I’ve been painting on watercolour paper (W&N) on my plein air travels but I have recently returned to using my sketchbook. I bought a small square sketchbook for black & white studies, exactly like the one I used in London five years ago and have drawn a couple of sketches in between paint outs.

Also I have returned to a larger format sketchbook which has been unused for a couple of years and like the informality it offers.

Another busy month painting. I’ve returned to some of my favourite places and found some new ones with the two art groups I’m supporting.

Early August weather was wet and at times cold but the second half has been glorious.

 

Following our trip to Dorest in the Spring I’ve finally begun to get round to painting some of the places we visited. I’m using my own photos and trying some new watercolour/ink techniques.

We stayed in a village called Muckleford, which is situated by the river Frome. Every time went out we crossed the river over an old double bridge. This painting is from a photo I took on a walk to the local one evening.

Over the last couple of months I’ve been trying out layering techniques with watercolours and ink. This is an extract of a photo I took at Lulworth Cove, where I’ve taken the darks to their maximum, layered the greens and added the boat for interest.

Man O’War beach, looking over the cliff to the cove below. On the other side of the cliff is Durdle Door