8"X5.5" Watercolour & pen on paper

I am really going to try to get back into the daily routine. I like this time of year and the colours are just starting to turn, so there should be some more interesting subjects.

5"X7" Oil on board

Every day I drive through the vineyards on my way to work. The light is lovely in the mornings but as I am habitually late I never have time to stop and take proper photographs. Sometimes I take some fuzzy low-resolutions snaps with my cell phone.

I want to try harder to capture these moments. I need to practise more painting from memory, without photographic reference. It isn't as if the photographs ever do justice to the colours anyway.

5.5″X3.5″ Pen & watercolour pencil on paper

I managed to get out to paint at lunchtime but it was a little chilly so I sat in my car. The last time I painted this was in November.

That was an embarrassing occasion. I forgot to turn my lights off and when I tried to start the car to go back to work I found that my battery was dead . I had to walk back, about a kilometer and then find someone to give me a boost. I never seem to have my cell phone when I need it either.

This little Moleskine sketchbook is really too small for this sort of subject. I need to be more selective in both my choice of subject and my treatment. I liked the way these vines retreat into the distance, even incorporating a little dip in the middle ground, a rare occurrence in this part of the world. I took some photos too, so maybe one day I will work it up, if I can ever get it together to paint some larger pieces.

7″X5″ Oil on board

I started work today on a 16″X20″ piece that is an enlarged version of one of my favourites from January last year. In fact I have already revisited it once this year. It you are interested in my Monthly paintings I will be posting the WIPs on my other blog.
I wasn’ t sure whether I would get to do a smaller one too but in the end I did this. I was finishing it in twilight though so the copy isn’t very good. This is one instance where I can say with confidence that the original looks better than this.

It is so flat around here that the most interesting part of the landscape is often the sky, especially at this time of year.

5″X7″ Pencil on paper

I could probably have called this one “Before the Rain 4″. I have been driving past this shed every day for many years, and always wanted to paint it. The vines are just starting to show green.

5″X7″ Watercolour and pencil on paper

I have a busy week, so I will try to post every day but I probably won’t have much to say.