford 8" x 8" oil £75